2006 Water Quality Monitoring Program
October 31, 2006
The sixth season of our Water Quality Monitoring program is officially complete. Launched in 2001, the program goal is to better understand potential threats to water quality and public health by keeping tabs at over 20 sites throughout the watershed, including popular swimming holes and locations that have the potential to become contaminated. Every Wednesday morning during the summer, a team of volunteers measure water temperature, water clarity, and electrical conductivity, and collect water samples that are tested for E.coli, nitrogen and phosphorus. We share the results of our weekly E.coli testing with the public by posting them on our website, emailing them to interested people, and publishing a yearly E.coli Results Summary.
Now that the 2006 season is complete, we can compare this year’s data to previous years’ data. While overall water quality in the White River watershed is relatively good, problems do exist. Sedimentation and erosion continue to be the most prominent water quality concerns, followed by elevated water temperatures, nutrients, and pathogens – all of which contribute to reduced habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The presence of pathogens and other chemicals can pose serious threats to human health as well.
During the last five years, almost half of the 24 sites we monitored have revealed high E.coli counts according to the State’s accepted safe swimming standard of 77 organisms per 100ml sample. Because Vermont’s standard is the strictest in the nation, the WRP also uses the Environmental Protection Agency’s national standard of 235 organisms per 100ml sample. Five sites regularly exceeded this federal standard in 2006, which was on par with the 2005 data.
The WRP uses the results of the monitoring program to prioritize restoration projects. For example, the monitoring program results consistently show that the White River’s larger tributaries, including the First, Middle and Third Branches and Ayer’s Brook, have chronically high E.coli counts, with the majority of sites exceeding both standards for safe recreational contact. To address these threats, our Trees for Streams program focused on the First and Middle Branches in 2005 and 2006, and will focus on the Third Branch in 2007. And this fall, the WRP has initiated a corridor planning project on Ayers Brook.
Each year the WRP hires an intern to coordinate the monitoring program. This year, UVM graduate Luke Krisch did a terrific job training the volunteers, testing the water samples for E.coli bacteria, entering the data into our database, and sharing the results with the public. In addition, Luke surveyed 10 of our 15 permanent cross-sections, which were established to gather baseline data about the watershed. Thank you, Luke!
Our volunteer-driven water quality monitoring program is a prime example of how the WRP strives to engage community members to promote the long-term health of our watershed. By making people aware of potential threats to water quality and human health, we can work together to address them.
Posted: December 8, 2006 by wrp_admin
Ayers Brook 101
Ayers Brook 101
December 08, 2006
In December 2006, the WRP hosted a kick-off public meeting for the Ayers Brook Corridor Planning Project (Project). Funded by a grant from the UVCF’s Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, the Project goal is to work with the communities of Brookfield, Braintree, and Randolph to develop a comprehensive management plan that will effectively restore Ayers Brook.
Ayers Brook is the focus of a corridor planning effort because 4 years of water quality monitoring data show elevated E.coli, temperature, and sediment. In addition, stream geomorphic assessments show that Ayers Brook is in the process of widening, which results in severely eroding banks. Potential solutions to these problems include restoring streamside vegetation; replacing undersized culverts and bridges; and conserving the river corridor – the river, its banks, and the flood plain on each side – to reduce future conflicts.
The public meeting was designed to educate the community about the Project and to encourage local involvement. Since December, the WRP and its partners have been meeting with individual landowners to identify opportunities to improve the stability of Ayers Brook on their properties. The projects identified will be the basis of a comprehensive management plan, which the WRP and its partners, including the VT Water Quality Division, the VT Agency of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission, and Bear Creek Environmental, will work together to implement.
The WRP is pursuing similar projects in the Upper River and Tweed River sub-watersheds. For more information, please contact Mary Russ at (802) 767-4600.
Posted: November 13, 2006 by wrp_admin
10th Anniversary Gala and Auction
10th Anniversary Gala and Auction
November 13, 2006
In honor of our 10th year of helping local communities balance the cultural, economic and environmental health of the White River watershed, the Partnership held a benefit auction and annual meeting in November 2006 at the Royalton Academy. Nearly 70 people attended the gala and the Partnership raised $3500, which will help support our ongoing outreach and education efforts. We want to thank the Gala Subcommittee for organizing the event, the Royalton Academy for providing space, and Travellin’ Willy B’s for providing the refreshments. We also want to thank everyone who attended as well as the following list of donors. All of you helped make our first fundraising auction a success!
