South Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Plan Overview
2022 October Draft for Public Comment
The reader will see buttons like the one above throughout this text. The buttons link to corresponding sections in the 2022 Draft South Lake Tactical Basin Plan.
What is a Basin?
A basin is an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. The terms ‘basin’ and ‘watershed’ are used interchangeably in this Story Map. The South Lake watershed is also referred to as Basin 2 & 4.
Source: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=23634
What is a Tactical Basin Plan?
Tactical basin plans (TBPs) are developed in accordance with the Vermont Surface Water Management Strategy (VSWMS) and the Vermont Water Quality Standards (VWQS) to protect, maintain, enhance, and restore the biological, chemical, and physical integrity of Vermont’s water resources.
The basin-specific water quality goals, objectives, strategies, and projects described in the TBPs aim to protect public health and safety and ensure public use and enjoyment of VT waters and their ecological health.
Simply put, a Tactical Basin Plan is strategic guidebook, produced by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, to protect, maintain, enhance, and restore Vermont’s surface waters.
Basin planners collaborate with state, federal, and local partners and stakeholders to improve and protect water quality throughout the state. This collaboration is crucial to the health of our waters.
Collaborators include the Agency of Agriculture, Farm & Markets (AAFM), the Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Forest Parks and Recreation (FPR), and Fish and Wildlife (FWD), Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs), Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCDs), local watershed groups, non-profit organizations, municipalities, town boards and commissions.
5-Year Cycle
The TBP process allows for the issuance of plans for Vermont's 15 planning basins every 5 years.
The Basin Planning Process
The basin planning process includes 5 major steps:
- Monitor water quality.
- Analyze water quality results.
- Identify strategies and projects to protect and restore waters.
- Gather and incorporate public input on the plan and finalize the plan.
- Implement and track plan priorities (which is ongoing throughout the planning cycle).
Why should I care?
Water Quality Matters
There are many reasons to care about basin plans. They provide 5-year updates on the water quality where you live and recreate and provide a list of strategies to protect and restore your local waters.
Knowing and addressing the water quality issues in your watershed will protect your community and your family in the near- and long-term.
All of us have memories that relate to a positive experience of healthy river, stream, lake, pond, or wetland system.
Tactical Basin Plans (TBPs) are written to preserve those experiences for future generations. The work of a TBP is a community effort.
Identification of Funding Priorities
During the Tactical Basin Planning process a list of priority actions are identified for State Clean Water Funding.
This project identification process helps to prioritize where funding should be focused.
The projects in the plan can be referenced when applying for other state, non-profit, and federal funding sources.
Between SFY 2016-2021, a total of $12,822,459 was awarded in the basin for Clean Water Projects. The majority of those funds went to developed lands (roads), and agriculture. Some of these projects will be highlighted here.
Working together to identify our most cost-effective clean water solutions will allow us to get the biggest bang for our buck.
The accompanying graphic was taken from the annual Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2021 Performance (CWIP) Report, which reports on project outcomes and nutrient reductions statewide. Click on the graphic for a closer look.
(Image source: Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2021 Performance Report, DEC)
Tell Me About Basin 2 & 4
Basin 2&4 Overview
The South Lake Champlain Basin is comprised of Basin 2 (Poultney and Mettowee) and Basin 4 (direct tributaries to southern Lake Champlain).
The entire watershed spans 23 towns draining portions of Addison, Bennington, and Rutland Counties. The river basin comprises 15 sub-basins, which include the Poultney River, East Creek, Hubbardton River, Castleton River, and many other tributaries.
Planning information is available on the Basin 2&4 web page at https://dec.vermont.gov/water-investment/watershed-planning/tactical-basin-planning/basin4.
The accompanying map shows the boundary of Basin 2&4 and the major sub-basins and towns.
Rivers
Basin 2 has two major tributaries, the Poultney River and the Mettowee River.
The Poultney River is 40 miles long and drains an area of 236 square miles and the Mettowee River is 17 miles long and drains an area of 137 square miles in Vermont.
