Impervious surfaces in urban settings are inevitable as the natural landscape is replaced by streets, buildings, houses and parking lots. This built environment results in reduced infiltration during heavy rain storms. As a result, stormwater can overwhelm urban drainage systems and result in street flooding and pollutants in streams. There are a number of places … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: May 2016
Revisiting the Removal of an Old Dam
In July 2012, staff from the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) came upon an old, deadbeat dam on the Wells River in Groton, VT. After consulting with Ben Copans of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Len Gerardi of the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DF&W), CRWC began meeting with the dam owner (Vermont … Continue reading
Stop! Invasive Species Forces Closure of Scott’s Cove
As of Monday May 23, 2016 Scott’s Cove, which drains into Lake Memphremagog in Newport, VT, is temporarily closed due to an invasive species called starry stonewort. All persons and watercraft are asked to stay out of the cove until the Department of Environmental Conservation Lakes and Ponds program is able to determine the best … Continue reading
Tree Planting for Resilience
The weather couldn’t have been better for a day of tree planting. With the sun shining and the temperature in the mid-60s a group of ECO AmeriCorps members, the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District, Rockingham Conservation Commission, Saxtons River Permaculture Project, Bellows Falls Union High School, the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance and local volunteers … Continue reading
Save the Date – June 3rd Vermont’s Annual Lake Seminar
The 12th Annual Vermont Lake Seminar will be held on Friday June 3, 2016 at the Education Center at Kehoe on Lake Bomoseen. The Lakes and Ponds Program of the VT Watershed Management Division organizes this event each year, in conjunction with the Vermont Federation of Lakes and Ponds, to celebrate lakes and to encourage … Continue reading
Picking Up Pet Waste to Protect Our Waters
Proceeds from the Vermont Conservation License Plate generate funds that are distributed by the departments of Environmental Conservation and Fish and Wildlife under the Watershed Grants Program. Using watershed grant funds issued by DEC and DF+W in 2015, the Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) coordinated a series of “April Stools’ Day” and spring clean-up events at … Continue reading
Cover Crops Benefit Farms, Waters and the Climate
This spring, we’re seeing many beautiful green carpets amidst what’s left of last year’s cornstalks across Vermont. These cover crops are one of the conservation practices promoted and supported by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). This week, NRCS announced that in the Pike River watershed alone, they anticipate funding 1,000 acres of cover crop … Continue reading
