October 20, 2021 - Vermont’s Clean Water Board is asking the public to weigh in on how they would like to prioritize approximately $46.9 million available through the State Fiscal Year 2023 Clean Water Budget to clean up water pollution across the state.
The draft budget is available for public review. The Board is asking Vermonters to provide feedback, through an online questionnaire, on whether they believe funding levels are sufficient and whether they agree with the Board’s proposed prioritization of funding across projects. The Clean Water Board will consider public input before making its final Clean Water Budget recommendation in December 2021.
“The $46.9 million available in the 2023 clean water budget is an all-time high in funds available to improve Vermont’s water quality, in part thanks to additional leveraging of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds,” said Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. “This is an exciting milestone and underscores the importance of public input to inform funding priorities.”
Vermont’s water quality funding helps municipalities, farmers, and others implement projects that reduce pollution washing into Vermont’s waterways. Examples of projects include everything from farmers planting cover crops to reduce soil erosion and improve soil health, to homeowners protecting and restoring river channels and floodplains, to municipalities stabilizing roadside erosion, and more. Beyond reducing water pollution, water quality projects provide other benefits, such as protecting Vermonters from damaging floods.
You can send your suggestions and comments to the Clean Water Board via this short online questionnaire through Friday, November 19th at 4:00 pm. To request a printed copy of the questionnaire, or assistance participating in the public comment period, email ANR.CleanWaterVT@vermont.gov with subject line “SFY 2023 Clean Water Budget Public Comment.” Printed copy questionnaire responses must be postmarked by Friday, November 19th and mailed to:
Attention: Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program
Department of Environmental Conservation
One National Life Drive, Davis 3
Montpelier, VT 05620-3510
The public is also invited to learn more about clean water funding and the budget process and comment on the draft State Fiscal Year 2023 clean water budget during the Clean Water Budget Public Hearing on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 10:30 am. Visit the Clean Water Board Meetings webpage for details, including a link to participate virtually, and to RSVP.
The Vermont Clean Water Fund was created by Act 64 of 2015, known as the “Vermont Clean Water Act.” The law established a Clean Water Board to administer the Fund and develop an annual budget proposal that broadly outlines state funding for clean water improvement programs and activities. The State Fiscal Year 2023 clean water budget totals $46.9 million, including $25.9 million in Clean Water Fund, $11 million in Capital Bill, and $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Vermont’s Clean Water Board includes the Secretaries of the Agencies of Administration; Agriculture, Food and Markets; Commerce and Community Development; Natural Resources; and Transportation, as well as four members of the public appointed by the Governor.
For more information, visit the Clean Water Board webpage and view the Board’s current draft State Fiscal Year 2023 clean water budget. Visit the Clean Water Projects webpage to view the latest Vermont Clean Water Initiative Annual Performance Report and access the Clean Water Portal to learn more about investments in and results of state-funded clean water projects.