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Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Management Division Batten Kill Walloomsac Hoosic

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Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Management Division Batten Kill Walloomsac Hoosic Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Watershed Management Division Batten Kill Walloomsac Hoosic TACTICAL BASIN PLAN The Hudson River Basin (in Vermont) - Water Quality Management Plan was prepared in accordance with 10 VSA § 1253(d), the Vermont Water Quality Standards1, the Federal Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 130.6, and the Vermont Surface Water Management Strategy. Approved: Pursuant to Section 1-02 D (5) of the VWQS, Basin Plans shall propose the appropriate Water Management Type of Types for Class B waters based on the existing water quality and reasonably attainable and desired water quality management goals. ANR has not included proposed Water Management Types in this Basin Plan. ANR is in the process of developing an anti-degradation rule in accordance with 10 VSA 1251a (c) and is re-evaluating whether Water Management Typing is the most effective and efficient method of ensuring that quality of Vermont's waters are maintained and enhanced as required by the VWQS, including the anti-degradation policy. Accordingly, this Basin Plan is being issued by ANR with the acknowledgement that it does not meet the requirements of Section 1-02 D (5) of the VWQS. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity agency and offers all persons the benefits of participating in each of its programs and competing in all areas of employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual preference, or other non-merit factors. This document is available upon request in large print, braille or audiocassette. VT Relay Service for the Hearing Impaired 1-800-253-0191 TDD>Voice - 1-800-253-0195 Voice>TDD Hudson River Basin Tactical Plan Overview 2 | P a g e Basin 01 - Batten Kill, Walloomsac, Hoosic Tactical Basin Plan – Final 2015 Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Priority Actions ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Top Ten Actions: ................................................................................................................................. 11 Summary of Classification Opportunities. .......................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1 - Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 14 Basin Description .................................................................................................................................... 14 Purpose of the Tactical Plan ................................................................................................................ 14 Watershed Partners ............................................................................................................................ 15 Implementation Process ..................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2- Water Quality in the Basin ........................................................................................................ 21 Watershed Description ........................................................................................................................... 21 The Batten Kill ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Special Values and Features of Batten Kill River Waters .................................................................... 23 Batten Kill Watershed Impacts Summary* ......................................................................................... 24 Assessment Information – Batten Kill and tributaries ........................................................................ 25 The Walloomsac River............................................................................................................................. 32 Special Values and Features of Walloomsac River Waters ................................................................. 32 Walloomsac River Watershed Impacts Summary ............................................................................... 33 The Hoosic River...................................................................................................................................... 37 Hoosic River Watershed Impacts Summary ........................................................................................ 37 Special Values and Features of Hoosic River Waters .......................................................................... 37 Assessments undertaken in the Hudson River Basin .............................................................................. 38 Stream Geomorphic Assessments ...................................................................................................... 38 Figure 7. Status of Geomorphic Assessments .............................................................................. 41 General Fisheries Assessment................................................................................................................. 42 Other Assessments Used to develop the Hudson River Tactical Basin Plan ........................................... 44 Surface waters exhibiting very high quality biological integrity or fisheries. ......................................... 44 Biological integrity .............................................................................................................................. 44 Very High Quality Lakes ...................................................................................................................... 46 The Lakes and Ponds Scorecard .......................................................................................................... 47 Very High Quality waters that support recreational fishing ............................................................... 48 3 | P a g e Basin 01 - Batten Kill, Walloomsac, Hoosic Tactical Basin Plan – Final 2015 Wetlands in the Basin ......................................................................................................................... 50 Significant Natural Communities and Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of the Basin ........ 52 Stressors, and Causes and Sources of Impairment ................................................................................. 55 Stressors and related pollutants ......................................................................................................... 55 Causes and Sources of Impacts to Basin 1 Lakes and Ponds .............................................................. 58 Lakes in Basin 1 that Need Further Assessment ................................................................................. 59 The Importance of Basin Planning in the Face of Tropical Storm Irene ............................................. 60 Managing stormwater runoff ............................................................................................................. 61 Forested Lands in the Basin ................................................................................................................ 62 Agriculture in the Basin ....................................................................................................................... 64 Direct discharges to surface waters in the Hudson River Basin ............................................................. 67 Facility-specific information ................................................................................................................ 67 Surface waters Used as Public Drinking Supplies in the Hudson River Basin ......................................... 68 Chapter 3- Management Goals for Surface Waters in the Hudson River Basin ......................................... 70 Opportunities for Reclassification........................................................................................................... 71 Class A(1), A(2) and B Waters ............................................................................................................. 71 Existing Uses............................................................................................................................................ 71 Outstanding Resource Waters ................................................................................................................ 72 Wetland Re-classification Opportunities ................................................................................................ 72 Fish Habitat Designations (Warm Water Fish Habitat) ........................................................................... 74 Cold Water Fish Habitat .......................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter 4- Watershed Improvement Actions and the Implementation Table........................................... 75 Monitoring and Assessment Projects ..................................................................................................... 75 Project Identification, Development, and Implementation .................................................................... 80 General Watershed Strategies ...............................................................................................................
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