Lake Champlain advisory committee urges state to fund flood mitigation, septic upgrades and invasive‑species work

Members of the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee for Lake Champlain presented their annual action plan to the Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry Committee, asking the Legislature to prioritize funding for nature‑based flood mitigation, river connectivity projects, agricultural technical assistance, wastewater and septic upgrades, and sustained support for aquatic invasive‑species programs and public access.

"Our goal every year is to create an action plan to share with you all," Corinna Daley, vice chair of the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee and a staff member at the Vermont Natural Resources Council, told lawmakers. The committee, which includes Vermont, New York and Quebec advisory groups supported by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said this year’s priorities sit at the intersection of water quality, climate resilience and healthy ecosystems.

The nut graf: The committee emphasized the statewide consequences of Lake Champlain’s health, noting that roughly 56% of Vermont’s land area drains to the lake. Committee members said investments upstream — in riparian buffers, wetlands and improved infrastructure — reduce flood risk and protect drinking water, ecosystems and the recreation economy.

Committee members outlined four linked priority areas. Brett Bowden, a CAC member and retired watershed scientist from the University of Vermont, summarized the first as flood mitigation and climate adaptation. The committee urged continued state investment in riparian and floodplain restoration, dam removal and "rightsizing" culverts so streams and aquatic organisms can move freely. Bowden said these nature‑based approaches also store carbon and improve water quality and urged lawmakers to resist delays in implementing projects.

On aquatic connectivity, the CAC recommended continued funding for research and implementation of dam removals and culvert upgrades to reduce habitat fragmentation and erosion. Bowden framed these investments as cost‑effective ways to increase natural system capacity to reduce flooding.

Agriculture and working lands were a separate focus. The committee said producers experienced substantial losses in 2023–24 and that demand for assistance far exceeds available funds: the presenters said a $2.1 million legislative appropriation for the meat, maple and produce industries drew 522 applications totaling about $43.6 million, and a Working Lands Enterprise Board allocation of $2.3 million faced roughly $16.2 million in requests. "Farmers are more than willing to get in there and do the work that needs to be done. They just need the support and the funding to do it," Bowden said.

On developed land and wastewater, presenters warned of aging septic and wastewater infrastructure, especially in smaller towns. Bowden highlighted a planned Burlington bond proposal he said would include about $152 million for wastewater out of a roughly $200 million bond; he contrasted Burlington’s capacity with smaller communities that lack similar resources. The CAC asked the state to continue the Healthy Homes initiative, consider a statewide inventory of septic systems, and provide education and technical assistance to homeowners.

South Burlington water quality superintendent Bob Fisher discussed contaminants and municipal treatment constraints. He warned lawmakers that chloride pollution is rising: "But really the main one that's most people don't realize it's coming is chloride," Fisher said, noting five impaired streams already and that EPA Region 1 is examining TMDL options. On PFAS, Fisher described interim strategies used elsewhere and said some treatment and biosolids decisions — including whether to accept septage from outside systems — already pose operational and policy dilemmas for wastewater utilities.

Aquatic invasive species and recreation were also a priority. Laurie Fisher, a CAC member and recently retired executive director of the Lake Champlain Committee, said Lake Champlain has "51 known non native and aquatic invasive species" and urged stronger, sustained funding for education, monitoring and management. She recommended the state consider a mandatory boat decal for motorized and nonmotorized craft to create a reliable revenue stream for AIS prevention and outreach, and to work with New York and Quebec on canal‑system risks, including the Champlain Canal and round goby monitoring.

The committee urged continued support for the Clean Water Fund and for the property transfer tax that helps fund clean‑water work; Chair Denise Smith highlighted that the tax "has a sunset date, of 2027, and we really need to just not let that funding sunset for clean water." Presenters repeatedly asked legislators to recognize those priorities when considering bills and budget requests this session.

Discussion at the hearing included questions from legislators about where to direct new housing growth to limit water‑quality impacts. Presenters recommended prioritizing core service areas where municipal wastewater and stormwater infrastructure can be used, protecting prime agricultural lands, and avoiding floodplains and erodible forested slopes. The CAC members requested clearer, streamlined guidance in the Clean Water Funding Policy for project types that currently face inconsistent treatment between developed, agricultural and forested contexts.

The presentation closed with the CAC asking lawmakers to sustain and expand staffing and technical assistance in state agencies that implement clean‑water and resilience projects so the work can be accelerated.

The committee did not take formal votes during the presentation. Lawmakers signaled interest in follow‑up briefings; presenters suggested some items — including septic mapping, PFAS and chloride response options, and boat‑decal funding — would warrant further technical discussion with agencies and utilities.