THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH IN VERMONT COLLEGES AND BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGING YOUNG VERMONTERS TO SEEK CAREERS IN SCIENCE.

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>> LAKE CHAMPLAIN IS REALLY A JEWEL IN VERMONT.

PEOPLE COME BECAUSE WE HAVE GREEN MOUNTAINS AND BLUE WATERS AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAR MAKE -- PARTAKE IN THOSE.

>> THE REALTY IS WE HAVE A DIRTY LAKE LAKE CHAMPAGNE.

THIS IS A WELL OBSERVABLE SYMPTOM OF A HUGE PROBLEM.

>> THE LATE 1990s WE FIRST SAW ALGAE BLOOMS.

A COUPLE OF DOGS UNFORTUNATELY DIED.

THAT'S WHAT REALLY BROUGHT THESE BLOOMS INTO THE HEADLINES AND TO THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE SINCE BECOME UNFORTUNATELY REGULAR OCCURRENCES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS HERE ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

>> THE ISSUE WITH IT IS SOMETIMES IT CAN TURN TOXIC.

THAT CREATES A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

THE GREATEST WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES WE FACE HERE IN VERMONT ARE LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO NUTRIENT POLLUTION.

PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN ARE NUTRIENTS ESSENTIAL FOR PLANT GROWTH BUT WHEN THEY ARE IN A SURFACE WATER BODY THAT CAN TAKE THE FORM OF HARM FERL ALGAL, BLOOMS.

>> FOOD, NUTRIENTS, PHOSPHORUS, CALM WATER AND WARM WATER.

SO AN IMPORTANT LINKAGE THAT'S BEEN CRITICAL TO UNDERSTANDING ALGAL, BLOOMS HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF THESE PARTICLES THAT COME IN FROM THE WATERSHED AND ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE LAKE.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE WEATHER AND LAKE CONDITIONS THAT FACILITATED RELEASE OF PHOSPHOROUS FROM SEDIMENT POOLS.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SEEING INCREASE IN SIGN O BACTERIAL BLOOMS IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN SINCE WE HAVE BEEN TAKING TEMPERATURE PROFILES IN THE EARLY 1960s WE HAVE SEEN AN AVERAGE AUGUST SURFACE TEMPERATURE INCREASE BY 6.8 DEGREES PARENT.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL CHANGE.

>> WHEN WE HAVE THESE WARM, HOT, SUNNY SUMMER DAYS, ESPECIALLY AFTER A BIG STORM HAS BLOWN A BUNCH OF SEDIMENT WITH PHOSPHORUS IN IT THAT'S A GOOD RECIPE FOR AN AL ALGAE BLOOM.

>> WE CAN CLEAN THE SEDIMENT FROM THE LAKE AND SAY WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THERE ARE THESE LAGS AND INERTIA IN THE SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO THINK NOT ONLY FOR THEIR LIFETIMES BUT ALSO THINK MULTIPLE LIFETIMES.

>> EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS IS THE FOCUS OF THIS NEW RESEARCH PROJECT, UNDERSTANDING WHAT WITHIN THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN EESSENTIALLY PROMOTES OR SUPPRESSES THAT RESILIENCE OF WATER QUALITY.

THOSE COULD BE EXTREME DROUGHTS, EXTREME STORMS.

SOME OF OUR WORK IN THE MISSISQUOI IS EVEN IF YOU REDUCE 50, 70, 80% PHOSPHOROUS IT WILL TAKE 20, 30 YEARS FOR THE ALGAL, BLOOMS TO GO AWAY.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY CONNECT ED IN A LINEAR FASHION, SO FOR EXAMPLE WHAT IS KNOWN AS LEGACY PHOSPHORUS IN MISSISQUOI BAY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE LAKE THE PHOSPHORUS PUT IN THE LAKE IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY, AGRICULTURAL BLOOM IN VERMONT, THAT PHOSPHORUS IS STILL IN THE EXCEPTEDMENT.

THE SEDIMENT MAY RELEASE THAT PHOSPHORUS WHEN CONDITIONS CHANGE AND THEY BECOME VERY HARD OR OTHER BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY ENABLE RELEASE.

