The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Basin Planning Process for the Lamoille River drainage area began in 2003. The underlying objective of the Vermont Basin Planning Process is to protect the high quality surface waters of the basin and to restore those waters that do not meet the Vermont Water Quality Standards. DEC is working in a collaborative fashion with other state, federal, non-profit and volunteer organizations as well as local residents for input, funding, technical assistance, and public education for various water quality improvement projects identified through the watershed planning process.

The Lamoille River Basin has a watershed area of 706 square miles. The main stem of the Lamoille River flows over 84 miles from its headwaters in Glover to the outer Mallets Bay in Lake Champlain. Major tributaries to the Lamoille River include the Wild Branch, North Branch, Brewster River, and Browns River. Larger lakes in the watershed include Caspian Lake, Lake Elmore, Green River Reservoir, and Arrowhead Mountain Lake.

Lamoille River Watershed Public Forums:

Eight public forums were held throughout the watershed in 2003 to listen to residents' concerns and visions regarding water quality issues in the Lamoille River watershed. The top issues of the forums were prioritized and are directing the Lamoille River Watershed Council, DEC, and various partners in developing strategies, securing funds, and recruiting technical advisors to improve water quality locally.  Numerous other meetings have occurred since those initial forums to sharpen restoration and protection strategies.

The Watershed Council and the Watershed Plan:

A Lamoille River Watershed Council was formed including a diverse mix of stakeholders within the watershed. Council members represent watershed constituents from various backgrounds including farmers, foresters, loggers, business owners, municipal officials, anglers, local watershed organizations, environmental groups, teachers, utility companies, regional planners, and a ski area. The DEC Watershed Coordinator and the Lamoille Watershed Council have developed the watershed plan and will assist in the implementation of watershed restoration projects. For more information regarding the basin planning process, the Lamoille Watershed Council and the Lamoille River Basin Plan contact Jim Ryan (476-0132).

Approved Basin 7 Watershed Plan:

After several years of development, the draft Lamoille River Basin Water Quality Management Plan has been approved by the Agency of Natural Resources and is now available. The Plan integrated scientific monitoring and assessment data as well as input from watershed residents and numerous watershed stakeholder organizations. The Plan includes 70 Action Items to protect high quality waters and uses and remediation strategies to improve water quality and aquatic habitat concerns. The Plan’s primary focus is addressing nonpoint source pollution threats to surface waters, wetlands, lakes and ponds, and streams throughout the Lamoille watershed.

Although the Plan has just been released, DEC and its watershed partners have already begun implementation of many of the document’s recommendations. Examples of these projects include: river corridor protection, reducing erosion from gravel roads, replacing undersized stream crossings, improving fish passage, addressing stormwater runoff, protecting swimming holes, planting riparian buffers, restoring wetlands, reducing erosion from logging operations, and removing flood plain encroachments.

Readers may inspect or download the respective components of the ANR-approved Plan by clicking on the links shown below:

• Lamoille Basin Plan (pdf, 2.7 MB)
• Lamoille River basin map with sub-watershed boundaries (pdf, 5.7 MB)

To receive a hard copy of the draft Lamoille River Basin Water Quality Management Plan, for more information about the planning process or for information about implementation projects within the drainage basin, contact Jim Ryan at (802) 476-0132.

• Guidelines for Watershed Planning (pdf, 374 KB)
• Lake Champlain Basin Program
• Lake Champlain Basin Program Atlas
• Map of Vermont's 17 River Basins
• Meeting Dates & Minutes
• Vermont Clean and Clear Action Plan

Updated: November 2009