river watch 2014

River Watch

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent April 3, 2014

Teams workfor healthywaterways

Fresh, clean water is one of the world’s most precious resources. In this special supplement we examine the critical efforts made to keep our local rivers clean and river ecology healthy by volunteers of the Addison County River Watch Collaborative, or ACRWC, and others around the state.

The ACRWC helps support Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Conservation efforts to maintain and improve water quality by providing baseline measurements of Addison County streams and up-to-date testing to discover changes in the water. This support is crucial as these agencies feel pressure from the public and the federal government to clean up our waters during a time when their budgets are being squeezed.

ACRWC volunteers collect water samples from sample stations on Otter Creek, Middlebury River, Lemon Fair River, New Haven River, Lewis Creek and Little Otter Creek. They test for such indicators as bacteria, pH, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and water temperature.

From April to September the state lab processes the samples and analyzes the results to pinpoint areas where we need to remedy water quality problems.

In addition to assessing the condition of our local rivers, creeks and streams, the ACRWC seeks to raise public awareness of and commitment to the ecological, economic and social values of our waterways. It also supports and praises landowners when they take action to improve the health and quality of our local streams.

ACRWC and its partners are creating an integrated watershed approach to natural resources. This makes sense ecologically and will also, hopefully, encourage greater citizen responsibility for the integrity of these watersheds.

The River Watch Collaborative depends on local support to carry on the stream monitoring work they do. Through this section we hope to educate and celebrate the work they do to keep our water sources clean and healthy.

— River Watch��$GGLVRQ�,QGHSHQGHQW��7KXUVGD\��$SULO��

Inside:This supplement to the Addison Inde-

pendent was produced in cooperation with the Addison County River Watch Collab-orative. Except where noted, the articles were provided by ACRWC Coordinator 0DWW�:LWWHQ��7KH� SKRWR� RI�¿VKHUPHQ�RQ�the Middlebury River was taken by Inde-pendent photographer Trent Campbell.

About this issue

Middlebury River to see intensive monitoring in 2014When you drive up Route 125 toward Bread

Loaf, you can usually look down — especial-ly on the sharp curves that follow the river’s course — to see clear water rushing around the feet of a motley crew of giant boulders. This is the Middlebury River, which assumes a totally GLIIHUHQW�SHUVRQDOLW\�DIWHU�LW�ÀRZV�WKURXJK�(DVW�0LGGOHEXU\�DQG�KLWV�WKH�ÀDW�&KDPSODLQ�9DOOH\��7KHUH��DV�WKH�ULYHU�ZLQGV�WKURXJK�IDUP�¿HOGV��it becomes lazy, silty and cloudy.

A tributary of Otter Creek, the Middlebury River is formed up in the Green Mountain

National Forest by the FRQÀXHQFH�RI�WKUHH�PDLQ�branches. The Middle-EXU\�5LYHU�ÀRZV�WKURXJK�a mostly forested land-scape until it reaches the more fertile plain below. 7KH� 9HUPRQW� 'HSDUW-

ment of Conservation �'(&�� OLVWV� WKH�0LGGOH-bury River as a Class B Cold Water Fishery that is suited for human uses including swimming, ¿VKLQJ�DQG�ERDWLQJ��7KH�'(&� KDV� GHWHUPLQHG�that the river is impaired by high bacterial counts

along a two-mile impaired section near its mouth. Under Clean Water Act law, impaired waters must be cleaned up, whether through better land stewardship, stormwater manage-ment, or other measures.

Otter Creek Audubon River Watch, which has become folded into the Addison County River Watch Collaborative, began monitoring the Middlebury River as well as Otter Creek in 1992. It became apparent in the mid-1990s that lower reaches of the Middlebury River, espe-cially west of Route 7, had extreme pollution problems, the most acute being E. coli read-ings that sometimes exceeded state standards by 10 or even 20 times.

In the late 1990s, a group of concerned citizens calling themselves the Middlebury River Watershed Partnership teamed up with the Otter Creek Natural Resources Conserva-WLRQ�'LVWULFW�WR�DGGUHVV�SDWKRJHQ�OHYHOV�LQ�WKH�

lower Middlebury River. At the time there was VWURQJ� FRQFHUQ� WKDW� UXQRII� IURP� IDUP� ¿HOGV�was polluting the river.

Since that time, some farmers in the area have put in place practices that reduce manure input to the river. ³:KHQ� 'LFN� 6HHOH\� ZDV� VWLOO� IDUPLQJ�´�

said Heidi Willis, River Watch’s coordinator for the Middlebury River and Otter Creek, “and his cows were in the river frequently, (��FROL�FRXQWV�ZHUH�YHU\�KLJK�´�3DUWO\�GXH�WR�River Watch’s data that showed these harmful pathogen levels in the 1990s, local Ag agents ³OHYHUDJHG�IXQGLQJ�WR�IHQFH�RXW�WKH�FRZV´�DQG�

give them other access to drinking water, Wil-lis described. She said the Nop farm also took measures to reduce nutrient runoff from their barnyard.

While pollution has been of concern for years on the lower Middlebury River, farther XSVWUHDP�ÀRRGLQJ�KDV�EHHQ�D�PRUH�DODUPLQJ�problem for many decades. Even before Tropi-FDO�6WRUP�,UHQH��0LGGOHEXU\�5LYHU�ÀRRGZDWHUV�had on many occasions caused tremendous damage to roads, bridges and other property. 0LGGOHEXU\� 5LYHU� ÀRRGLQJ� ZDV� LQLWLDOO\�

worsened by 19th-century logging opera-tions, mostly to produce lumber and potash,

that culminated in widespread deforestation by the 1880s. In the 20th century and in the past decade, an increase in roads, parking lots, roofs and other impervious surfaces has led to PRUH�³ÀDVKLQHVV´�²�JUHDWHU�VSLNHV� LQ�YHORF-ity — of the already swift river. The infamous ��ÀRRG�VFRXUHG�D�FKDQQHO�ULJKW�GRZQ�0DLQ�6WUHHW�LQ�(DVW�0LGGOHEXU\��7KH��ÀRRG�ZDV�VLPLODUO\�GDPDJLQJ��9HU\�FRVWO\�ÀRRGV�FRQWLQ-ued to wipe out culverts, roads and buildings in 1989, 1998 and 2000.'XULQJ��)(0$�IXQGHG�WHFKQLFDO�

consultants, with Kristen Underwood of Bris-(See Middlebury River, Page 5)While pollution

has been of con-cern for years on the lower Middlebury River, farther upstream flood-ing has been a more alarming problem for many decades.

