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About the Lamoille Watershed Initiative
LWI works to improve the health and vitality of the Lamoille River Watershed by:
- coordinating between the organizations serving the watershed
- supporting local watershed-improvement actions
- raising public awareness through effective communications, education and engagement
Recognizing the need for a group that can lead watershed-wide implementation efforts, organizations that were involved in the Lamoille Watershed basin planning process created the Lamoille Watershed Initiative (LWI) in 2004. LWI is a component of the Lamoille County Natural Resources Conservation District and Nature Center which is dedicated to serving all parts of the watershed within and beyond the boundaries of Lamoille County.
Activities and Outreach Projects
Lamoille Watershed Water Quality Monitoring and Exchange Project
LCNRCD visited participating schools in the Lamoille Watershed to introduce a collaborative Vermont EPSCoR Stream Project being completed by colleges in the watershed. Johnson State College, St. Michael’s, Sterling College and University of Vermont students collected samples on tributaries to record phosphorus, e-coli, and macroinvertebrate indicators for healthy water parameters.
Middle and high school students were introduced to the Stream Project and followed similar protocols in gathering data in the field at sample sites where college students also gathered data. In some cases, representatives from colleges were available to guide students in the data collecting. Sampling consisted of a macroinvertebrate analysis, chemistry test, and riparian buffer observation. Participating students visited the site in the Fall 2008 and will gather information again in Spring 2009.
Schools participating in the project created Lamoille Watershed Resource Pages to describe their field work, follow up research, and results from their observations. These Lamoille Watershed Water Quality Monitoring and Exchange Project pages is a community sharing space for student narratives and data, a link to the scientifically legitimate data at VT EPSCoR and can also be a public posting forum for general observations of the river. Please contact LCNRCD to find out how you can post information.
How to Get Involved
Volunteers are needed for the following activities:
- Spring planting of trees and shrubs along streams and rivers
- Helping with watershed education in schools
- Organizing a local group to address watershed issues close to home
Become a LCNRCD Member to support the Lamoille Watershed Initiative
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