District News & Events:
Would you like to get up-to-date information about our tree sales? Fish sales? Summer camps or vacation programs? Other program happenings? Then, be sure to LIKE us on Facebook!
Summer Camp Information Available!!
Are you looking for our summer camp brochure? Find it on the nature center page under "camps."
Website Volunteers Needed!!!
With enormous thanks to Power Shift in Stowe, VT and the Lamoille Region Chamber of Commerce Leadership Team 2011, Lamoille County Conservation District is pleased to launch its new website! We hope visitors will enjoy our new look, new name, and new logo as we grow with our new media tools (Facebook page arriving soon!). While we attempt to update pages, we are not accustomed to web development and would love help to do so. Volunteer opportunities are certainly welcome! In the mean time, please be patient while we do our best to update our pages. Thanks for your understanding!
Lake Elmore Benefit Concert - A SUCCESS!
Thanks to our business sponsors, musicians, volunteers, members, friends and family the Lake Elmore Benefit Concert was a huge success. Close to $5,000 was raised to benefit LCCD and VT Foodbank. LCCD would like to thank the business sponsors who include; Black Diamond Barbeque, Catalyst Design, D.O'C Construction, Edelweiss, Frida's Restaurant, Green Moutain Distillers, Matthew Karlin Landscaping, Moog's, Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge, Rimrock's Mountain Tavern, R.T. Consulting, Rusty Nail Bar & Grill, Ryder Brook Golf Club, Sugar House Tree Care, Way Out Wax, and XPress Print & Copy. We'd also like to thank additional organizations who helped with various tasks. They are Stowe Mountain Golf Club staff, Lamoille County 4-H Organization, Lamoille Family Center, Morristown Ambulance, and Elmore State Park staff. We'd also like to thank Brian Krux for organizing the musicians and getting local businesses on board with the event.
Elmore Mountain provided a majestic background to a benefit concert for Lake Elmore on Sunday, September 25th from 1:00 pm until dusk at Elmore State Park. Local musicians and artists showcased and donated their music and skills for a day of music, art, food, and drink. A portion of the concert proceeds will benefit Lamoille County Conservation District’s work to protect and restore the water quality of Lake Elmore and the surrounding Lamoille River Watershed. Hundreds of volunteers from schools, churches, and businesses provide their support each year for Lamoille County Conservation District (LCCD) to restore natural aquatic ecosystems, create native buffers along waterways and lakesides, and control and eradicate invasive plants. LCCD also educates future stewards of the land through Lamoille County Nature Center programs on farming, nature, and conservation programs.
A portion of the proceeds will also go to local and state food shelves in areas devastated by Hurricane Irene through The Vermont Foodbank. Food shelves in hard-hit areas that were normally open one day a week or one day a month are now open every day or several times a week. The Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving communities in all 14 counties of Vermont through a network of more than 280 food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs.
The musical lineup spanned a diversity of musical tastes featuring Vorcza, the Eames Brothers Band, 7lbs. of Pork, and Jon Gailmor. The headlining act, Vorcza originated as an informal jazz trio, and has advanced to "adventurous yet accessible original material that marries jazz and funk with world-influenced rhythms." (Tom Huntington, Times Argus) The Burlington based group is made up of Ray Paczkowski on organ and vocals, Gabriel Jarrett on drums and Robinson Morse on upright and electric bass. Vorcza has toured with musical greats including Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, and Jamie Masefield, to name a few.
The Eames Brothers Band, an eclectic blues-rock group is a mainstay of the Lamoille County music scene. Known for their late night sets that drift seamlessly through psychedelic funky blues to uplifting soul songs, The Eames’ music is rooted in tradition. The Eames Brothers Band is made up of Seth Eames on guitar and vocals, Ralph Eames on electric bass and Phil Carr on drums.
7 lbs of Pork is a grassroots music project from the mountains of Vermont. Locally from Stowe, the band members deal out eclectic, funky, spacey and soulful music. Influences come from far and wide, from the past and the future. Jon Gailmor, a true local favorite, sings songs that make people feel alive. His music spans the entire emotional spectrum. Humor and audience involvement are integral parts of any Jon Gailmor’s performance. Original, relevant, irreverent, children's, American, international, and totally absurd tunes are expected at his performance.
Doors opened at Elmore State Park at noon, and music began at 1:00 pm and go until dusk. Tickets were $20 and included a free T-shirt for the first 200 attendees. Kids 12 and under were free. Children and family activities like sack races, balloon tosses, and pumpkin rollin’ were available during the music intermissions. Food vendors included the Hot Tamale Company, Green Mountain Kettle Corn, and The Blue Donkey.
Find us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Elmore-Benefit-Concert/175536959185346 for more info, You Tube videos, and photographs from the day.
Hurricane Irene Assistance
While Lamoille County was fortunate to avoid the devastation felt by our neighbors, farmers, landowners, and municipalities who experienced damage from the recent floods or high winds can contact the USDA Lamoille County Farm Service Agency for possible federal emergency assistance. Please contact Heather Mateja at 888-4953 ext. 110.
Funding Opportunities
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has partnered with the Vermont Community Foundation to create the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund (VFDRF), which will assist Vermont farms that sustained damage from Tropical Storm Irene. Representatives from the Foundation and the Agency of Agriculture will meet within the coming week to further define the guidelines of the application process to the Relief Fund. Visit the VAAFM website for further information.
The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has a low interest loan program for agriculture and businesses affected by the flood. The loan consists of a 1% interest for 2 years, with no payments for the first year.
The Vermont Farm (VFF) has established an emergency loan program in response to the catastrophic flooding that devastated farms throughout Vermont. Farms directly affected by Hurricane Irene can apply immediately for $5000 zero interest loans. The VFF was created by Pete’s Greens in partnership with the Center for Agricultural Economy (CAE).
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service can provide assistance with immediate emergency concerns to landowners and towns through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (link).
Municipalities who are in need of and can provide services are listed on the VT League of Cities and Towns Irene Recovery Resources (link).
River and Streambank Erosion Concerns
The VT Agency of Natural Resources has released a statement about Guidelines for Instream Work for Flood Disaster Recovery (Refer to the full statement for details). For questions about permitting, contact Chris Brunelle, VT ANR Northwest VT Stream Alteration Engineer at 777-5328 or Jim Ryan, VT ANR Watershed Coordinator, 476-0132.
ANR is providing technical assistance for the following, however a permit is NOT required to:
- Relocate streams to a former location
- Reestablish channel capacity (limited removal of gravel)
- Facilitate stream stability
- Reestablish stream crossings
ANR is REQUIRING review and advance approval for the following:
- Berming
- Rechanneling streams in unstable dimensions and/or elevations (substantially widening or changing the channel)
- Creating straightened river channels
- Bank stabilization where no structures or infrastructure are currently threatened
Rebuilding Opportunities
As we rebuild, it is an opportunity for flood and river planning - for technical information contact the District and/or Jim Ryan, VT ANR Watershed Coordinator at 786-0132, or Staci Pomeroy, VT ANR River Scientist at 872-7542. Please understand that these ANR folks cover most of Northern VT and will be in the field assisting other zones but will return phone calls as soon as possible. Call the District office if we can help facilitate any concerns. |