BEFORE AND AFTER photos of a stretch of the Middlebury River near the Grist Mill Bridge show, left, the stream as it appeared in 2002; middle, what it looked like after being dredged and

cleared following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011; and, right, how it appeared in October 2013 after restoration efforts replaced rocks to improve both fish habitats and flood control.

TWO EXCAVATORS CLEAR out the Middlebury River riverbed just upstream from the Grist Mill Bridge in September 2011. The work, done

with the best intentions, was an effort to clear large rocks and debris that moved downstream during Tropical Storm Irene. The river was

restored last fall.Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

Middlebury River ...................... 2

Pond Brook .............................. 3

Distinctive rivers ....................... 6

Fishing platform ....................... 7

Clean Water Act ....................... 8

Otter Creek ............................10

Supporters ..............................12

See a map of all River Watch monitoring stations at addisonindependent.com.

River Watch��$GGLVRQ�,QGHSHQGHQW��7KXUVGD\��$SULO��²�3$*(��

“The baseline water quality monitoring we

did through the River Watch Collaborative

over a number of years helped us realize that

Pond Brook was the largest phosphorus load-

ing tributary in the Lewis Creek watershed,”

said Marty Illick, executive director of the

Lewis Creek Association (LCA).

Scientists analyzed spring and summer

monitoring data from 2004 to 2011, leading

to the conclusion that Pond Brook in Monkton

is a major sediment and phosphorus loader to

the Lewis Creek watershed. Vermont’s Depart-

ment of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

also looked at River Watch information, did

some of their own investigating, and, recog-

nized that the lower reaches of Lewis Creek

and Pond Brook were “impaired for contact

recreation use” due to E. coli impacts likely

resulting from farm runoff. A “TMDL,” or

Total Maximum Daily Load, allocation for

SDWKRJHQV�ZDV�FRQ¿UPHG��7KLV�PHDQW�WKDW��E\�law, action needed to be taken to reduce E. coli

in Lewis Creek.

Once they understood a problem existed,

LCA led a more intensive study that “identi-

¿HG�KRW�VSRWV´�ZLWK�WKH�3RQG�&UHHN�VXEZDWHU-shed, said Illick. The Vermont DEC awarded

the watershed group a grant to conduct a more

detailed Pond Brook study.

“This subwatershed is dominated by wet-

lands,” said Illick, “so we had to answer the

question: Is the phosphorus coming from Bris-

tol Pond, which is eutrophic (i.e., rich in nutri-

Pond Brook:Honing in onthe trouble spots

(See Pond Brook, Page 4)

Addison River Watch Collaborative heartily thanks the following businesses and organizations for supporting our hardworking

��XQNWPVGGTU�CPF�ENGCP�ÀQYKPI�YCVGT�KP�QWT�DGCWVKHWN�CPF�RTQFWEVKXG�EQWPV[�

Many thanks to the volunteers who go out in all kinds of weather�VQ�EQNNGEV�YCVGT�UCORNGU�HTQO�QWT�UVTGCOU�

Deb HealeyMark HekkersMarty IllickJenney IzzoBarry and Warren KingRene LangisMary MetcalfEd McGuireCraig MinerKathy MorseDottie NelsonBarbara OtsukaKaren PettersenCrystal PiercePriscilla and Tad PowersMike QuinnChris RobbinsChris Runcie

ACRWC 2014 Volunteers:Conrad AmbretteMegan BrakeleyWally BaileyKevin BehmSteve BruceSally BurrellRichard and Gail ButzBobbie CarnwathLaurel CoburnDaniel CooperridesBrent CoulthardSue DavisPete DiminicoMary DodgeLouis DuPontRandy DurandBeth EliasonBrian Frank

Sheila and Bill �6FKZDQHÁXJHOJim ScottAmy SheldonSteve SmithBobbie SummersKelly SweeneyEthan SwiftSally ThodalJennifer TurnerKristen UnderwoodJill VickersKevin WalkerAnne WallaceJennifer WasiuraHeidi WillisAlex Wylie

RIVER WATCH MONITORING of Pond Brook, which is dominated by a web of wetlands, led scientists to discover that the brook in Monkton is a major sediment and phosphorus loader to the Lewis Creek watershed.


ents), or from other sources?” Bristol Pond is

a 250-acre shallow, marshy headwater formed

by glaciers and also impounded at the outlet

by a dam maintained by the Vermont Fish &

Wildlife Department.

During 2012-2013, LCA and the Collabor-

ative monitored six sample stations on Pond

Brook to understand where, when

and how much soil and nutrients

were entering Pond Brook. After

studying storm events and other

runoff events, it became apparent,

said Illick, that “the phosphorus

ZDV� FRPLQJ� IURP� KLJK� ÀRZV� RII�particular reaches” of the brook.

Bristol Pond was not the problem,

said Illick, but rather runoff from

various farms and forest areas.

During this detailed study, Lewis

Creek Association and local land-

owners completed an inventory of

farms operating in the watershed, reviewed

stream studies and existing remote sensing

data to pinpoint reaches appearing to have di-

rect stormwater and sediment runoff. Evalua-

tions of the Pond Brook sampling data along

with landowner conversations led to identi-

I\LQJ� VSHFL¿F� UHVWRUDWLRQ� DQG� FRQVHUYDWLRQ�projects and practices that could decrease

nutrient, sediment and pathogen loading and

erosion.

Among the many farms that the Lewis

Creek Association found in the Pond Brook

ZDWHUVKHG�²�LQFOXGLQJ�¿YH�VPDOO�GDLU\�IDUPV�and a small beef farm — is Last Resort Farm,

which grows organic vegetables, berries and

hay. Last Resort Farm, co-owned by Sam

Burr, borders Pond Brook near its mouth at

Lewis Creek. Burr said that he recognizes

that the water quality of Pond Brook is “not

that good.” He said that when he used to milk

cows on his farm, he let the cows have access

to the brook, a practice that currently, he said,

“Everyone is working to end.”

Burr, a member of the Monkton Planning

Commission and Agriculture and

Natural Resources Committee,

said one area that the Lewis Creek

Association examined as a pos-

sible source of water quality prob-

lems was forestland.

