This week at the WRC: 8/21 - 8/25
- August 21, 5:30 pm: Planning Coordination Committee, WRC Conference Room
Full Meetings and Events Calendar | Current Newsletter | June Staff Report
From the Director, August 2017 - WRC Busy with Many Water Resource Projects
Water quality in general, and the health of our streams, rivers, lakes and ponds, have been a priority of the WRC since its inception. We're doing a lot on the water front these days (pun intended)! Some of this is in response to the state's Water Quality Initiative, but all of it is a continuation of the Commission's commitment to active engagement in improving water quality and aquatic habitats.
Brattleboro Bus Route Survey Seeks Public Input
The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) Transportation Program is supporting The Current in their efforts to improve schedules and service level on their Brattleboro routes. The Current, which operates the Brattleboro bus system, is one of two divisions operated by Southeast Vermont Transit (SEVT). SEVT has been awarded a grant by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to work with consultant Stephen Falbel of Steadman Hill Consulting in Montpelier and the Windham Regional Commission to assist in the route re-design.
Notes from VCDA's Meeting on Trails and Economic Development
On May 10, WRC's GIS Planner Jeff Nugent headed north to Burke Mountain to attend the Vermont Community Development Association’s spring meeting. The topic was Blazing A Trail: The Economic Impact and Future of Vermont’s Trails & Recreation Paths. With over 100 people in attendance, the energy and excitement around this topic was plapable. For those that could not attend, here are Jeff's notes from the meeting.
WRC Planners Attend 2017 Leahy Summit with Green River Project Partners
The 2017 Leahy Summit was hosted at the ECHO Center in Burlington, on March 24-25. The intent of the meeting was to bring together project groups and partners that have a watershed resilience-related project idea that they'd like to pursue. The two-day meeting was primarily a working session, as attending project partners were facilitated through a series of exercises that encouraged the teams to reflect on their goals, identify community needs, and begin to develop an action plan for carrying out their projects and to have a plan with which they can receive funding.
WRC Begins Municipal Energy Planning with Three Pilot Towns
As per Act 174's energy planning requirements, the Windham Regional Commission is beginning the process of working with three of its member-towns in developing an enhanced energy element in their town plans that meet these new state standards. Because the new municipal planning standards put forth by Act 174 are so robust, towns may need technical assistance from their RPCs. The overall process and outline for this planning partnership has yet to be completely structured so the WRC is piloting this effort with the three towns: Vernon, Westminster, and Londonderry.
RiverSmart Communities Report Available
The RiverSmart Communities program at UMass Amherst has released a report "Supporting New England Communities to Become RiverSmart: Policies and Programs That Can Help New England Towns Thrive Despite River Floods." The result of work with numerous partners in MA and VT, the report combines social and river science, institutional and policy research, and community outreach to research and address river floods in New England.
Hinsdale-Brattleboro Bridge Project
An important step is being taken towards the development of a new Hinsdale/Brattleboro bridge. The Hinsdale/Brattleboro Project Advisory Committee was held February 1st to review the project's status including its purpose, need, preferred alternative, programming schedule and cost. The Public Involvement Plan was also discussed.
The Hinsdale/Brattleboro Bridge Project (#12210C) calls for replacing the existing route 119 bridges crossing the Connecticut River between downtown Brattleboro, Vermont and Hinsdale, New Hampshire. This bridge replacement project aims to provide a safe, functionally efficient, and cost-effective Route 119 transportation corridor across the Connecticut River in the vicinity of downtown Brattleboro, VT and Hinsdale, NH, and to preserve the socio-economic and environmental resources associated with the transportation corridor.
State’s Lidar Program Will Offer Highly Precise Elevation Data for Windham County
Much of Windham County is about to get the most detailed, accurate, and comprehensive elevation data the area has ever had. These new data, generated from lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, will give most towns in Windham County elevation data with an accuracy of 10 centimeters, and contours at 1-foot intervals.
The Vermont Municipal Flood Guide is Here!
The Windham Regional Commission, in partnership with Deerfield Watershed Creating Resilient Communities and the University of Massachusetts RiverSmart Communities, has put together a resource document entitled Municipal Guidance for Flood Emergencies in Vermont. This document is meant to assist all types of Vermont town officials, boards, staff, volunteers and others, with considerations and resources related to flooding disasters.
Evacuation Plan Template Now Available
At an LEPC-6 meeting, a request was made for assistance in evacuation planning for towns. Emergency Planner, Alyssa Sabetto, has developed an "Evacuation Plan template" for towns to customize for their unique circumstances. In putting this template together, Alyssa received information from several town officials, VT State Police, VT Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, VT Agency of Human Services, and VT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). This template is available by contacting Alyssa or visiting our Emergency Planning webpage. The template has been approved by Vermont DEMHS and will become a new appendix in the 2017 LEOP (it will not be a requirement).
