by the Journal-Opinion

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is soliciting public input on the draft Tactical Basin Plan for Vermont’s Ompompanoosuc, Stevens, Wells, and Waits River Basin. There is a meeting at Blue Mountain Union tonight at 6:30 p.m. and at Thetford Academy on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Remote access in the links above. 

Per a news release, DEC completed the plan with local nonprofits, regional planners, conservation districts, and scientists. The plan outlines about 40 ways to restore and protect rivers, lakes, and wetlands within a portion of Vermont’s Connecticut River Basin, covering towns from Hartford to Barnet.

The full draft plan is 105 pages. A summary is available in StoryMap form.

Some highlights from the plan:

• Good news – most surface waters exceed water quality standards
• Five streams are impaired by metals due to the legacy effects of the Elizabeth, Ely, and Pike Hill mines
• Lake Morey is impaired by phosphorus but recently underwent an alum treatment (2024) with promising results
• Levi Pond is impaired due to low pH
• Five lakes have “Poor” Aquatic Invasive Species ratings as of 2022.
  • All five (Lake Morey, Lake Fairlee, Halls Lake, Ticklenaked Pond, and Round Pond in Newbury) have
    populations of Eurasian watermilfoil
  • Three (Morey, Fairlee, and Halls) have Chinese mystery snail.
  • Fairlee has brittle naiad
  • Morey has rusty crayfish

The comment period if open until Nov. 11. Comments or questions on the draft plan can be directed to Keith Fritschie at Keith.Fritschie@vermont.gov or 802-490-6176. 

The chart below is from the basin plan. It depicts the conditions of 31 lakes and ponds in the region.