Shelburne Charlotte Water Quality Stewardship Program, 2012 Proposal

Shelburne Pond and the LaPlatte-McCabes confluence area need immediate aquatic invasive plant management to retain ongoing boating/fishing uses and to retain native plant and animal communities. Current aquatic invasive plant populations were surveyed in 2011 at low levels and must be managed before costly congestions levels occur. LaPlatte River and McCabes Brook water quality monitoring results indicate erosion and phosphorus concentrations are excessive and are negatively impacting water quality of Shelburne Bay and Lake Champlain. Ongoing monitoring Charlotte Town Farm Bays Thorp Kimball confluence area needs ongoing aquatic invasive plant management to retain its high public values including boating/fishing uses, fish spawning grounds and the areas high quality state ranked wetland complex that is recommended for Class One Wetland status. Over two years time, aquatic invasive European frogbit plant populations reached congestion percent cover levels in 2009. From 2009 to 2011, the bay was swept to suppress frogbit plant levels to 15% surface water cover. Over those three years, 45 tons of frogbit plants were removed at a cost of $80,000. It is now time to launch a volunteer stewardship program to maintain low levels of this plant so that public values and uses are preserved. Water quality monitoring in Charlotte streams is occurring to inform the development of science based water quality goals and strategies for Charlotte and the State. The LaPlatte, Thorp, Kimball and Holmes streams are monitored for stream stability, nutrients and sediment to inform science based restoration plans in Charlotte streams. Paid coordinators in Charlotte and Shelburne will manage these ongoing volunteer projects. The Shelburne Natural Resources & Conservation Committee, Charlotte Conservation Commission, Lewis Creek Association, LaPlatte Watershed Partnership and the Thorp Kimball Holmes Watershed Group will assist with program oversight, administration and fundraising. Shelburne Work Plan: Partnership Plan- Shelburne Nat. Res. & Conservation Committee, Lewis Creek Association, LaPlatte Watershed Partnership, Shelburne Bay Boat Club, Vt. Nature Conservancy, VT Fish & Wildlife/Environ. Conservation Departments 2011-12- Develop a 5 yr Water Quality stewardship and funding plan. 2012-13- Launch LaPlatte Removal Plan, Develop Shelburne Pond Removal Plan, Water Quality Monitoring 2013-14- Continue LaPlatte Removal Plan, Launch Shelburne Pond Removal Plan, Water Quality Monitoring 2014-15- Continue LaPlatte Removal Plan, Continue Shelburne Pond Removal Plan, Water Quality Monitoring Shelburne Budget: Expenses 2011-12 (Shel., Char.) 2012-13 2013-14 2013-15 Labor 25,400 3600 5000 5000 Shelburne 2600 5000 5000 Coordinator/s 1000 1000 1000 LCA/LWP support Supplies/Equipment 1600 350 1000 1000 Printing 150 150 150 Travel 100 100 100 Point Bay Marina 1280 storage TOTAL 28,280* 4200 6250 6250 Revenue Shelburne Town 2600 2600 2600 Business Sponsors 600 2650 2650 Point Bay Marina 1280 LCA 27,000 1000 1000 1000 TOTAL 28,280* 4200 6250 6250 *$28,280 2011-12 season tasks: Plant removal in Shelburne and Charlotte, Establish Charlotte Shelburne WQ Stewardship Plan, Informational Survey, Shelburne and Charlotte Outreach and Outreach Materials.

Charlotte Work Plan: Partnership Plan- Charlotte CC, Lewis Creek Association, LaPlatte Watershed Partnership, Thorp Kimball Holmes Watershed Group, Point Bay Marina, Vermont Nature Conservancy, VT Fish & Wildlife/Environmental Conservation 2011-12- Develop an ongoing Water Quality Stewardship and funding plan. 2012-13- Town Farm Bay Stewardship, Class One Wetland Status, Water Quality Monitoring 2013-14- Town Farm Bay Stewardship, Class One Wetland Status, Water Quality Monitoring 2014-15- Town Farm Bay Stewardship, Class One Wetland Status, Water Quality Monitoring Charlotte Budget: Expenses 2011-12 (Shel., Charl.) 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Labor 25,400 5000 5000 5000 Charlotte 4000 4000 4000 Coordinator TFB- 2600 WQ TKH- 1400 1000 1000 1000 LCA/LWP support Supplies/Equipment 1600 350 1000 1000 Printing 150 150 150 Travel 100 100 100 Point Bay Marina 1280 1280 1280 1280 storage TOTAL 28,280* 6880 7530 7530 Revenue Charlotte Town 4000 4000 4000 CCC Budget Business Sponsors 600 1250 1250 LCA 27,000 1000 1000 1000 Point Bay Marina 1,280 (inkind) 1,280 (inkind) 1,280 (inkind) 1,280 (inkind) TOTAL 28,280* 6880 7530 7530 *$28,280 2011-12 tasks: Plant removal in Shelburne and Charlotte, Establish Charlotte Shelburne WQ Stewardship Plan, Informational Survey, Shelburne Charlotte Outreach and Outreach Materials.