The Clean Water Service Provider Network
In consultation with the Advisory Committee, a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) for the Lake Champlain and Memphremagog Basins was developed and issued for public comment January 3 – January 24, 2020. The Division addressed written comments in a comprehensive responsiveness summary.
On July 13, 2020, the Department of Environmental Conservation identified the following entities to serve as CWSPs for the Lake Champlain and Memphremagog Basins. Formula grants will be awarded on an annual basis to CWSPs for terms beginning July 1, 2022. CWSPs may serve through the end of their term, with the opportunity to continue service beyond their term end dates, should they be re-assigned.
| Basin (ID) | Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) | Back-up CWSP | Term Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphremagog (Basin 17) | Vermont Housing Conservation Board | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | June 30, 2028 |
| Missisquoi (06) and Lamoille (07) | Northwest Regional Planning Commission | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | June 30, 2027 |
| North Lake (05) | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | Northwest Regional Planning Commission | June 30, 2026 |
| Winooski (08) | Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | June 20, 2029 |
| Otter Creek (03) | Addison County Regional Planning Commission | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | June 30, 2025 |
| South Lake (02 and 04) | Rutland Regional Planning Commission, in collaboration with the Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District | Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission | June 30, 2028 |
Current CWSP Request for Reappointments
Addison County Regional Planning Commision (ACRPC), the CWSP for Basin 3 - Otter Creek, has submitted a request for reappointment to DEC. This request for reappointment starts a process whereby DEC will gather and assess information on the CWSP, leading to a decision on whether or not to reappoint the CWSP. As a part of this process, DEC will request information from the public on this application later in 2024 and will provide more information in September/October 2024 on this process of gathering information from the public.
Basin Water Quality Councils
Pursuant to Act 76, each basin with a CWSP will also have a Basin Water Quality Council, or BWQC. Act 76 states that the purpose of a basin water quality council is to establish policy and make decisions for the clean water service provider regarding the most significant water quality impairments that exist in the basin and prioritizing the projects that will address those impairments based on the basin plan.
Per statute, BWQCs are nine seat councils, made up of the following:
- Two persons representing natural resource conversation districts in the basin
- Two persons representing regional planning commissions in the basin
- Two persons representing local watershed protection organizations in the basin
- Two persons representing municipalities in the basin
- One person representing a land conservation organization in the basin
DEC Contacts
Angie Allen, Otter Creek (Basin 03), Southern Lake Champlain (Basins 2/4) Watershed Planner
Ben Copans, Memphremagog (Basin 17), Supervising Planner
Chris Rottler, CWSP Coordinator
Emily Bird, CWIP Program Manager
Ethan Swift, Watershed Planning Program Manager
Gianna Petito, CWIP Grants Manager
Karen Bates, Missisquoi, Winooski, Northern Lake Champlain (Basin 5) Watershed Planner
Neil Kamman, Water Investment Division Director