Fish Ladder is Open in BF

From the Nature Museum in Grafton ....
The Fish Ladder is operating - usually only for a few weeks!

Atlantic salmon were sighted at the Vernon Dam, so the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service alerted TransCanada, the corporation that owns and operates the fish ladder at the Watershed Visitor Center on the Connecticut River in Bellows Falls, to start releasing water. With water flowing down the fish ladder, salmon should be able to swim through each ramped concrete compartment to wend their way around and over the 52’ dam in order to get upstream to spawn and lay eggs.

The fish ladder flows only when salmon are running, so the season is usually only a few weeks long because the hydroelectric facility doesn’t want to waste water and lose energy if there is no reason to divert water from the turbines. This summer the water was flowing and visible to the public starting the weekend of June 11.

There are a number of different changing exhibits (such as birds, mammals, insects, and hydrology) created by The Nature Museum at Grafton and displayed at the Visitor Center, and there are always periodically changing activities for children to do; but the facility is most exciting when the fish ladder is flowing and one can look through the large windows in the lower level and see creatures swimming by at eye level. So, hurry to the Watershed Visitor Center next to the Post Office on Bridge Street in downtown Bellows Falls on Saturdays 10-4 or Sundays 12-4 to see the fish ladder while it’s operating.

To learn more about the facility and exhibits there, check the Museum’s website www.nature-museum.org under Other Projects or call the Museum at 802-843-2111.

2011 WQMP is a GO ... and another volunteer opportunity

Hello All,

We want to give a great big thank you to all of the great folks who keep their commitment to our rivers and to our great organization! The WQMP for 2011 is a go and we are very excited to have Laurie Callahan continue as the WQMP Coordinator for this year. I will post a bit more about details very soon, but for now, please read below to find about another great volunteer opportunity at the Dummerston Bridge .... from Laurie Callahan ....

Here is a volunteer opportunity to lend a hand & help the rain garden grow. The rain garden at the Dummerston covered bridge plays a significant role in protecting the West River water quality at the bridge and downstream. Stewardship of the garden will allow the garden to flourish and to continue in that role of water quality protection.
There will be a work party at the Rte 30 rain garden by the Dummerston covered bridge on Thursday, June 16 from 4-6 PM. Hollis Melton, master gardener from Dummerston, has let me know about this and has mentioned that they can use some additional folks to help-out to get the spring weeding and clean-up accomplished. There will be additional work sessions later in the year. See the recent email exchange between Hollis and I below.
Along with a variety of other native plants, poison ivy also grows in the garden. So, if you participate in the weeding/clean-up , please keep that in mind.
If you are interested in being part of the work party, please send me a short note and I will let Hollis know an approx. number of folks that plan to show-up. If you know Hollis please contact her directly. I hope to see several of you there on June 16th!
Laurie Callahan, SeVWA/WRWA WQMP Coordinator (802-258-1877)

2011 WQ Program in Danger ... Again!

Dear Citizens of Southeastern Vermont!

It is time ... it is well past time ... for us to be making this call out to you once again to help us support this very important program! The WQMP has been active for EIGHT whole summers since 2002. We are one of the largest and longest running monitoring programs in the state. Our work is so very important for the following reasons:

* Monitoring is one of the most vital ways to help people connect with their steams and rivers - when we go out to wade in the river and collect our fragile samples, we are not only immersing our bodies in the running water, but we are giving our whole SELVES a chance to rest, to breathe, and give back just a little bit to this very dear resource that gives us so very much!

* The DATA is essential for Federal, State, and Local governments to make decisions about the future land use in the Southeastern Vermont. If and when the data shows a river or stream is healthy, it is very difficult to allow for new development that could change this .. but if we never know that its' clean ... or we don't keep showing them, then some day, somebody could make a case for new development that COULD impact the river in a negative way.

* WE, the local people who are so lucky to live here, raise our children and enjoy this beautiful country, need this DATA. Do you swim all summer hoping that the water is clean? OR do you just never go because you are afraid you could get sick ... well, if you become a member and you get INFORMED, you won't have to be afraid. You can make confident decisions based on knowledge and let your kids enjoy the beautiful waters of Southeastern Vermont and go to the pool when the waters aren't safe.

Here is our note from our long time Board Member, Jeremy Schrauf, with more about our current financial situation:

Last year we received just enough in member donations, Town funds and grants to do our sampling program. This year all of the grants we received in the past have ended and only five of the Towns are able to support us this year. The program for 2011 is in jeopardy.

