On Martin Luther King, Jr. day AmeriCorps members around the state of Vermont, and the country, participated in a day of service. Instead of taking a day off, the Environmental and Career Opportunity (ECO) AmeriCorps members caravanned to Bennington, VT to help Ducks Unlimited volunteers remove invasive plant species, clear trails, and hang Wood Duck … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2016
Now Accepting Applications – Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence
Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence. The deadline for submitting an application is March 15, 2016. Applications must be received electronically and are available for download here. The annual award honors the actions taken by Vermonters to conserve and protect natural resources, prevent pollution and promote sustainability. Applications … Continue reading
New Information Calls Didymo’s “Invasive” Status Into Question
For years, Didymosphenia geminata (Didymo) has been on many states’ high-priority aquatic invasive species list. Didymo, a freshwater diatom, has the potential to bloom, forming dense mats on stream and river bottoms making recreational activities difficult and giving affected waterways an unsightly appearance. Didymo blooms began in Canada in the late 1980s, and have since … Continue reading
Conservation Districts Successfully Complete Trees for Streams Program
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts (VACD) a $149,761 grant with FY2014 Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) funds to develop a statewide Trees for Streams (TFS) program aimed at protecting riparian and shoreline areas to improve Vermont’s water quality and promote better management of near-water land resources. Building upon … Continue reading
Sustainable Sidewalks: Reducing Stormwater Runoff, Improving Walkability and Urban Tree Canopy Health in Downtown Burlington
With the assistance of a $11,890 grant from the Vermont Department of Conservation’s Ecosystem Restoration Program, the City of Burlington designed and installed a stormwater sidewalk which fully disconnects a 2010 sq. ft. area of the sidewalk right of way. This section of sidewalk was very degraded and presented many tripping hazards to pedestrians. Because … Continue reading
Tour of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Facilities at Smugglers’ Notch Resort
On October 15, 2015, Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC) and Smugglers’ Notch Resort teamed up for a presentation and tour of Green Stormwater Infrastructure facilities at the Resort. Smugglers’ Notch Resort Planning Manager Dan Maxon participated on behalf of the Resort, leading a walking tour of improvements made by the Resort over the years to … Continue reading
How Ready Are We for an Oil Spill into Lake Champlain?
The Joint Lake Champlain Citizens Advisory Committees of Vermont and New York (VTCAC and NYCAC) hosted a special panel discussion for federal and state partners responsible for emergency responses to potential spills of oil and other contaminants transported by rail along and across Lake Champlain and its tributaries. Representatives from United States Environmental Protection Agency … Continue reading