The WRP’s Class 4 Town Road Project was featured in the Vermont Water Quality Division’s Winter 2011 newsletter, “Out of the Blue.” The project has been so successful that it is being duplicated in other watersheds throughout the state.
Class 4 project
In 2009, the WRP, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources worked together to inventory a subset of the Class 4 roads in the White River watershed. Project partners assessed 75 Class 4 roads and identified 26 priority roads in need of erosion control work.
In 2010, the WRP, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources received funding from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund to employ a crew of high school students to implement a series of erosion control projects on a handful of high-priority Class 4 roads in Sharon, Norwich, and Tunbridge. For four weeks, the VYCC crew addressed water quality impairments identified by the WRP and its partners in 2009, by installing culvert headers, water bars, stone-lined ditches, and stone aprons.
In 2011, the WRP will work with VYCC to implement additional erosion control projects on Class 4 town roads located within 50 feet of a waterway. By completing these projects, the WRP and its partners hope to reduce non-point source pollution and improve trout habitat.
Didymo blooms form in stages. During stage 1, didymo looks like small cotton balls attached to submerged river rocks.
In an effort to curb the spread of aquatic invasive species in Vermont rivers, the Vermont legislature has enacted, and the Governor signed into law, a ban on use of felt-soled waders in Vermont waters effective April 1, 2011. Felt-soled waders have been strongly implicated in the spread of several invasive species including didymo, as well as New Zealand mudsnail and Myxobolus cerebralis, the parasite that causes whirling disease in trout.
What is didymo?
Didymo is the common name for Didymosphenia geminata, an invasive freshwater diatom species (microscopic algae). Didymo was found in the White River in July 2007, and has formed extensive ‘blooms’ on the bottom of the river’s bed in Stockbridge and Bethel during the summer months. These blooms can smother aquatic life forms such as macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects), native algae, and other organisms. Additionally, the physical appearance of the bloom is aesthetically unpleasing, and can reduce the recreational values of a waterbody.
Don’t spread didymo!
Although there is no known method of removing or killing the algae once it is in the river, we can stop it from spreading! Simply CHECK, CLEAN, and DRY each time you use the White River.
Where can I get more information?
In addition to maintaining a Didymo Information page on our website, the WRP is working to raise awareness about didymo in the White River watershed by distributing an informational brochure to fishing license agents and by posting informational signs at public access sites.
During stage 2, didymo begins to cover the entire surface of submerged rocks. Stage 3 is pictured on the homepage.
You can help spread the word by adopting a river access site and maintaining the posted informational signs. Contact us to get involved!
The WRP has received three grants in 2011 to implement projects that improve water quality, enhance fish passage, and engage people and local communities in watershed stewardship activities.
Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF)
Northfield Savings Bank contributes to Vermont-based non-profit organizations serving the needs of and benefitting people living within its service area. In 2011, the WRP has received NSBF funds to support our school-based watershed education program, Monitoring the White River. With NSBF funding, we are training students and teachers to record tracks and signs of wild animals along the river corridor during the winter months.
Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund (MEF)
MEF funds are administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and are granted to support on-the-ground projects that protect or restore rivers, shorelands, and wetlands within the Upper Connecticut River watershed. In 2011, the WRP has received MEF funds to restore riparian buffers in Royalton and Sharon and to enhance fish passage through the Broad Brook I89 culvert in Sharon.
Vermont Watershed Grant (VWG)
VWG funds are administered by the State of Vermont and are granted to support on-the-ground projects that protect or restore water quality and shorelines, enhance recreational use, and educate people about watershed resources. In 2011, the WRP has received VWG funds to work with volunteers to plant 2,000 native trees and shrubs along the river and its tributaries; to monitor and raise awareness about 2 aquatic nuisance species in the river – didymo and rusty crayfish; and to remove trash from over 24 public access sites along the river.
We want to thank NSBF, MEF, and VWG for their generous support of our 2011 projects!
