BALANCING HEALTHY WATERWAYS & FARM OPERATIONS
The ANR-DEC engages with the Vermont Agricultural Water Quality Partnership on many levels, and works collaboratively with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (AAFM) to ensure the future viability of both agriculture and water quality in the state of Vermont. This involves not only enforcement, but a joint and shared effort towards agricultural education and program and policy development. For detailed information about the agricultural programs and ANR’s coordination with AAFM, contact Marli Rupe with the Clean Water Initiative Program.
ANR and AAFM have closely coordinated on the implementation of the Lake Champlain TMDL, a plan for meeting the water quality goals for Lake Champlain, which is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as impaired for phosphorus. Impairment means a water of the state does not meet the state’s water quality standards.
DEC has the lead responsibility for development of local tactical basin plans, with substantial input from AAFM in the agricultural sections. These basin plans outline comprehensive strategies and actions for water quality improvement in each of the major watershed basins in Vermont. The development of basin plans is an ongoing process every five years, with substantial public and partner input, including bi-weekly meetings with AAFM. The close coordination between the two agencies to meet mutual goals is critical to successfully addressing programmatic and policy efforts.
CONTACT
For general information and guidance contact Marli Rupe, Agricultural Programs Section Chief, marli.rupe@vermont.gov.
STAY INFORMED
ANR-DEC, Clean Water Initiative Program Clean Water E-Newsletter.
ANR-DEC, Clean Water Initiative Program Grants Notification List.
WATER INVESTMENT DIVISION
Program & Goal: The Water Investment Division coordinates investment of State and federal funding to all types of clean water and drinking water infrastructure in Vermont. The Division manages the federal Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) for clean water and drinking water infrastructure, and the Department’s proportion of annual state Clean Water Fund and Capital Fund dollars that support water infrastructure throughout Vermont. The Division includes the Clean Water Investment Program (CWIP), the Water Infrastructure Financing Program, the Watershed Planning Program, the Dam Safety Program, and the Agency Facilities Engineering section.
The Division coordinates annual reporting for all funds, publishing annual State Revolving Fund, Clean Water Investment, and Tactical Basin Planning Reports, and serves to integrate other agencies of State Government that also participate in clean water funding, such as Agency of Agriculture, Commerce and Community Development, and Transportation. The Division provides project engineering and implementation services to the Agency for a variety of projects, including construction and maintenance of state park facilities, fish culture stations, access areas, and dams. The Division also operates the Dam Safety Program, which regulates non-power, non-federal dams and endeavors to protect public safety relative to dams.
Contact: Marli.Rupe@vermont.gov
THE CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE PROGRAM
Program & Goal: The Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) funds, tracks, and reports on priority projects to restore Vermont’s waters, and communicates progress toward meeting water quality restoration targets outlined in the Total Maximum Daily Loads (or TMDLs). CWIP’s annual Clean Water Initiative Performance Report documents water quality improvement, phosphorus reductions and funding allocations every year. CWIP also coordinates funding, tracking, and reporting of clean water efforts for federal and state partners, including Clean Water Initiative partner state agencies – the Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Commerce and Community Development; Natural Resources; and Transportation – and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In addition, CWIP offers technical expertise in stormwater master planning, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and green infrastructure.
Contact: Marli.Rupe@vermont.gov
Contact: Marli.Rupe@vermont.gov
TACTICAL BASIN PLANNING
Program & Goal: The Watershed Planning Program works closely with partners across Vermont to coordinate surface water improvement activities. The program also administers funding initiatives in support of this work, including the Act 76 Formula Grants to Clean Water Service Providers, Tactical Basin Planning Grants, and the WISPr (SRF) sponsorship program.
At the heart of these coordination efforts are watershed management plans, called Tactical Basin Plans. These plans summarize existing surface water quality conditions, with identified priorities for surface water protection and restoration of degraded waters. The Vermont Water Quality Standards as well as Vermont’s Clean Water Act (2015) require the development of Tactical Basin Plans for each of Vermont’s 15 river basins to be adopted on a five-year recurring cycle.
Each basin in Vermont has a Watershed Planner, who works with partners in their basin to identify and prioritize projects or actions needed to protect or restore specific waters. The WPP team also helps to coordinate and implement discreet projects in numerous ways and plays an especially important role in implementing non-regulatory (i.e. voluntarily implemented) projects.
Individual basin plans are done on a five year rotation and current plans as well as those in progress are on the TBP website.
Contact: Ethan Swift, ethan.swift@vermont.gov, or the individual basin planner listed online.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DIVISION
WETLANDS
Proposed projects in or near wetlands often require wetland permits or approvals, including some agricultural projects such as the new construction of most infrastructure; ponds, ditches, buildings, manure pits, bank stabilization, stormwater practices, even restoration if it involves earth moving. If you have a project reach out to Wetlands Staff.
LAKES & PONDS
CAFO
WISPR
Municipalities holding CWSRF loans for pollution control and abatement facilities can sponsor natural resource projects up to 10% of the cost of the CWSRF wastewater principle. Sponsoring municipalities will receive a reduction in administrative rate which will lead to a lifetime savings on the loan equal to the cost of the sponsored natural resource project. As an incentive for sponsorship, the administrative rate is reduced another 0.1% to provide additional savings over the lifetime of the loan that would not be present without sponsorship of a WISPr natural resource projects.
