Wetlands & Watershed

Recommendations Wetlands & Watershed

The agricultural fields on Farm & Wilderness land may have a direct impact on the water quality of nearby water bodies due to their close proximity to Woodward Reservoir. Monitoring runoff from agricultural fields and investing in farm infrastructure improvements that enhance water quality may be needed to manage stormwater runoff.

Strategies:

• Tending to the health of the vegetated areas around

Woodward Reservoir is already a high priority for the farm manager and camp staff. A section of shoreline just south of the Tamarack Farm is currently not densely vegetated and has unwanted phragmites growing. The farm manager hopes to add some native shrubs and plants to this area. Planting vegetation along shorelines supports healthy habitat for fish and birds. This vegetation stabilizes the shore, filters run-off, and prevents erosion and sedimentation of downstream waterbodies (Vermont Agency of Natural

Resources, Lakes & Ponds Section, Lake Wise Program).

• The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program from

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board provides grants of up to $40,000 to help Vermont farmers invest in projects that have a positive effect on water quality.

Connecting with local agencies such as this, which offer grants and support for farm infrastructure related to water quality, could be a feasible way to make these investments.

Prohibit the use of invasive jumping worms as fishing bait at Lake Ninevah and Woodward Reservoir. Have the greeters stationed at the boat docks alert fishers to their impact and check fishers’ bait. Post signs to inform users about these worms when greeters are not present.

Continue protecting forests, wetlands, and upland streams as they help to slow and filter water entering the watershed. Keeping upland streams and waterways forested is an effective way to reduce erosion and downstream sedimentation.

Continue diligent annual monitoring for and removal of problematic terrestrial and aquatic invasive species.

Maintain 50’ no timber harvest buffer around streams and a 400’ buffer zone for selective timber harvest around vernal pools. For state significant designated vernal pools a 500’ buffer zone is recommended. At least a 75% tree canopy would be beneficial to the health of vernal pools.

Recommendations Wetlands & Watershed

As storms increase in severity in the region, it will be important to support the quality of Basin 10 by monitoring the lakes and streams for signs of pollution. Dirt roads, where runoff may contribute to sedimentation in downstream water bodies, should be closely monitored.

Strategies:

• Patch Brook Road is a dirt road that follows Patch Brook as it flows out of Lake Ninevah. This road was damaged during Hurricane Irene, and contributed sediment to Patch Brook during this extreme event.

• Although Patch Brook doesn’t typically produce heavy sedimentation, on-the-ground monitoring of places where rivulets are visible on

LIDAR imagery could point to places where erosion might be occurring in forested areas.

• Revegetating upland areas experiencing erosion can reduce the amount of runoff entering the streams.

• Implement record keeping practices to monitor water bodies and streams after significant storms. Ongoing record keeping with photographs, videos and written logs will allow for comparison of past rain events, identify areas of opportunity to further mitigate stormwater runoff, and determine whether infrastructure changes are having a positive effect.

• Contact the Department of Transportation to help guide Farm &

Wilderness to manage and assess spring freeze/thaw cycles that cause weakening on dirt roads throughout Vermont. Dirt roads that run through the property could be used for testing new methods of road management and maintenance.

Rivulets visible on LIDAR imagery