THE PHOSPHORUS THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN TODAY ON CONTINUOUS BASIS MAY BECOME UNBOUND 50 YEARS FROM TODAY OR 100 YEARS FROM TODAY.% >> ALTHOUGH CLEANING UP LAKE CHAMPLAIN WILL TAKE TIME, IT IS POSSIBLE.

PHOSPHORUS REDUCTIN IS KEY.

PHOSPHORUS BONDS NATURALLY WITH SEDIMENTS IN WATER SO IT TRAVELS EASILY FROM OUR SMALLEST CREEKS TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

RECENT STUDIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF FOSES FROWS AS STORM WATER, WATER WATER, EROSION FROM ROADS, AGRICULTURE AND RUNOFF FROM SOME FORESTRY PRACTICES.

RESEARCH THAT INTEGRATES THE MANY FACTORS NOW INFORMS LONG TERM BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THIS COMPLEX SYSTEM.

>> PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK THAT FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE CITIES ARE NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THEY POINT TO THE FARMERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAY BE GOING ON IN THE WATERSHED AS BEING A BIGGER PROBLEM.

THE REALTY IS RUNOFF FROM IMPERVIOUSOUS SURFACES CAN CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH.

AS WE SEE MORE SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EVENTS, MORE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS WITH GREATER INTENSITY OF RAINFALL WE SEE MORE RUNOFF AND WE KNOW THE TOTAL PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION DELIVERED TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN IN ANY GIVEN YEAR IS VERY CLOSELY TIED TO THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL WE RECEIVE.

>> THE MAJOR CHALLENGE WITH STORM WATER RUNOFF IS NOT THE STORM WATER, NOT THAT FALLS FROM THE SKY, WE HAVE COVERED OUR LANDSCAPE WITH IMPERVIOUS SURFACES WHICH DISRUPTS THE WATER.

IT TRAVELS SLOWLY VIA GROUND WATER.

>> WATER TRAPPED ON IMPERVIOUS SURFACES LIKE PAVEMENT CAN CARRY PHOSPHORUS QUICKLY INTO OUR WATERWAYS.

THIS RUNOFF HAS BECOME MORE PROBLEMATIC AS WE EXPERIENCE INCREASED AND MORE INTENSE STORMS.

FINDING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FORCES US TO LOOK AT PAST AND PRESENT DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF BURLINGTON WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPEN GREEN SPACE OUR APPROACH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN, SAY, A MORE SUBURBAN AREA WHERE YOU MAY BRING ALL THE STORM WATER TO ONE AREA AND DO A GRAVEL OR RETENTION POND.

IN BURLINGTON WE HAVE TO TRY TO USE ALL THE SPONGES THAT ARE LEFT AND POTENTIALLY THE SPONGE THAT MAY REMAIN UNDERNEATH OUR IMPERMEABLE SURFACES.

I'M GOING TO MAKE IT RAIN A LITTLE BIT HARDER.

THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO POUR A TON OF WATER ON HERE, IT ACTUALLY SOAKS IN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR CREATE A SURFACE THAT PEOPLE CAN PATAKI ON AND WALK ON EASILY IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS BUT WON'T HAVE THE RUNOFF THAT WE SEE WITH OTHER ASPHALT IN THE REST OF THE CITY.

>> PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF ALSO COMES FROM OUR HOMES, FROM LAWN FERTILIZER AND PET WASTE, FROM GUTTERS DRAINING INTO IMPERVIOUS DRIVEWAYS THAT FLUSH WATER INTO THE ROAD.

PHOSPHORUS AND DANGEROUS EROWS ING RUNOFF CAN BE REDUCED IF IT'S ALLOWED TO SINK INTO THE GROUND.

>> ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW PERMIT TO MEET THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN IS TO DEVELOP A PHOSPHORUS CONTROL PLAN.

TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORUS RUNNING OFF OF BURLINGTON'S LANDSCAPE I THINK BY AS MUCH AS 20%, A HEAVY LIFT THAT WILL TAKE US A NUMBER OF YEARS AND A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TO DO.

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

IF TEN HOMES BAND TOGETHER APPEARED DO SOMETHING TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN THE WATER, KEEP THE WATER ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY, THAT IS JUST AS GOOD AS A PARKING LOT THAT IS INSTALLED WITH A RETENTION POND.

