LCA Projects 2024

Frogbit removal (Shelburne)

We coordinate volunteers who remove European frogbit, an aquatic invasive species, from the LaPlatte River Natural Area.

McCabe's Brook Floodplain Restoration

This Clean Water Service Provider grant is funding the design of a floodplain restoration project in the area just south of Vermont Day School and Vermont Teddy Bear. This design includes some excavation of the floodplain to allow water to spill out onto the floodplain, some beaver dam-like structures in the stream, and native tree and shrub plantings.

Ahead of the Storm Guidance Manual & Outreach

We partnered with Lake Champlain Committee, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, and others and created a guidance manual for land stewards that will help them assess landscapes for stormwater problems, and direct them to the proper resources to protect and improve water quality. We also hosted workshops with biologists in two neighborhoods.

Lake Iroquois - Patrick Brook Watershed Action Plan

In partnership with the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District and the Lake Iroquois Association, this grant will wrap up in 2024, and funded property assessments and outreach to neighborhoods in the Lake Iroquois and Patrick Brook watershed, resulting in a prioritized list of projects to improve water quality, and several project concept designs.

United Church of Hinesburg Wetland Restoration

We have received funding for construction of a restored wetland behind the United Church of Hinesburg, where the wetland had historically been converted to agriculture, then playing fields. After a delay due to last year's flooding, the project construction will likely begin in July.

Lyman Meadows stormwater treatment

In 2024, we will finalize completion of a concept design for stormwater treatment at Lyman Meadows in Hinesburg. This grant from Lake Champlain Basin Program/NEIWPCC also included some educational sessions with students at Hinesburg Community School.

LCA Strategic Plan

Thanks to funding from Lake Champlain Basin Program/NEIWPCC, we will be working with consultants to update our strategic plan and strengthen our financial and bookkeeping systems.

Native riparian species conservation and monitoring

This grant from Lake Champlain Basin Program (partnering with the Orianne Society) will involve abundance and distribution surveys for native riparian species, prioritize projects, and create a proposal for restoration of native riparian species in the watershed.

River corridor in Starksboro: flood resilient communities

In collaboration with Addison County Regional Planning Commission, we received funding to explore options to minimize the impacts of flooding in the area of Starksboro where Lewis Creek comes off the hills and begins to spread out.

Bristol Pond Boat Launch Steward

LCA received funding from Lake Champlain Basin Program to have a boat launch steward stationed at Bristol Pond, checking boats as they enter and leave the pond to remove aquatic invasive species, and educating boaters on how to limit the spread of invasive species. We will also tackle Japanese knotweed removal at a demonstration site in North Ferrisburgh, and create an iNaturalist project to map the distribution of knotweed in the watershed, through the same grant.

Monkton Pond Boat Launch Steward

LCA received funding from Lake Champlain Basin Program to have a boat launch steward stationed at Monkton Pond, checking boats as they enter and leave the pond to remove aquatic invasive species, and educating boaters on how to limit the spread of invasive species. We will also tackle Japanese knotweed removal at a demonstration site in North Ferrisburgh, and create an iNaturalist project to map the distribution of knotweed in the watershed, through the same grant.

Water Quality Sampling

We will be continuing to collect water quality samples with the help of volunteers through our South Chittenden River Watch program (in collaboration with VT DEC's LaRosa Partnership Program). We will sample streams in the LaPlatte River, McCabe's Brook, Thorp Brook, Kimball Brook, Lake Iroquois/Patrick Brook, Lewis Creek and Pond Brook watersheds. The results of our water quality sampling will be shared in the winter of 2024-25 via a story map.

Lewis Creek Mainstem Project Development

With the help of consultants, we will review high priority projects on the mainstem of Lewis Creek that were listed in the river corridor plan that is now approximately 12 years old, to help prioritize these projects, and move at least one project forward through landowner and partner communication, to prepare for the next step of design or construction work.

Improving Riparian Buffers for Birds, Habitat, and Carbon

We will partner with UVM Extension, Audubon Vermont, Poultney-Mettowee NRCD, Friends of the Winooski River, and Friends of the Mad River, to identify priority sites with the maximum potential impact for water quality, habitat improvement for birds, and carbon benefits. The project will involve tree plantings to restore riparian forest buffers, improve upland habitat, and target priority bird species. It will also conduct education and outreach to community residents.