WNRCD reports Adopt‑a‑Drain progress, requests $20,500 for FY23

The Stream Team’s Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District representatives reported recent outreach wins and asked the MS4 Subcommittee for a FY23 allocation.

Adelaide Dumm, of the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, summarized events including a June 24 rain‑barrel workshop that drew 20 attendees and generated $840 in fees, and the Adopt‑a‑Drain program’s enrollment of 56 participants who have cleaned 75 drains and removed 142 pounds of debris. Dumm said the team plans to reach out to local schools and universities to increase participation and that the next newsletter will be issued in mid‑August.

Remy Crettol, WNRCD, told the committee that staff turnover and COVID‑related limitations kept the Stream Team from spending its full FY22 allocation of $28,110. He said he and Dumm expect to spend down the FY22 funds by Oct. 31, and no later than Nov. 30. Crettol and Dumm presented a proposed FY23 task order request of $20,500 and said they will expand work into towns that are not currently in the Adopt‑a‑Drain program.

Committee members discussed the value of volunteer monitoring and outreach. Christine Dougherty questioned funding programs that do not consistently feed into DEC’s impairment determinations and cautioned that volunteer data can sometimes be used against municipalities; Dumm and Crettol said sampling and outreach still serve important engagement purposes.

Next steps: the Stream Team’s FY23 request will be considered as part of the broader FY23 budget work; committee members indicated they want more detailed budget breakdowns before final approvals.