Two residences on Western Avenue in Burlington were recently evaluated and certified under LCI's BLUE® Program.  The BLUE® Program is aimed at reducing stormwater runoff and pollution of Lake Champlain.  Vermont DEC and Keurig Green Mountain grants to this program provide reimbursements to Burlington and Waterbury property owners, up to $250 per property towards any property improvements necessary for properties to qualify for BLUE® certification.  Anyone in Burlington, Waterbury or Shelburne who would like to have their property evaluated should call LCI at 878-3466. Learn more about BLUE

Gina McCarthy, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, stood on a windy beach at St. Albans Bay Park and made a commitment to Vermonters.

"I'll do the work," she said.

"I can go for the money," said Senator Leahy.

State regulators have so far declined to mandate best management practices (BMPs) on farms that would reduce pollution, instead relying on voluntary efforts.  Read article

Burlington's efforts to reduce water-borne nutrient pollution in Lake Champlain was boosted Oct. 10 with the announcement of a federal technical assistance grant.

US EPA, Admin. Gina McCarthy, waded through a throng of second-graders at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center to deliver the upbeat news.  Read article

The Environmental Protection Agency has postponed its decision on the restoration of Lake Champlain's water quality until next spring.

Stephen Perkins, director of ecosystem protection for the EPA's Boston office, said on Oct. 15th. the agency will issue an order by spring 2015, the latest delay in a decision that had been due this fall.  Read more

PITTSFORD, Vt - A central Vermont wildlife management area popular with birders and waterfowl hunters has nearly doubled in size, thanks to a donation of land by the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO).

 

The Pomainville Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Pittsford, Vt, has added two sections of land that will increase the total area from 360 acres to 572 acres.  The additions include a small section of floodplain forest along Otter Creek and a large parcel of softwood forest on the east side of Route 7.

 

The WMA was originally purchased by Ducks Unlimited in 2004 and was donated to Vermont Fish & Wildlife a year later.  The lands were purchased in order to create a forested buffer along Otter Creek and to restore 46 acres of formerly drained wetlands, the largest wetland reserve project ever completed in Vermont at that time. Read more

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is seeking proposals for local grants to support the implementation of the long term management plan for Lake Champlain, Opportunities for Action (plan.lcbp.org).

 

The LCBP anticipates awarding more than 50 local grants totaling up to $650,000. Read more

Applications are being accepted for 2015 Vermont Watershed Grants.  Vermonters have an opportunity to protect and restore watersheds through the Vermont Watershed Grants Program.  Half of the proceeds from sale of Vermont's Conservation License Plate go towards funding the program. Learn more

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Vermont Life Magazine are announcing the release of the colorful 2015 Fish & Wildlife Department Calendar.  

This year's edition of the calendar maintains the popular large format and includes inset images, matching the format of Vermont Life's other popular calendars.  Read more

FRANKLIN, VT -- The Lake Carmi Campers Association, Inc. (LCCA) is pleased to announce their endorsement of William Roberts, candidate for State Senate, House incumbent Cindy Weed, and House Candidate Larry Fiske.  Read more

Our partners at ABC22 and FOX44 have undergone an exciting transformation! On Monday, October 20, they re-launched asLocal 22 WVNY and Local 44 WFFF.

 

Here is the their official announcement.

Why the change? It reflects our commitment to the community and the local news that matters to you. You'll see major upgrades to every part of our newscasts - a new set, new graphics, and content that reflects our new slogan, 'Local News That Matters.'

On Tuesday, we unveiled our new morning show, with a dynamic two-anchor format. Mike Curkov now joins Brittney Hibbs for an energetic, fun way to get the news you need to start your day, and it's unlike anything else on local television. Steve Glazier has your Forecast First, every half hour, and Alaina Pinto is live every morning with the most interesting things happening across our community.

 

We're excited to bring you Local News That Matters, and we think it's something our whole community deserves. Learn more

NY -- NORTH COUNTRY NOW -- There are all kinds of things to do in the North Country.  Visit the Adirondack Fish Hatchery, Fort Ticonderoga, The Wild Center...and more this fall.  View List of Day Trips

 

Batavia, NY -- Lamb Farms agreed to pay a $15,000 fine to the Department of Environmental Conservation for liquid manure that seeped into six residential water wells in the Lewiston/Oakfield Batavia Townline roads area of Oakfield in March, according to documents released by the DEC.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has launched a new, collaborative initiative to eliminate fertilizer pollution as a major environmental concern in the United States.  The effort will engage farmers and businesses throughout the supply chain to transform the way fertilizer-dependent grain crops are sourced.

"If we're going to meet food demands for a growing population, we've got to decouple production from pollution as soon as possible," said EDF vice president David Festa.  Read article

Annapolis, MD -- The Maryland Department of Agriculture, working with several partners, has received a $75,000 USDA Conservation Innovation Grant to continue studying an agricultural management practice that removes phosphorous from agricultural systems.  Read more 

 

On Oct. 21st. a report, "The Economic Benefits of Cleaning Up the Chesapeake," was released. For the first time a dollar value was placed on implementing the "Blueprint" to clean up the Chesapeake.  The numbers are staggering.  The annual cost is estimated to be $22 billion. The annual benefit from improve natural resources is estimated to be $130 billion.  Read more

 

Manure has some value based solely on its nutrient composition, but how much is it really worth?

Dr. Brad Joern, Professor at Purdue University, shared the factors that impact the value of manure at an educational seminar at the 2014 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.  "Without a manure analysis you really don't have any idea how many nutrients are present in your box, side slinger or honey wagon spreader."  Read more

 

EPA News-Notes -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reaching out to producers and the public in an effort to raise awareness of agroforestry, a management approach that intentionally combines agriculture and forestry to create more sustainable land use systems.

 

DURHAM, NC -- A new study led by Duke University has found that allowing polluters to buy, sell or trade water-quality credits could reduce pollution in river basins and estuaries faster and at lower cost than requiring the facilities to meet compliance costs on their own.

Trying to squeeze the last "drop" of phosphorus out of water treatment plants will be costly and no solution to lake pollution.  Read article

Batteries are the Achilles heel of most forms of technology. Most batteries take a long time to charge and don't last more than a few years. Researchers at Nanyang Technology University recently created a new kind of battery that charges super fast (70% in two minutes) and has a shelf life of 20 years.  Read more

Workshops are scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp in Castleton, and Saturday, April 11, 2015, at the Fish & Wildlife district office in Essex Junction. If you, or someone you know, would like to join the LGF team of incredible instructors, sign up today!  You need to be 18 years of age or older and want to share your love of fishing and/or knowledge of water resources with the younger generation. Sign up

ST. ALBANS, VT -- Cover crops are becoming more prevalent throughout the Lake Champlain Basin. Join the UVM Extension's Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) and the Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team, as well as farmers and researchers to discuss and tour strategies for successful cover cropping in our northern region.  Learn more & Sign Up

 

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