“Forestland is often overlooked,

but when it is eroding, it can still

be problematic.” Burr explained

WKDW�KH�RZQV�KD\¿HOGV�WKDW�FRPH�WR�an edge at a series of wooded, steep

gullies that lead down to Pond

Brook. “In the last 10 years these

steep areas have gotten worse,”

with storm events causing trees to uproot and

fall. So much erosion has occurred at these

locations that the gullies “have started eating

WKHLU�ZD\�LQWR�WKH�¿HOG�´Lewis Creek Association also worked with

a Bristol-based organization promoting sus-

tainable forestry practices, Vermont Family

Forests, or VFF, to teach landowners some

methods to improve water quality through

better forest stewardship. In 2013, VFF ran

two forest access workshops and some for-

est water quality improvement projects with

geologist Kristen Underwood from South

Mountain Research and Consulting for the

Lewis Creek Association as part of the Pond

Brook Project. The focus of the workshops

was to encourage a higher level of compli-

ance with standards known as “Acceptable

Management Practices for Maintaining Wa-

ter Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont,” or

AMPs.

Illick said that almost two-thirds of the

Pond Brook valley watershed is forested.

“The Vermont Family Forest workshops

help and support forest landowners who are

implementing AMPs on their own lands in

the area and the Pond Brook watershed,” Il-

lick said. “This will ideally increase storm

water attenuation and reduce sediment load-

ing into nearby streams.”

Burr said that work to stabilize some of

the gullies on his land is scheduled to happen

this summer. He explained that the federal

Natural Resources Conservation Service has

agreed to provide funds to put down fabric

and large stones that will slow stormwater

ÀRZ�DQG�DOVR�VWLOO�OHW�UDLQZDWHU�VHHS�LQWR�WKH�ground in a more controlled way. He cred-

ited the Lewis Creek Association for helping

make the project happen.

“The idea is to ameliorate some of the is-

sues that are compromising Pond Brook,”

said Burr. “Hopefully more landowners will

follow this example — we want to get people

focused on practices that improve the quality

of the brook.”

Pond Brook(Continued from Page 3)

“Forestland is often over-looked, but when it is erod-ing, it can still be problematic.” — Last Resort Farm

co-owner Sam Burr

Monument Farms Dairy, being a steward of the land, is working to prevent

soil erosion and run-off into our streams, using crop rotation, aerial spraying

and barriers on stream banks.

0RQXPHQW�)DUPV�'DLU\��-DPHV�5RDG��:H\EULGJH��97

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OWNERS OF FARMS that abut Pond Brook, like Last Resort near the brook’s confluence

with Lewis Creek, are working to stop streamside erosion and end farming practices that

hurt the brook.

The Addison Independent is proud to support the

Addison County River Watch Collaborative.

INDEPENDENTADDISON COUNTY

VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

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tol in the lead, studied the shape of the river’s

channel and determined the areas of greatest

concern during high waters. This resulted in a

³ÀXYLDO�JHRPRUSKRORJ\´�DVVHVVPHQW�SUHSDUHG�E\�8QGHUZRRG� IRU� WKH� WHDPHG�XS�:DWHUVKHG�Partnership and Conservation District.

On Aug. 28 and 29, 2011, Tropical Storm

Irene pummeled the Green Mountains with

WKUHH� WR� VHYHQ� LQFKHV� RI� UDLQ�� FDXVLQJ� PDQ\�VWUHDPV� DQG� ULYHUV� WR� UDJH� WKURXJK� YDOOH\V��wiping out houses, roads and bridges. The

WRZQ�RI�0LGGOHEXU\�ZHQW�WR�ZRUN�GUHGJLQJ�WKH�FKDQQHO� DQG� DUPRULQJ�EDQNV� WR� SURWHFW� URDGV�and homes, but in the autumn of 2011, the

9HUPRQW�$JHQF\�RI�1DWXUDO�5HVRXUFHV�DQG�WKH�8�6��$UP\�&RUSV�RI�(QJLQHHUV�IRXQG�WKDW�WKH�town had violated laws that limit the altering

of stream channels. Those laws exist in order

WR�SURWHFW�¿VK�KDELWDW�DQG�WKH�VPDOO�RUJDQLVPV�WKDW� ¿VK� HDW�� 7RZQ� RI¿FLDOV� DW� WKH� WLPH� VDLG�WKH\� WKRXJKW� WKH\� KDG� EHHQ� FRPSO\LQJ� ZLWK�verbal permission that the state of Vermont

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be controversial. Anglers and environmentalists

GUHZ� DWWHQWLRQ� WR�ZKDW� WKH\� SHUFHLYHG� DV� GLV�UXSWLYH�ZRUN�LQ�WKH�ULYHU�FKDQQHO��2WKHUV�LQ�WKH�FRPPXQLW\� ZHUH� FRQFHUQHG� WKDW� WKH� UHPRYDO�of sediment in the reach between the two town

bridges might increase the force of the river as

LW�KHDGV�LQWR�WKH�*ULVW�0LOO�%ULGJH�ÀRRG�ZDOO��7KH�8�6��$UP\�&RUSV¶�PDLQ�JRDO�DIWHU�7URSL�

cal Storm Irene was habitat restoration while

minimizing channel disturbance. In the fall of

��UHVWRUDWLRQ�ZDV�DFFRPSOLVKHG�E\�UHSODF�ing large native stones that were pushed to the

VLGH�RI�WKH�FKDQQHO�GXULQJ�SRVW�,UHQH�GUHGJLQJ�EDFN�LQWR�WKH�PDLQ�ÀRZ�LQ�D�UDQGRP�SDWWHUQ�LQ�

order to create meaningful amounts of habitat.

'XULQJ� WKH� FXUUHQW� �� VWUHDP�PRQLWRULQJ�VHDVRQ��$GGLVRQ�&RXQW\�5LYHU�:DWFK�&ROODE�RUDWLYH�LV�IRFXVLQJ�RQ�WKH�0LGGOHEXU\�5LYHU�DQG�2WWHU�&UHHN�ZDWHUVKHGV�DV�LQWHQVLYH�PRQLWRULQJ�areas.

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DONDOLQLW\�DQG�RWKHU�SDUDPHWHUV� LQ� WKHVH� UHOD�WLYHO\�SULVWLQH� UHDFKHV�RI� WKH� ULYHU��H[SODLQHG�:LWWHQ��ZLOO�EH�³WR�HVWDEOLVK�EDVHOLQH�LQIRUPD�WLRQ� VR� ZH� EHWWHU� NQRZ� WKH� FRQGLWLRQ� RI� WKH�XSSHU�0LGGOHEXU\�´�+H�VDLG�WKDW�LW�LV�SRVVLEOH�WKDW�VXFK�GDWD�FRXOG�OHDG�WR�DQ�RI¿FLDO�UHFODV�VL¿FDWLRQ�RI�WKRVH�ZDWHUV�WR�D�PRUH�SURWHFWHG�status.

