Public input on water
VERMONT - Vermont’s Clean Water Board is asking the public to weigh in on how they would like to prioritize approximately $46.9 million available through the state fiscal year 2023 clean water budget to clean up water pollution across the state.
The draft budget is available for public review. The board is asking Vermonters to provide feedback, through an online questionnaire, on whether they believe funding levels are sufficient and whether they agree with the board’s proposed prioritization of funding across projects. The Clean Water Board will consider public input before making its final Clean Water Budget recommendation in December 2021.
Vermont’s water quality funding helps municipalities, farmers, and others implement projects that reduce pollution washing into Vermont’s waterways. Examples of projects include everything from farmers planting cover crops to reduce soil erosion and improve soil health, to homeowners protecting and restoring river channels and floodplains, to municipalities stabilizing roadside erosion, and more. Beyond reducing water pollution, water quality projects provide other benefits, such as protecting Vermonters from damaging floods.
Send suggestions and comments to the Clean Water Board via the short online questionnaire at https://bit.ly/3jXQ4H4 through Friday, November 19, at 4 pm. To request a printed copy of the questionnaire, or assistance participating in the public comment period, email ANR.CleanWaterVT@vermont.gov with subject line “SFY 2023 Clean Water Budget Public Comment.”
Printed copy questionnaire responses must be postmarked by Friday, November 19, and mailed to: “Attention: Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program,” Department of Environmental Conservation, One National Life Drive, Davis 3, Montpelier, VT 05620-3510.
Visit https://dec.vermont.gov/water-investment/cwi/board to view the board’s current draft state fiscal year 2023 clean water budget, read the latest Vermont Clean Water Initiative Annual Performance Report, and learn more about investments in and results of state-funded clean water projects.
