The Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) funds, tracks, and reports on priority projects to restore Vermont’s waters. To learn more about clean water restoration tracking and clean water reporting see the Clean Water Projects page.
DEC is developing tools, guidance, and training for clean water partners to perform, "Clean Water Project Verification" with an emphasis on verification of projects funded through the Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) Network. To learn more about the CWSP program, please visit the Clean Water Service Delivery Act webpage for more information.
- Overview & Goals
- Operation and Maintenance
- Verification Visits & Survey123 Mobile Application
- Training Resources & References
Overview & Goals
The purpose of Clean Water Project Verification is to ensure that clean water project implemented with funding from CWIP are properly maintained and functioning as intended throughout their design lives. Verification involves regularly visiting clean water project sites and using visual indicators to determine the status and condition of a clean water project. These data are collected using Survey123, a mobile application described below.
Operation & Maintenance
Clean water projects implemented through CWIP funding programs require a signed Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan and Agreement. For Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant funded projects, the O&M plan is included in the Site Access Agreement templates, which establish long term site access so verifiers, maintainers, CWSPs and DEC staff can access the project site to perform O&M tasks.
The O&M Plan offers a description for each clean water project implemented as part of the project. A table lists the location, practice type, design life, frequency of verification and maintenance, routine maintenance activities, and necessary equipment to conduct maintenance.
Verification Visits
Verification provides accountability for pollutant reduction benefits that count towards DEC Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) tracking and accounting purposes. Verification visits are not regulatory inspections and are not intended to meet regulatory requirements. Other DEC programs have their own methods for regulatory inspections. Regulatory visits and verification visits to a single project can be coordinated as appropriate to maximize resources.
Survey123 Mobile Application
Survey123 is a mobile application that houses project-specific checklists used to collect standardized information and project photos during verification site visits.
Reports
After site visits, data are uploaded to Survey123 database, a Verification report can be generated. The report shows an overview of data collected and an average clean water project functionality score. Low scores are flagged for follow up maintenance or repair with the CWSP or other O&M responsible party to restore project functionality.
Resources & References
Training
Training | Target Audience | Description | When/Where |
---|---|---|---|
Tier 1: O&M of Clean Water Projects | CWSP staff, current and potential verifiers, BWQC members, municipal staff, maintainers responsible for multiple sites, DEC technical program staff | Roles and responsibilities in the O&M Program |
Recorded: Request Training Link |
Tier 1: Site Access Agreements | CWSP staff, interested landowners, project implementers | Provide orientation to the new site access agreement templates. | Recorded: Request Training Link |
Tier 2 Part 1: Verification Process and Survey123 | Current and potential verifiers | Set up Survey123, ArcOnline account, and accessing surveys | Under development, Online |
Tier 2 Part 2: Verification Tools Online | Current and potential verifiers | Full verification process, checklist scoring, and reporting. | Under development, Online |
Tier 2 Part 3: Verification Field Training | Current and potential verifiers | Walkthrough checklists and use in the field. | Under development, Field-based for each project sector |
Tier 3: Clean water Project Maintenance | Current and potential verifiers | Under development | Field-based |
Training Resources
Tier 1: O&M of Clean Water Projects
Tier 1: Site Access Agreements
Training Reimbursement
DEC has funding to reimburse eligible organizations for their participation in the DEC led O&M trainings and has contracted with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) to manage the reimbursement process.
Verification Certification
Individuals interested in serving as verifiers will be required to attend verification trainings (Tier II). DEC V&M Specialist will be maintaining a list of training attendance.
Resources and References
The development of the Clean Water Project Verification involved research and collaboration with partners. Visit the linked resources below to learn more.
- Lake Champlain Sea Grant
- Seattle Public Utilities
- UNH Stormwater Center
- Chesapeake Stormwater Network
- Vermont DEC Stormwater Manual
- VT Agency of Agriculture
- VT ANR Regulatory Programs