VHCB is the Clean Water Service Provider for the Lake Memphremagog Basin.
Clean Water Programs
VHCB administers two separate funding programs to support a healthy and clean Lake Memphremagog Basin—the Memphremagog Clean Water Service Provider, funded through the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Leahy Memphremagog Clean Water Program, funded through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
Clean Water Service Provider
In 2019, the Vermont Clean Water Service Delivery Act, also known as Act 76, was signed into law to establish a framework for funding non-regulatory clean water projects. Regional organizations, called Clean Water Service Providers (CWSP), were created in both the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog Basins to administer this program. VHCB is the CWSP for the Lake Memphremagog Basin.
In the Memphremagog Basin, phosphorus is the pollutant of concern. As the CWSP, VHCB manages the Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant to fund projects that reduce phosphorus loading to help reach clean water goals, as laid out in the Memphremagog Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load.
Non-regulatory projects currently eligible for funding under this program include stormwater projects, floodplain and stream restoration, wetland restoration, riparian buffer plantings, lakeshore restoration, and forestry water quality BMPs. Projects must lead to a measurable phosphorus reduction. Co-benefits such as flood resiliency and flood hazard mitigation will also be taken into consideration.”
Funding Process
To guide the prioritization and selection of clean water projects for funding, Act 76 established a local council called the Basin Water Quality Council (BWQC). The nine-member BWQC includes representatives from local municipalities, conservation districts, regional planning commissions, watershed groups, and a statewide conservation organization.
Eligible entities (approved project managers who have an executed master agreement with VHCB) may apply for funding through one of the application templates below. Please note that an initial meeting with the Clean Water Program Manager to determine eligibility is required prior to submitting an application .
Once received, proposals will be reviewed by both VHCB staff and the Basin Water Quality Council, who will vote to either approve or reject the project. After the BWQC vote, the VHCB Executive Director will make a final funding decision for proposals up to $250,000, based on the recommendations from the BWQC and Clean Water Program Manager, after which an award letter and task order will be issued for the project.
Proposals over $250,000 will be considered by the VHCB board at the next board meeting. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis only. Only costs incurred after an award letter has been issued will be eligible for reimbursement.
Funding Process
To guide the prioritization and selection of clean water projects for funding, Act 76 established a local council called the Basin Water Quality Council (BWQC). The nine-member BWQC includes representatives from local municipalities, conservation districts, regional planning commissions, watershed groups, and a statewide conservation organization.
Eligible entities (approved project managers who have an executed master agreement with VHCB) may apply for funding through one of the application templates below. Please note that an initial meeting with the Clean Water Program Manager to determine eligibility is required prior to submitting an application .
Once received, proposals will be reviewed by both VHCB staff and the Basin Water Quality Council, who will vote to either approve or reject the project. After the BWQC vote, the VHCB Executive Director will make a final funding decision for proposals up to $250,000, based on the recommendations from the BWQC and Clean Water Program Manager, after which an award letter and task order will be issued for the project.
Proposals over $250,000 will be considered by the VHCB board at the next board meeting. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis only. Only costs incurred after an award letter has been issued will be eligible for reimbursement.
Call for Proposals for Formula Grant Clean Water Projects
in the Memphremagog Basin (Basin 17)
Proposals will be considered by the Memphremagog BWQC at the meeting date as indicated below. For more information contact Nathanael Johns, Clean Water Program Manager by email at n.johns [@] vhcb.org or call 802-828-5555.
