Lewis Creek Association 2010-11 Annual Report

In 2010-2011, Lewis Creek Association worked with local and state partners to pursue the projects listed below. Next years projects will include a Pond Brook Water Quality Plan, a Middle Lake Champlain Caretaking Program, a Lewis Creek Temperature Study, LaPlatte Stormwater Mitigation Project, water quality and habitat monitoring and improvement projects, and the Monkton Wildlife Crossing Project. Thanks to critical financial support from watershed towns, residents and green businesses in the Champlain Valley, LCA continued with its watershed approach to improve water quality, protect productive agricultural soils & restore important natural areas. To learn more, call your town board member below, visit the new www.lewiscreek.org and like us on Facebook. Thank you very much. Program Highlights
($100,000 annual budget)

Restoration and Conservation (50% of budget) Monkton's Wildlife Road Crossing Project Year three -Thorp Kimball Invasive European Frogbit Plant Removal Project Conservation agreements in Monkton, Charlotte, Starksboro, Ferrisburgh, Hinesburg Technical and funding support for a Charlotte/Lewis Creek tributary culvert to allow for geomorphic compatibility and fish passage Funding support for a stormwater system at a local nursery Secured planning funds to upgrade Rte 116 culverts in Starksboro for increased flood capacity Planning and Data Collection (37% of budget) Conducted an invasive plant survey for the LaPlatte River confluence area Initiated a Lewis Creek temperature study for fishery management and biodiversity planning Completed a Little Otter Creek stream assessment and corridor plan Developing a stream monitoring plan for direct to lake drainage areas Completed a McCabes Brook stream assessment and corridor plan Education and Outreach (7% of budget) Launched the new LCA website with full library of LCA related projects Provided towns and regional planning commission with local natural resource information Shared water quality and river assessment reports with towns, state and landowners

Supported LaPlatte Watershed Partnership, Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative and the Thorp Kimball Holmes Watershed Group Sponsored an educational display at the Charlotte Town Party Day Provided comments to EPAs Lake Champlain Water Quality Plan (TMDL) Provided information to the Vermont Endangered Species Committee for listing a locally threatened Species of Greatest Conservation Need Provided natural resource information to the Vermont legislature and government groups
LCA BOARD of DIRECTORS and STAFF: Louis DuPont & Chris Runcie - Starksboro, Randy Gates &Judy Elson- Ferrisburgh, Peter Erb & Andrea Morgante- Hinesburg, Alison Wagner- Huntington, Chris Slesar- Monkton. Stevie Spencer- Staff Assistant and Marty Illick-Executive Director