Middlebury River (Continued from Page 2)

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THE MIDDLEBURY RIVER, swollen by rain, rages below the Grist Mill Bridge in East Middlebury last July. The River Watch Collaborative will focus its sampling on the Middlebury River and Otter Creek this summer.

Independent file photo/Trent Campbell


Rivers in Addison County vary in water quality, resourcesGroup monitors six different streams

(See New Haven River, Page 9)

PETE DIMINICO, WHO has been saying for several years that he needs to step down from his role as sampling coordinator on the New Haven River, keeps coming back to lead volun-teers in monitoring the river’s waters.

MARTY ILLICK, RIGHT, executive director of the Lewis Creek Association, and LCA volun-teer Bobbie Summers wade in to the stream to collect water samples on Lewis Creek in Fer-risburgh.

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Fishing platform lets more people enjoy New Haven River

Just as the Lincoln River Road starts to crest after its winding uphill climb out of Rocky-dale by the New Haven River’s Bartlett Falls, a railed deck juts out into the rocky stream. This is the Chuck Baser Memorial Universal Fishing Platform in Eagle Park. The structure, called a UFP, gives wheelchair-bound people and others an opportunity to enjoy the river.

Completed in 2012, the platform was originally the brainchild of Pete Diminico, a devoted angler and caretaker of the New Haven River.

“I had this thing on my mind for 25 years,” said Diminico.

Chuck Baser, who once served with Diminico on the Bristol Con-servation Commission, encouraged Diminico to realize his vision of a KDQGLFDS�DFFHVVLEOH�¿VKLQJ�GHFN��

“The untimely passing of Chuck stirred the Bristol Conservation Commission and the community of Bristol to create something special in his honor,” Diminico explained.

In 2009 the conservation commission con-tacted the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Depart-PHQW�� DQG� WKH� DJHQF\� VHQW� ¿VKHULHV� ELRORJLVW�Chet McKenzie to scout out the best location with Diminico and “Doc” Henderson, also of Bristol. They settled on Eagle Park because RI�LWV�HDV\�DFFHVV��JRRG�¿VKLQJ��DQG�YLHZV�RI�Mount Abraham.

Diminico said that, although there are spac-HV�EHWZHHQ�UDLO�VHFWLRQV�VSHFL¿FDOO\�GHVLJQHG�

to alow anglers to drop their rods down on WKH�HGJH�RI�WKH�GHFN��³WKLV�LV�QRW�MXVW�D�¿VKLQJ�platform, it’s a place to sit and enjoy the river, for kids to dance, people to sunbathe, or read a book.”

The dedication ceremony with 70 attendees was held in October 2012. The UFP is locat-

ed on the New Haven River about a mile up the Lincoln River Road from its intersection with Route 116. It is in Bristol near the Lincoln town line.

The total cost of this project ($56,332.00) was made possible by many generous donors and fund-ing sources including a major grant from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and additional funding from sources such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 6SHFL¿FDOO\��WKH�PRQH\�FDPH�IURP�� 9HUPRQW� )LVK� � :LOGOLIH�

grant, $37,500.�� 1HZ�+DYHQ�5LYHU�$QJOHUV�� %DVHU�0HPRULDO�)XQG�� )(0$�� %ULVWRO� &RQVHUYDWLRQ� 5HVHUYH� )XQG��

��0LORQH� � 0DF%URRP� ,QF�� ZDV� KLUHG� LQ�

November 2009 as consulting engineers and The Dock Doctors LLC was chosen as the contractor in April 2011. In 2010, design con-siderations ensued with the Bristol Conserva-WLRQ�&RPPLVVLRQ� DQG�0LORQH��0DF%URRP��A lengthy permitting process commenced in

2010 that included stream alteration permits, historical review (section 106), and compli-ance with grant and ADA requirements.

Dock Doctors began site work construction in August 2011 and completed the ADA-com-pliant surepak ramp on Aug. 26. Unfortunately Tropical Storm Irene struck the next night and destroyed two-thirds of the ADA-compliant UDPS�� 7KH� H[WUDRUGLQDULO\� KLJK� ÀRZ� RI� WKH�New Haven River (second highest) was re-corded at 16,700 cfs. Tropical Storm Irene in

essence put a hold on this project for one more year until additional monies were secured through FEMA to repair the ramp.

In September 2012, the cantilevered plat-form (approximately 12 feet by 22 feet) over-hanging the New Haven River was lifted in place between two large boulders and secured. This UFP is also situated with a stunning view of Mount Abraham and vistas.7KLV�8)3� LV�PRUH� WKDQ� MXVW� D� ¿VKLQJ� SODW-

(See Fishing platform, Page 8)

“This is not just a fishing platform, it’s a place to sit and enjoy the river, for kids to dance, people to sunbathe, or read a book.”

— Pete Diminico

A note of thanks...To all the businesses,

individuals & community

members who came

together to support our

32nd NHRAA Annual

Banquet. We are honored

to have the support of this

wonderful community.

E VENTS

April 8 NHRAA General Meeting. Featured guest speaker, Jake Villwock from TCO Flyshop, PA. “Fishing for Smallmouth Bass & Muskie.”Open to public

April 11 “Fly Fishing Film Tour” at the Town Hall Theatre. Doors open 6PM, 6-7:30 Product showcase, 7:30 Showtime! Tickets available at Middlebury Mountaineer and also online at Fly!lmtour.com.

April 12-13 6th Annual Otter Creek Classic! Join the fun and celebrate the Opening of the 2014 Trout Season with a hearty classic !shing tournament! Pre-registration required

After Tourney on Saturday 12th – NHRAA Opening Day Party at Two Brothers in Middlebury. Live Music. 3-5PMOpen & Free to public

May 3, Green Up Day

SUMMER PROGR AMS

Women in Waders A free and fun event, introducing women to the sport of "y !shing.

Youth Day An event that introduces children to Angling in Vermont.

Both Open & Free to public

To participate or volunteer, please contact NHRAA at [email protected]

newhavenriveranglers.org

New HaveN RiveR aNgleRs

“The aims & purposes of the NHRAA are to improve the local !shery, to encourage

the management of trout for their bene!t rather than the recreational !sherperson, to promote youthful anglers through

education and to work against pollution of clean water in all its forms.”