We are now $3,500 short of what we need to conduct any sampling this summer. We have a generous member donation of $1,000 toward that goal if we can raise the remaining $2,500 in the next few weeks.

I’m hoping you would be as generous as you can in this membership renewal drive so that we can meet the goal before sampling is scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 8th ...

I can mail or email you a membership form if that would be helpful. If not necessary, please mail your donation to SeVWA at PO Box 402, Brattleboro, VT 05302

A Letter from VNRC about VY, Tritium and Groundwater

Dear Members, Activists and Friends:

Vermont Yankee is in the news again because officials have found radioactive tritium in a new well. This time, it's a well that had been used for drinking water as recently as last March.

Click here to read a well-researched story from VTDigger outlining what regulators in other states have done to address tritium leaks at other nuclear power plants.

Here in Vermont, we need your help to put pressure on our own officials. They need to get serious and crack down on Vermont Yankee.

Ever since the tritium leak at VY was discovered earlier this year, VY has been downplaying the spill, saying the tritium was not in drinking water.

But VNRC, in recent legal filings before state regulators, has pointed out that under Vermont law, the state’s groundwater – all of it – is a public trust resource and should be managed and protected for all Vermonters. Now, with this most recent news, VY has been stripped even of the flimsy “it’s not in the drinking water” defense.

Aquifers are connected. Ignoring that is like suggesting that venom from a snake bite on your hand will never flow to your heart.

Here is what you can do, right now: contact the office of Gov. Jim Douglas, and tell him to order the Agency of Natural Resources to do its job and crack down on the poisoning of our groundwater at Vermont Yankee. Call his office today at 802-828-3333. Or, you can quickly go to his website here and write a note.

Please, do this today.

On another water issue, this time on our northern boundary . . .

The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently ordered Jay Peak ski area to restore wetlands after the resort filled in wetlands and streams with dirt, sand and rocks, in violation of the Clean Water Act. This action by EPA is largely the result of VNRC’s persistent and detailed work, over several years, to highlight the water quality problems at Jay Peak. Click here for more information about VNRC’s on-the-ground stormwater work, including a copy of a VNRC report, “Unchecked and Illegal – How ANR is Failing to Protect Vermont’s Lakes and Streams.”

Our work to protect Vermont’s precious water resources would not be possible without members like you. Thanks for all you do!

The VNRC Team

E-coli Results 7-14-10

2010 West River Watershed Alliance
Bi-weekly E.coli Level Report
(Updated July 15, 2010)
* State of Vermont Standard = 77 Escherichia coli (E. coli) organisms per 100 ml. of water sample.
EPA’s National Standard = 235 E. coli organisms per 100 ml. of water sample.
E. coli is a species of fecal coliform bacteria found in fecal material
from humans and other warm-blooded animals.
EPA recommends E. coli as an indicator of health risk from water contact in recreational waters.
Elevated E.coli levels are most likely due to excessive rain prior to sampling.
Swim at your own discretion.
Please note that changes in river conditions will alter bacterial levels over time.
Testing results are provided as a public service by the West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA),
also known as Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA),
and is supported by State of VT’s LaRosa Environmental Testing Laboratory and
Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC).
E. coli information for State parks and Army Corps of Engineers facilities
is available through those agencies.
Contact Laurie Callahan, Program Coordinator (volunteer), with questions
or if you would like to volunteer for WRWA programs. 802-258-1877
Recreational
Swimming Holes
Escherichia coli
(E. coli) per 100 ml. water
Sampling Results
West River June 30 July 14
Milk House Meadows 36 & 40 89*
Brattleboro Professional Center 23 52
Dummerston Covered Bridge 19 12
Brookline Bridge 52 26
Townsend, Ellen Ware Road 43 No Data Available
So. Londonderry, Rowes Road 102 * 1987*
So. Lndndry., Cobb’s swim hole 51 613 & 867*
Whetstone Brook
Behind Brattleboro Food Coop 185 * No Data Available
Ball Mountain Brook
Jamaica Village 6 60
Williams River
Bartonsville Bridge 145 & 205 * 138*
Rainbow Rock, Chester 112 * 291*
Saxtons River
Bellows Falls “sandy beach” 65 210*
Saxtons River Center 54 145 & 179*

