Winooski Basin Clean Water Service Provider

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) selected the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) to serve as the Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) for the Winooski basin. As a CWSP, CVRPC plays a pivotal role in the implementation of Vermont’s Clean Water Service Delivery Act (also known as Act 76).

Act 76 provides funding to CWSPs identify, prioritize and receive funding for non-regulatory projects to help meet the State’s Phosphorous reduction targets under the Lake Champlain Basin pollution control plan (i.e. the total maximum daily load (TMDL)). Examples of projects eligible for funding under this program include green stormwater management practices, conservation initiatives on farms, wetlands restoration or vegetated buffer plantings.

Regional Planning Commissions, municipalities, watershed and land conservation organizations, Natural Resources Conservation Districts and other stakeholders are eligible to receive CWSP funding for clean water projects. The CVRPC will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to pre-qualify entities eligible for funding under this program. For more information contact Brian Voigt, Senior Planner:  voigt@cvregion.com.

Role of the Winooski Clean Water Service Provider

• Use the State’s pollution reduction formula to determine which watershed projects will have the greatest potential to reduce phosphorus.
• Work with watershed and land conservation organizations, Regional Planning Commissions, Natural Resources Conservation Districts and municipalities to identify and construct water quality projects to achieve pollution reduction targets.
• List all watershed projects in the State Watershed Projects Database.
• Receive funding to construct, operate, and maintain clean water projects.
• Create and convene a Basin Water Quality Council to advise the CWSP on project identification and prioritization as well as tactical basin planning efforts.

Staff Contact

For more information regarding the Winooski Clean Water Service Provider, contact Brian Voigt, Senior Planner: voigt@cvregion.com or 802.262.1029.

Policies& Procedures

• Public Participation Policy

Pre-Qualification, Procurement and Funding opportunities

Information coming soon!

Resources

• Final Rule effective August 12, 2021
• DEC Act 76 (CWSP)  webpage
• DEC Act 76 Fact Sheet
• DEC Basin 8 webpage
• Clean Water Portal
• Watershed Projects Database

Project Evaluation

Co-benefits

• Draft Co-benefits Scoring Matrix & Methodology (26 January 2023)

Winooski Basin Water Quality Council

Responsibilities of the Basin Water Quality Council

• Participate in the basin planning process
• Use localized knowledge to establish policy and make decisions for the CWSP (prioritizing and selecting projects for funding)
• Prioritize projects that will address impairments identified in the Winooski Tactical Basin Plan

Meetings

The Winooski Basin Water Quality Council meets on the third Thursday of the month from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Additional information about Winooski Basin Water Quality Council meetings, including agendas, meeting packets and meeting minutes can be found here.

Council Members

The Winooski Basin Water Quality Council has nine members from the following organizations.

Programs