The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) concluded its monitoring program for the summer of 2019 on Wednesday, August 28th. Volunteers collected samples from 33 sites on nine rivers and streams every other week this summer. This year, we had sites on the West River, Flood Brook, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Rock River, Williams River (including the Middle Branch), Saxtons River, East Putney Brook, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.

This program would truly not be possible if it was not for the labor of love our volunteers put into collecting the samples. In addition to waking up early on Wednesday mornings, volunteers venture out whether it is hot and humid or cold and rainy. Our volunteers are also the eyes and ears for the rivers in their local area, many taking what they’ve learned from our results and searching out sources of pollution to remediate. Thank you, SeVWA volunteers!

There was finally a stretch of dry weather in the region leading up to our sampling and only a handful of our sites tested above the “suitability for swimming” standard set by the State of Vermont and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Because heavy rains can cause spikes in bacteria, it is generally recommended to wait 24-48 hours after a significant rainfall to resume swimming in lakes and streams

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SeVWA’s water quality monitoring program is supported by SeVWA volunteers, members and donors, including the Putney Conservation Commission, the towns of Londonderry, Jamaica, Townshend, Wardsboro, Brookline, Newfane, Dummerston, and Brattleboro, Rock River Preservation, Grafton Village Cheese Company, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation LaRosa Partnership, & Connecticut River Conservancy.