Within Basin 4, the Lower Champlain Direct drainages, the most significant sub-watershed is the East Creek, which drains an area of 32 square miles and is comprised of two major forks (North and South) as well as several smaller tributaries.
In addition, there are approximately a dozen smaller tributaries within the Lower Champlain Direct drainage, including Braisted Brook, Horton Marsh Brook, Hospital Creek, and Whitney Creek.
Photo: East Creek in Orwell as it flows into the lake. (Photo courtesy of Mollie Klepack)
Lakes
There are a total of 28 lakes and ponds that are 20 acres or larger in the South Lake Champlain Basin. Lake Bomoseen, Lake St. Catherine, and Lake Hortonia are by far the largest with surface areas of 2,425, 885, and 500 acres, respectively.
Photo: Lake Bomoseen State Park swimming area. A Lake Watershed Action Plan is prioritized for Lake Bomoseen in this plan. (Photo: https://vtstateparks.com/bomoseen.html)
Wetlands
Ward Marsh is the only wetland with a Class I wetland petition in the basin. In 2022, Ward Marsh was petitioned as a Class I Wetland by the Town of West Haven with support from the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, because of the exemplary and irreplaceable functions and values it provides on the landscape.
The marsh is ~165 acres in West Haven, is partially owned/managed by the FWD and TNC, and extends onto adjacent private lands. One noteworthy function is that Ward Marsh is hydrologically connected to the Poultney River and regularly receives and stores flood waters thereby preventing downstream flood damage.
Photos: Ward Marsh mapping (Photo courtesy of Zapata Courage, DEC Wetlands)
What have we accomplished?
Water Quality Success
With help from state, federal, and local organizations and volunteers, we've accomplished a lot since the 2017 plan!
The 2017 Basin 2&4 Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) included 67 strategies to pursue. Ninety-four percent of the strategies identified in the 2017 TBP are active or complete.
The Basin 2&4 report card, to be included in the Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2022 Performance Report , will include a list of detailed updates for each strategy identified in the 2017 Plan.
The result of this work is reflected in the maintenance of good water quality in the basin and the improvement of water quality in priority waters.
Examples of Projects Completed in Basin 2&4
The following slides provide a sampling of water quality projects that were pursued in Basin 2 & 4 from 2017 to 2022. The lists are not exhaustive.
Take a tour of the Watershed Projects Database and Clean Water Projects Explorer using the following Youtube video. Learn how to find clean water projects in your town that are ready for development.
YouTube
Video by: Danielle Owczarski
Rivers
- A total of 45 macroinvertebrate assessments and 26 fish sampling events were completed.
- Castleton and Pawlet have adopted municipal river corridor protections. Orwell, West Rutland, Rupert, and Dorset have interim protections.
- All towns have adopted the 2019 Town Road and Bridge Standards.
- 9 priority projects were identified in the Castleton RCP and PMNRCD will begin project development in 2023/4.
- 12,967 linear feet and 125.93 acres of riparian corridor buffer were planted/restored using state funds. Large-scale plantings were completed in the Flower Brook watershed, along the Indian River, and on Lewis Brook. Small-scale plantings were completed along tributaries of the Mettowee and Poultney Rivers.
- 10.75 acres of floodplain were reconnected/restored using state funds.
- There are several ongoing or planned dam removals in the basin. A recent collaboration resulted in the removal of the Pelletier Dam in Castleton on North Breton Brook.
Photo: Poultney River in winter. Source: PMNRCD Facebook page
Lakes & Wetlands
- Lake SWMPs are complete for Beebe, Bomoseen, Hortonia, Burr, Lake St. Catherine.
- Lake Watershed Action Plan is underway for Lake St. Catherine and one is prioritized for Lake Bomoseen.
- 8 Lake Wise assessments are complete for Lake Bomoseen and more are planned.
- LSCA received funds to implement 10 projects identified in Lake Wise assessments and PMNRCD received funds to implement 6 projects identified in Lake Wise assessments. Working together, they implemented ≈ 20 projects in 2020-21.
