Free trees to Newport City and Newport Town residents! When you plant the right tree in the right place, it can help improve air and water quality, manage stormwater runoff, sequester carbon, help you save money on your utility bills, and make neighborhoods more enjoyable. It’s a win for you and your entire community. Reserve…

The Memphremagog Watershed Association recently completed a stormwater improvement project on Farrant and Lake Streets in Newport City. The improvements now collect and treat stormwater runoff from nearly 125 acres uphill of Prouty Bay and the Newport Marina. The project will prevent 1,000 pounds of sediment and 19.8 pounds of phosphorus from entering Lake Memphremagog…

On Wednesday, July 24th, at the Gateway Center, in Newport, Vermont, MWA hosted a symposium on Cyanobacteria/blue-green algae. A panel of experts discussed the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of cyanobacteria and what it means to each of us.

Pollution entering our nearby water bodies via storm drains and impervious surfaces comes from many sources, and residential runoff is a significant contributor. Don’t let stormwater be the bad guy – use the tips below to help minimize pollution at home and positively impact the ecosystems that surround you!

Cyanobacteria are tiny microorganisms that are a natural part of freshwater ecosystems. Under certain conditions, cyanobacteria can multiply quickly, create blooms on the water’s surface and wash up along shorelines. They can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals.

A shoreland property owner used a best management practice for encapsulated soil lifts to reduce erosion and stabilize the shoreline along Lake Bomoseen; the lifts or terraces also help to protect water quality and recreate wildlife habitat. DEC photo.

NEWPORT — Governor Phil Scott, alongside the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), announced a significant environmental initiative, allocating $29.25 million in grants to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in 11 Vermont municipalities. This funding, sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), aims to improve municipal sewer infrastructure, enhance water quality in the state’s streams and lakes, and comply with Vermont’s strict CSO regulations.