[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6045094,"mediaKeyId","3587716-77c90bd254512eae7afcbc09653e1aeb","parentId",3587716,"title","DEC guidance will fold operations and maintenance into project approvals, council told","audioSeconds",987,"startMs",1047480,"endMs",2034710,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3587716-77c90bd254512eae7afcbc09653e1aeb&start=1047&end=2034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3587716-77c90bd254512eae7afcbc09653e1aeb/thumbnail_1047480.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6045094/Addison-County/Vermont/DEC-guidance-will-fold-operations-and-maintenance-into-project-approvals-council-told","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6045094-5e3b0a0ff6c044ff1f3a22be26dd6e07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181746&Signature=CFAr1uvYPCCgoEy7EcvKZNSrJ6wiZzJ24rhPYlp3RPtKhWfppPpVer8-QyU69JJEJlxhe93vl7rLVlg4T7VdrA61LJYGFL6lEywZrdVrf5wzNOHutPH6WsMQiuEqn6ZYN5jO--xvRPtbDyIv~M1MdkxW1jv1IAB~6ZcO0mR5qzvyzzaWsv4QDC4pIg39Suf5kPSgKWqdcZ05E4h1nROpGwfmXpyFTVarn3fkL6pLwM1VTTggpl4T3nb68kyEYmNI-3Aoz9Ryxnm-zCh43Bt6edOKDA6yqtVdOWAw~DS5h~oOk5TYDyWztMfgaQfZN6VNyHM8tHKJxdlpbcO3bWmbtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Addison County Regional Planning Commission","date","2025-03-28T21:00:16Z","article","Program staff and DEC representatives told the Otter Creek Basin Water Quality Council that, under recent guidance, approval of a watershed project will include funding for operations and maintenance (O&M) for the life of the project and that the council will not need to separately approve O&M funding for projects after initial approval.

Mike, program staff, said the guidance being provided by DEC is that \"once you approve a project, then that project approval also includes O and M for the life of the project,\" and that the council would not have to reauthorize O&M funding for each project. Staff said the details about how O&M will be budgeted are still being developed.

DEC staff member Chris explained how O&M funding is being handled now: the money for O&M currently comes from the same pot as project funds rather than a separate, dedicated O&M account. \"The money right now for O and M is in the same pot as your project money,\" Chris said, adding that program managers are gathering data to decide whether to create a distinct O&M funding pool and, if so, how large it should be.

Council members raised questions about how O&M will be calculated and reported. Kate suggested using qualitative frequency categories (low/medium/high) and matching those to project types; Angie, referencing material from the Clean Water Initiative Program, said a table in the program manual already links frequency categories to practice types and that staff will build a cost library over time. \"That information is there,\" Angie said of the manual, adding that the present approach is a qualitative interim method until more precise dollar estimates are available.

Several council members urged caution. Helen said treating O&M budgeting as informal would be \"irresponsible\" and pushed for clearer accounting; program staff responded that DEC and CWIP staff are attempting to balance the need for O&M funding against the limited project funds available this fiscal year and that more detailed budgeting will follow as the program gathers data.

Staff and DEC representatives told the council they would return in April to review application materials and suggested the council use that meeting to specify any additional information it wants applicants to provide about expected O&M frequency, responsibilities and funding sources. Staff also reiterated that the CWIP money allocated to the council is state funding and that federal dollars are not part of the current allocation.

