BLUE BTV

BLUE BTV is a collaborative effort between the City of Burlington, Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA), Just Water Consulting (JWC), Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG), and the University of Vermont. From January 2022 to June 2023, BLUE completed a total of 60 residential site assessments and worked with the public to design custom stormwater solutions.

The BLUE program incentivizes the installation of small-scale stormwater retention and treatment systems to reduce phosphorus loading and stormwater runoff from residential properties within the City of Burlington. The program also provides outreach and education regarding water quality and the importance of stormwater management to property owners.

Stormwater runoff is generated when rain falls on impervious surfaces like paved driveways, parking lots, and roof tops. This water comes into contact with sediment, car oil, fertilizers, and other pollutants before flowing into streams, rivers, and lakes. In water bodies, excess nutrients like phosphorus lead to cyanobacteria blooms. Large volumes of stormwater runoff can also cause erosion and flooding.

BLUE promotes solutions for slowing and capturing stormwater so that it can infiltrate into the ground, thereby reducing pollution reaching Lake Champlain and other local bodies of water.

Burlington residents can sign up for  free BLUE BTV stormwater evaluations . A BLUE team member will conduct an in-person assessment of the property to observe how stormwater is circulating through a site via green spaces, driveways, roofs, and gutters.

The collected observations are compiled into a report detailing realistic and cost-effective recommendations for Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) on the property. When a homeowner installs recommended practices, they can request a rebate from BLUE for up to $2,000.

From January, 2022 - June, 2023, BLUE BTV personnel completed a total of 60 residential stormwater assessments on properties across the city.

BLUE BTV provided over $7,000 in rebates to twelve homeowners in this period for the following practices: permeable driveways, gutter installations, downspout disconnections, infiltration trenches, and rain barrels. There are five projects underway as of June 30, 2023 that will likely qualify for rebates when completed. 

BLUE BTV focuses on stormwater-impaired watersheds and areas with combined sewer systems (CSS) in order to reduce the impact that private properties have on Lake Champlain. Reducing the volume of stormwater that combined sewer systems receive helps minimize the number of overflow events. Residential GSI is also important in areas that drain directly into receiving waters. Treating stormwater removes harmful pollutants and nutrients before water flows into rivers and lakes. Untreated stormwater runoff contributes to the cyanobacteria blooms that Lake Champlain experiences every year.

Residential Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) helps mitigate water quality impacts from the City of Burlington in Lake Champlain, the Winooski River, and other local water bodies. Because this program is non-regulatory and participation is voluntary, landowners can decide for themselves how they want to mitigate run-off from their properties. Through community outreach and education, residents will gain a better understanding of the importance of stormwater management. They will see their neighbors committing to GSI practices like raising lawnmower blades, installing rain gardens, and reducing impervious surfaces.

Collectively, we can change attitudes surrounding stormwater management on a community scale and support the future water quality and vitality of Lake Champlain.