Contact Information

Emily Bird, Division Director

Strategic direction, supervision of management staff, and development of policy for water investment, including targeting of resources to highest-value pollution control opportunities. Coordination of interagency and cross-organization policy and initiative development, and legislative support. Development of Clean Water Service Delivery Act initiatives.

Eric Blatt, PE - Director for Engineering

Supervises Division chiefs and staff. Develops proposed Rule and Statute changes relating to water infrastructure and capital expenditures, and provides related testimony at the legislature, participates in Department Management efforts, resolves technical and eligibility issues within the Division.

Vacant - Administrative Assistant

Provides office administrative support to this Division and two others.

David Webb, PE - Section Chief, Environmental Engineer

Supervises Agency Facilities Section staff and works to develop engineering designs for Agency infrastructure projects.

Develops engineering designs for Agency infrastructure projects. Duties include development of basis of design, approval and issuance of final plans and specifications, bid assistance, construction oversight, project closeout. Also provides planning level engineering and technical assistance to Agency programs.

Jennifer Gilbert, PE - Environmental Engineer

Develops engineering designs for Agency infrastructure projects. Duties include development of basis of design, approval and issuance of final plans and specifications, bid assistance, construction oversight, project closeout. Also provides planning level engineering and technical assistance to Agency programs.

Vincenzo Riva, PE - Environmental Technician

Conducts Topographic Surveys, produces site plans utilizing CAD and GIS, and assists Facilities Engineering with development of Project Specifications, permit acquisitions, estimates and budgets, staging procurements, and conducts construction site layout, project construction phase oversite, and other duties as assigned.

John Roman - Environmental Technician

Conducts Topographic Surveys, produces site plans utilizing CAD and GIS, and assists Facilities Engineering with development of Project Specifications, permit acquisitions, estimates and budgets, staging procurements, and conducts construction site layout, project construction phase oversite, and general Project Management as assigned.

Edward Haynes - Environmental Technician

Conducts Topographic Surveys, produces site plans utilizing CAD and GIS, and assists Facilities Engineering with development of Project Specifications, permit acquisitions, estimates and budgets, staging procedures, and conducts construction site layout, project construction phase oversite, and general Project Management as assigned. Section lead on wetlands issues and shoreland stabilization projects. 

Vacant - Program Manager

Manage the Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP). Oversee CWIP’s mission to align and coordinate clean water efforts statewide, develop financial and technical resources to implement projects, and capture and assess data to communicate progress and impact of clean water efforts. Coordinate Vermont’s interagency Clean Water Initiative (10 V.S.A. § 1387) by providing staff support to Vermont’s Clean Water Board, administering Vermont’s Clean Water Budget process, and coordinating the Clean Water Initiative Interagency Finance and Reporting Workgroup.  

Hank (David) Ainley - Environmental Analyst

Conduct inventories, mapping, and assessment of municipal stormwater and municipal wastewater collection infrastructure and manages a geodatabase of that infrastructure. Conduct related GIS analysis. Administer Woody Buffer, Stormwater Master Planning, and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination grants and contracts. 

Jezra Beaulieu - Lake Champlain Basin Program Grants Manager

Assist with the management and administration of the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) State of Vermont grant from the U.S. EPA; create Request for Proposals (RFPs), and grant and contract agreements; develop grant monitoring systems; serve as Technical Project Manager for LCBP-funded projects; and help track and account for clean water projects. 

Daniel Bouwens - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 3-Acre Stormwater Project Technician

Coordinate ARPA funding for “3-Acre Sites” subject to General Permit 3-9050. Manage permit obtainment funding assistance applications for engineering and permit services and provide support to ensure landowners can access assistance programs.  

Sarah Coleman - Vermont Coordinator to the Lake Champlain Basin

Provide program coordination between the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC), the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for development, administration, tracking, and reporting of clean water projects. 

Vacant - Agriculture Grant Program Coordinator

Responsible for coordination of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant opportunity.  Assist with additional agricultural water quality programs. 

Claire Madden - Tracking and Accounting Supervisor

Oversee the Clean Water Initiative Program’s tracking, accounting, and reporting functions to capture, assess, and communicate the progress and impact of clean water efforts. Coordinate the development and communications of the Vermont Clean Water Initiative Annual Performance Report. Oversee clean water project data management in the Watershed Projects Database. Support the administration of Clean Water Initiative Program funding programs. Serve as the Vermont Nonpoint Source Coordinator to EPA, overseeing Vermont’s Section 319 Nonpoint Source funding and reporting.  

