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
- All five (Lake Morey, Lake Fairlee, Halls Lake, Ticklenaked Pond, and Round Pond in Newbury) have
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.