IT'S A GAME OF INCHES AT THIS POINT.

WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE FIELD THAT WE CAN SEND THINGS TO.

WE NEED EVERYBODY TO HOLD ON TO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITH EVERY BIT OF GREEN SPONGE WE HAVE LEFT IN THE CITY.

>> THERE ARE MANY WAYS INDIVIDUALS CAN REDUCE RUNOFF LEAVING THEIR PROPERTIES.

ILL STAIN RECALL BARRELS, POROUS DRIVEWAYS AND DISCONNECTING GUTTERS.

SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS ARE ADOPTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE.

ST.

ALBANS WAS DESIGNATED AN MS 4 COMMUNITY IN 2012 MEANING THEY WILL HAVE A NEW SET OF REGULATIONS FOR THEIR STORM WATER COLLECTION SEPARATED FROM WASTEWATER.

>> WE'RE IN THE INFANT STAGES OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BASED ON THAT DESIGNATION WHICH REALLY MEANT TO US WE NO LONGER COULD JUST THINK ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY ISSUES BUT WE HAD TO HAVE A PLAN.

THE PRACTICES OF THE LAST THREE TO FIVE DECADES HAVE PROVEN TO BE HARMFUL, SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THEM.

>> A RETENTION POND IS OUR LARGE CONTAINER TO HOLD THAT STORM WATER FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A DESIRED PERIOD OF TIME AND USUALLY IT'S ABOUT 24 HOURS.

SO IF WE CAN METER THAT FLOW AND RELEASE THAT WATER AT A NICE, GENTLE RATE AND PREVENT BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING DOWN DOWNSTREAM AND EROSION, WHICH IS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> THESE ARE SORT OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

THEY ARE FAIRLY BORING AND SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THAT'S NOT JUST A DITCH, THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY INSTALLED A PRACTICE IN IT AND ATTEMPT TO REDUCE POLLUTION.

HELP THEM SEE WORK ON THE LANDSCAPE.

THAT WILL BE VISIBLE FAR SOONER THAN WE SEE IT MATERIALIZE IN LAKES AND STREAMS.

>> EXAMINING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE ENTIRE WATERSHED VERMONT SCIENTISTS WORKING IN THE EPSKo R BASIN RESILIENCE TO EXTREME EVENTS PROJECT CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE , THE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM SENSITIVE TO CHANGE BROUGHT ABOUT BY OUR DECISIONS NOW, IN THE PAST AND IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT MODEL INCLUDE A CLIMATE MODEL THAT'S PROJECTING THE FUTURE ALTERNATIVE STATES OF THE CLIMATE GOING OUT 100 YEARS, GIVEN DIFFERENT WET SCENARIOS, DRY SCENARIO.

ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT IS THE HIDE HYDROLOGY MODEL.

THE LAND USE MODEL.

WE'RE ABLE TO PROJECT WHAT FUTURE SCENARIOS WOULD LOOK LIKE WHAT WOULD A PRO AGRICULTURE SCENARIO, A MASSIVE POPULATION EXPLOSION LOOK LIKE.

THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE LAKE MODEL.

ALL THOSE WRAP TOGETHER TO ANTICIPATE AND PREDICT OWE THE ALGAE BLOOMS WILL AFFECT.

A GOVERNANCE MODEL IS BEING ADDED.

AS WELL AS AN ECONOMIC MODEL THAT LOOKS AT THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF DOING NOTHING OR DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN AND EVERY VARIATION THEREIN.

>> EROSION FROM OUR PAVED AND UN PAVED ROADS IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS TO OUR LAKES.

ALL OF VERMONT TOWNS ARE NOW REVIEWING THEIR ROADS TO MEET NEW ACT 64 STANDARDS PUT IN PLACE TO CONTROL RUNOFF OF SEDIMENT.

>> IN RECENT YEARS WE LEARNEDMAN SUP AL ROADS CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS SEDIMENT AND SOLUTION.

WE HAVE LITERALLY MORE THAN 8, 000 MILES OF ROAD IN VERMONT.

I THINK UPWARDS OF 85% OF THEM ARE GRAVEL AND SO THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO SHED SEDIMENT AND PHOSPHORUS IN ANY GIVEN RAIN EVENT IS SIGNIFICANT.

