Ice heaving, ice jacking or ice push are all names for the same, fairly common winter event on Vermont lakeshores. And, mild winters, like this past one in 2016, with low snow coverage combined with frequent freeze/thaw events can cause some of the more severe ice damage along shorelands. Sheets of ice pushing and expanding … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2016
Watersheds United Vermont Brings Watershed Organizations and State Together to Talk Water Quality
On Wednesday, April 13, members of watershed organizations from across Vermont convened to discuss strategies to improve water quality from the Champlain Basin to the White River Watershed and beyond. Lyn Munno and Watersheds United Vermont hosted its spring meeting at the State Office Complex in Waterbury that brought together many different stakeholders involved in … Continue reading
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Symposium Connects Students and Environmental Professionals
“I want to end by saying two things…it’s possible to do very good things in very bad places and it’s possible to go carbon net-positive and have a grand time while doing it.” UVM Professor Emeritus John Todd ended his keynote speech at the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Symposium with these inspiring words. The event brought … Continue reading
Clean Water Advisory Committee at Heart of Chittenden County RPC’s Water Quality Work
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) has a long tradition of using Committees to help oversee its work program and make sure that it is responsive to the needs of its municipalities. In addition to its formal Commission which sets broad policy, the CCRPC has relied on its Transportation Advisory Committee and Planning Advisory … Continue reading
Please Don’t P in Our Water!
With warm weather and sunshine finally looking like a reality for Vermont, many of us will be jotting down our lawn and garden to-do lists. As the grass greens up, lawn work often hits the top of the list. As you make your plans, don’t forget that Vermont passed a law in 2012 which prohibits … Continue reading
Watershed Scientists Assist in PFOA Response by Testing Water, Sediment & Fish
Scientists from the Watershed Management Division have been actively assisting the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation in responding to the identification of “PFOA” contamination in drinking water wells near Bennington, Vermont. Information about this chemical, DEC’s response to its discovery in the vicinity of Bennington and Pownal, and resources for prospectively affected individuals, may be … Continue reading
Aquatic Invasive Species in Hot Water
For the past 13 years, Shadow Lake in Glover has had the only hot water, high pressure watercraft decontamination station in the state. The Shadow Lake Association in partnership with the Town of Glover has operated this unit since 2003, and has encouraged washing of all watercraft before launching into the lake. One of their … Continue reading
Amphibians on the Move – Watch Out!
Spring is the time of awakening. Animals and insects start moving and plants begin to revive. It may not feel like it, but it’s warming up outside. A few species in particular begin migrating when it’s warm, around 40° F. That might not feel warm to us, but it’s the ideal temperature for frogs and … Continue reading
Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Service
On Monday April 4th and Tuesday April 5th AmeriCorps members participated in Mayor’s Recognition Day of National Service in Burlington, St. Albans, and Montpelier. AmeriCorps members met with Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, St. Albans Mayor Liz Gamache, Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon. AmeriCorps members serving in Montpelier spent Tuesday morning at … Continue reading
Culvert Inventories Help Towns Plan for Future Improvements
During the fall of 2015, the Lamoille County Planning Commission, LCPC, staff conducted extensive fieldwork to complete an updated culvert inventory for the town of Stowe. The inventory was funded through LCPC’s annual Transportation Planning Initiative agreement with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The inventory involved both mapping and assessing the current condition of culverts … Continue reading