Recreational Sites &
Swimming Holes
Escherichia coli
(E. coli) per 100 ml. water
Sampling Results
West River June 30Milk House Meadows 36 & 40
Brattleboro Professional Center 23
Dummerston Covered Bridge 19
Brookline Bridge 52
Ellen Ware Road 43
So. Londonderry, Rowes Road 102
Cobb’s swim hole 51
Whetstone Brook
Behind Brattleboro Food Coop 185
Ball Mountain BrookJamaica village 6
Williams RiverBartonsville bridge 145 & 205
Rainbow Rock 112
Saxtons RiverBellows Falls “sandy beach” 65
Saxtons River Center 54


2010 West River Watershed Alliance
Bi-weekly E.coli Level Report
State of Vermont Standard = 77 Escherichia coli (E. coli) organisms per 100 ml of water sample.
EPA’s National Standard = 235 E. coli organisms per 100 ml of water sample.
E. coli is a species of fecal coliform bacteria found in fecal material
from humans and other warm-blooded animals.
EPA recommends E. coli as an indicator of health risk from water contact in recreational waters.
Elevated E.coli levels are most likely due to excessive rain prior to sampling.
Swim at your own discretion.
Please note that changes in river conditions will alter bacterial levels over time.
Testing results are provided as a public service by the West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA),
also known as Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA),
and is supported by State of VT’s LaRosa Environmental Testing Laboratory and
Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC).
E. coli information for State parks and Army Corps of Engineers facilities
are available through those agencies.
Contact Laurie Callahan, Program Coordinator (volunteer), with questions
or if you would like to volunteer for WRWA programs. 802-258-1877

Bugging OUT: Family Stream Adventure

The SeVWA has partnered with the Nature Museum at Grafton to offer two educational programs this spring and summer. Read below to see all that's coming up next and spread the word! Hope to see you there .. Rebecca

Bugging Out: Family Stream Adventure
When: Sat, June 26, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Grafton, VT (map)
Description:
Meet at the Nature Museum. $20/family (1a + 2k) $5/extra kid ...$10/extra adult. Half of the proceeds will be donated to Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA). Join Rebecca Salem of the SeVWA in this adventure for the whole family. This workshop will give participants the chance to learn about the water cycle and its relationship to the life cycles of dragonflies, mayflies, and other common insects. We will splash around in the stream near the Nature Museum looking under rocks and sifting through the stream bottom to find the many animals that live there. As we learn to identify what we find we will explore how these tiny creatures have adapted to survive in different types of streams and rivers. Be sure to bring a water bottle and sturdy shoes for walking in the stream. Please pre-register. 15 participants maximum.

FREE YOUR EVENT FROM BOTTLED WATER

A Practical Guide to Take Back the Tap at Your Next Event and Avoid the Waste, Expense and Environmental Problems with Bottled Water


Differentiate your event from others by joining the surging nationwide movement to kick the bottled water habit and Take Back the Tap. Instead of buying into the myth of purity in a bottle and littering the landscape with empty water bottles, use this guide to free your event from bottled water.

Big city mayors, including those in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and New York City, are joining in this effort by prohibiting the use of city funding for bottled water — effectively eliminating it in all city buildings and city-funded events. Restaurants are stopping the sale of non-carbonated bottled water. Event planners are also joining this movement. From small, catered events to large conferences and trade shows, freeing events from bottled water is becoming more and more common.

During the Labor Day weekend in 2008, San Francisco will host the inaugural convention of Slow Food Nation. The event, expected to attract up to 50,000 people over three days, will exclude bottled water. Food & Water Watch will coordinate the delivery of tap water for all attendees. As part of this mass hydration effort, we’ve developed this guide to ease the way for other event planners who want to break free from bottled water

Save Water and get a Dishwasher!

The latest news from River Network ....

From now until October 15th, you have the opportunity to secure millions of dollars in rebates for water and energy efficient appliances.



The U.S. Department of Energy is funneling $300 million to states through the new State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. The funding will allow states to design and implement rebate programs that encourage consumers to turn in their old, inefficient appliances for new ENERGY STAR models. Water-efficient dishwashers and clothes washers are included under the ENERGY STAR label and with your help we hope that they are targeted to receive the biggest rebates



River Network would like to encourage you to contact your state's energy office and urge them to prioritize appliances that use water. Rebates are expected to range between $50 and $250 per unit, so make sure that clothes washers and dishwashers receive the maximum amount.



To make this task easier we have provided contact information for every state's energy office and a draft letter describing the benefits of this approach. To download these documents, visit our website. States have until October 15th to submit their proposals, so contact your energy office today!



For more information on this opportunity, including state energy office contacts and a draft letter, see our webpage at: www.rivernetwork.org/stimulus-funds-for-water-efficiency.

