On June 3, the White River Partnership (WRP) kicked-off its 15th season of monitoring water quality at 22 sites along the White River and its tributaries. WRP staff and twenty trained volunteers will keep tabs on bacteria, conductivity, and water clarity at swimming holes and other public access sites around the watershed every other Wednesday through September 23.
In 2001, the WRP developed the volunteer-led Water Quality Monitoring Program in response to community concerns that bacteria and other contaminants might be making some waters unsafe for recreation. Because of its close relationship to public health, we make the bacteria results available to the public every other Thursday via email, our website, and our Facebook page.
After the summer monitoring season wraps up, the WRP analyzes data gathered at each site to understand water quality trends and publishes a report – here are a few highlights from our 2014 Water Quality Report:
- Bacteria counts at Silver Lake (Barnard) and Sunset Lake (Brookfield) were very low regardless of the weather.
- Bacteria levels in 2014 were generally similar to 2013 levels and results from both years were a marked improvement over the 2012 results. This trend supports our hypothesis that Tropical Storm Irene was the root cause of the high numbers seen in 2012.
- Bacteria levels were often high immediately after rain. A rise in bacteria levels is expected during and immediately after rain events because bacteria that have accumulated on the land wash into the river along with other potential contaminants.
Because of the relationship between rainfall and bacteria levels, the WRP recommends taking precautions when deciding to recreate in the White River and its tributaries. As a rule of thumb, avoid swimming or tubing in the White River following a rain event and/or if the water is muddy because there may be an increased risk of exposure to bacterial contamination.
Do you swim, paddle, or tube in the White River? Check out the latest bacteria results online, which we post the Thursday following the most recent test date. Or if you would like to receive the biweekly bacteria results directly, please contact WRP Monitoring Coordinator Emily Miller at emily[at]whiteriverpartnership.org or 802-763-7733.
Visit our Water Quality Monitoring project page to learn more!
News
Posted: June 30, 2015 by wrp_admin
Celebration planned at White River access site in Royalton
A free public event on Friday, July 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm will celebrate the permanent protection of “Pinch Rock,” a treasured swimming hole and fishing spot on the White River in Royalton.
Pinch Rock is a bedrock outcropping located opposite 3272 Route 14 in Royalton, which provides swimmers, anglers, and tubers convenient and safe access to the White River. After flooding from Tropical Storm Irene severely eroded the banks, parking along Route 14 has been reestablished, access improved with a stone stairway to the river, and trees planted by the White River Partnership.
In May Royalton resident Peg Elmer generously donated this riverside property, including the rock, to the Vermont River Conservancy. VRC will hold a perpetual public access and conservation easement on the parcel, and convey ownership to the Town of Royalton this summer.
Funding for the river access protection project was provided by individual donors to the White River Partnership’s 2010 Landscape Auction and the Vermont River Conservancy’s Canute Dalmasse Legacy Fund.
The July 10 celebration will start at the Pinch Rock access site at 5pm, and will include a site tour and sign unveiling, followed by a short (40-60 minutes by tube) river trip from Pinch Rock to the South Royalton bridge, and ending with a community potluck meal on the Vermont Law School lawn. Attendees should provide tubes and a potluck dish to share. A carpool will be provided from the Vermont Law School parking lot starting at 4:30pm.
To RSVP please call 802-763-7733 or email info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org.
Posted: June 19, 2015 by wrp_admin
Volunteers monitor water quality at swimming holes
On June 3, the White River Partnership (WRP) kicked-off its 15th season of monitoring water quality at 22 sites along the White River and its tributaries. WRP staff and twenty trained volunteers will keep tabs on bacteria, conductivity, and water clarity at swimming holes and other public access sites around the watershed every other Wednesday through September 23.
In 2001, the WRP developed the volunteer-led Water Quality Monitoring Program in response to community concerns that bacteria and other contaminants might be making some waters unsafe for recreation. Because of its close relationship to public health, we make the bacteria results available to the public every other Thursday via email, our website, and our Facebook page.
After the summer monitoring season wraps up, the WRP analyzes data gathered at each site to understand water quality trends and publishes a report – here are a few highlights from our 2014 Water Quality Report:
Because of the relationship between rainfall and bacteria levels, the WRP recommends taking precautions when deciding to recreate in the White River and its tributaries. As a rule of thumb, avoid swimming or tubing in the White River following a rain event and/or if the water is muddy because there may be an increased risk of exposure to bacterial contamination.
Do you swim, paddle, or tube in the White River? Check out the latest bacteria results online, which we post the Thursday following the most recent test date. Or if you would like to receive the biweekly bacteria results directly, please contact WRP Monitoring Coordinator Emily Miller at emily[at]whiteriverpartnership.org or 802-763-7733.
Visit our Water Quality Monitoring project page to learn more!
Posted: May 5, 2015 by wrp_admin
Help plant trees along Braintree’s Thayer Brook
The Braintree Conservation Commission and White River Partnership (WRP) invite volunteers to help us plant native trees along Thayer Brook in Braintree from 10am-noon on Saturday, May 9 (rain date Saturday, May 16). The planting event is being co-sponsored by the Community Development Block Grant and Vermont Watershed Grant programs.
Interested volunteers should meet at the 1.6-acre town-owned property at 2044 Thayer Brook Road. Please dress to work outside in long sleeves, long pants, and close-toed shoes. The WRP will provide gloves, shovels, planting instruction, and light snacks.
Planting native trees along rivers filters pollutants out of runoff; provides food and cover for fish and wildlife; stabilizes streambanks; and slows flood waters. Since 2000 the WRP’s Trees for Streams Program has engaged more than 130 landowners and 500 annual volunteers to plant over 45,000 native trees along the White River and its tributaries.
To RSVP, please call 802-763-7733 or email info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org.