- A 2017 shoreline planting project was implemented at Bomoseen State Park. Plantings were focused in areas being impacted by camping and recreation and fencing was installed to redirect foot traffic and protect the newly planted areas.
- PMNRCD is a regional partner and administers ANC GIA grants for Lake Bomoseen, Echo Lake, and Lake Beebe.
- In September 2022, the LPP released new Shoreland Best Management Practices guide to help property owners protect and restore lakeshore properties.
- Ward Marsh has a pending Class I wetland petition.
- 368 properties or projects were reviewed by the Wetlands Program. In addition, the District Wetland Ecologist conducted ≈ 580 site visits and hosted 7 education & outreach events with 131 attendees in the basin.
Photo: Kayaking on Lake St. Catherine (https://vtstateparks.com/catherine.html)
Developed Lands
- 3 stormwater master plans completed since 2017. They are Poultney River SWMP, Castleton Headwaters SWMP, and Wells River and Lake St. Catherine SWMP.
- 5 stormwater mapping reports completed in 5 towns since 2017.
- Over 63 priority projects identified in stormwater master plans/reports since 2017.
- Road Erosion Inventories (REIs) have been completed in all towns since 2017.
- Since 2017, 15,464 hydrologically connected road were segments inventoried, 10,064 hydrologically connected road segments meet MRGP standards, 5,730 hydrologically connected road segments were identified for improvements, and 488,277 linear feet of road drainage were improved in the basin.
Photo: Dorset Hill Road GIA road project
Agriculture
- Conservation tillage, cover cropping, and manure injection practices were the most popular field BMPs in the basin.
- 3,698 acres of agricultural land were treated by conservation practices in the basin.
- 37 education and outreach and technical assistance (TA) meetings reached 1,290 participants in the basin.
- PMNRCD created an internal tracking system, surveyed the farming community, and is assisting 25 farms that need NMPs. PMNRCD assists an additional 10 farms annually with NMP updates.
Photo: A farm field where no-till planting and cover cropping are applied. Cover cropping prevents erosion of sediment and nutrients into surface waters and improves soil physical and biological properties. The signs in this photo are offered by the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts. (Photo by Jeannie Bartlett)
What should be protected?
In order to protect VT surface waters and their designated uses, the VT Water Quality Standards (VWQS) establish water quality classes and associated management objectives.
In addition to the pathways provided by the VWQS, tactical basin plans identify opportunities to increase protection of high-quality waters through land stewardship programs, local protection efforts, conservation easements, and land acquisition.
As specified in the VWQS, all surface waters are managed to full support of designated uses valued by the public at a level of Class B(2) (i.e., good condition) or better.
- Designated Uses Include: swimming, boating, fishing, aquatic biota, aquatic habitat, aesthetics, drinking water source, and irrigation
The plan identifies surface waters where monitoring data indicate conditions may meet or exceed the VWQS objectives for A(1) and B(1) designated uses.
These high-quality waters may be protected by the anti-degradation policy of the VWQS or by upward reclassification through one of the following protection pathways:
- Reclassification of surface waters
- Class I Wetland designation
- Outstanding Resource Waters designation
Basin 2 & 4 Waters that Exceed Expectations
Surface waters in Basin 2 & 4 that meet or exceed water quality standards are numerous. Waters included in the protection priorities are those with monitoring data to support their potential status. More of these waters may exist but need more data to support their status.
- The lower Poultney River is an ORW for natural, cultural, and scenic values.
- 3 rivers meet B(1) aquatic biota, 11 for B(1) fishing
- 1 lake meets A(1) aesthetics
- 1 wetland meets criteria for a Class I wetland
- 1 for further study as Class I wetland candidate
- 7 rivers and 1 lake are potential A(1) or B(1) reclassification candidates in need of additional monitoring.
- 4 waters are designated as A(2) public water sources, but three are abandoned.