VIP (Vermont Invasives Patrollers) Workshop

The West River Watershed Alliance and Laurie Callahan are hosting a Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) workshop on Saturday August 22 from 10-2:30. The workshop has two parts – an indoor portion followed by an “on-the-water” session. The indoor part will be held at the Town Office Building on Old School Street in South Londonderry, VT from 10 until noon and the “on-the-water” session will take place at Gale Meadows Pond, a short driving distance SW of South Londonderry, from 12:30–2:30 PM. Gale Meadows Pond is in the upper reaches of the West River watershed.

During the second part of the workshop at Gale Meadows Pond the group will launch from the VT Fish & Game boating access just above the outlet dam. At the pond participants will be trained to conduct an aquatic species survey – primarily looking for invasive aquatic plants, but also learning about native aquatic species and habitats. Eurasian milfoil has been found at Gale Meadows Pond in the past – and observed there in October of 2008. Attendees will need to bring a canoe, kayak or other non-motorized shallow draft boat for the “on-the-water” session. Also, please bring a lunch, water and other necessities for the day.
Leslie Matthews, of the Water Quality Division of VT Department of Conservation, will be the presenter and the leader of the field session. Callahan, an aquatic biologist, will assist Matthews in both portions of the workshop.

VIPs provide the first line of defense against harmful invasive species that can threaten the ecology and recreational potential of our lakes and rivers. They are trained to conduct systematic surveys for aquatic invaders like Eurasian milfoil and zebra mussels. Early detection is vital to protecting Vermont’s waterbodies from invasive plants and animals. When invasive species are detected soon after introduction, before having a chance to become well established, they can often be managed more effectively, and perhaps even eradicated.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register online at http://www.vtwaterquality.org/cfm/vip/vip_registration.cfm. You can contact Leslie Matthews at leslie.matthews@state.vt.us or at (802) 241-3798. For more information about the workshop or lfor directions to locations contact Laurie Callahan at therivermist@hotmail.com or (802) 258-1877.

Lakes and Ponds Meeting

I just received the ANR's Water Quality Division's newsletter, "Out of the Blue" (which is excellent by the way), and I noticed an announcement for the Vermont Federation of Lakes and Ponds Annual Meeting.

When: Mon., July 27 9:00-3:300

Where: The Steale House, Rt. 302, Berlin, VT

visit www.vermontlakes.org for more info.

cs

Upper Connecticut River Watershed Atlas

The Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC) recently produced Where the Great River Rises: An Atlas of the Upper Connecticut River Watershed in Vermont and New Hampshire. It can be ordered online at www.upne.com or by calling 1-800-421-1561. The list price is $35, but supporters of the CRJC get 30% off.

cs

Black River Action Team - 10th Annual River Sweep

When: Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:00 AM to
12:00 PM
Where: Fletcher Memorial Library - 88 Main St Ludlow,VT Get Directions
Description: Get your feet wet in the 10th Annual RiverSweep with the Black River Action Team! On Saturday, August 22nd, the BRAT invites everyone to lend a hand collecting trash from the bed and banks of the Black River in Springfield, Ludlow and all points in-between. Stop in at one of the BRAT's HeadQuarter stations anytime between 8am and noon on the 22nd to sign in. Springfield's HQ is the Citizen's Bank drive-up near the footbridge in the Springfield Shopping Plaza; Ludlow's HQ is the gazebo on the green at Veterans Park, near the library. All supplies will be provided, free refreshments will be on hand, and each participant receives a free tee shirt as a "thank you" gift. For more details and to pre-register for the RiverSweep, contact BRAT Director Kelly Stettner at blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com or at 885-1533. That's Saturday, August 22nd for the 10th Annual RiverSweep. Come be a BRAT!

VT Invasives Patrollers (VIPs) workshop

I would like to host a VT Invasives Patrollers (VIPs) workshop on Saturday July
25th, but before i decide to do so would like to determine what the interest
level might be. Leslie Matthews of VT DEC would be glad to come to this part of
the state to present the workshop.

The workshop usually includes Leslie doing a PowerPoint presentation about
aquatic invasive species concerns & issues in VT and New England, an invasive
aquatic species identification exercise (with live and preserved specimens) and
then an "on-the-water" session to inspect a local waterbody for invasive aquatic
plants. In the Brattleboro area a location with Eurasian milfoil will be
visited.

