Is having a rain garden is a liability? Part 3 of the Vermont Green Infrastructure Initiative’s guide to stormwater misconceptions. This is the third post in a series about stormwater misconceptions identified by Green Infrastructure Initiative Roundtable. We hope that these posts will foster greater understanding and integration of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) practices and … Continue reading
The Poultney Mettowee Conservation District, in collaboration with the Lake Bomoseen Association (LBA), received a grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Ecosystem Restoration Program to conduct a watershed assessment of the Sucker Brook sub-basin in order identify projects that will improve water quality in the lake. As a result of Tropical Storm Irene, … Continue reading
As we celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month, we want to again highlight important findings about Vermont lakes, which were summarized in a blog post earlier in the spring, as well as the volunteers that helped to produce these results. Vermont ranks among the leading states in the nation for clear lakes according to research published in … Continue reading
Even before Tropical Storm Irene, members of the Lake Rescue Association (LRA) were concerned about the amount of sediment accumulating in the lake they cherished. They undertook studies to determine sources of excess sediments entering the chain of lakes fed by the Black River: Amherst, Echo, Rescue, and Pauline. While there are a number of … Continue reading
Are you interested in the condition of surface waters in your area? Would you like a one-stop shop to find water data for Vermont? Welcome to V-IWIS, Vermont’s new Integrated Watershed Information System. “IWIS” was built to provide users access to all sorts of water chemistry, quality, and biomonitoring data from the Watershed Management Division’s … Continue reading
June 16th was a historic day and one to celebrate. Governor Peter Shumlin stood along the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington and in St. Albans – surrounded by municipal officials, farmers, legislators, business and environmental advocates in both locations – to sign the Vermont Clean Water Bill into law. The signing of the bill … Continue reading
An afternoon at the Ryegate town beach one year after the Ticklenaked Pond alum treatment Last May, the town of Ryegate worked with contractor Aquatic Control Technology to apply alum and aluminum sulfate to targeted areas of Ticklenaked Pond with funding provided by an Ecosystem Restoration Grant. This treatment was the culmination of more than … Continue reading
The Agencies of Natural Resources, Commerce and Community Development, Transportation and Administration recently released their respective annual progress reports on advancing the use of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) within their organizations. Rain and snowmelt on developed land typically turns into costly, pollutant-laden stormwater runoff. Waterways can become polluted, fish and wildlife suffer, and our living … Continue reading
Want to see a lovely wilderness lake? Hike 2.5 miles along a gently sloping class 4 road to Little Pond in Woodford, VT. This clear shallow lake is a gem tucked into the south western corner of VT, part of the Glastenbury wilderness. Beaver, spotted newts, green frogs and 45 different bird species are known … Continue reading
The Watershed Management Division is holding two additional public comment meetings in July to gather feedback on the Draft North Lake Champlain Basin Tactical Basin Plan. Tactical basin plans identify priority actions necessary to protect, maintain, enhance, and restore Vermont’s surface waters, in fulfillment of state laws including the newly passed Vermont Clean Water Act. … Continue reading
