Windham Regional Commission (WRC) and the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District (WCNRCD) are pleased to announce expanded outreach and services to municipalities and the public to improve tactical basin planning efforts for the West, Williams and Saxtons River and Direct CT River Tributaries (Basin 11/13). In addition to the basin planning efforts, the WRC and WCNRCD will also support overall water quality efforts throughout Windham County. The work is supported through a grant provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Activities began this fall and will extend through September 2020.
The Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) for Basin 11/13 will undergo its 5-year update by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) starting in the Spring of 2020. WRC and WCNRCD staff will assist the DEC by facilitating enhanced municipal and public input during the drafting process so that the TBP accurately reflects local concerns and priorities. The partners will be working in the municipalities of Athens, Brattleboro, Brookline, Dover, Dummerston, Grafton, Jamaica, Londonderry, Marlboro, Newfane, Putney, Rockingham, Stratton, Townshend, Wardsboro, Westminster, Weston, Windham and Winhall to identify priorities, document progress, and conduct outreach necessary to develop priority projects and garner greater local support and awareness of the Basin Plan’s goals.
“Tactical basin plans are the road map for addressing water quality within the region.” said Windham Regional Commission Planner Margo Ghia. “I am looking forward to working with the municipalities and the general public within the West, Williams and Saxtons watersheds and getting their feedback on water priorities in their towns. I would like to see a lot of engagement with our communities on the development of the basin plan.”
Basin Plans help provide the umbrella for other various planning initiatives, including Stormwater Master Planning and River Corridor Planning, and ultimately provide a vehicle to strategically address regional water quality priorities.
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The Windham Regional Commission is one of eleven regional planning commissions in Vermont, and since 1965 has been assisting the 27 towns in southeastern Vermont to provide effective local government and work cooperatively with them to address regional issues.
For more information about the WRC, please visit www.windhamregional.org.
The mission of the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District (WCNRCD) is to advance conservation awareness to all citizens so that people understand and act on basic principles of rational use and care of Windham’s environment.
For more information on the Windham County NRCD please visit: http://windhamcountynrcd.org/
