The Watershed Management Division (WSMD) is asking Vermonters to report when lakes and ponds lose their ice cover, also known as the “ice-out date.” Once a lake or pond is completely free of ice from shore to shore, WSMD scientists can begin their spring water quality sampling efforts. The ice-out data also helps scientists track … Continue reading
The VTDEC Lakes and Ponds Program is launching a new Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Grant in Aid Environmental Stewardship Program for 2021 to assist partners throughout Vermont to help prevent new introductions of aquatic invasive species and manage long term infestations. Learn more about applying and the program here. The deadline for submission is 4:00 … Continue reading
The Bennington County Conservation District (BCCD), Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Battenkill Watershed Association have been working over the past several months to create a community-wide outreach effort around river stewardship. Focused on the Battenkill and its tributaries, this effort seeks to raise landowner awareness of best management practices and practical ways to improve river … Continue reading
The Town of Clarendon has known for several years that it had major problems with erosion on one of its steepest byways, Quarterline Road. With slopes as high as 17% and five contiguous segments that didn’t meet Municipal General Roads Permit standards, the town knew it had to do something. But it was at a … Continue reading
With just 260 residents and fewer than 3 miles of hydrologically connected roads, Mt. Tabor wasn’t sure it could benefit from the Grants in Aid Program. However, after a recent road erosion inventory, it was clear that that the town had several problem culverts. One of them, on Brooklyn Road, was failing. It was clogged … Continue reading
The Windham Conservation District is excited to be partnering with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to offer a free webinar on dam safety and dam ownership rules on October 6 at 6:30 PM. New administrative dam safety rules took effect in the State of Vermont on August 1 (10 V.S.A. Chapter 43), including new … Continue reading
The Storm Smart program is now available for all homeowners and property managers across the Winooski watershed! Storm Smart is a free program that helps people make their homes, driveways, and yards better able to ‘soak up the storm’ so each property builds flood resilience, protects biodiversity, and keeps rivers clean. Developed and launched in … Continue reading
When it comes to flooding, Brandon has seen its share. Tropical Storm Irene was disastrous for the town and the Neshobe River has a long history of overflowing its banks. The most recent flood was July 1, 2017 after a severe summer rainstorm. These kinds of downpours that lead to flooding are becoming more commonplace … Continue reading
On July 8, 2020, “ground was broken” on a Design Implementation Block Grant (DIBG) project in Pittsford. This project is for a 100% design of a stormwater bioretention system to capture excess runoff coming from a school ballfield, a paved street, the parcel housing the town garage and town fire department, and the yard of … Continue reading
Did you know that the LaPlatte River (which passes through Hinesburg, Charlotte, and Shelburne, emptying into Lake Champlain at Shelburne Bay) has fair or poor water quality (consistently surpassing the state’s allowed levels for phosphorus), and the lower portions are impaired for E. coli (bacteria)? One of the reasons for this poor water quality is … Continue reading