The accompanying map shows the priority B1 rivers for protection. Click on the map to enlarge.
What should be restored?
Priority Waters for Restoration
The VT Department of Environmental Conservation (VDEC) monitors and assesses the chemical, physical, and biological status of individual surface waters to determine if they meet the VT Water Quality Standards (VWQS) per the 2019 Vermont Surface Water Assessment and Listing Methodology.
Restoration Priorities
For the purposes of identifying and tracking important water quality problems where the VWQS are not met, VDEC has developed the Vermont Priority Waters List.
These priority waters fall into one of two categories:
- Impaired waters
- Altered waters
Impaired waters include Part A - 303(d), where a Total Maximum Daily Load Plan (TMDL) is required, Part B - Alternative, where no TMDL is required because other pollution control mechanisms are in place, and Part D - TMDL, where a TMDL has been approved by EPA.
Altered waters are those waters where aquatic habitat or other designated uses are degraded by exotic species or where hydrologic factors lead to alteration from modified flow regimes.
6 rivers are Impaired (3 on 303(d) list and 3 with TMDLs). Primary pollutants of concern are nutrients, E. coli, and mercury in fish tissue.
4 lakes segments are impaired (all have TMDLs). Primary pollutants of concern are phosphorus and mercury in fish tissue.
15 AIS altered lakes, 4 AIS altered streams. Primary species of concern are Eurasian Watermilfoil, Water Chestnut, and Zebra Mussel.
1 stream is flow altered
The accompanying map shows the priority rivers for restoration. Click on the map to enlarge.
Reducing Phosphorus to Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain P TMDL Phase 3
The Phase 3 Implementation Plan to meet the goals of the Lake Champlain Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is included in the 2022 Draft South Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Plan.
How We Are Reducing Phosphorus
Vermont is reducing phosphorus through regulatory and non-regulatory initiatives in all sectors including developed lands, agricultural lands, forests, streams, wetlands, lakes, and wastewater.
The State bears the ultimate responsibility to ensure that the overall goals for phosphorus reduction plans are achieved. Individual permit-holders, such as municipalities or individual landowners, will continue to be responsible for meeting regulatory requirements.
Clean Water Service Providers will be responsible for achieving non-regulatory water pollution reductions.
Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs)
Act 76 (2019) was initiated to create the funding and project delivery framework to ensure essential water quality projects achieve Vermont’s clean water goals.
Act 76 established new regional organizations called clean water service providers (CWSP). CWSPs were recently named in each major watershed to identify, implement and maintain local water quality projects.
The CWSP for Basin 2 & 4 is shared by PMNRCD and RRPC.
Basin Water Quality Councils
CWSPs are responsible for partnering with Basin Water Quality Councils (BWQC) to identify, implement, operate, and maintain non-regulatory projects to meet non-regulatory interim phosphorus reduction targets.
BWQCs consist of representatives from Regional Planning Commissions, Natural Resource Conservation Districts, Watershed Organizations, Municipalities, and Local Conservation Organizations.
The accompanying image shows the potential make-up and distribution of Clean Water Service Providers and Basin Water Quality Councils.
5-Year Phosphorus Reduction Targets
The Phase 3 plan lays out estimated total phosphorus (TP) reductions for the next 5 years for each sector in Basin 2 & 4. DEC will prescribe a subset of the Stormwater, Road, River, and Agriculture reductions to the CWSPs along with funding for implementation.
The implementation table in the tactical basin plan outlines sector-based strategies to achieve those targets to reduce phosphorus to Lake Champlain, with a focus on voluntary actions to be carried out by watershed partners and the Basin’s Clean Water Service Provider.
The implementation table includes a list of 62 geographically explicit strategies and 45 monitoring priorities for the next 5 years.
The accompanying graphic is a summary table of prospective five-year and estimated final year (2036) total phosphorus reduction targets (kg/yr) for Basin 2 & 4.