5 Olde Tavern and Grill
Abby Armstrong
Anichini
Barrister’s Bookstore
Ben Franklin
Bethel Mills
Betsy and Jim Shands
Billings Farm & Museum
Blue Moon Boutique
Bowl Mill Store
Boysenberry: Smart Clothes
Brooks Pharmacy
Christopher Wilson DDS
Cloudland Farm
Crossroads Bar & Grill
Curves
Cynthia Emerlye
Dee Wroth
Dianne Kenney
Eaton’s Sugarhouse
Gillinghams
Green Mountain Bikes
Hanover Outdoors
The Hardware Store
Herald of Randolph
Hurricane Flats Farm
Irene Collins Clothing
Judy Jensen Pottery
Killington Resort
Kyle Jones
Land and Lamb, Inc.
Lebanon Crushed Stone
Liberty Hill Farm
Matthew Houde
Miranda Thomas Pottery
Montshire Museum
NAPA Auto Parts—Randolph
Northern Woodlands Magazine
Northfield Savings Bank
Peavine Family Restaurant
Planet Hair
Randolph Depot Café
Randolph National Bank
River Bend Post & Beam
Ronin
Seasoned Books and Bakery
Sharon Academy
Sharon Trading Post
Sidewalk Florist
The Silver Screen
South Royalton Market
Spaulding Press
Swiss Farm Inn
Ted Green Ford
Thistle Hill Publications
Tip Top Pottery
Village Pizza
VINS
Welch’s True Value
White River Golf Club
Wilderness Trails
Woodstock Farmer’s Market
Posted: October 31, 2006 by wrp_admin
2006 Water Quality Monitoring Program
2006 Water Quality Monitoring Program
October 31, 2006
The sixth season of our Water Quality Monitoring program is officially complete. Launched in 2001, the program goal is to better understand potential threats to water quality and public health by keeping tabs at over 20 sites throughout the watershed, including popular swimming holes and locations that have the potential to become contaminated. Every Wednesday morning during the summer, a team of volunteers measure water temperature, water clarity, and electrical conductivity, and collect water samples that are tested for E.coli, nitrogen and phosphorus. We share the results of our weekly E.coli testing with the public by posting them on our website, emailing them to interested people, and publishing a yearly E.coli Results Summary.
Now that the 2006 season is complete, we can compare this year’s data to previous years’ data. While overall water quality in the White River watershed is relatively good, problems do exist. Sedimentation and erosion continue to be the most prominent water quality concerns, followed by elevated water temperatures, nutrients, and pathogens – all of which contribute to reduced habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The presence of pathogens and other chemicals can pose serious threats to human health as well.
During the last five years, almost half of the 24 sites we monitored have revealed high E.coli counts according to the State’s accepted safe swimming standard of 77 organisms per 100ml sample. Because Vermont’s standard is the strictest in the nation, the WRP also uses the Environmental Protection Agency’s national standard of 235 organisms per 100ml sample. Five sites regularly exceeded this federal standard in 2006, which was on par with the 2005 data.
The WRP uses the results of the monitoring program to prioritize restoration projects. For example, the monitoring program results consistently show that the White River’s larger tributaries, including the First, Middle and Third Branches and Ayer’s Brook, have chronically high E.coli counts, with the majority of sites exceeding both standards for safe recreational contact. To address these threats, our Trees for Streams program focused on the First and Middle Branches in 2005 and 2006, and will focus on the Third Branch in 2007. And this fall, the WRP has initiated a corridor planning project on Ayers Brook.
Each year the WRP hires an intern to coordinate the monitoring program. This year, UVM graduate Luke Krisch did a terrific job training the volunteers, testing the water samples for E.coli bacteria, entering the data into our database, and sharing the results with the public. In addition, Luke surveyed 10 of our 15 permanent cross-sections, which were established to gather baseline data about the watershed. Thank you, Luke!
Our volunteer-driven water quality monitoring program is a prime example of how the WRP strives to engage community members to promote the long-term health of our watershed. By making people aware of potential threats to water quality and human health, we can work together to address them.