Air Quality and Climate Division – Implements state regulations and the federal Clean Air Act. As part of this implementation, the AQCD monitors ambient air quality and air pollution emissions from sources, proposes regulations to improve existing air quality, ensures compliance with the regulations, and issues permits to control pollution from sources of air contaminants across the state.
Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) – The Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) funds, tracks, and reports on priority projects to restore Vermont’s waters, and communicates progress toward meeting water quality restoration targets outlined in the Total Maximum Daily Loads (or TMDLs). CWIP’s annual Clean Water Initiative Performance Report documents water quality improvement, phosphorus reductions and funding allocations every year. CWIP also coordinates funding, tracking, and reporting of clean water efforts for federal and state partners, including Clean Water Initiative partner state agencies – the Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Commerce and Community Development; Natural Resources; and Transportation – and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In addition, CWIP offers technical expertise in stormwater master planning, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and green infrastructure.
Drinking Water and Groundwater Program - Protects public health by helping to assure safe, affordable drinking water is available to all and by protecting the quality of the state’s groundwater.
Environmental Assistance Office - The Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) helps Vermonters follow environmental regulations, reduce impacts to human health and the environment, and increase sustainability. We offer environmental compliance assistance to Vermont businesses and municipalities, provide recognition programs for green businesses in Vermont, and promote practices that reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollution at its source. EAO assists individuals, businesses, communities, state agencies, and others to identify effective and economical ways to reduce waste and pollution at the source. Our team is made up of Permit Specialists and Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Specialists.
Environmental Enforcement Section - The Office is staffed by a Director, a Chief Environmental Enforcement Officer, and an Administrative Services Coordinator located in Montpelier and seven Environmental Enforcement Officers (EEOs) located within designated geographical districts throughout the state. EEOs are responsible for the investigation and documentation of any/all alleged violations (including citizen complaints) of Vermont's environmental permits, rules, regulations, and statutes that are under the jurisdiction of DEC and the Department of Forest Parks and Recreation (DFPR). Some DEC violations also involve violations of Act 250 permits or regulations. EEOs coordinate with NRB staff on these cases. See the NRB Enforcement page for more information on their jurisdiction.
Watershed Management Division - The Watershed Management Division is responsible for protecting, maintaining, enhancing and restoring the quality of Vermont's surface water resources. Inherent in this effort is the support of both healthy ecosystems and public uses in and on Vermont’s 800 lakes and ponds, 23,000 miles of rivers and streams and 300,000 acres of wetlands. Division programs address many issues, including physical and chemical characteristics of surface waters, aquatic habitat, streamflow, stream morphology, invasive exotic species, and wetland, shoreland and riparian zone protection.
Water Investment Division - coordinates investment of State and federal funding to all types of clean water and drinking water infrastructure in Vermont. The Division manages the State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF) for clean water and drinking water infrastructure, and the Department’s proportion of annual Clean Water Fund and Capital Fund dollars that support water infrastructure throughout Vermont. The Division coordinates annual reporting for all funds, publishing annual State Revolving Fund, Clean Water Investment, and Tactical Basin Planning Reports, and serves to integrate other agencies of State Government that also participate in clean water funding, such as Agency of Agriculture, Commerce and Community Development, and Transportation. The Division provides project engineering and implementation services to the Agency for a variety of projects, including construction and maintenance of state park facilities, fish culture stations, access areas, and dams. The Division also operates the Dam Safety Program, which regulates non-power, non-federal dams and endeavors to protect public safety relative to dams.
Geological Survey - The Vermont Geological Survey, also known as the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources in the Department of Environmental Conservation, conducts research and mapping relating to the geology, resources and topography of the State. Accessible geoscience data, maps and publications provide a foundation for stewardship of natural resources and for support of infrastructure. The Survey also provides information to the public, government, industry, and other organizations who request assistance; reviews projects as they relate to Criteria 9D and 9E of Act 250; and maintains and publishes Vermont geological information.
Waste Management and Prevention Division - Oversees the use, treatment, and handling of hazardous and solid wastes. The Division performs emergency response for hazardous materials spills, issues permits for federal and state programs regulating hazardous wastes, solid wastes, salvage yards, and underground storage tanks, and manages cleanup at hazardous sites under state and federal authorities, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund).
MARQUIS FARM - NEWPORT CENTER, VERMONT
Farmers Marc and Tiffany Marquis own an organic farm on Route 100 in Newport Center, Vermont, where they regularly milk 90 their cows. The Marquis family purchased a 124-acre hay field parcel directly across from their home farm and, utilizing Lake Champlain RCPP and State funds, then sold the development rights to make the purchase more affordable. The recently conserved parcel is in Lake Champlain’s priority Missisquoi watershed and includes 14-acres of restrictions along two tributaries of the impaired Mud Creek. The Marquis then conserved their 122-acre home farm in Newport. Their home farm includes 15-acres of organic hay production and 90-acres of pasture. Riparian buffer zone setbacks have been established on two streams that flow through their property. Utilizing Lake Champlain RCPP EQIP funding, the Marquis entered into a contract with NRCS, and constructed a new manure pit and concrete barnyard, and implemented fencing and grazing management.
This project involved almost all of the VAWQP partners: NRCS, AAFM, DEC/RCPP, VACD, VLT and VHCB.