Over the next few weeks, scientists from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and local nonprofit organizations will be hosting two meetings for the public to learn about the Basin 2 & 4 tactical plan and provide comments and suggestions.
October 27 – In-person meeting
- Wells Town Office, 1064 Vermont Route 30, Wells, VT 05774
- 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
November 3 – Virtual meeting
- Microsoft Teams Link, or call in: +1 802-828-7667, 234016973#
- 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Angie Allen, a watershed planner with the state of Vermont’s DEC, will be presenting information about the draft, and soliciting feedback from attendees. Angie works in several watersheds in southern Vermont, but these meetings will focus on the draft plan for Basin 2 (Poultney Mettowee) and Basin 4 (tributaries that drain directly to South Lake Champlain). Basin 2 also contains Lake St. Catherine, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Hortonia, Lake Beebe, Echo Lake, Sunrise and Sunset Lakes, Glenn Lake, and Burr Pond.
From the DEC's Tactical Basin Planning StoryMap website, a tactical basin plan is:
"Tactical Basin Plans (TBP) are strategic guidebooks for achieving watershed health. They identify surface waters that are in need of restoration and protection and outline a list of actions to achieve water quality goals. The plans also identify the partners and funding critical to implementing the actions."
The plan contains three key elements:
- A health assessment of the rivers, lakes, and wetlands within the South Lake Champlain and Poultney-Mettowee River watersheds.
- 62 strategies to improve water quality, including methods to decrease runoff from farms and roads, protect and restore water bodies, and limit overflows from wastewater treatment facilities.
- Tips for landowners, watershed organizations, and towns interested in receiving funding and technical assistance to help protect and restore water resources.
You can read the draft plan here: 2022 South Lake Champlain Basin 2 & 4 Tactical Basin Plan Draft
The Lake St. Catherine Association administers and partners on many effective water quality programs for the Lake St. Catherine watershed including: outreach and education on lake issues, water testing, Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, Milfoil Control, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention, and the upcoming Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.
As a shoreline homeowner, or someone who cares about Lake St. Catherine, your participation in these meetings is very much appreciated!
We hope to see you at the in-person meeting at the Wells Town Hall on October 27th, or online on November 3rd.
