ACRPC has been selected as the Clean Water Service Provider (CWSPs) for the Otter Creek Basin. The Otter Creek Basin encompasses all or part of 54 towns in six counties, with the majority of the towns (41) being in Addison and Rutland Counties.
CWSPs are charged with identifying, implementing, operating, and maintaining projects to improve water quality. They were established by the Vermont legislature under Act 76 of 2019. Projects eligible for support from a CWSP must not be required by regulation, and must lead to phosphorus reductions. The work of the CWSP will be guided by priorities outlined in the Otter Creek Tactical Basin Plan.
The CWSP is guided by a Basin Water Quality Council (BWQC). The BWQC establishes policy and makes decisions for the CWSP regarding the most significant water quality impairments that exist in the basin and prioritizes the projects that will address those impairments based on the basin plan. Eligible members of the BWQC are established in statute and consist of two members from Natural Resource Conservation Districts, two members from regional planning commissions, two members from local watershed protection organizations, one member from a land conservation organization, and two members from municipalities.
The BWQC reviews proposals for projects at their quarterly meetings on the fourth Wednesday of January, April, July and October. Meeting minutes and agendas will be posted on the ACRPC website at https://acrpc.org/minutes-agendas/. Proposals should be received at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Contact the CWSP for assistance in developing a proposal. Formal calls for proposals are widely distributed before the January and July meetings.
More information about the Clean Water Service Provider program is available at the Vermont DEC website.
This storied and highly used waterway has an important place in Vermont history. The longest river in Vermont, Otter Creek flows north from southern Vermont through a number of different bedrock formations, and the erosive power of water has created numerous waterfalls along its path. Before the widespread availability and use of fossil fuels, these waterfalls were invaluable as sites for hydropower, turning the mills that ground grain, milled lumber, and ran industrial plants such as forges.
As the word got out in lower New York and New England that the Otter Valley and the Champlain Valley were fertile, productive places, settlers migrated here. Communities sprung up at the more powerful falls along Otter Creek at Rutland, Brandon, Middlebury, and Vergennes. The soils in the valley produced corn, rye, oats, barley, wheat, peas, beans, hemp and flax. Otter Creek is still a workhorse of a river, hosting several hydroelectric facilities and wastewater treatment plants.
Basin Water Quality Council members
Regional Planning Commission delegatesACRPC’s newsletter contains region-specific announcements, grants, and trainings each month.
Addison County Regional Planning Commission
14 Seminary Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-3141