Ending: The council scheduled application‑process review for its April meeting and asked staff to bring any CWIP/O&M guidance or tables that the council can use to evaluate O&M risk when scoring projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ACRPC: Otter Creek BWQC meeting Mar 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council staff and DEC representatives told the Otter Creek Basin Water Quality Council that Department of Environmental Conservation guidance treats operations and maintenance (O&M) as part of project approvals; O&M funding is currently drawn from the same project fund and will be refined as the Clean Water Initiative Program builds cost data.","taxTitle","Addison County, Vermont","taxId",66921,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6045098,"Otter Creek council approves Smokey House road and trail stabilization project",944,74975,1018995,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3587716-77c90bd254512eae7afcbc09653e1aeb&start=74&end=1018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3587716-77c90bd254512eae7afcbc09653e1aeb/thumbnail_74975.jpg","/articles/6045098/Addison-County/Vermont/Otter-Creek-council-approves-Smokey-House-road-and-trail-stabilization-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6045098-b84c5b3ea1d21a513d0befbc4cf21931/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181746&Signature=J2VSwtKnhXZfCnUpTNKXGIgeGWtVjqKgBWvwt9yUSUFojyzJfo8SagR3vCB~QbyZ4xsQtPR8BsWtHOwFd3xSK1atcIvfa6XlxJJ81VqeAn8tP0SXsHoSlviSsm-FKKx7IccWMp3EhT3mspvIZ0nILHllz1cvraTB2zd88jmyKBF9jVRvglPCtNH7Tn8MwcSVn5fTsLHxJVtuAb2DRJDdeI4kIxuqqqdoCPVjiJMNVCiYw~MBb5RVSXXDANXOro80zmHeE9M2VrNTYrkHEG~G3z1INSkwFk-OyZ7SQcdFSmMWU948y7biTG1~XNmO~vH0dyvanNf6CIDpG~giTz4AgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Otter Creek Basin Water Quality Council, members moved to approve a project proposed by Smokey House to repair forestry roads, upgrade culverts and address erosion on the group’s Danby property.

The project is meant to reduce sediment and erosion that reach headwaters of Otter Creek and to prepare multiuse forestry roads and recreational trails for increased public and research use. Council member Joia moved to approve the project “as presented today,” and council member Kate seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Smokey House steward Walker, representing the applicant, told the council the organization stewards about 5,000 acres in Danby, including roughly 4,000 acres of forest and 1,000 acres of agricultural land, and is shifting toward applied research and expanded public programming. “We’re in this really exciting and dynamic relaunch phase,” Walker said, describing youth education, partnerships with regional foresters and plans for a summer apprenticeship program. He said deferred maintenance on roads, undersized culverts and degraded water bars have produced current and future erosion risks the project seeks to address.

The application that the council reviewed contained a revised budget; program staff Mike said operations and maintenance had been removed from the application budget that the council considered. Kate told the council that watershed project database tracking numbers are now assigned and that the application will be contingent on receipt of any necessary wetlands permits: staff had contacted Kyle Zapata, Everett Marshall and Josh Carvajal, and Zapata had responded in December that potential wetland impacts could only be determined during the growing season.

Walker said Smokey House will work with Vermont trail and road specialists and local contractors to size culverts and install best management practices. He identified Mariah Kegi of Sinuosity Trail Builders as the primary expert helping develop the plan under a planning grant from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Collaborative (VOREC).

Council discussion noted the project had been tabled at the January meeting and returned with a revised budget. Several council members and staff emphasized that final contracting and implementation depend on required permits and completion of the road‑assessment tool before physical work begins. Mike told the council staff would follow up with the applicant about contracting details.

The council adjourned the Smokey House agenda item after approving the project and indicated staff will proceed with contracting and any necessary pre‑construction reviews. Walker invited council members and the public to visit the Smokey House property once work is underway.

Ending: The council said it will notify the applicant about next steps in contracting. The April council meeting was announced as the next regular meeting, when members will also review application materials and consider any changes to what applicants must submit.","The Otter Creek Basin Water Quality Council unanimously approved a Smokey House project to repair undersized culverts, regrade roads and address erosion across a 5,000‑acre property in Danby, Vt.; final contracting will be contingent on required wetlands permits and a revised budget.","actionData","errors"]

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DEC guidance will fold operations and maintenance into project approvals, council told

Otter Creek council approves Smokey House road and trail stabilization project