Colleen Miller - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Clean Water Coordinator 

Serve as the Program's primary consultant to coordinate with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) program leads to meet state-required clean water performance reporting requirements. Provide general support for the development, implementation, operation, and communications of annual clean water funding initiatives. 

Mary Perchlik - Lake Champlain Basin Program Projects Specialist

Assist with the management and administration of the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) State of Vermont grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); create Request for Proposals (RFPs) and grant and contract agreements; serve as a Technical Project Manager; and help track and account for clean water projects. 

Gianna Petito - Clean Water Initiative Grants Supervisor

Responsible for design and oversight of funding opportunities available through the Clean Water Initiative Program, development and maintenance of CWIP Funding Policies and annual Spending Plan, and financial and progress tracking of funding initiatives.

Sloane Sullivan - Clean Water Communications Specialist (ECO AmeriCorps)

Assist with program communications including coordination of the Clean Water Conversation Series, and development of social media posts, e-newsletters, and plain language fact sheets.  

Marli Rupe - Agricultural Water Quality Section Chief

Responsible for assisting with development and implementation of agricultural projects, programs, and funding within the Clean Water Initiative Program and with local, state, and federal partners. Responsible for agricultural water quality issues, technical assistance, and program coordination. Responsible for management of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant opportunity. 

Vacant - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 3-Acre Stormwater Program Lead 

Coordinate ARPA funding for "3-Acre Sites" subject to General Permit 3-9050. Technical project manager for 3-acre Public-Private Partnership projects. Manage grants and contracts for engineering and construction services and provide support to ensure landowners can access assistance programs. 

Jill Sarazen - Green Infrastructure Collaborative Coordinator

Facilitate all aspects of the Green Infrastructure Collaborative (GIC), a partnership between Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) to combine efforts to bridge the gap between research, extension, and application of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and natural asset management in Vermont. 

Kelcie Bean - Data Management and Operations Specialist 

Coordinate the tracking, accounting, and reporting functions of the Clean Water Initiative Program’s work to capture, assess, and communicate the progress and impact of clean water efforts in Vermont.

Rachel Buchanan - Verification and Maintenance Specialist 

Responsible for developing and implementing the clean water project Verification and Maintenance Program. Provide general support in development and implementation of other annual clean water funding initiative priorities and funding program operations. Supervise CWIP's ECO AmeriCorps member.

Ben Green, PE - Section Chief, Dam Safety Engineer

Administer the Dam Safety Program under 10 VSA Chapter 43. Review applications to construct or alter dams, conduct inspections, and perform other regulatory functions. Oversee operation, maintenance, and capital projects at 14 Department owned Dams. Work with dam owners regarding dam construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and removal.

Steve Hanna - Dam Safety Engineer

Administer the Dam Safety Program under 10 VSA Chapter 43. Review applications to construct or alter dams, conduct inspections, and perform other regulatory functions. Assist with operation, maintenance, and capital projects at 14 Department owned Dams. Work with dam owners regarding dam construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and removal.

Andrew Sampsell, PE – Dam Safety Engineer

Assist with dam safety program duties including hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, inspections, policy, hazard classification determination, assist with operations and maintenance at State owned dams, and other related functions.

Russell McGinnis - Dam Safety Engineer

Assist with dam safety program duties including State dam asset management, operations and maintenance at State owned dams, Dams Inventory management, inspections, policy, hazard classification determination, and other related functions.

Jeff Fehrs, PE - Engineering Program Manager, CWSRF Program Manager

Don Haddox - Chief Construction Engineer

Supervises construction engineers. Reviews Step III engineering scopes of service, final design plans and specifications for biddability and constructability for projects funded by CWSRF and DWSRF, monitors DBE efforts, Davis-Bacon pay requirements, and AIS requirements, attends monthly project meetings, bid openings, and project milestones.

Hugo Martínez Cazón, PE - Pollution Control Design Engineer

Reviews engineering scopes of service, preliminary engineering reports, environmental information documents, and final design plans and specifications for projects funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and performs NEPA environmental review and pollution control design assistance.

Lynnette Claudon, PE - Senior Water Infrastructure Program Engineer, Engineering Planning Advance Project Lead, Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Coordinator, and Chair Village Water and Wastewater Committee

Reviews engineering scopes of service, preliminary engineering reports, environmental information documents, and final design plans and specifications for projects funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Vermont Pollution Control Grants, select Clean Water Initiative Grants, and performs NEPA-like environmental review and pollution control design assistance. Vermont Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Coordinator. Engineering Planning Advance Program Lead, Village ARPA Program Lead, performs outreach and technical assistance to unsewered communities. 

