A Guide to Managing Stormwater

The Lewis Creek Association (LCA) recently published a comprehensive guide to managing stormwater runoff for homeowners and land managers. The manual provides guidance on the “three S’s” of the Ahead of the Storm program: slowing water down, spreading it out, and sinking it into the ground.

Actions taken on the land impact water quality in Lake Champlain’s tributary rivers and streams and in the lake itself. How to Manage Stormwater to Promote Healthier Watersheds: An Ahead of the Storm Guide provides practical guidance on managing stormwater for properties of all sizes. It provides a framework for assessing a property, identifying areas where problematic runoff is occurring, and suggests solutions for a wide array of potential challenges. With example photos and marked-up property diagrams, property owners can identify stormwater management practices that best suit their land and priorities.

The manual was developed over two and a half years in partnership with SLR Consulting, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Lake Champlain Committee. The manual was printed in the spring of 2024 and has been made available online and in local libraries in the LaPlatte and Lewis Creek watersheds.

In collaboration with Lake Champlain Committee, LCA held several workshops in neighborhoods experiencing poor water quality. Engaging directly with neighborhoods proved valuable; participants left with a better understanding of their land, water, wildlife, and available solutions.

The new stormwater manual presents specific and actionable information to property owners in the Lewis Creek and LaPlatte River watersheds, and will support broader implementation of effective stormwater management practices.