[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361427,"mediaKeyId","2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc","parentId",2170666,"title","DEC: Sunnyside Brook TMDL approved; agency weighing applicator certification to cut deicing chloride","audioSeconds",328,"startMs",3064000,"endMs",3392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc&start=3064&end=3392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc/thumbnail_3064000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361427/Vermont/DEC-Sunnyside-Brook-TMDL-approved-agency-weighing-applicator-certification-to-cut-deicing-chloride","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361427-4d57abc6c79fccebb5527b19177f3f86/orig.mp4?Expires=1775771140&Signature=T83xNyNE5knLOMH39G02Gtia0tuh3JpJ1EA55f~KY~MkRJRhb6ce6LXZrIrggqAVqY91Jr6ZjhNoO0O1P4oyDQePkS4sFf~qfKlfMDR2UZhce8tQo1-g2lEkFCJ6EGiC-YNNxjasj~FCXCjPKs5OSsFXIbhHDkrV1EGK6gPsDSYvxN9v~19eBw7Vc3ODm1W2NyZpEfcF0xbPIQ3WS4x7zYZYmi1yYS6zGFUJhzl~-aMiWZKrcGwiA6BykELmPNRWzaZWheh1XPYBO3mPfhBy6qmBk0~Q9hObSy09Lh764RJE9MpvlVnYCpLyjPHkJVLcZYyQnrkbPH4D7WMrCpq2dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","VT Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy","date","2025-01-30T15:40:08Z","article","Pete Loutham, director of the Watershed Management Division at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, told a state committee that chloride from road‑salt use accumulates in watersheds and poses a growing threat to aquatic life.

“Chloride is what we call a conservative substance,” Loutham said. “You put chloride on the ground, it's going to stay in the system, and it's going to move through the system.” He explained that unlike nutrients such as phosphorus, chloride does not readily bind to soils or volatilize and therefore can accumulate and cause chronic or acute toxicity to aquatic organisms.

Loutham said the agency targets monitoring in small watersheds with high concentrations of impervious surfaces, and he cited Sunnyside Brook (near I‑89 exit 16, Colchester) as an example where chloride concentrations exceed the state maximums in the water quality standards. That impairment prompted a total maximum daily load (TMDL) — the DEC developed a cleanup plan that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved, Loutham said.

The director described a range of practices to reduce chloride inputs: improved application timing, use of brines, pre‑wetting, equipment maintenance to reduce salt bounce, and municipal coordination. He emphasized the role of commercial applicators and property owners in parking‑lot and sidewalk applications and the liability concerns that sometimes drive over‑application.

Loutham said the DEC is watching the Green Snow Pro model from New Hampshire — a voluntary certification program developed with the University of New Hampshire that trains and certifies commercial applicators in best management practices and pairs certification with limited liability protections. “It’s not a panacea, but it's a huge step in the right direction,” he said, describing potential benefits including lower material costs for applicators and reduced chloride use.

Committee members raised operational questions about equipment maintenance and whether applicator certification would be voluntary or mandatory. Loutham said the Agency of Transportation already uses advanced practices and that certification programs are currently voluntary in peer states; the DEC will continue discussions with AOT, municipalities and stakeholders to design appropriate implementation steps for impaired waters.

The DEC said implementation of chloride reductions will require cooperation across state transportation, municipal public works and the private commercial sector and that some impaired waters may require targeted actions to meet water quality standards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Natural Resources and Energy-2025-01-30-10:40AM","oneSentenceSummary","Vermont DEC described how road and parking‑lot chloride runoff has impaired Sunnyside Brook, noted EPA approval of a chloride TMDL, and discussed a possible certification program for commercial deicing applicators modeled on New Hampshire’s Green Snow Pro.","taxTitle","Natural Resources & Energy, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",48480,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361432,"DEC: invasive aquatic species detections rising; agency weighing program changes and herbicide permits",557,1352000,1909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc&start=1352&end=1909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc/thumbnail_1352000.jpg","/articles/6361432/Vermont/DEC-invasive-aquatic-species-detections-rising-agency-weighing-program-changes-and-herbicide-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361432-e5e390ed1aaf81c55f2180763550dd79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775771140&Signature=cD1jGjNP24iEElTLrn2QUCQr6i0LpbF-Ja3kNMq0sJ4~2FRhTHB~V3zkDRMv2ed5~4kC2wt3KgUs61DPW4NJ6B5VJd9YR7xwVko1TyIXm-EF7ZUhGoszSQrCSN6MkJmwZCnmGPTOCL3UC8Vif~~HO0Cp8RaDOJEVQaespEwy8gRrh9HEt7cx6u0uDZusSScoUHay7jJL1pN1rF4wTrd4GtkzQpGxQhqG92hsRZx2ti-S0FJHV1lOtTKuiVEPLTtSYdXhTUY007fMhZJ5C0xM7tSF888EiuJMX-z2q9muhDLm9Hri61TsMvKCRFdtfWOC40Y40OptC1FAnvhpE2JH4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation told a legislative committee that interceptions of invasive species on watercraft and new lake introductions have both trended upward, and that the state is evaluating alternatives to the current prevention program.

“Spread prevention is by far the most cost‑effective way to manage invasive species,” said Jenny Austin, the DEC’s lakes and ponds program manager. She said the state depends heavily on lake associations and volunteers for watercraft inspection and monitoring but that capacity is limited: only “around maybe 40” of the state’s roughly 800 lakes have volunteer inspection stations and only a small handful—she estimated five to eleven—have boat‑washing capabilities able to handle large wake boats.

The DEC’s aquatic nuisance control permitting program accepts applications—typically from lake associations or municipalities—for mechanical control, benthic barriers, structural controls and herbicide use. Austin said there are roughly 150 active permits in place; the permit review seeks input from the Department of Health, Fish and Wildlife and other agencies and includes public notice and comment.