ZZXZ

THE CHUCK BASER Memorial Universal Fishing Platform, constructed over the New Haven

River at Eagle Park in Bristol in 2012, makes it easier for anglers with physical challenges or

other special needs to fish and enjoy the river.


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PD\� HQMR\� WKH� 8QLYHUVDO� )LVKLQJ� 3ODWIRUP�DORQJ�WKH�1HZ�+DYHQ�5LYHU�DQG�DOO�LW�KDV�WR�RI-IHU��$�OLVW�RI�FXUUHQW�8)3�ORFDWLRQV�WKURXJKRXW�WKH�VWDWH�RI�9HUPRQW�PD\�EH�IRXQG�DW�ZZZ�YW-¿VKDQGZLOGOLIH�FRP�VHDUFK�DFFHVV�DUHDV�FIP�

Editor’s note: Pete Diminico of Bristol is on

the board of Addison County River Watch, found-

ed the New Haven Riverwatch in 1993, cofound-

ed the Bristol Conservation Commission, is past

president of the New Haven River Anglers, and

served on the Middlebury River Task Force that

oversaw post-Irene restorative work.

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DSSURYHG� PRQLWRULQJ� SURJUDPV� VKRZ� WKDW� D�ZDWHU�ERG\�LV�LPSDLUHG��WKH�VWDWH�RI¿FLDOV�PXVW�SODFH�WKDW�ZDWHU�ERG\�RQ�DQ�(3$�RI¿FLDO�OLVW�RI�LPSDLUHG�ZDWHUV��7KHQ�WKH\�PXVW�ZRUN�RXW�D�70'/��7RWDO�0D[LPXP�'DLO\�/RDG��RI�WKH�SUREOHP�SROOXWDQW�DQG�KDYH�D�SODQ�IRU�UHGXF-LQJ� WKH� ORDG��&XUUHQWO\� WKH�(3$�KDV�RUGHUHG�WKH� VWDWH� RI� 9HUPRQW� WR� UHGR� LWV� 70'/� IRU�SKRVSKRUXV� LQ� /DNH� &KDPSODLQ� EHFDXVH� WKH�ODNH� FRQWLQXHV� WR� EH� LPSDLUHG� IRU� SKRVSKR-UXV��2WKHU�70'/V�DUH�IRUWKFRPLQJ�IRU�VRPH�UHDFKHV�RI�ULYHU�LQ�$GGLVRQ�&RXQW\��

1972 Clean Water Act has proven itself Fishing platform(Continued from Page 7)

States establish different clas-sifications of surface waters because dif-ferent bodies of water have widely varied properties. Water quality standards are based on real-istic conditions for each water body.

388-6054Mon. - Fri. 7:30 - 5:30, Sat. 8:00 - 3:00

www.countrysidecarpetandpaint.com


New Haven River(Continued from Page 6)

“The New Ha-ven River has been a big part of my life. Fish-ing is a way of life for me. I feel blessed I have the chance to give some-thing back to the river.”

— Pete Diminico

(See Little Otter Creek, Page 10)

Keep Our Water Free of Motor Oil

If you are one of the many people who change their own mo-tor oil, please dispose of the used oil properly. Did you know that the used oil from just one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water — a years’ supply for 50 people!

Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. It’s slow to degrade. It sticks to everything from beach sand to bird feathers. It’s a major source of oil contamination of waterways

and can result in pollution of drinking water sources. ��,I�DOO�WKH�RLO�IURP�$PHULFDQ�GR�LW�\RXUVHOI�RLO�FKDQJHUV�

was recycled, it would be enough motor oil for more than 50 million cars a year. Imagine how much foreign oil that would eliminate.�� Used motor oil from cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles,

farm equipment and lawnmowers can be recycled and ��UH�UH¿QHG�

Bring your used motor oil, as well as any other household hazardous waste, to the District’s HazWaste Center, located at the District Transfer Station at 1223 Route 7 South in Middlebury.

Motor oil is accepted during all regular Transfer Station hours (Mon-Fri, 7 am to 3 pm, and Sat from 9 am to 1 pm), and the Haz-Waste Center is open for all your other household hazardous chemicals Mon-Fri from 8 am to Noon, and Sat from 9 am to Noon. Household hazardous waste and motor oil is accepted at NO CHARGE.

Businesses must pay for disposal and need to call to register for an appointment time. Questions? Call 388-2333, or visit

www.AddisonCountyRecycles.org.

8 Main Street •Bristol, VT

www.cubbersrestaurant.com

Great Food StartsWith Clean Water!

• 453-2400

“Serving the Champlain Valley Since 1887”

for all your efforts in keeping Thank You River Watch

our local waters clean!

802-877-3118

RIVER WATCH VOLUNTEERS Ed McGuire, left, and Pete Diminico sample water quality in the New Haven River at Bartlett Falls in Bristol last year.

Photo by Matthew Witten

vested communally.Vermont Fish & Wildlife has only relatively

recently had a presence on the Lemon Fair, start-ing its purchase of land adjacent to the river in 2000 to create a Wildlife Management Area in %ULGSRUW� DQG� &RUQZDOO�� 7KDW� ¿UVW� SDUFHO� ZDV�from Leo and Cheryl Connor.

Despite its reputation for good pike, bass, and EXOOKHDG�¿VKLQJ��WKH�/HPRQ�)DLU�LV�D�ELW�RI�WKH�black sheep of the family of rivers in Addison County. It is slow and silty, and seems to attract many more bugs than boaters, anglers or swimmers. Nevertheless, it serves as habitat for many forms of wildlife and is worthy of attention as are all bodies of water. A threatened freshwater mussel, the JLDQW�ÀRDWHU��OLYHV�LQ�WKH�/HPRQ�)DLU�River, and the rare four-toed sala-mander may be found at the Wildlife Management Area, along with more common salamanders such as spot-ted, northern dusky, red-backed and northern two-lined salamanders.

In 2012-2013, the Lemon Fair has been a “focus watershed” for the ACRWC. This means the collabora-WLYH�KDV� LQWHQVL¿HG�LWV�PRQLWRULQJ�LQ�this area to try to make a more diagnostic as-sessment of where pollution problems occur and what the causes might be.

“A pattern we have observed since 2003, and WKDW�ZDV�FRQ¿UPHG�GXULQJ�WKHVH�SDVW�WZR�\HDUV�RI�LQWHQVL¿HG�PRQLWRULQJ�´�:LWWHQ�VDLG��³LV� WKDW�some reaches of the Lemon Fair chronically ex-ceed water quality standards.” River Watch tech-nical consultant Kristen Underwood explained that unacceptable levels of turbidity, phosphorus and E. coli, especially in the middle stretch of the river in Bridport and Shoreham, “suggest the need to focus on improved land management practices” in that area.

