NRPC is Hosting a

"Getting to Know Act 250" Training

Join NRPC and the Natural Resource Board staff on Thursday, January 11, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for “Getting to know Act 250”, an overview and introduction to Act 250, the state’s land use and development law. Staff from the NRB will walk you through the essentials of Act 250, including when Act 250 applies, and when it does not; the permitting process (including Town and RPC participation), answer general questions, and point you toward resources for additional information.

Please email Emily Klofft with any questions.

Flood Resilience Workshop

On January 29, 2024 join us in Franklin County for an in-person flood resilience workshop. Improve your understanding of river science, floodplain management and the long-term benefits of floodplain regulations. This event will feature:

• flood stories from panelists with Missisquoi River Basic Association, Franklin County Natural Resource Conservation District, and Friends of Northern Lake Champlain,
• an interactive river science lesson using a flume table with Lake Champlain Sea Grant and The Nature Conservancy,
• a presentation from DEC Floodplain Managers about floodplain regulations and how they make our communities safer, and
• a model flood hazard bylaw activity led by NRPC.

Registration for this event will open in early January 2024. If you’d like us to send you a registration reminder, please email Sara Gratz.

Municipal Mini-Grants

As the weather gets colder and heating bills start to roll in, the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) is aiming to bring much needed relief to municipalities with leaky, inefficient, and aging buildings. Free assessments on municipal buildings, one of the key parts of this grant program, have begun across the state. As these assessments are completed in the Northwest region, it is clear that assessment reports which detail the costs and savings associated with potential improvements will be incredibly valuable in helping municipalities map out which upgrades to prioritize and what the financial impacts will be. While the assessment applications are currently closed (potentially to reopen depending on funding levels), applications are still open for municipal mini grants, $4,000 grants that can be used for education and outreach like in the form of townwide mailings or energy fairs, or used for capacity building as in the hiring of a consultant to manage the more involved parts of the MERP process. The mini grant application is still open and the state is encouraging any municipalities who haven’t applied to submit an application as it is non-competitive and low burden in terms of applying and reporting. Marlena Valenta, NRPC’s Energy and Climate Planner, can assist municipalities in navigating any MERP questions as well as offering support during the application, implementation, and reporting process.

Funding for

Water Quality Projects

NRPC is proud to serve as the Clean Water Service Provider for the Missisquoi and Lamoille watersheds. Within this role, we work to identify and prioritize non-regulatory projects that improve water quality and reduce phosphorus pollution. This work supports Vermont Act 76, the Clean Water Service Delivery Act.

Future rounds of funding will be opening soon in both basins. Qualifying project types for funding could include conservation initiatives on farms and forestland, implementing environmentally friendly stormwater practices, and natural resource restoration projects, such as conservation easements, wetland and floodplain restoration, and tree and shrub plantings along riparian areas.

Read more by clicking below, and for additional information, or if you have any questions, please contact Dean Pierce or at 802-524-5958.

Update on 604B

Water Quality Program

NRPC recently completed work on a project funded by Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) using funds from the federal Section 604b program. This collaboration with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission focused on a new opportunity for improving water quality across Vermont.

The project encompassed several crucial tasks.  NRPC staff began by examining Vermont Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) documents to identify communities eligible for CWSRF funding. Staff then focused on finding municipalities eligible for the Water Infrastructure Sponsorship Program (WISPr) loans that could also support natural resource restoration projects. Next, NRPC staff evaluated Vermont’s Watershed Project Database and other documents to identify potential natural resource restoration opportunities.

The culmination of the project was a “matchmaking” effort that included an analysis of potential matches between municipal capital projects and natural resource initiatives. Two municipalities in the Region—Swanton Village and Fairfax—were identified as potential project sponsors. Potential natural resource projects were also identified, although more work will be required to determine if they would be viable.

If you have questions about the project, contact Dean Pierce.

Understanding the Water Infrastructure Sponsorship Program (WISPr)

Act 185 facilitates collaboration between municipalities and non-profit organizations for water quality improvement in Vermont. It allows municipalities with Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loans for water pollution and abatement facility projects to sponsor natural resource projects (NRPs).

Eligible Entities

• Municipalities
• Private, non-profit organizations

To be eligible, a municipal clean water project must sponsor an NRP, and both projects will be funded under the same loan. The value of the NRP must be at least 10% of the municipal sponsoring project.

Program Eligibility Guidelines

• Sponsored projects must aim to protect, conserve, or restore natural resources, including land and easement acquisitions for water quality benefits.
• Projects must apply to the Clean Water Infrastructure Program (CWIP) to be considered.

If you have questions about the program, contact Dean Pierce.