The Missisquoi River Basin has been heavily impacted by invasive Japanese knotweed, an invasive species that was introduced from eastern Asia to the United States in the 19th century.

Knotweed spreads prolifically, forming dense patches that shade out native plants. It often grows along streambanks, and with its shallow root system creates stretches vulnerable to erosion.

Over the course of a multi-year research project, the Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) has become a “go-to” resource for management in the community as well as beyond the Missisquoi River region.

In their third year of treatment trials, MRBA maintained trial plots using various methods to reduce the presence of knotweed and encourage native plant growth. The group estimates that 3+ years of ongoing management will allow native vegetation to establish and outcompete the knotweed, improving habitat and soil stability in the managed areas.

Over the past two decades, the Intervale Conservation Nursery has grown and planted native trees and shrubs to help restore critical riparian and wetland areas. Long-term monitoring in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has shown that without proper maintenance, many newly planted trees and shrubs struggle to survive, underscoring the importance of ongoing stewardship.

With recent funding, the Intervale Center has undertaken stewardship work on an additional 30 acres of forested buffer zone. This is a continuation of efforts to enhance over 175 acres of riparian forest, supported by past funding from the LCBP.

This project aligns with a long-term strategy to improve riparian habitat by ensuring that restoration efforts are not only initiated but sustained. By securing funding for stewardship, the Intervale Center can continue holistic management of conservation projects, enhancing water quality, stabilizing riverbanks, and promoting biodiversity. Through these efforts, the Center is advancing key regional conservation goals, ensuring that restoration investments lead to lasting ecological benefits.

Functioning floodplains provide many ecosystem services, including sediment and nutrient storage, groundwater recharge, and habitat for a diverse array of species. Many floodplains across the Lake Champlain Basin require restoration in order to function effectively. Prioritization of these projects requires a more granular assessment of floodplain characteristics. This is where a research team working out of the University of Vermont comes in.

An investigation led by Dr. Elizabeth Doran is working to establish the link between physical landscape (geomorphic) characteristics, floodplain features, natural communities, and habitat function.

While large-scale mapping tools help identify potential habitat locations, on-the-ground research is needed to confirm whether these areas are truly functioning as critical habitats. By studying the relationship between floodplain characteristics, plant communities, and the presence of key wildlife species, this research will refine how stakeholders assess and prioritize conservation projects.

A key focus is on river corridors, which serve as essential pathways for wildlife movement and habitat connectivity. The project will use occupancy modeling, a method that accounts for species presence even when they are difficult to detect, to evaluate the health of floodplain habitats. This research will support Vermont’s Functioning Floodplain Initiative (FFI), a tool used to guide restoration decisions based on flood risk reduction and water quality benefits. By adding habitat functionality as a third pillar of this initiative, the project will provide a more comprehensive approach to prioritizing restoration efforts.

The study will focus on the Lewis Creek watershed, which includes a diverse range of floodplain environments and has undergone some restoration efforts. By analyzing this area, researchers can assess how different levels of land use change impact floodplain health over time. The project will also engage a broad network of stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, conservation groups, and local watershed organizations, to ensure that findings are widely shared and used to inform decision-making. Ultimately, this research supports broader conservation goals, helping to improve water quality, enhance habitat for native species, and build resilience to flooding in the Lake Champlain Basin.

Mace Chasm Farm’s existing tree nursery is expanding to offer wholesale, native, bareroot shrubs and trees for conservation projects in our region. The farm is engaging regional conservation planning organizations to prioritize specific crops that will support regional wholesale market demand.

Grant funding is supporting the infrastructure upgrades necessary for the farm’s transition. Mace Chasm Farm is installing a tree storage cooler in their barn that will allow for plant materials to be dug in the fall and stored until the spring planting season.

The farm’s initial production goal is 2,000 stems. Over the longer-term, production may rise to 10-20,000 stems.

The City of Plattsburgh has completed the third phase in a multi-year project targeting wastewater contamination from storm drainage systems. The project, when complete, will significantly reduce phosphorus, E. coli, and other harmful discharge from Plattsburgh’s stormwater outfalls to Lake Champlain.

Several urban areas within the Lake Champlain watershed use combined sewer systems. For decades, coordinated efforts across the basin have successfully reduced pollution entering Lake Champlain from combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

The City of Plattsburgh relies in part on a combined sewer and stormwater system that serves some of the city. In prior phases of the project Plattsburgh identified several illicit discharge points present within its sewer system. Illicit discharges are common in combined sewer systems and occur where wastewater or industrial process water enter stormwater-only drainage systems and contribute to the contamination of surrounding waterbodies.

During initial phases of the project work, partners assessed 72 stormwater outfalls in Plattsburgh City and Town, 22 of which were highlighted for advanced investigation. All but six storm drains have been assessed by Stone Environmental, a Montpelier-based environmental consulting firm contracting for the City of Plattsburgh Department of Public Works. The final six outfalls were visited over the course of spring 2024.

Final reporting estimated potential reductions in phosphorus and E. coli, and provided a comprehensive plan for eliminating illicit discharges and improving both local and lake-wide water quality.