We have a new District Manager!
We are pleased to welcome Emily Finnegan as District Manager for the Conservation District!
Emily brings several years of experience working with farmers and landowners, providing technical assistance, and developing projects to protect natural resources and restore water quality. Emily lives in Sutton with her family and is excited to work in her home District. Reach out to Emily anytime!
emily.finnegan@vt.nacdnet.net 802-424-3149
Nutrient Management Planning
Do you have a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)that needs updating? Have you forgotten how to navigate goCrop? Are you not sure whether you need an NMP? Are you interested in soil sampling your fields but not sure how to get started?
All certified small farms are required to have an updated NMP with soil samples every 3 years and a manure sample each year. All certified farms are also required to receive 4 hours of water quality training every five years. Not sure if you need to certify?
Staff from US Fish & Wildlife Service are using electro-fishing equipment to determine the presence of brook trout as part of the effort with Caledonia County Conservation District to identify and replace undersized stream crossing structures that do not pass fish. This culvert in Groton, VT prevents brook trout from swimming upstream to cooler habitat where they can reproduce.
Aquatic Organism Passage
Over time, undersized culverts can cause changes in stream conditions that contribute to erosion, create flooding risks, and prevent fish from swimming upstream to cooler waters and habitat they need to survive. Caledonia County Conservation District has been teaming up with partners from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and VT Department of Fish & Wildlife to identify and prioritize culverts that are barriers to fish passage. The goal of these efforts is to work with communities to secure funding for the design and replacement of these structures to reconnect fish habitat and allow the stream to return to stable conditions. Often culverts that are not passing fish are eroding or in poor condition, so providing funding to replace these structures will help communities upgrade their infrastructure, improve resilience to flooding issues, and reduce maintenance costs.
Water Quality Projects for Stormwater
Treating stormwater from parking lots, streets, sidewalks and other surfaces is a common water quality project developed by the Conservation District. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) projects take advantage of ground infiltration to treat stomwater before it enters streams. A gravel wetland, pictured above at the Hazen Union Campus in Hardwick, is a type of stormwater treatment practice for wetter soils that creates a filtering system for stormwater. These types of project opportunities are identified in a Stormwater Master Plan and are a great way to utilize green spaces in developed areas.
Caledonia County NRCD Board Meetings
Please Note: These meetings have changed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Please call for more information on meetings.
Open to the Public! Every third Wednesday at 4:00pm Conservation Districts are local subdivisions of state government (municipal organizations) under Vermont’s Soil Conservation Act cooperating with landowners and municipalities to apply conservation practices to the land. The Caledonia County Conservation District sponsors and coordinates technical and financial assistance to address water quality, stormwater runoff, erosion, soil quality, watershed planning and conservation education. Conservation Districts provide a unique and powerful vehicle for landowners to become involved in influencing local conservation work and state programs. Our board meetings are held at 481 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury at the second floor conference room.
Call if you’d like to learn more or attend a meeting! 802-424-3149