The Steering Committee of the collaborative has discussed attempting to have the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation of-¿FLDOO\�OLVW�WKH�PLGGOH�UHDFKHV�RI�WKH�/HPRQ�)DLU�as “impaired” for phosphorus and E. coli. Such a listing would prompt remedial action, such as bank stabilization projects or reducing runoff IURP�DJULFXOWXUDO�¿HOGV��

“The jury is still out, though,” Witten said, ³EHFDXVH� VLJQL¿FDQW�ZDWHUIRZO�DQG�ZLOG�PDP-

mal activity, from animals such as geese and bea-ver, can also add pathogens and nutrients such as phosphorus to this watershed.”%DUULQJ�RI¿FLDO� OLVWLQJ�DV�DQ� LPSDLUHG�ZDWHU-

way, however, there are still remedial avenues to pursue, largely with the help of funding and expertise from the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service.

At ACRWC sampling stations along the main stem of the Lemon Fair in Bridport and Shore-

ham and at the upper Beaver Brook station, E. coli counts have been chronically above the state water quality standard, and often above the federal health-based standard.

Unlike nearby rivers such as the Middlebury and New Haven, the Lemon Fair does not drain mountain-RXV�DUHDV��EXW�RQO\�ORZ��ÀDW�ODQG��,Q�LWV�ÀRRGSODLQ��WKH�ULYHU�LV�RIWHQ�DGMDFHQW�WR�IDUP�¿HOGV�DQG�PDUVK��

Some canoers and anglers value the Lemon Fair River for its wildlife and remoteness in certain sections. One can put in a small boat in West Cornwall and paddle the river to its FRQÀXHQFH� ZLWK� 2WWHU� &UHHN�� D� WULS�of about 12 miles, and reportedly see an abundance of different species of

WXUWOHV��ZDWHUIRZO��PDPPDOV��DQG�MXPSLQJ�¿VK��There are also two public launch points near the covered bridge in Shoreham, where the water is deepest and widest due to a dam. The Vermont )LVK�DQG�:LOGOLIH�'HSDUWPHQW�OLVWV�VHYHUDO�¿VKHV�in the Lemon Fair: yellow perch, northern pike, VPDOOPRXWK�EDVV��FUDSSLH��EXOOKHDG�DQG�SDQ¿VK�LITTLE OTTTER CREEK

Little Otter has, since pre-historic times, been a remarkably bountiful ecosystem. The mouth RI�WKLV�PDUVK\�VWUHDP�ZDV�D�IDYRULWH�¿VKLQJ�DQG�camping location for Native Americans.

Since the ACRWC began monitoring Little Otter Creek in 1997, it has recorded somewhat elevated E. coli, turbidity and phosporus levels. &ODVVL¿HG� DV� D� FROG�ZDWHU��&ODVV�%� VWUHDP�� WKH�lower reaches of Little Otter show characteristics more like a warm-water, marshy “slang,” as two branches of it are called by locals.

Little Otter Creek is listed by the state as im-paired for aesthetic reasons, aquatic life support, and contact recreation as a result of agricultural runoff and high E. coli counts from nine miles


Little Otter Creek(Continued from Page 9)

Otter Creek is rich with history; efforts are made to keep it clean

“The Otter Creek valley was a paradise for ,QGLDQV�DV�WKHUH�ZDV�DQ�DEXQGDQFH�RI�¿VK�DQG�game,” wrote Thomas E. Daniels of Orwell, a former state game warden. Native peoples ar-rived here between about 10,000 and 11,000 \HDUV� DJR� WR� KXQW� DQG� ¿VK� LQ� D�PDUVK\� ODQG-scape. Later, the Abenaki and Iroquois hunted, ¿VKHG��JDWKHUHG�YDULRXV�KHUEV�DQG�IUXLWV��JUHZ�crops, and settled in this abundant valley.

This much storied and highly used river has an important place in Vermont history. The longest ULYHU�LQ�9HUPRQW��2WWHU�&UHHN�ÀRZV�through a number of bedrock transi-tions which, millions of years ago, created waterfalls. Before the wide-spread availability and use of fossil fuels, these waterfalls were invalu-able as sites for hydropower, turning the mills that ground grain, milled lumber, and ran industrial plants such at forges. Otter Creek is still a workhorse of a river, with several hydroelectric facilities and receiving waters for a number of wastewater treatment plants as well.

Called “The Indian Road” by ear-ly white settlers, Otter Creek was a long, easily navigated channel that offered access from Lake Champlain upriver to the headwaters of streams WKDW� ÀRZ� HDVW� LQWR� WKH� &RQQHFWLFXW�River Valley and Massachusetts. During the French and Indian War, Otter Creek as well as Lake Champlain became frequently used war roads. Indians such as Algonquin Chief Grey Lock used the creek as an avenue to travel south to harass and capture English settlers, and the colonists would in turn chase after them down Otter Creek to the north.

Compared to other areas in Vermont, the Ot-ter Creek Valley is very rich in the bedrock that was used to make tools for hunting, trapping, ¿VKLQJ�� DQG�SURFHVVLQJ�SODQW� SURGXFWV�� ,Q� WKLV�

valley Native Americans found highly useful outcroppings of chert and quartzite. Evidence shows that hard-working, knowledgeable na-tive people developed a systematic quarry in-dustry here. It appears that blocks of ore were removed from the bedrock, impurities and low grade ore were knocked off, and then the ore ZDV�ÀDNHG�DQG�JURXQG�GRZQ�LQWR�D[HV��NQLYHV��

arrowheads, spearheads, and many other tools.

The creek was used for both peaceful and hostile purposes. Evi-dence uncovered in archaeological digs in the Otter Valley reveal that for hundreds, even thousands of years, the creek served as a link in a vast network of Native American trade routes sending goods all over the Northeast and beyond.

