Charlotte, One Fortunate Place: Protecting Our Water
Conservation Currents by Gary Pitman, Conservation Commission Member,
August 11, 2011, page 3.....

Making observations during a virtual spring trip across town leads us to consider what can be done to improve or protect our water resources.
Many of us enjoy the sound of water, whether it be the patter of rain on the roof, the sound of waves lapping on the nearby shore or the babbling brook in the woods. Of course, we are all aware of the water cycle and realize that the geography and prevailing winds are such that Vermont benefits from rather constant precipitation all months of the year. We rarely have a drought or flood, and we border magnificent Lake Champlain. What a gift nature has provided for us in Charlotte. It is so easy to take this for granted and not do what we can to protect our precious resource.
Crossing town from Raven Ridge in the southeast corner to the Town Beach in the northwest corner, or from Town Farm Bay in the southwest corner to the north end of Dorset Street in the northeast corner, we cross areas of wetland, small streams, open fields, clay plain forest and pass by many of the more than 900 drilled wells that supply over 90% of Charlotters’ clean water.
As we cross town our senses are tuned to comforting sounds, such as peepers peeping, the harsh cry of an osprey or even the whirring of insects over the water. As we leave a water rich area into an open field, these sounds change to those of upland birds and the busy sound of farm activity. As we approach the clay plain forest, we may hear the cry of a pileated woodpecker, the call of a wood thrush or other forest dwelling birds and, if we are lucky, come upon a vernal pool and listen to the croaking of wood frogs.
During this trip we become aware of the effect water has on Charlotte life from the watering of the farmers’ fields to replenishing streams and wetlands and recharging the groundwater that we drink. Maybe it occurs to us just how much the health of the matrix of wetlands and small streams influences overall water quality. Reaching the lake in early spring, we can see turbidity plumes from stream mouths carrying nutrients, which encourage algae blooms and invasive plant growth such as frogbit. Soil erosion and contaminates from developmental run-off feed into the streams during spring melt and major rain events. Water flows slowly through wetlands, which create a natural particulate filter. Turbidity results taken from Thorp Brook and a nearby stream showed markedly reduced levels for the stream that flowed through a quarter-mile wet area.
About 50% of the original wetlands in town have been lost, so we need to take steps to preserve what remains of the wetland and small stream matrix. Charlotters can make a difference by managing stormwater run-off from their own properties.

What farms can do:
• Fertilize during minimum run-off periods and/or cover the material.
• Use non-till techniques for planting.
• Increase riparian planting and allow larger buffers for wetlands and streams.

What homeowners and developers can do:
• Channel driveway, parking area and roof run-off into a rain garden.

What is a rain garden?
“A rain garden is a bowl shaped garden designed to capture and absorb rainfall and snowmelt (collectively referred to as “stormwater”). When stormwater runs off impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roofs, compacted soils and roads, it accumulates pollutants and delivers them to a nearby lake or river either directly or via a storm drain. Stormwater pollutants typically include sediment nutrients, animal waste, and oil, grease and heavy metals from cars. Excess stormwater also causes increased stream bank erosion. If captured by a rain garden, stormwater soaks into the ground and recharges the groundwater at a rate 30% greater than a typical lawn. Through allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the ground, rain gardens help to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff, by acting like a mini-wetland and filtering out unwanted pollutants before entering a local waterway.”
From “The Vermont Rain Garden Manual” (2nd edition), published by UVM Extension Office.

Gary Pittman,
Charlotte Conservation Commission Member