Measuring Progress Towards TMDL Targets
Reductions have generally increased annually for each sector. Each year in the bar chart shows the percent of the final target (total TMDL reduction due in 2036) achieved. The totals are not cumulative, and the same volume of reduction must be achieved each year to maintain the 2036 target.
Within these 5 years, the agriculture sector is meeting 27.9% of the final target for fields and pastures and 34.8% of the final target for barnyard production areas.
The developed lands sector is meeting 11.8% of their final target.
The Agency expects to see increases in reductions across all sectors in the next five years and beyond as associated regulatory programs are implemented more comprehensively and reduction efficiency methodologies are developed and established for all clean water project types.
The accompanying graphic shows the Basin 2 & 4 TMDL 2036 target achieved annually for each sector from 2017 to 2021.
What are the major strategies?
Strategies by Sector
Tactical basin plans address water quality by sector consistent with the Clean Water Initiative Program’s annual Performance Report.
These sectors include:
- Agriculture
- Developed Lands - Stormwater & Roads
- Wastewater
- Natural Resources - Rivers, Lakes, Wetlands, and Forests
Agriculture Strategies
- Convene annual agricultural water quality partnership meetings.
- Implement Nutrient Management Plans and agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in priority watersheds.
- Develop and implement clean water projects on agricultural lands (e.g., Wetland Restoration and Easements, River Corridor Easement, Stream Restoration Project, Riparian Buffer Projects) to help achieve the Lake Champlain P TMDL target reductions.
- Develop and implement innovative projects on agricultural lands supported by VAAFM or CWSPs/BWQCs in consultation with VAAFM to help achieve Lake Champlain P TMDL target reductions.
- Provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to agricultural communities in priority watersheds.
- Support monitoring efforts to track results of practices applied in priority watersheds.
Focus Areas
McKenzie Brook, East Creek, Hubbardton River, Mettowee River
The accompanying image shows an example of cover cropping, which is one of the most beneficial and widely applied farm agronomic practices in the basin.
Stormwater Strategies
- Provide technical assistance and funding to develop and implement high-priority projects from stormwater master plans (SWMPs).
- Provide information to municipalities on DEC standards and training opportunities for operations and maintenance of installed stormwater BMPs.
- Encourage participation in the Green Schools Block Grant and support three-acre schools with funding and technical assistance for project development and implementation.
- Implement projects addressing vulnerabilities from flooding, severe rainstorms, and fluvial erosion from county and municipal All-Hazards Mitigation Plans.
Focus Areas
Dorset, Poultney River SWMP (Benson, West Haven, Middletown Springs, Fair Haven), Castleton Headwaters SWMP (Ira and West Rutland), Lake Bomoseen SWMP (Hubbardton and Castleton), Flower Brook SWMP (Pawlet, Tinmouth, Danby), Lake St. Catherine LWAP
The accompanying image displays stormwater runoff from a driveway going into Flower Brook. Photo by: Hilary Solomon
Road Strategies
- Provide support for towns and contractors to attend Road Roundtable Forums.
- Develop and implement high-priority road projects identified in Municipal Road General Permit (MRGP) road erosion inventories (REIs), lake watershed action plans (LWAPs), and SWMPs.
- Support outreach and funding for MRGP equipment for towns.
Focus Areas
Castleton, Pawlet, Poultney, Wells, Benson, Hubbardton, Middletown Springs, Orwell, West Haven, and Tinmouth
The accompanying image displays a road segments identified in a road erosion inventory and the implemented best practices of road crowning and a rock-lined ditch to capture sediment and disperse flow paths.
Wastewater Strategies
- Provide technical assistance and funding to towns interested in exploring and implementing village wastewater systems and septic replacement.
- Support and ensure monitoring and permit compliance for WWTFs.
Focus Areas
Hubbardton River Trib. #7 below the Benson WWTF
The accompanying image is of a treatment lagoon at a Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). There are six municipal facilities that are subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permits in the basin. All these facilities were issued new permits effective on July 1, 2019, with an expiration date of June 30, 2024.
