Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to comment on the draft Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) for the Upper Connecticut River (also known as Basin 16). DEC completed the plan with local nonprofits, regional planners, town officials, and scientists. The plan outlines more than 40 ways to restore and protect rivers, lakes, and wetlands within a portion of Vermont’s Connecticut River Basin, covering towns from Waterford to Canaan.
Members of the public can review and comment on the draft plan from June 15 to July 15, 2026. DEC will host a hybrid public meeting to present the plan and hear comments from community members and stakeholders:
June 23, 2026 – 5:30 PM
- In-Person: Canaan Town Hall, 318 Christian Hill, Canaan, VT
- Virtual Access through Microsoft Teams
“We invite the public to review and comment on the draft plan for the Upper Connecticut River,” said DEC Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “Public participation is critical to the success of each tactical basin plan, helping us to advance Vermont’s clean water goals in ways that are also responsive to local needs.”
Tactical basin plans serve as a five-year roadmap and detail how DEC will continue to:
- Improve water quality, restore aquatic habitat, and prevent future pollution throughout the basin, and
- Work alongside farmers, towns, conservation districts, landowners, watershed groups, regional planning commissions, and nonprofits to advance clean water projects and watershed resilience.
The draft plan for the Upper Connecticut River Basin highlights measures to safeguard water quality during agricultural, development, wastewater, and natural resources activities. For example, DEC-funded Lake Watershed Action Plans outline a range of projects. Lakeshore projects can reduce erosion and enhance habitat by using no mow zones and shoreline best practices. Other projects can reduce stormwater runoff by using underground infiltration systems.
"The Tactical Basin Plan is a very helpful consolidation of the available information about the Upper Connecticut watershed,” said Sam Mayne, District Manager for the Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District. “The information included in it helps us make the case for watershed restoration projects in our area that restore fish and wildlife habitat, maintain high water quality, and build resilient infrastructure. It can be a critical tool in securing funding to complete these projects."
Visit the Basin 16 webpage to learn more about how to comment, join the meetings, view the draft plan, or find a map-based plan summary (also known as a Story Map). You can also contact the Watershed Planner, Ben Copans, at [email protected] or 802-490-6143 for more information.
The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for protecting Vermont's natural resources and safeguarding human health for the benefit of this and future generations. Visit dec.vermont.gov and follow the Department of Environmental Conservation on Facebook and Instagram.
A map of the Upper Connecticut Basin highlighting major streams, lakes, and drainages.
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Website.
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