Lewis Creek Association History

2006 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997   2000 The Lewis Creek Association (LCA) enjoyed its 10th anniversary with a special celebration at the Vergennes Opera House this past November.  We celebrated the many volunteers, donors, and towns who breathed life into our watershed programs, and special thanks were given to Linda Henzel, who retired as LCA coordinator after 10 years.  Attendees were the first to hear and register for nest season’s field outings designed to support and complement current academic and state research.  Our programs helped landowners with water quality and erosion problems while volunteers learned more about the beautiful countryside we all love so much.  We are very grateful for the continued support from our watershed towns - Ferrisburgh, Charlotte, Monkton, Hinesburg, Bristol and Starksboro.  It is your town’s investment, and the combination of six towns, that enables LCA to receive support from the Vermont Community Foundation, Water Wheel Foundation, Vt. Agency of Natural Resources, USDA, and Lake Champlain Basin Program.  The LCA continued its field and educational activities The LCA Kingfisher newsletter, mailed to all watershed residents, highlighted water quality and our plans for next year.  Education LCA joined Champlain Valley Union High School, Mt. Abraham Union High School, and Vergennes Union High School to develop and pilot a Vermont standards-based curriculum for student water quality monitoring and citizenship.  The curriculum incorporates Vt Water Quality Standards and  student data gathering of biological and chemical indicators of water quality in Lewis Creek.  LCA  purchased new field equipment for schools and community groups to use for water quality work.  Area schools and libraries have received another LCA educational product, “Animal Tracks of the Northeast” tracking cards. Eighty sets, each containing tracks of 30 local animal species, are now being used by students and residents to learn more about our regional wildlife. Wildlife Habitat Our six-town citizen wildlife trackers continued to record wildlife road crossings. We are organizing to provide fieldwork support for our new GIS software program which is designed to strengthen community planning for watershed natural resource conservation.  Two winter field outings in Ferrisburgh and Monkton helped trackers sharpen their field skills, and LCA invited professional biologists to review and assess our latest wildlife information. This program enabled LCA to support towns, regional conservation and planning groups, Vt. Fish and Wildlife Department, and area schools with volunteer field work and information. Water Quality Lewis Creek is classified as acceptable waters for the public to enjoy for recreational purposes (fishing, swimming ). In its 8th year of testing, LCA monitored the recreational value of the creek by measuring total phosphorus, E. coli, pH, and temperature at eight sites along Lewis Creek. A final report is to be distributed in early 2001.  This data is used by state and federal groups who assist LCA in prioritizing its stream bank restoration projects. Restoration Stream bank restoration projects were completed this year in Ferrisburgh, Charlotte, Starksboro, and Hinesburg.  A farm project was completed in Ferrisburgh, while stream bank erosion was addressed in Charlotte, Hinesburg, and Starksboro with tree revetments, plantings, and rip rap.  LCA worked with USDA’s NRCS and Farm Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife Program, and hundreds of volunteers including  Ferrisburgh Cub Scouts, UVM students, and students from the Robinson School in Starksboro to carry out these projects.  As a 501c3 non-profit, LCA provides support to those considering land conservation measures associated with the Lewis Creek watershed.  Individuals and towns are welcome to use our GIS natural resource planning software, up to date resource maps, and our technical reference resources.