THROUGH RESEARCH HERE AT UVM WE HAVE LOOKED AT A SUITE OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED BY ROAD CREWS TO START TO CONTROL THAT EROSION AND SEDIMENT LOST.

>> ACT 64 AND THE ROSE PERMIT WE FOCUS MORE ON THE HYDROLOGICLY CONNECTED SEGMENTS OF ROADS, ROADS CLOSER TO THE STREAMS, CLOSER TO THE CROSS CULVERTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S NOT BAD.

I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO LOWER THAT SHOULDER.

>> THE TOWNS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO AN INVENTORY OF THEIR ROADS TO SEE IF PRACTICES NECESSARY TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY ARE IN PLACE.

>> AS MORE OF THESE ROADS GET UP TO SPEED WITH THE NEW PRACTICES I FEEL THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO SAVE US IN MAINTENANCE OVER THE LONG RUN.

>> THE TOWNS ARE MORE FLOOD RESILIENT AS WE HAVE MORE RAIN EVENTS.

WHEN THESE DRAINAGE PRACTICES ARE PUT IN PLACE THOSE ROADS ARE LESS LIKELY TO FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITH THAT ALL OF THE SEDIMENT INTO OUR STREAMS AND ALL OF THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> THE NEUMAN SIP AL PERMITTING PROGRAM PRIORITIZES ROADS THAT ARE NEAR REFERS BECAUSE RIVERS ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING AND A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF EROSION.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHERE THAT EROSION OCCURS IN RIVERS AND HOW BEST TO MINIMIZE IT IS CRITICAL.

>> MY FIRST DAY OF CLASS WAS THE DAY TROPICAL STORM IRENE IMPACTED VERMONT.

THAT WAS REALLY A BIG DRIVER IN REFOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON WATER QUALITY ISSUES HERE.

>> WE'RE USING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TO LOOK AT MAPPING EROSION.

STREAM EROSION IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ROANTS FOR SEDIMENT MOVING.

BEING ABLE TO MONITOR A CORRIDOR IN A TIMELY WAY WITH A UAV STANDARDS CAN GET A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF TIMING AND RATES WHEN STREAM EROSION IS TAKING PLACE AND WHERE.

WE ARE ABLE TO GENERATE BASICALLY 3-D TOPOGRAPHICAL MODELS AND COMPARE THOSE OVER TIME AND SO WHAT OUR MODELS SHOW US NOW IS WE CAN BASICALLY LOOK AT A CROSS-SECTION OF THE RIVER AND OFF OF THOSE WE CAN MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF BANK RETREAT THAT HAS OCCURRED AS WELL AS CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF EROSION THAT'S HAPPENED.

THIS WILL GIVE US ANOTHER TOOL THAT WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKER IN TERMS OF MONITORING FOR STREAM EROSION AND GETTING A BETTER ESTIMATE AS WE GO FORWARD AND START IMPLEMENTING PRACTICES TO REDUCE STREAM EROSION IF WE'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT >> RESEARCH HAS ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT SUPPORTING AND PRESERVING WETLANDS AND VEGETATED STREAM BANKS CAN HELP REDUCE EROSION.

IT DELIVER SEDIMENT TO LAKES, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE LARGER ARE , MORE INTENSE RAIN EVENTS.

>> ONE BIG SOURCE OF PHOSPHOROUS IS EROSION FROM STREAM BANKS WHERE THE STREAMS ARE MOVING BACK AND FORTH AS STREAMS WILL DO BECAUSE WE HAVE CONSTRAINED THEM OVER TIME.

WE'RE GIVING THEM ROOM.

THE STATE IS BUYING LANDS ADJACENT TO THE STREAM SO THEY CAN MEANDER WITHOUT ERODING AS MUCH.

>> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WETLANDS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AND CAN HELP HANDLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER THAT RUNS OFF OF THE SURFACE WHEN IT COMES TO LARGE STORM EVENTS OR FLOODING EVENT ESPECIALLY ALONG LONG RIVER WAYS.

WETLANDS CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB WATER OR RELEASE WATER IN TIMES OF DRYNESS.