Water Quality Council Meetings
2025 Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council Meetings
2024 Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council Meetings
2023 Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council Meetings
2022 Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council Meetings
Wednesday, April 6 – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Agenda | Minutes | Meeting Presentation 1 | Meeting Presentation 2
Friday, July 1, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Agenda | Minutes | Presentation
Tuesday, August 23, 8:00 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Agenda | Minutes | Presentation
2024-2025 Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council Members/Terms
Regional Planning Commission members
Doug Morton, Senior Transportation Planner, Northeastern Vermont Development Association/Term: 2023
Beth Torpey, Chair, Water Quality Planner, Northeastern Vermont Development Association/Term: 2024
Natural Resources Conservation District members
Ted Sedell, Conservation Specialist, Orleans County District/Term: 2024
Sam Mayne, Essex County District Manager, Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District/Term: 2024
Municipal members
Thomas Bernier, Director of Public Works, City of Newport/Term: 2023
Eric Pope, Selectman, Town of Morgan/Term: 2024
Watershed Group members
Meghann Carter, Conservation Science Director, NorthWoods Stewardship Center/Term: 2023
Patrick Hurley, Project Manager, Memphremagog Watershed Association/Term: 2024
Land Conservation Organization member
Kerry O’Brien, Vice Chair, Northeast Kingdom Project Director, Vermont Land Trust/Term: 2024
Resources
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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Meeting Rules
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Public Participation Procedures
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Clean Water Service Provider Procurement and Prequalification Policy
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Co-Benefits Scoring for Memphremagog Basin Water Quality Council
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Conflict of Interest Policy
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Request for Qualifications – Water Quality Project Manager
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Request for Qualifications – Water Quality Improvement Project Subcontractors
Leahy Memphremagog Clean Water Program
In 2024, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) awarded funds to VHCB to administer the Leahy Memphremagog Clean Water Program. The new program aims to improve Lake Memphremagog’s aquatic habitats and increase capacity among VHCB partner organizations engaged in work that protects the watershed. Funding was made possible by Senator Patrick Leahy, who served as Chair of the US Senate Appropriations Committee and secured strong funding for the GLFC.
The Leahy Memphremagog Clean Water Program goes beyond the phosphorus-reducing work that is supported by the DEC Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant by providing funds for on-the-ground and in-the-water implementation work, including: riparian buffers; habitat restoration; invasives management, monitoring and research; and other activities that will improve and sustain aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support. Additionally, grants fund strategic land acquisition projects that enhance water quality and aquatic habitat and ecosystems restoration, support partnerships with Quebec and cross-border collaboration to improve and protect the bi-national resources of the Lake Memphremagog Basin, and help to increase public access, community engagement, and public education.
Program
The goals of the program are as follows:
- Support and expand the capacity and collaboration of non-profit and public sector partners working on water quality and aquatic habitat and ecosystems programming, projects and the implementation of watershed plans in the Memphremagog Basin;
- Fund on-the-ground and in-the-water implementation work such as riparian buffers, habitat restoration, invasives management, monitoring and research and other activities that will improve and sustain aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support;
- Increase funding for strategic land acquisition projects that enhance water quality and aquatic habitat and ecosystems restoration;
- Support partnerships with Quebec and cross-border collaboration to improve and protect the bi-national resources of the Lake Memphremagog Basin; and
- Support increased public access, community engagement, and public education.
Funding Priorities
The funding priorities of the Leahy Memphremagog program include improving water quality, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries health priorities identified in the 2023 Memphremagog Tactical Basin Plan and other basin assessments, filling identified organizational and programmatic gaps that exist in the basin relating to this work, enhancing the coordination and collaboration of partners in the region, leveraging other funding, and increasing community engagement and equity.
Application
VHCB is not accepting applications at this time. Please check back later.
Application Instructions
Capacity Grant Application
Project Grant Application
Project Application – Land Acquisition
For more information, please contact Nathanael Johns, Clean Water Program Manager, at n.johns [@] vhcb.org or 802-828-5555
Funding Process
Eligible entities may apply for funding by submitting an application to VHCB using one of the templates above. Please note that an initial meeting with the Clean Water Program Manager is required prior to submitting an application to determine eligibility. Once received, proposals will be reviewed by VHCB staff before going to a review committee. The VHCB Executive Director will then make a final funding decision based on the recommendations from the review committee for proposals up to $300,000, and proposals over $300,000 will be considered by the VHCB Board Chair. After an award has been made, applicants will be sent an award letter and a grant agreement. Project funds are provided on a reimbursement basis only. A partial advance may be provided for capacity grants. Only costs incurred after an award letter has been sent will be eligible for reimbursement.
