MONTPELIER — The State of Vermont submitted its final Lake Champlain implementation plan to the Environmental Protection Agency this past Tuesday, Sep. 20. The comprehensive cleanup plan addresses phosphorus pollution sources across all sectors, including agriculture, developed and forested lands, roads and eroding stream channels.
“The plan is the roadmap to a clean Lake,” said Gov. Peter Shumlin. “It reflects an ‘all in’ approach to achieving our clean water goals.”
In June 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency released its Lake Champlain phosphorus-reduction targets for the State of Vermont. The Lake Champlain Phase 1 Implementation Plan outlines timelines and deliverables to achieve those targets.
“Our implementation strategically targets the areas that make the most impact to the Lake,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Lake Champlain targets, or “total maximum daily load” (TMDL) for phosphorus, and the State Phase 1 Implementation Plan follow on the heels of the Vermont Legislature’s passage of the Vermont Clean Water Act in 2015. The Act 64 requires the phase-in of new permitting programs for runoff from our roads, farms, and developed areas and created the Clean Water Fund to support phosphorus-reduction projects.
“The agricultural community is committed to improving water quality across Vermont,” said Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross. Ross cited the state’s year-long work on drafting and revising new Required Agricultural Practices as a major step towards restoring Lake Champlain for future generations.”
The Required Agricultural Practices outline the actions that must be taken on farms across the state to address Vermont’s water quality challenges. Those actions and others are built into the Phase 1 Implementation Plan. The Environmental Protection Agency looks to this plan for reasonable assurances that the target they set for the lake will be met.
“The Vermont Transportation Agency is committed to constructing stormwater treatment projects on our State highways that reduce phosphorous going into Lake Champlain,” said Transportation Secretary Chris Cole. “We will also provide municipalities with technical assistance and grant funds so that they may deploy best management practices on local roads to meet their clean water requirements.”
The Vermont Clean Water Act requires the creation of a comprehensive highway stormwater permit program. Municipalities are also inventorying their roads and considering what stormwater projects will be needed to comply with the upcoming local roads permit. Monies from the Clean Water Fund, passed through the agencies of Agriculture, Transportation and Natural Resources, will provide support as sectors work to comply with the new requirements.
“Our water and working landscape are critical to our economic health. The economic benefits of a cleaner Lake Champlain and clean waterways statewide make a strong case for serious action,” states Agency Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lucy Leriche.
The state of Vermont considered comments received through September 7th in its updates to the plan. A response summary is expected October 1st.
The Phase 1 Implementation Plan and additional information on Lake Champlain’s restoration are posted at http://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/cwi/restoring.