AS WE SEE INCREASES IN POLLUTION ACROSS OUR LANDSCAPE, IF WE KEEP WETLANDS IN PLACE AND INTACT THOSE ARE PLACES THAT CAN HELP FILTER THE WATER JUST BY THE DIFFERENT PLANTS THAT ARE THERE.

>> RIPARIAN ZONES ARE REALLY THE INTERFACE BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SOIL AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STREAM.

THEY ARE VERY DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS.

WE CALL THEM HOT SPOTS WHICH REALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN THE LANDSCAPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT EQUAL RATES EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE PLACES IN THE LANDSCAPE THAT PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE'S WATER AND NUTRIENTS ACCUMULATE AND CARBON ACCUMULATES THEY ARE THE SWEET SPOTS FOR REACTIVITY.

OUR HYPOTHESES IS THAT THEORY PARIAN BUFFERS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING RESILIENCE SO REALLY BEING ABLE TO ABSORB WATER QUALITY ISSUES AFTER EXTREME EVENTS MUCH BETTER THAN IF YOU HAVE A SYSTEM WITHOUT RIPARIAN AREAS.

>> CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY CONTRIBUTORS TO PHOSPHORUS REACHING OUR LAKES IN VERMONT THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR IS FROM AGRICULTURE.

TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF FARMERS, SCIENTISTS AND THE STATE TOGETHER, ACT 64 HAS PUT INTO PLACE MANY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

>> I THINK SOME OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING WORK IS FRANKLY ON VERMONT'S FARMS.

FARMERS I KNOW TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL CONSERVATIONISTS AND STEWARDS OF OUR LAND AND THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FARM THERE'S HAVE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE OF IMPLEMENTING PRACTICES TO MITIGATE PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.

>> FARM VERSE A HUGE STAKE IN PROTECTING WATER QUALITY.

THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR WATER SO THAT THEIR ANIMALS HAVE CLEAN WATER.

SO THAT THEIR FAMILIES HAVE CLEAN WATER.

BUT THEN THIS ADDED PIECE SO THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE CLEAN WATER TOO.

>> WATER QUALITY IS IMPORTANT TO EVERY FARMER AND WE ALL ARE VERY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT OUR COWS DRINK A LOT OF WATER IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT MILK.

WATER IS A VITAL PART OF ALL OF AGRICULTURE.

>> ACTUALLY MOST OF WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS IS EROSION.

IT'S DIRT LEAVING THE FIELD THAT GETS INTO THE STREAM THAT HEADS TO THE LAKE THAT CARRIES A LOT OF NUTRIENT.

TO PREVENT THE TOP SOIL FROM LEAVING IS WHY WE DO THE THINGS WE DO.

>> AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TEND TO BE SOME OF OUR MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER ADDRESS PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION.

JUST THIS WASTEWATER WAS REALLY A COST EFFECTIVE PLACE TO START, AGRICULTURE IS THE COST EFFECTIVE PLACE TO MOVE NEXT.

IT'S FAR EASIER AND CHEAPER FRANKLY TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON FARMS THAN TO RETROFIT STORM WATER DEVICES IN A BUILT URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

>> WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS REALLY IT'S ABOUT THE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE PRACTICE.

RIGHT?

IT'S A WHOLE SUITE OF PRACTICES.

IT'S GOOD MANURE MANAGEMENT.

HAVING A LIVING, GROWING PLANT 12 MONTHS A YEAR.

IT'S HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND HAVING GOOD CROP ROTATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S WHERE ALL THAT HAS COME TOGETHER IN SOIL HEALTH AND GOOD CROP PRODUCTION AND GOOD WATER QUALITY.

>> VERMONT STORMS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO HAVE A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN TO TRACK APPEARED ARE EDUES RUNOFF THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS.

TRANSITION IS NOT EASY AND WITHOUT COST, BUT RESULTS ARE SHOWING THESE NEW PRACTICES ARE PAYING OFF NOT ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES' LAKES AND STREAMS BUT ALSO FOR THE FARMERS.

>> FARMERS ARE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THEY HAVE A BUSINESS AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A PROFIT OR ELSE THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS AT WORK AND I THINK THAT THE LARGE, VAST MAJORITY OF FARMERS APPRECIATE THAT.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN OUR WHOLE RESEARCH PROJECT IS FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT BALANCE.

