CURRENT INITIATIVES
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Water Quality Monitoring Program
The Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) is SeVWA's flagship project. The Board of Directors established a WQMP committee to oversee the summer's water monitoring program. We have a contracted Coordinator, Ryan O'Donnell, who oversees the project and the volunteers. Our volunteers sample at 26 river sites in our southeastern corner of Vermont. E. coli test results get posted biweekly, allowing residents to determine if the water is suitable for recreational purposes.
SeVWA's WQMP's data has been used by Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation to work with several "hot spots" for E Coli in our watershed to discover the reasons the site has issues and to work with the communities to remediate those problems. Monitoring results charts and accompanying commentaries appeared on www.ibrattleboro.com (Nature section) every 2 weeks through the monitoring season.
CHANGES in funding this year (2020) have not supported the crucial sample testing at LaRosa Labs, and we are forced to rely on town and membership funding for our survival. This project is the primary component of our budget, accounting for over 95% of our spending.
To volunteer for our WQMP team, and gain knowledge and hands on skills of water quality monitoring, contact us.
Thanks to our supporters!
Thanks to our supporters!
SeVWA volunteers, members and donors, including the Londonderry Conservation Commission, Robert Fritz, Inc, Rock River Preservation, Elaine Lambert Living Trust, State of VT Department of Environmental Conservation’s LaRosa Environmental Testing Laboratory, & Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC).
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Knotweed Abatement
Glora Cristelli has been heading up this project, and recently presented to the Newfane Selectboard (June 2020), which agrees it is in our economic interest to abate knotweed, which currently dominates our riparian buffers in the West River and other river valleys. Archer Mayor and Gloria have projects with ½ inch mesh going, one by WW Bldg supply and one near S Wardsboro Rd (1/4 inch). We also have projects in two locations in Brattleboro. We want everyone to consider adopting and destroying a patch near them, and to let us know, and get support from us in the process.
At right: Knotweed abatement
by confluence off West and CT
rivers, using old roofing material.
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Source to Sea Annual River Cleanup
We participate in the Source to Sea cleanup spearheaded annually by the Connecticut River Watershed Council. Look at our flier for more information.
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Tree Planting
Our 2020 DEC grant to plant 700+ trees at the Winhall Brook camping area on the West River was cancelled due to COVID and the unavailability of volunteers.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the 2017 Source to Sea Cleanup a success. We hope to see you again next year!