Vermont Agency of Natural Resources LAMOILLE RIVER BASIN Water Quality Management Plan- DRAFT February, 2009 Terrill Gorge Kenfield Brook, Morristown THE LAMOILLE RIVER BASIN WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10 VSA 1253(d), THE VERMONT WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT AND 40 CFR 130.6. Approved: _______________________________________ _________________ Justin Johnson, Commissioner Date Department of Environmental Conservation ________________________________________ ________________ Jonathan Wood, Secretary Date Agency of Natural Resources 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, 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>Voice -1-800-253-0195 Voice>TDD ii Lamoille River Basin Plan- Draft –February 2009 LAMOILLE RIVER BASIN Water Quality Management Plan- DRAFT February, 2009 Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Division Waterbury, Vermont 05671-0408 iii Lamoille River Basin Plan- Draft –February 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... ………….1 Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................3 Purpose of the Basin Plan and the Basin Planning Process....................................................................... 3 Planning at the Watershed Level............................................................................................................... 3 Plan Development as a Collaborative Process .......................................................................................... 3 Partners in the Lamoille River Watershed Planning Process ..................................................................... 4 Public Participation .................................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 2. General Description of the Lamoille Watershed.......................................................................7 Physical Description................................................................................................................................. 7 Existing Uses............................................................................................................................................ 7 Fish Habitat, Fisheries, Access, and Water-Dependent Wildlife.............................................................. 11 Other Uses of Lamoille River and Tributaries ........................................................................................ 14 Chapter 3. Water Quality in the Lamoille River Watershed ..................................................................... 17 Identifying Water Quality Problems ....................................................................................................... 17 General Water Quality Conditions.......................................................................................................... 17 Public’s Concerns Regarding Water Quality Problems............................................................................ 18 Wetlands................................................................................................................................................ 18 Lakes and Ponds .................................................................................................................................... 20 The River Corridor................................................................................................................................. 29 Dams and Flow-regulated Waters........................................................................................................... 34 The Working Landscape, Farm and Forestland ...................................................................................... 40 Developed Lands and Water Quality...................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 4. Water Quality Protection and Restoration Opportunities..................................................... 59 Actions to Protect and Enhance Wetlands ............................................................................................. 59 Actions to Protect and Enhance Lakes and Ponds ................................................................................. 59 Actions to Enhance and Protect River Corridors.................................................................................... 61 Actions to Improve Flow-regulated Waters............................................................................................ 62 Actions to Address the Loss of the Working Landscape......................................................................... 63 Actions for Agricultural NPS Reduction................................................................................................. 64 Actions to Address Silvicultural Practices and Water Quality.................................................................. 65 Actions to Address Construction Site Erosion ....................................................................................... 65 Actions to Improve Water Quality from Stormwater.............................................................................. 66 Actions to Address Transportation Infrastructure and Water Quality Issues .......................................... 67 Outreach and Education Actions........................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 5. listed waters Remediation and Water Quality Assessment Needs ....................................... 70 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 70 Part A. Impaired Waters in Need of a TMDL ........................................................................................ 70 Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL...................................................................................................... 71 Deer Brook, Georgia.............................................................................................................................. 73 Mill Brook, Fairfax ................................................................................................................................. 74 Unnamed tributary to the Brewster River, Cambridge ............................................................................ 75 Stevensville Brook, Underhill ................................................................................................................. 76 Part B. Impaired Waters not requiring a TMDL ..................................................................................... 77 iv Lamoille River Basin Plan- Draft –February 2009 Lamoille River- Clarks Falls Dam to Route 2.......................................................................................... 77 Part C. Waters in Need of Further Assessment. See Appendix for a table of these waters ...................... 77 Part D. Surface Waters with a Completed and Approved TMDL ........................................................... 77 Part E. Waters Altered by Exotic Species ............................................................................................... 78 Part F. Waters Altered by Flow Regulation ............................................................................................ 78 Part G. Surface Waters Altered by Channel Alteration............................................................................ 78 Chapter 6. Management Goals for Surface Waters.................................................................................... 81 Background............................................................................................................................................ 81 Typing and Classification........................................................................................................................ 81 Waste Management Zones .................................................................................................................... 83 Fish Habitat Designations ...................................................................................................................... 83 Outstanding Resource Waters ................................................................................................................ 83 Chapter 7. Summary and Implementation of the Basin Plan................................................................... 84 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 84 Implementation of the Watershed Plan .................................................................................................. 84 Evaluating the Plan’s Progress...............................................................................................................