River Strategies
- Provide technical assistance to help towns implement stronger protections for surface water in their town plans and municipal regulations.
- Work with towns to increase their Emergency Relief Assistance Funds (ERAF) rating.
- Develop and implement projects identified in Stream Geomorphic Assessments, River Corridor Plans, and Functioning Floodplain Initiative tool to achieve the Lake Champlain P TMDL target reductions.
- Scope, design, and implement high-priority bridge and culvert replacements to improve aquatic organism passage, stream geomorphic compatibility, and flood resilience.
Focus Areas
Castleton River, Mettowee River, Poultney-Hubbardton River, Poultney River tribs., and East Creek watersheds
The accompanying image is of a dam removal project. PMNRCD is working with multiple partners including TU, the USFS, USFWS, NRCS, and Vermont DEC to remove six barriers to fish passage from the Mettowee River in Dorset, Vermont.
Lake Strategies
- Develop LWAPs and implement priority projects.
- Implement high- to medium-priority projects identified in Lake SWMPs.
- Maintain and build the capacity for existing aquatic invasive species programs.
- Initiate stakeholder meetings to discuss fair to poor shoreland condition and Lake Wise Assessments on target shoreline properties.
- Support lay monitoring and tributary monitoring in lakes with increasing nutrient trends.
- Support Wastewater workshops (formerly Septic Socials).
Focus Areas
Lake St. Catherine and Little Lake, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Hortonia, Beebe Pond, Burr Pond, Sunrise and Sunset Lakes, Echo Lake
The accompanying photo shows installation of the drop-inlet at low point on eastern side of Grove St. / VT Rte 3 identified in the Lake St. Catherine SWMP.
Wetland Strategies
- Provide outreach and technical assistance for Class I wetland assessment, stakeholder discussions, and petition development where there is interest.
- Increase wetland size and function through restoration of wetlands. Prioritization of sites will be informed by the Wetland Restoration Potential scores on the ANR Atlas and assessments.
- Provide support to the Wetlands Program by publicizing volunteer wetland mapping workshops and training for the public.
Focus Areas
South Fork of East Creek watershed, Addison, Ferrisburgh, Bridport, Orwell, Shoreham
The accompanying image is of fall foliage in a wetland. Photo by: Rebecca Chalmers
Forest Strategies
- Develop forestland focused workgroups in priority watersheds to meet the Lake Champlain P TMDL target reductions.
- Implement forestry Acceptable Management Practices (AMPs) and natural resource restoration and conservation projects on state and private lands.
- Maintain and increase UVA enrolled forestland among eligible parcels by providing outreach and technical assistance to private landowners, foresters, and loggers to equip them with tools to apply, enroll, and manage forestland in accordance with program standards, including implementation of AMPs.
Focus Areas
Flower Brook watershed, Headwaters of Castleton, Poultney, and Mettowee Rivers, Lake St. Catherine (Lake St. Catherine State Park), Lake Bomoseen (Bomoseen State Park), Half Moon Pond (Half Moon Pond State Park), Pond Woods WMA
The accompanying images are before and after photos showing an eroded forest road and a restored stream channel on state forest lands .
How do I get involved?
Attend Tactical Basin Plan meetings, learn who your local watershed partners are and how your town is improving water quality, become familiarized with the most recent Tactical Basin Plan for your town, and connect with watershed partners and your town on how you can help.
If no watershed groups exist in your area, reach out to your basin planner.
Contact information for VDEC Basin Planners.
Submit your comments
Copies of the draft plan may be obtained through November 7 th , 2022 on the Basin 2 & 4 tactical basin planning website .
Comments should be directed by email: Angie.Allen@vermont.gov or by mail to Angie Allen, Basin 2 & 4 Comments, 430 Asa Bloomer State Office Bldg., 88 Merchants Row, Rutland, VT, 05701-5903. Comments should be postmarked or submitted via email by 4:30pm on November 7 th , 2022. Comments received by this date will be addressed in a responsiveness summary to be included at the end of the final plan.