As the word got out in lower New York and New England that the Ot-ter Valley and the Champlain Valley were fertile, productive places, set-tlers migrated here. Communities sprung up at the more powerful falls along Otter Creek at Rutland, Bran-don, Middlebury and Vergennes. The soils in the valley produced corn, rye, oats, barley, wheat, peas, beans, KHPS�DQG�ÀD[�

In the 1700s and 1800s, men dammed Otter Creek at nearly ev-HU\� ORFDWLRQ�ZKHUH� LWV�ZDWHU�ÀRZHG�

swiftly. During that era, water power was king — it was necessary for almost all the settlers’ activities including milling grain, sawing wood, forging iron, and making cloth. Mills were lo-cated at waterfalls, where water tumbled down forcefully and was able to turn the large wa-terwheels that powered the mills. Hydropower dams were built and often later rebuilt at Center Rutland, Proctor, Brandon, Middlebury, Wey-bridge and Vergennes.

As rich as the soils were, early settlers in the Otter Valley learned that “you cultivate this bot-

tomland but you don’t build on it.” Much of WKH�2WWHU�9DOOH\� LV� SURQH� WR� ÀRRGLQJ�� VSUHDG-LQJ� RXW� LQWR� YDVW� ÀRRGSODLQV�� DOGHU� VZDPSV��and marshes during times of high water. For this reason, large sections of the creek are rela-tively remote from buildings and highways, and VRPH�YDVW�ZHWODQG�FRPSOH[HV�²�VXFK�DV�'HDG�Creek Wildlife Management Area and Cornwall Swamp Wildlife Management Area — are val-ued for their wildlife.

In the 1700s and 1800s, Lower Otter Creek became a bustling center of activity.

The falls at Vergennes were the perfect manu-facturing location. They were high (thus carry-ing a lot of power) and reachable from a major transportation route — Lake Champlain. Also, much of the land below the falls, especially RQ�WKH�VRXWK�VLGH��ZDV�ÀDW�HQRXJK�WR�FRQVWUXFW�large manufacturing buildings such as the Na-tional Horse Nail Company and later the Monk-ton Iron Works. By the early 1800s, Vergennes had one of the most developed iron industries in the region. This is one of the reasons that Lt.

Thomas McDonough built in 1814 the largest YHVVHOV�LQ�KLV�ÀHHW�RI�VKLSV�MXVW�EHORZ�WKH�9HU-gennes falls.

The Otter and its tributary Dead Creek of-IHU� VRPH� RI� WKH� ¿QHVW� SLNH�� VPDOOPRXWK� EDVV��FDUS�� DQG�EODFN� FUDSSLH�¿VKLQJ� LQ� WKH� VWDWH� RI�Vermont. There are hydropower facilities in Vergennes, Weybridge, Middlebury, Center Rutland and Proctor. All kinds of boats wind their way up from the lake and down from the falls: cabin cruisers, canoes, rowing pilot gigs, outboards, and sailboats.WATER QUALITY

Otter Creek is listed by the state of Vermont as impaired for swimming from the mouth of the Middlebury River down to the Weybridge Dam and, farther downstream, from the Ver-gennes Falls to Otter Creek’s mouth at Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh. E. coli counts tend WR�H[FHHG� WKH�VWDWH�VWDQGDUG�GRZQVWUHDP�IURP�Middlebury to the Route 17 Bridge. Counts at RWKHU�ORFDWLRQV�RIWHQ�H[FHHG�WKH�VWDQGDUG��HVSH-cially during periods of high runoff.

Turbidity levels in Otter Creek are generally well below the state standard, but approach or H[FHHG�WKH�VWDQGDUG�DW�%HOGHQ�)DOOV�GXULQJ�SH-ULRGV� RI� KLJK�ÀRZ� DQG� UXQRII��&RQFHQWUDWLRQV�of phosphorus in Otter Creek generally mir-ror those of suspended sediment in the water measured as turbidity. The primary source of phosphorus is erosion, and the phosphorus load transported by the river can be very high during SHULRGV�RI�KLJK�ÀRZ��

This spring and summer, the Addison County River Watch Collaborative will sample an in-creased number of monitoring sites along the Otter Creek because a more intensive monitor-ing focus rotates back to the watershed for a two-year period.

For more information, contact Otter Creek sampling coordinator Heidi Willis at 352-4327 or [email protected].

Called “The Indian Road” by early white settlers, Ot-ter Creek was a long, easily navigated chan-nel that offered access from Lake Champlain upriver to the headwaters of streams that flow east into the Connecticut River Valley and Massachusetts.

ADDISON COUNTY RIVER Watch Collaborative maintains a water quality sample station be-

low the Otter Creek falls in Vergennes, not far downstream from the Vergennes wastewater

treatment plant. Photo by Matthew Witten

TWO MERGANSER DUCKS meet at the water’s edge on Otter Creek near the Cross Street Bridge in Middlebury this winter.Photo by Matthew Witten

upstream of its mouth. It is also listed as im-paired for aquatic life support from mile 16.4 to 15.4 as a result of agricultural runoff.

“Aquatic life support refers to the critters — like tiny crustaceans, worms and insect larvae ²�WKDW� VXSSRUW� WKH� HQWLUH� IRRG� FKDLQ� WKDW� H[-ists in a healthy stream,” said Addison County River Watch Coordinator Matt Witten.+H� H[SODLQHG� WKDW�ZKHQ� DOJDO� DQG� EDFWHULDO�

JURZWK�LQFUHDVH�LQ�D�VWUHDP�GXH�WR�H[FHVV�QX-trient inputs, “many of these critters, most of

which are invertebrates, cannot survive and WKHUHIRUH� FDQQRW� VXSSRUW� ¿VK� RU� DPSKLELDQV�´�This leads to further ecosystem degradation, causing negative impacts on “the birds, reptiles and mammals that depend on the smaller ani-mals for food.”

E. coli counts in Little Otter Creek consis-WHQWO\� H[FHHG� WKH�9HUPRQW�6WDWH�6WDQGDUG�� LQ-creasing downstream to Middlebrook Road, and then decreasing slightly to Route 7 in Fer-risburgh. This pattern parallels both turbidity DQG�SKRVSKRUXV�FRQFHQWUDWLRQV��DQG�PD\�UHÀHFW�

a need for improved farm management practic-es. Phosphorus concentrations are high in Little Otter Creek as well as its tributary Mud Creek, UHÀHFWLQJ�HURVLRQ�DQG�DJULFXOWXUDO�UXQRII��

In 2010 and 2011, the Little Otter Creek wa-tershed was the subject of focused monitoring. Water quality data were used to calculate coarse estimates of phosphorus loading to prioritize restoration and conservation efforts. Regional, state and federal partners (including NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, Vermont Land Trust) are making use of this data with a focus on lands

that drain to the creek north of Plank Road and east of Monkton Road.

