The mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is an aquatic salamander native to lower sections of Lake
Champlain tributaries and portions of the lake. Due to concerns for the long-term viability of
Vermont populations, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department undertook an effort to establish a
novel subpopulation in the Lamoille River upstream of the Arrowhead Mtn. Dam. The goals of
this project were to: (1) trap and relocate 50 to 150 mudpuppies from the native Lamoille River
population and relocate them to the upstream release area; and (2) following their release, track
the movements of a subset of these individuals fitted with radio transmitters.

In 2017, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) updated the Vermont Stormwater Management Manual (VSMM) to reflect advances in Best Management Practice (BMP) methodologies and design. Bioretention is among the preferred BMPs for stormwater management. Bioretention systems utilize engineered soil media and vegetation to store, infiltrate, and filter pollutants from stormwater runoff. Some members of the stormwater BMP design community are concerned about the ability of this soil specification to promote vegetation growth due to its low organic matter content and water-holding capacity. Commencing in 2023, the State of Vermont has drafted revisions to the 2017 VSMM, this research can inform the forthcoming updates.

This project collected water quality data, through community-science and professional staff, on
seventy-six unassessed or under-assessed waterbodies on the N.Y. side of the Lake Champlain
Basin and developed watershed action plans for three priority water bodies; Lake Colby, Mirror
Lake, and Lake Roxanne. The outcome of this work is a reduced number of unassessed
waterbodies in the basin, increased community engagement in watershed issues, and action plans
to guide projects in priority waterbodies.

In riparian areas of the northeastern United States, well-established reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) stands are common and have proven to be a challenge for the success of tree plantings during riparian forest restoration projects. To address the opportunity for widespread forest restoration and the challenge of reed canary grass (RCG) infestations, the purpose of this experiment was to assess survival of native trees subject to glyphosate, till and mowing management techniques vs. herbicide-free till and mowing management techniques, and to compare RCG density between plots under caried treatments over time. To accomplish this, treatment plots of ten species of native tree stems were planted at eight sites and stem survival was assessed over two growing seasons. In addition, percent cover of RCG was recorded at each site. Chi Square, independent T-test and binary logistic regression statistics were used to assess tree stem survival and the relationship between tree stem survival and percent cover of RCG between treatment and control plots. The data suggest that preparing plots by tilling and the application of herbicide (glyphosate) combined with two mowing events in each of the two growing seasons did not result in higher tree stem survival rates than the treatment plots that were prepared by tilling only and were mowed four times in each of the two growing seasons. As was expected, plots treated with glyphosate, significantly reduced reed canary grass density in the first growing season. However, after the second growing season the percent cover of RCG in the mechanically treated and chemically treated plots was not statistically different. This suggests that the mechanical prescription was as effective at RCG suppression than the chemical, during the second year. Furthermore, the odds ratio produced by the binary logistic regression models in this study can be useful to practitioners and landowners when considering which methods of management to use in restoration projects.

A collaborative approach was used to identify important infrastructural, social, and ecosystem metrics related to dams in the Lake Champlain Basin of NY. The project team formulated a methodology to prioritize dams for removal based on ecological benefit and expected community acceptance. Metrics and priorities were incorporated into an interactive screening tool, available to all partners and community members, that will facilitate the reconnection of fragmented stream networks in the Lake Champlain Basin.