A major green infrastructure project was recently completed at Newport City Elementary School, addressing stormwater runoff and improving water quality in the Lake Memphremagog watershed.

The project was first identified in the 2016 Memphremagog Stormwater Master Plan, an effort managed by the Memphremagog Watershed Association, and is now known as the Newport City Elementary School, Green Schools Initiative. It is part of ongoing efforts to meet Memphremagog’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements for phosphorus reduction and supports the Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) workplan for the watershed.

Funded by the state of Vermont through the Green Schools Initiative, the project was managed by Green Print of Chicago, which coordinated design and compliance to meet Vermont’s 3-acre stormwater requirements for public schools statewide. Engineering design was completed by DuBois & King, with construction by MSI Sitework.

The new infiltration system diverts water from existing catch basins into an R-Tank HD infiltration system, capturing runoff from the campus dirt track, parking lots, rooftops, and lawn areas. This green infrastructure will prevent an estimated 2.9 pounds of phosphorus and 592 pounds of sediment per year from entering local waterways.

The school contributed a 10% match for the project by investing in environmental education with Memphremagog Science & Education Center (MemSEC). Students from Newport City Elementary took part in the Floating Classroom Experience, an immersive citizen science and environmental education program designed to deepen their understanding of the local watershedand the impact of human activity on the environment, specifically focusing on surface water runoff, erosion and sedimentation, nutrient loading, and cultural eutrophication.

Through classroom lessons, students explored topographic and land use maps to learn about watershed science and examine some of the pressing environmental issues facing our region. Aboard the Northern Star, they conducted hands-on water monitoring activities, gathering real-time data on the health of Lake Memphremagog. At the Memphremagog Science & Education Center (MemSEC), students reflected on their findings, learned the seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT), and earned official LNT Awareness Certifications. To extend the project, a team of student science leaders returned to the Northern Star for additional fieldwork, building a more comprehensive picture of water quality across the lake. This experience connected classroom learning with field-based science, empowering students to become active stewards of their watershed and community.

This project is a great example of linking infrastructure improvements with community engagement. By reducing stormwater pollution and investing in youth education, this project supports both clean water goals and the next generation of watershed stewards.