2024 Otter Creek Tactical Basin Plan

 

Excerpts and summary taken from the 2024 Otter Creek Tactical Basin Plan.

The 2019 Otter Creek basin plan identified 56 strategies to address protection and restoration of surface waters. Of the 56 strategies identified, 25 are complete, 8 are in progress, 19 are ongoing, and 4 are awaiting action. The Otter Creek basin report card was published in the 2024 Vermont Clean Water Initiative Performance Report and detailed updates for each strategy identified in the 2019 Plan. Several strategies will be carried over to this plan.

The 47 priority strategies identified in this plan reflect input from the public, state and federal water quality staff, sectorbased workgroups, watershed groups, and regional planning commissions. During the basin planning process, stakeholders expressed that unified clean water messaging, technical support and training on how to protect and maintain surface waters, and continued financial and technical support, are all critical to meet water quality goals. There was also a strong sentiment that all waters in the Otter Creek basin should be protected regardless of their current status. The importance of ensuring access to waters for all members of the community was identified including ensuring clean surface water for consumptive and recreational uses and the safe consumption of fish, access to waters for recreation for all abilities and economic levels, open space availability and access in more densely populated and equitable implementation of clean water projects.

RNRCD works closely with VT DEC to pursue design and implementation of projects that address priorty stratgeies within the Otter Creek Tactical Basin Plan.