Vermont Business Magazine As part of statewide efforts to clean up Lake Champlain, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) this year is updating the Tactical Basin Plan for the South Lake Champlain Basin that includes the Poultney-Mettowee River watersheds. A meeting will be held March 29, 2016 beginning at 6 pm at The Meeting House, 348 Bentley Avenue, Poultney (just across from Green Mountain College). The Rutland County towns of Danby, Pawlet, Tinmouth, Wells, Middletown Springs, Poultney, Castleton, West Rutland, Pittsford, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, West Haven, Benson, and Sudbury are part of the South Lake Basin (as are a handful of towns in Addison County).
The revised Tactical Basin Plan will identify the highest priority water quality protection and restoration actions (implementation projects) in order to meet the target phosphorus load reductions necessary to achieve the goals of the Lake Champlain Restoration Plan (the Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL) as well as the provisions of the Vermont Clean Water Act.
“The goal is to reduce sediment and nutrient (such as phosphorus) pollution from six major sources: agricultural runoff, stormwater from developed lands, stormwater from roads, as well as the greater protection of river corridors and floodplains, wetlands, and forested lands. This is an all-in approach.” Says Ethan Swift, VTDEC Watershed Coordinator leading the planning effort for the South Lake.
These non-point sources of pollutants originating in Vermont make up 66% of the total phosphorus load going into the lake. The State of New York and Province of Quebec are also in the process of implementing their respective clean-up plans related to the TMDL.
The new Tactical Basin Plan process will rely on refreshed water quality monitoring and assessment data to assist stakeholders in identifying water quality issues, emerging trends, and specific priority actions.
This initial meeting on the South Lake Tactical Basin Plan will also cover the various roles towns and individuals will play in implementing this Vermont Clean Water Initiative to clean up local waterways as well as Lake Champlain. The public is also invited to participate in this important water quality discussion.
