MONTPELIER — The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is holding two public meetings to present the Lake Memphremagog, Coaticook and Tomifobia Rivers Tactical Basin Plan, which outlines how the State will achieve new phosphorus pollution targets for the Memphremagog Watershed in Vermont.
- Thursday, November 9th, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier and online via Skype for Business. For more details, visit http://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/cwi/outreach.
- Tuesday, November 14th, 2:00 – 3:00 pm at the East Side Restaurant, 47 Landing Street, Newport, Vermont.
The US Environmental Protection Agency recently approved the Lake Memphremagog phosphorus TMDL or Total Maximum Daily Load, which calls for a 29% reduction in phosphorus flowing off the land into the lake. Too much phosphorus causes nuisance plant and algae growth and occasional cyanobacteria blooms that limit recreational use of the lake.
DEC collaborated with local and regional experts to develop the tactical basin plan, with public input throughout the process. The plan outlines watershed-specific actions and projects that reduce phosphorus pollution from farms, roads, developed lands, and forests necessary to achieve the target.
“Whether you are a landowner, farmer, municipal official, developer, or logger, as Vermonters, we all have a responsibility to ensure a legacy of clean water for this and future generations,” says DEC Commissioner Emily Boedecker. “We are eager to begin implementing this plan, in close coordination with our local and regional partners that have been integral to its development.”
For information on the Memphremagog TMDL and the Lake Memphremagog, Coaticook and Tomifobia Rivers Tactical Basin Plan, visit: http://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/map/basin-planning/basin17.