THE IDEAL OF ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT IS USING SCIENCE TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY.

A BIG COMPONENT OF OUR WORK IS COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICY MAKERS AND FARMERS.

I THINK OUR BROADER ROLE HERE IS TO HELP INFORM AND PRESERVE LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND WATER QUALITY IN VERMONT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A CHANGING CLIMATE, AS POTENTIAL FOR OUR POPULATION TO GROW, WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW ALL THESE COMPLEX SYSTEMS DYNAMICS COMBINE AND CO-MINGLE SO WE ARE ABLE, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN BETTER PLAN AND BETTER DESIGN OUR SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS SO WE CAN PRESERVE LAKE CHAMPLAIN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS >> BUFFER STRIPS ON THE DARE DAIRY FARM IS MANNED DATED BY THE STATE, NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNER WILL CHECK THE FIELD MAPS OUT AND ANYWHERE WHERE THERE SHOULD BE A BUFFER STRIP AND WHEREVER HE THINKS THERE SHOULD BE ONE.

THAT WAY WHEN THE STATE COMES TO CHECK THINGS OUT WE'RE COVERED AND IT'S JUST GRASS STRIPS IN BETWEEN THE DITCH AND THE CORNFIELD.

BONDING THE SOIL TOGETHER WITH ROOTS SO THE NUTRIENTS AND EROSION DON'T TAKE PLACE.

>> AS A PART OF ACT 64, ALL VERMONT FARMERS WHO SPREAD MANURE COMPLETE TRAINING ON BEST APPLICATION PRACTICES.

ANOTHER WAY SOME FARMERS NOURIH THE SOIM AND KEEP THEIR STREAMS AND FIELDS CLEAN IS WITH A PRACTICE CALLED MANURE INJECTION , WHICH VARIES THE MANURE ON THEIR FEEMEDZ UP TO 12 INCHES IN THE GROUNDS.

FARMERS PIPE IT FROM A FARM TO A TRACKER IN THE FIELD WHICH INJECTS THE MANURE UNDER THE GROUND.

>> SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT MANURE UNDER THE SURFACE THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FAR LESS LIKELIHOOD OF IT RUNNING OFF SAY IF YOU HAVE A RAINSTORM.

IF YOU HAVE HEALTHY HIGH FUNCTIONING SOIL, HEALTHY CROPS GROWING WHICH YOU THEN ARE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, REDUCING RUNOFF.

ALL THAT COMES TOGETHER AROUND SOIL HEALTH.

THE WAY TYPICALLY WE HAVE WORKED IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY IS FALL PLOWING.

THEY WOULD PLOW IN THE FALL AND LET THE WINTER REALLY DO SOME TILLAGE FOR THEM.

NOW WE'RE TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM THAT FALL PLOWING SYSTEM BECAUSE WE SEE THE POTENTIAL OF THOSE MONTHS AND MONTHS OF THE YEAR BARE SOIL, OPEN IT UP TO LOSSES, TO EROSION, AND IF YOU SPREAD MANURE IN THE FALL SOME OF THOSE NUTRIENTS ARE LOST TO THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THERE TO TAKE IT UP.

SO NOW WE'RE ASKING FARMERS TO INSTEAD OF THAT PLANT A COVER CROP OVER THE WINTER.

>> ADOPTION OF COVER CROPS IN VERMONT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RAPID OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> THESE COVER CROPS THE ROOT SYSTEMS THEY PROVIDE IN THE SOIL ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE TILLAGE WORK THEMSELVES AND WORMS WILL TRAVEL UP AND DOWN AND IT ALLOWS WATER TO INFILTRATE INTO THE SOIL INSTEAD OF RUNNINGS OFF THE TOPS.

>> THIS FIELD THE FARMER PLANTED WINTER RYE.

IT SURVIVES THE WINTER, IT GROWS , THEY HARVESTED THAT AS A FORAGE CROP FOR THEIR COWS AND PLANTED WITHOUT TILLING ANYTHING AND PLANTED THEIR CORN.

THAT'S WHAT WE SEE GROWING HERE TODAY.

IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING TO GROW CORN IN VERMONT.

[LAUGHTER] FARMERS HAVE REALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT, SO NOW WE'RE SAYING, LET'S TRY IT THIS WAY AND MIX EVERYTHING UP.

