00A01068

Description:
Funding this award will help to implement the Lake Champlain Management Plan in the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain Basin as identified in Clean Water Act Section 120. These projects will help improve and/or evaluate the water quality and ecological health of the Lake Champlain Basin. The projects include conducting Lake Champlain's long-term water quality and cyanotoxin monitoring program, coordinating with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, acquiring priority wetlands for restoration and conservation, and water chestnut mapping and removal. The Lake Champlain Total Maximum Daily Load will also address phosphorus loading through BMP implementation, continued support of priority wetland restoration and conservation, enhanced agricultural practice implementation, and the planning, design, and construction of green stormwater infrastructure at public schools and Vermont state colleges in the Lake Champlain Basin.

Activities:
Activities to be performed with this award include continuation of Vermont's participation in the Lake Champlain's long-term water quality and cyanotoxin monitoring program, Lake Champlain Basin Program coordination, priority wetland acquisition, and water chestnut mapping and removal. Subrecipient deliverables, which will also benefit all residents of the Lake Champlain Basin, include addressing phosphorus loading through BMP implementation, continued support of priority wetland restoration and conservation, enhanced agricultural practice implementation, and the planning, design, and construction of green stormwater infrastructure at public schools and Vermont state colleges in the Lake Champlain Basin.

Subrecipient:
Activities to be implemented through subawards include implementation of Green Schools Initiative stormwater best management practices; acquisition and restoration of 4-6 wetland sites with relevant phosphorus load reductions calculated; design and implementation of aquatic organism passage projects for stream connectivity; and implementation of agricultural riparian buffers using innovative methods.

Outcomes:
Anticipated deliverables include data collected to analyze long-term water quality trends for Lake Champlain; reduction in water chestnut presence to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species; assessment of private, non-municipal roads with associated maps to prioritize best management practice (BMP) implementation that will reduce phosphorus loading; flood resilience and floodplain restoration requests for proposals to support municipal resilience planning of 2-5 community mitigation plans to increase local capacity and improve climate resilience; 300-500 stream crossing structure and dam assessments, 1-3 aquatic organism passage projects designed, 1-2 of them implemented to improve aquatic habitats and aquatic organism passage; semi-annual and final reports detailing the Lake Wise evaluator and natural shoreline training programs, including 10 site assessments, that will improve water quality in Lake Champlain; acquisition of 4-6 wetland sites for restoration that will reduce phosphorus loading to the watershed and improve natural function; and construction of stormwater practices at Vermont public schools and colleges to reduce phosphorus loading from developed lands and increase visibility and community knowledge of stormwater practices and standards. Intended beneficiaries include all residents and visitors to the Lake Champlain Basin.

Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation

66.481 - Lake Champlain Basin Program

EPA Region 1: Boston [EPA - RO]

Vermont United States

State-Wide

EPA-CEP-01

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/26 to 12/31/27.