News
Posted: March 7, 2011 by wrp_admin
WRP featured in DEC newsletter
WRP featured in DEC newsletter
March 07, 2011
The WRP’s Class 4 Town Road Project was featured in the Vermont Water Quality Division’s Winter 2011 newsletter, “Out of the Blue.” The project has been so successful that it is being duplicated in other watersheds throughout the state.
Class 4 project
In 2009, the WRP, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources worked together to inventory a subset of the Class 4 roads in the White River watershed. Project partners assessed 75 Class 4 roads and identified 26 priority roads in need of erosion control work.
In 2010, the WRP, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources received funding from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund to employ a crew of high school students to implement a series of erosion control projects on a handful of high-priority Class 4 roads in Sharon, Norwich, and Tunbridge. For four weeks, the VYCC crew addressed water quality impairments identified by the WRP and its partners in 2009, by installing culvert headers, water bars, stone-lined ditches, and stone aprons.
In 2011, the WRP will work with VYCC to implement additional erosion control projects on Class 4 town roads located within 50 feet of a waterway. By completing these projects, the WRP and its partners hope to reduce non-point source pollution and improve trout habitat.
Posted: February 21, 2011 by wrp_admin
State law combats spread of didymo
State law combats spread of didymo
February 21, 2011
In an effort to curb the spread of aquatic invasive species in Vermont rivers, the Vermont legislature has enacted, and the Governor signed into law, a ban on use of felt-soled waders in Vermont waters effective April 1, 2011. Felt-soled waders have been strongly implicated in the spread of several invasive species including didymo, as well as New Zealand mudsnail and Myxobolus cerebralis, the parasite that causes whirling disease in trout.
What is didymo?
Didymo is the common name for Didymosphenia geminata, an invasive freshwater diatom species (microscopic algae). Didymo was found in the White River in July 2007, and has formed extensive ‘blooms’ on the bottom of the river’s bed in Stockbridge and Bethel during the summer months. These blooms can smother aquatic life forms such as macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects), native algae, and other organisms. Additionally, the physical appearance of the bloom is aesthetically unpleasing, and can reduce the recreational values of a waterbody.
Don’t spread didymo!
Although there is no known method of removing or killing the algae once it is in the river, we can stop it from spreading! Simply CHECK, CLEAN, and DRY each time you use the White River.
Where can I get more information?
In addition to maintaining a Didymo Information page on our website, the WRP is working to raise awareness about didymo in the White River watershed by distributing an informational brochure to fishing license agents and by posting informational signs at public access sites.
You can help spread the word by adopting a river access site and maintaining the posted informational signs. Contact us to get involved!
Posted: February 15, 2011 by wrp_admin
Grant awards fund 2011 WRP projects
Grant awards fund 2011 WRP projects
February 15, 2011
The WRP has received three grants in 2011 to implement projects that improve water quality, enhance fish passage, and engage people and local communities in watershed stewardship activities.
Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF)
Northfield Savings Bank contributes to Vermont-based non-profit organizations serving the needs of and benefitting people living within its service area. In 2011, the WRP has received NSBF funds to support our school-based watershed education program, Monitoring the White River. With NSBF funding, we are training students and teachers to record tracks and signs of wild animals along the river corridor during the winter months.
Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund (MEF)
MEF funds are administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and are granted to support on-the-ground projects that protect or restore rivers, shorelands, and wetlands within the Upper Connecticut River watershed. In 2011, the WRP has received MEF funds to restore riparian buffers in Royalton and Sharon and to enhance fish passage through the Broad Brook I89 culvert in Sharon.
Vermont Watershed Grant (VWG)
VWG funds are administered by the State of Vermont and are granted to support on-the-ground projects that protect or restore water quality and shorelines, enhance recreational use, and educate people about watershed resources. In 2011, the WRP has received VWG funds to work with volunteers to plant 2,000 native trees and shrubs along the river and its tributaries; to monitor and raise awareness about 2 aquatic nuisance species in the river – didymo and rusty crayfish; and to remove trash from over 24 public access sites along the river.
We want to thank NSBF, MEF, and VWG for their generous support of our 2011 projects!