For more information on VT DEC's VIP program, here is a link to the VIPs page at
the VT DEC, Water Quality Division website -

http://www.vtwaterquality.org/lakes/htm/ans/lp_VIP.htm

and also a link to the VIP program brochure -

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/lakes/docs/ans/lp_vippromotionalbrochure.pdf

In August and September I will also lead outings on a few waterbodies in Windham
County to check for the presence of invasive aquatic plants. Those waterbodies will
include South Pond and Sunset Lake, and probably also Lowell Lake, Gale Meadows
Pond, Sweets Pond and Weatherhead Hollow Pond. If Lake Raponda folks would like to
join me I probably will inspect at least parts of that waterbody too.

Please let me know as soon as you can whether you think members of your
organizations would be interested in attending a VIPs workshop in the
Brattleboro area on Saturday, July 25. We would like to get this scheduled and
announced by next Monday (7/13) if there is enough interest.

Thanks!
Laurie Callahan

A New Name for Us?

We've decided to change our name to reflect our new mission. Here's the list we've generated. Vote for your top three.

1. Southeastern Vermont Watershed Action
2. Southeastern Watershed Watch
3. Southeastern River Action
4. Watershed Action Monitors of Southeastern Regional Vermont
5. Southeastern Vermont for Rivers
6. Southeeastern Vermont for Watersheds
7. Group Action for Watershed of Southeastern Vermont
8. Watershed Awareness Group Action of Southeastern Vermont
9. The Watershed Group of Southeastern Vermont
10. Watershed Conservation of Southeastern Vermont
11. For Watershed Action of Southeastern Vermont
12. Southeastern Vermont Citizens for Community Watershed Action
13. Watershed Action Coalition Organization
14. Southeastern Regional Vermont Watershed Action Monitors Alliance
15. Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance.

cs

VT River Conservancy's new website

If you're not familiar with the Vermont River Conservancy (or even if you are), check out there website. This is a new site for them.

http://www.vermontriverconservancy.org/

They would be another great organization for the WRWA to partner with.

cs

West River Park nixed by DRB

The Reformer, on June 11, reported that the Brattleboro Development Review Board halted plans to develop the proposed "West River Park" along Route 30. Apparently the DRB submitted its findings to the town and detailed its reasons for sending the plan back to the drawing board...
cs

Connecticut River Song Contest

As found in The Reformer recently:

"Got a lyric for your river, a tribute for your tributary? The Connecticut River Watershed Council wants you to share it with the world. Following last year's 'Living Along the River Songwriting Contest,' CRWC is putting out a new call for lyric artists along New England's great river valley."

Check out the link or call Pat LaMountain at 413-772-2020 ext. 203 for more details.

Comittees? Share Your Thoughts Here!

At our June board meeting, we revisited the work that was done at the May meeting in terms of moving our organization toward one that is structured with committees. At the May meeting the following list of possible committes was generated. Please review the list and add your comments.

Should we add some more?

Delete others?

Which ones do you think are priorities?

What 'powers' might the committees have?

Who might serve on them?

1. Education
2. Membership Relations
3. Program/Projects
4. Fund Raising
5. Finance
6. Administration
7. Communication/Advertising/Outreach

cs

Eyes and Ears Network

Chris Garofolo's article in the Reformer recently was encouraging. Read some excerpts below:

"The Connecticut River Watershed Council is looking for river protection volunteers this spring to help defend the biological integrity of the Upper Valley's river and streams.

"Through the Eyes and Ears Network, the council would train local volunteers in identifying unusual incidents and potential issues int he rivers and wetlands along the Connecticut River and its tributaries.

"With the government pinching every penny, river advocates say the additional help is needed to ensure problems such as illegal dumping, unexplained discharges and new erosion sites do not continue to occur...

"[David] Deen said anyone willing to stay attuned to the water resources site problems would make a good volunteer, especially people active on the river...

"The council will rpovide contact information on reporting incidents tot he proper enforcement officials and resource agencies if necessary. Deen [VT and NH's Connecticut River steward], who will serve as a regular contact, will also make field visits with volunteers on their rivers. Work and training sessions will begin in June.

People interested in the Eyes and Ears Network should contact:
David Deen at (802) 869-2792
or Christine Luis-Schultz, Volunteer Coordinator, at (413) 772-2020 ext. 201

The more I learn about projects and plans underway through groups like the Connecticut River Joint Commissions and The Connecticut River Watershed Council, the more possibilities I see for our little organization to branch out and connect with the rest of the Connecticut R. watershed.

cs