Vacant - Environmental Engineer

engineering scopes of service, preliminary engineering reports, environmental information documents, and final design plans and specifications for projects funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and performs NEPA environmental review and pollution control design assistance. Technical Project Manager for Village ARPA Grants.

Vacant - Environmental Engineer

Reviews engineering scopes of service, preliminary engineering reports, environmental information documents, and final design plans and specifications for projects funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and performs NEPA environmental review and pollution control design assistance.

Cynthia Parks, PE - Construction Engineer

Reviews Step III engineering scopes of service, final design plans and specifications for biddability and constructability for projects funded by CWSRF and DWSRF, monitors DBE efforts, Davis-Bacon pay requirements, and AIS requirements, attends monthly project meetings, bid openings, and project milestones.

Allison Murphy, PE - Construction Engineer

Reviews Step III engineering scopes of service, final design plans and specifications for biddability and constructability for projects funded by CWSRF and DWSRF, monitors DBE efforts, Davis-Bacon pay requirements, and AIS requirements, attends monthly project meetings, bid openings, and project milestones.

Winn Wilson - Construction Engineer

Technical Project Manager for ARPA CSO Grants. Reviews engineering scopes of service, preliminary engineering reports, environmental information documents, and final design plans and specifications for projects funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Vermont Pollution Control Grants, and ARPA CSO Grants. WID website editor. Reviews Step III engineering scopes of service, final design plans and specifications for biddability and constructability for projects funded by CWSRF and DWSRF, monitors DBE efforts, Davis-Bacon pay requirements, and AIS requirements, attends monthly project meetings, bid openings, and project milestones.

Padraic Monks - Financial and Loan Programs Manager

Water Infrastructure Finance Program staff and manages multiple programs including the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan programs and the ARPA 3-acre stormwater grant program.

Tom Brown - CWSRF Program Lead

project priority list development, adoption, and modification. Receives and processes clean water planning, design and construction loan applications and applications for municipal water pollution control grants. Coordinates engineering service agreement reviews and provides technical, managerial, and financial capacity assistance to loan and grant recipients. Provide outreach, training, and marketing services for the Water Infrastructure Financing Programs.

Amy Galford - Drinking Water SRF Project Developer

Processes DWSRF loan applications.

Katie Parrish - Drinking Water SRF Project Developer

Processes DWSRF loan applications including those for service line inventories.

Sarah Bayer - Drinking Water SRF Project Developer

Processes DWSRF loan applications including those for asset management plans or source protection land purchases.

Rod Gelio - Drinking Water SRF Administrative Technician

Performs advanced environmental program administrative work for the Department of Environmental Conservation. Duties involve the gathering, processing and management of technical data and records using computerized systems and related technologies. 

Looking for Mercedes Piñón or Denise Eagan? See AID Contacts.

Ethan Swift - Program Manager

Management of the Monitoring, Assessment and Planning Program. Expertise areas include monitoring program design, statewide and local water quality assessment, the Surface Water Management Strategy and Tactical Planning, and Water Quality Standards.

Angela Allen - Watershed Coordinator

Rutland Office
Job Description: Watershed planning and watershed restoration projects in the Poultney Mettowee watershed, Otter Creek watershed, and Battenkill-Hoosic-Walloomsac watershed.

Karen Bates - Watershed Coordinator

Essex Office
Watershed planning and watershed restoration projects in the Lamoille River Basin and the northern Lake Champlain watershed.

Marie Levesque Caduto - Watershed Coordinator

Springfield Office
Watershed planning and watershed restoration projects in the West, Williams and Saxtons Rivers, the Ottauquechee and Black Rivers, the Deerfield River and the Lower Connecticut River.

Ben Copans - Watershed Coordinator

St. Johnsbury Office 
Watershed planning and watershed restoration projects in the Passumpsic River Watershed, the Upper Connecticut River Watershed and the Lake Memphremagog Watershed.

Phillip Jones - Environmental Modeler

Focused on the statistical and geospatial analysis of data relating to surface water quality, hydrology, aquatic ecology, and watershed management.

Keith Fritschie - Watershed Coordinator

Watershed planning and watershed restoration projects in the Winooski River Watershed, the White River Watershed, and the Stevens, Wells, Waits, Ompompanoosuc Watershed.

Chris Rottler - Water Investment Coordinator

Technical project manager for Clean Water Service Providers/Formula Grants. Supervises WISPr program. Provides direct assistance to loan applicants through the Onsite Loan Program. Division Liaison for Environmental Justice.

Katherine King - Nonpoint Source Project Developer

Non-point source project developer, processing WISPr sponsorship and interim financing applications to the CWSRF. Provides related outreach, coordination, and program development support.