Austin discussed ProcellaCOR, the targeted herbicide the agency uses in some Eurasian watermilfoil control projects. “ProcellaCOR is a highly targeted herbicide that we use to treat Eurasian watermilfoil in particular,” she said, and noted that the DEC’s internal review concluded that negative impacts on native aquatic plants were expected to be minimal at the concentrations applied and that the product degrades rapidly in the environment. The department said the Department of Health and the drinking water/groundwater division raised no concerns in their reviews and that staff have not found declines in fisheries tied to treated projects.

Committee members and some local residents raised objections and questions about herbicide use and monitoring. Austin said the agency’s permit conditions include monitoring requirements and that the department adapts permits as new science becomes available; she also noted the program underwent a review under Act 57 in 2023.

DEC staff said they are reevaluating watercraft inspection and decontamination programs (work started in November 2024) to identify alternative designs and to expand capacity for inspections and washing where feasible. The agency emphasized challenges in scaling up: many volunteer stations lack running water or electricity, and adequate decontamination for large wake boats requires large volumes of hot water or specialized equipment.

Officials warned that once an invasive species becomes established eradication is often impossible and long‑term management can be costly. The department said it will return with recommendations after stakeholder review and further analysis.","Vermont DEC told a committee that watercraft inspection intercepts and aquatic invasive species introductions are increasing. The agency described reliance on volunteers, limits to boat washing capacity, its aquatic nuisance control permit program and the use and review of the herbicide ProcellaCOR.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361438,"Vermont DEC: Many once‑clear lakes showing rising phosphorus; monitoring and alum treatments highlighted",2054,279000,2333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc&start=279&end=2333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2170666-58a7a3a5ba33866847f81e7bb68c5afc/thumbnail_279000.jpg","/articles/6361438/Vermont/Vermont-DEC-Many-onceclear-lakes-showing-rising-phosphorus-monitoring-and-alum-treatments-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361438-4ad9256148590ffb9e5f4a05f2488acf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775771140&Signature=hkMliVut~EkruZupzHtu~mGOSde7IV9iap7K2ik~I-oaf-OEHMhyqSufKvjSs-OfYUkObqUX-cdl9QIQ87Djie-guOe8fFtMVYO6ZkESuxN~x7WfiQ~mhxsG1BkD2WT6pdpspRvThvItscr5oR4N2S7qjmPuA4DUp80-0dTIRMVDWP6SEpWEY4DotTDOjav8fm~HJ-tOOpDRs4ykqCpiW3cef~74JHCM9xR4sGQmrOiRRzdZCTHHlLESA2sbFohYeogNK9Gh21vgELtiuEorJacgbqmF1~L447Vt2kDIYK5i6jRp21kI8uRabOwoN0s~3zX6MZPvarrLEe5ZBZMHNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jenny Austin, the new lakes and ponds program manager at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, told a state committee that long‑term monitoring shows phosphorus concentrations are increasing in many of the state’s otherwise clear, cold lakes.

The trend matters because increasing phosphorus raises the risk of algal blooms and long‑term declines in water clarity, recreation and certain cold‑water fisheries. “Lakes and ponds are a focal point of the watershed system,” Austin said, adding that the agency monitors trophic state, shoreland condition and invasive species to gauge lake health.

Austin described the agency’s monitoring framework, including the Vermont Lay Monitoring Program, which trains volunteers to sample lake water for clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll a. She said the state has “over 800 lakes and ponds,” of which 445 are larger than 10 acres and 220 are larger than 20 acres. The DEC uses volunteer and professional monitoring to establish baselines, track long‑term nutrient trends and assess compliance with Vermont water quality standards.

DEC staff emphasized that lakes are “a sum of their parts,” meaning upstream watershed conditions and shoreline disturbance strongly influence lake phosphorus. Austin said some oligotrophic (low‑nutrient) lakes have shown steady increases in phosphorus over about 40 years, while a small number of eutrophic (high‑nutrient) lakes have stable or declining phosphorus trends. She noted that causes vary by watershed and can include historical land use, shoreline disturbance and agricultural runoff.

The agency described how too much phosphorus can cause harmful cyanobacterial blooms and low dissolved oxygen that stress fish. For lakes where most phosphorus originates from internal loading (legacy phosphorus in sediments), the DEC said it has had selective success with aluminum sulfate (alum) treatments, which bind phosphorus in sediments and can improve water clarity for years or decades. Austin cited Lake Moray, where post‑treatment monitoring showed reduced phosphorus, and Tickleminton Pond as another successful example; DEC staff said a treatment is planned for Lake Carbide.

Austin cautioned that alum treatments are effective only after watershed phosphorus sources are controlled; otherwise the benefit is temporary. She urged more targeted monitoring in underserved watersheds to better attribute sources and inform management.

The presentation included discussion of the Vermont Lakes Scorecard, trophic classification (oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic) and the role of long‑running volunteer data in assessing trends. Committee members asked for more detail on source attribution and on the agency’s planned follow‑up; DEC staff said they would provide additional monitoring breakdowns and continue refining management strategies.

DEC officials closed the segment by noting ongoing work to protect shorelines, reduce watershed phosphorus inputs and tailor restoration tools to each lake’s conditions.","Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation officials told a committee that long‑term monitoring shows rising phosphorus in many oligotrophic lakes, and the agency described monitoring programs and targeted alum treatments used to reduce in‑lake phosphorus.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DEC: Sunnyside Brook TMDL approved; agency weighing applicator certification to cut deicing chloride

DEC: invasive aquatic species detections rising; agency weighing program changes and herbicide permits

Vermont DEC: Many once‑clear lakes showing rising phosphorus; monitoring and alum treatments highlighted