MWA was recently awarded $872,340 from the Memphremagog Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) via the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) to implement four water quality and habitat improvement projects. These projects vary from stream and floodplain restoration to culvert upgrades, to stormwater treatment projects. All projects are scheduled to be implemented in 2025 and 2026.

Cyanobacteria (sometimes called blue-green algae) are tiny microorganisms that are a natural part of fresh water ecosystems. Under certain conditions, cyanobacteria can multiply quickly, creating blooms on the water’s surface that can also wash up along shorelines. Blooms can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. 

See a video of cyanobacteria and photos of what is – and isn’t – a bloom at HealthVermont.gov/cyanobacteria. 

“Take a quick scan of the water before you, your kids or your pets go in,” said Bridget O’Brien, an environmental health scientist with the Vermont Department of Health. “If you see any scummy or discolored water – or if you are unsure – play it safe and find another place to go.”

The Vermont Lakes and Ponds Program offers guidance to help property owners protect and restore lake side properties. The Shoreland Best Management Practices guidance contains multiple Best Management Practice documents. Each document highlights different activities that can improve water quality and the health of lakeshore habitat. Examples of activities include planting native trees and shrubs, installing rain gardens to absorb runoff, improving driveways and pathways, and creating no-mow zones.

In November 2025, the Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) wrapped up two more stages of a large-scale stream and floodplain restoration project in Morgan, VT. This project is a continuation of work initiated in 2023 on the newly acquired Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD) Streambank Management Area (SMA). Phase 1 work included farm reclamation and multiple floodplain and stream restoration activities along Valley Brook and its tributaries. Phase 2 shifts project focus toward restoration opportunities upstream and downstream of the SMA. Ultimately, this includes the replacement of four crossing structures on Valley Brook and planting a woody riparian buffer along several stretches of the stream.