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
YOU can take part in this effort and keep a safe 6 ft social distance. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is embarking on increasing the amount of wetland mapping within the Otter, Little Otter, and Lewis Creek watersheds. Recent availability of high-resolution air photos and LIDAR elevation data make it possible to map wetlands … Continue reading
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) is seeking surface water monitoring project proposals for the 2020 field season. Up to $76,000 in laboratory analysis fees is available for volunteer-based water quality monitoring through the LaRosa Partnership Program and the Vermont Agriculture and Environmental Laboratory. VTDEC recognizes that such fees are one of the most … Continue reading
We’ve learned so much about the importance of wetlands throughout American history! Thankfully, a greater awareness about the 50% loss of wetlands nationwide lead to greater conservation efforts to protect the remainder. Since then wetland losses have drastically slowed down and Vermont’s water quality and wildlife have benefited from an increase in wetland restoration efforts. … Continue reading
As Vermont prepares to significantly increase the funds available for clean water projects, the state’s Clean Water Board is reaching out to Vermonters, asking them to weigh in on the best way to allocate funds. Public input will help the Clean Water Board make its budget recommendation, representing approximately $33 million of the $50 million … Continue reading
The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission began outreach for the Public-Private Partnership opportunity (P3) on behalf of Watershed Consulting Associates, LLC in May of 2019. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) retained Watershed Consulting Associates for this project to help meet the recent stormwater permit requirement for parcels with greater than 3 acres of … Continue reading
Summer may be a little slow getting started this year, but we know it’s coming! In preparation for those sunny days on the water, the VT DEC and partners are actively recruiting and training citizen scientists to become cyanobacteria monitors. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic aquatic organisms found in just about every lake, pond, and river across … Continue reading
With the arrival of May, boaters throughout Vermont will be looking ahead to warm days and opportunities to get out on the water. At the same time, public access greeters are getting ready to station themselves at public boat launches across the state. With the ultimate goal of preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species … Continue reading
By Amy Picotte Amy Picotte is a scientist with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation where she works as the Vermont Lake Wise Coordinator and Lakeshore Manager. With the drama of March behind us, soggier but warmer April days deliver opportunities to dust off the porch furniture and prepare for new planting and landscaping projects. … Continue reading
If you were planning a clean water project, would you know who to contact to ensure the project would not harm natural resources, such as lakes, wetlands, and rivers? If your answer is no, we’ve developed a new tool that will provide you with that information. The only data you need to supply is a … Continue reading