Conservation easements and Wetland Re-serve Program projects are being implemented ZKHUH� ODQGRZQHUV� DUH� ZLOOLQJ�� 890� ([WHQ-sion and the Agency of Agriculture are also referencing ACRWC water quality data as they work with farmers in the watershed to imple-ment improved agronomic practices.

The ACRWC will continue to monitor the creek, with intensive monitoring resuming in 2016.


STARK MOUNTAIN WOODWORKING

Thank you to those working hard on behalf of water quality.

Good planets are hard to !nd!

Fire & ice

RESTAURANT


River Watch Collaborative is strong thanks to supportAddison County River Watch Collabora-

tive, or ACRWC, is a network of a few groups in the county interested in clean water. It re-ceives a hodge-podge of support from various sources.

“Our resources,” said ACRWC Coordinator Matt Witten, “remind me of the wa-ter cycle. Like the unseen ground-water beneath our feet, the Vermont State Department of Environmental Conservation laboratory services support everything we do — it’s tens of thousands of dollars of lab work that they provide behind the scenes year after year.”

Witten added that the hosting services provided by the Addison County Regional Planning Com-mission play a similar low-visibility but key role.

“They give us meeting and stor-age space, as well as a range of of-¿FH� VHUYLFHV� WKDW�ZH� FRXOG�QRW� RWKHUZLVH� DI-ford,” he said.

Another key, of course, is the corps of vol-unteers who collect the water samples.

“The volunteers, who show up ready to work hard every month, they are like the steady rains WKDW�IDOO��VXVWDLQLQJ�WKH�ÀRZ�RI�HIIRUW�´�:LWWHQ�said. Then he laughed and compared those ef-forts to the occasional fundraisers and grant awards. “They seem a bit like thunderstorms,” KH�VDLG��³7KH\�EULQJ�KXJH�EHQH¿WV�EXW�WKH\�DUH�less predictable and, I have to admit, make my head swirl at times.”

The Lake Champlain Basin Program, an

EPA-funded lake organization, recently noti-¿HG� WKH� $&5:&� WKDW� WKH� YROXQWHHU� VWUHDP�monitoring group had received two grants. An Education and Outreach Grant of $2,693 will go toward River Watch forums in conjunction with local Addison County towns’ conserva-

tion commissions and other town boards. The second grant of $2,144 will help River Watch improve its website.

“The Lake Champlain Basin Pro-gram casts a wide net to make sure citizens in all corners of the basin are learning how to improve water quality,” Witten said. “Both of these grants help us take our message to the public: that we all share respon-sibility for stewarding our water-sheds.”

Cartographer Kevin Behm, an ACRWC steering committee mem-ber and assistant director of the

Addison County Regional Planning Com-mission, will be leading the effort to revamp River Watch’s web pages. “We host River Watch’s web presence through our website,” said Behm. “It’s time to make these web pages more informative, colorful, and interactive.”

Behm will offer his GIS expertise to the website renovation so that visitors to River Watch web pages will be able to understand general water quality trends in their water-sheds, and visualize where sample sites are and what results are of interest in particular locations.

Behm said the regional planning commis-

sion also recently received EPA funds, some of which will help the collaborative function. The 2013 Water Quality Grant from the Ver-mont Agency of Natural Resources comes from federal Clean Water Act money.

River Watch did not always receive lab processing services from the state. Longtime Otter Creek and Middlebury River watershed coordinator and steer-ing committee member Heidi Wil-lis explained that when ACRWC began collecting water samples from Addison County rivers in the 1990s, the collaborative put to-gether a makeshift arrangement for lab services, partnering with Mid-dlebury Union High School for lab space and equipment. Later, the group used an expensive private lab. Since 2003, the state DEC has stepped up to provide free lab VHUYLFHV� WR� TXDOL¿HG� ZDWHUVKHG�groups.

Neil Kamman, a program man-ager for the Vermont Watershed Manage-ment Division, said the idea of the state offering lab services came from former Planning and Lakes Section chiefs. Kam-man subsequently worked out the details of the process, including setting up formats for watershed groups to issue formal proposals to the lab and to complete EPA-approved quality-assurance plans. Kamman said he also helped the lab “develop the capacity and set up training” for the client watershed groups. Kamman commented that “ACRWC

ZDV� RQH� RI� WKH� ¿UVW� DSSOLFDQWV�� DQG� RQH� RI�the few who have worked in partnership with us every year since.”

Witten said that a number of local towns, businesses, and individuals support ACRWC with funds as well as in-kind donations.

“In recent years, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes, Lincoln, Bristol, Starksboro and New Haven have renewed their commitment to supporting citizen monitoring of our local rivers,” he said, noting that each contribute a few hundred dollars annually.

Businesses such as Stark Moun-tain Woodworking, Vermont Cof-fee Company and National Bank of Middlebury support River Watch with in-kind donations. In March, said Witten, “we had a wonderful fundraising evening with music by the Hip Replacements at Two Brothers Tavern,” which was sup-ported by Lincoln Peak Winery, as well as by the tavern.

The continued generous support should help the Addison County River Watch Col-ODERUDWLYH�IXO¿OO�LWV�PLVVLRQ�

The collaborative held its spring training ZRUNVKRS�RQ�0DUFK��ZKLFK�ZDV�ÀRRGHG�ZLWK�DQ�RYHUÀRZ�FURZG�RI��YROXQWHHUV��XS�IURP�WKH�XVXDO��

“We are so delighted to have so much in-terest and support from our volunteers,” said Witten. “They are ready to get out in the ¿HOG�WR�VDPSOH��GHVSLWH�WKH�IDFW�WKDW�PDQ\�RI�the streams are still encased in ice!”

“The volunteers, who show up ready to work hard every month, they are like the steady rains that fall, sustaining the flow of effort.”

— Matt Witten

“The Lake Champlain Basin Program casts a wide net to make sure citizens in all cor-ners of the basin are learning how to improve water quality.”

— Matt Witten

MANY HAPPY RETURNS!

��RI�FDUERQDWHG�ERWWOHV�DQG�FDQV�DUH�NHSW�RXW�RI�ODQGÀOOVby your redemption efforts. It’s also a great source of pocketmoney or charitable donations. Let’s keep it up!

6¢ Tuesdays!Get 6¢ back on all redeemable bottles.

REDEMPTION CENTERVERGENNESREDEMPTION CENTER

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river watch 2014

Documents

issuemiddlebury river

clean water

river ecology healthy

water samples

lemon fair river

new haven river

water temperature

clear water