THERE'S A LOT OF RISK INVOLVED ANY TIME YOU PLANT A CROP.

WHEN FARMERS HAVE REALLY FIGURED OUT A SYSTEM THAT WORKS ON THEIR FARM IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WHEN YOU DON'T GO DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO WORK OR NOT.

WE'RE SEEING FARMERS TRY IT IN BITS AND PIECES AND AS THEY FIGURE IT OUT WE SEE THEM ADOPT IT ON LARGER SCALES.

A NEIGHBOR TRIES SOMETHING, IT WORKS, THE OTHER NEIGHBOR SAYS, MAYBE I WILL TRY.

THAT.

>> IT'S EXCITING IN THE SPRING TO NOT SEE EXPOSED SOIL BUT TO SEE GREEN GRASS THAT LITERALLY TAKES OFF THE INSTANT IT'S GIVEN THE CHANCE.

IN THE 12 YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WATER QUALITY PROJECTS IN VERMONT WE HAVE GONE FROM A TIME WHEN THERE WAS LITERALLY MAYBE 1,000 OR COUPLE THOUSAND ACRES PLANTED TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES NOW BEING PLANTED IN COVER CROP.

I THINK THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING CHANGE.

>> I'LL AGREE -- ALL AGREE THAT FARMS ARE PRECIOUS TO VERMONT BUT CONVENTIONAL DAIRY FARMING IS EXPENSIVE IN MANY WAYS.

A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION IS TAKING PLACE ABOUT HOW OUR WORKING FARMS AND FARMSER CAN THRIVE.

TRADEOFFS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLARIFIED AND DISCUSSED FOR SOME TIME.

>> REGULATIONS ARE A GOOD STEP BUT IT'S BASICALLY IMPOSING A REGULATORY REGIME OVER THE WAY THE LAND IS BEING FARMED AND USED FOR GENERATIONS.

IT'S NOT REALLY A SEA CHANGE.

IT'S NOT A PARADIGM SHIFT.

HOW DO WE HAVE A PARADIGM DIME SHIFT THAT DOESN'T PUT FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS AND BANKRUPT THEM.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE WORKING LANDS?

WE WANT WORKING LANDS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT LAND TO BE DEVELOPED.

WE WANT IT TO STAY PRODUCTIVE BUT THIS IS MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROBLEM OF THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN USING THE LAND HAS THESE IMPACTS WE NEED TO ALMOST RETHINK EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW FARMING OCCURS.

IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

REALLY DIFFICULT POLICY ISSUE.

BUT I DON'T THINK -- IT CAN'T BE IGNORED.

WE WANT TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO WE HAVE TO TRY TO CRACK THIS AND STOP LOOKING AT IT LIKE ENVIRONMENTALISTS VERSUS FARMERS OR ANYTHING LIKE.

THAT WE KNOW HOW HARD THIS IS FOR FARMERS AND THE CHANGING THAT'S HAPPENING BUT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

>> THE VERMONT CLEAN WATER ACT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR IMPORTANT POWERFUL STEPS TOWARD SAVING OUR WATERS, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE AND WILL TAKE TIME TO IMPLEMENT.

WHILE THAT WORK IS ONGOING SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO STUDYING WHAT MAKES A LAKE RESILIENT DURING STORMS.

RESILIENT THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED POSES A GREAT CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE OF CLEAN WATER THAT CAN WITHSTAND EXTREME EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE LANDSCAPE.

>> THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE WATER QUALITY OUTCOME THAT I BELIEVE ALL VERMONTERS WANT IS BY ALL OF US ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN THIS WORK.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A RESIDENTIAL HOME HOMEOWNER, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER, A FARMER, A MUNICIPAL ROAD CREW.

EVERYBODY HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.

BY USING THE TAG LINE ALL IN WE'RE PUSHING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR ROLE, NOT THE ROLE THAT THEY THINK THEIR NEIGHBOR SHOULD HAVE.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR SAVING OUR WATERS IS PROVIDED BY VERMONT EPSKoR FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH IN VERMONT COLLEGES AND BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGING YOUNG VERMONTERS TO SEEK CAREERS IN SCIENCE.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDE THE BY -- AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.