06/17/2026
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – June 17, 2026
Media Contact:
Marie Caduto, Watershed Planner
Department of Environmental Conservation
802-490-6142, [email protected]
75 Plus Ways to Protect and Restore Water Quality in the West, Williams, and Saxton Rivers Basin
Montpelier, Vt. – The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to comment on the draft Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) for the West, Williams, and Saxtons Rivers Basin (also known as Basin 11). DEC completed the plan with local nonprofits, regional planners, town officials, and scientists. The plan outlines more than 75 ways to restore and protect rivers, lakes, and wetlands within a portion of Vermont’s Connecticut River Basin, covering towns from Mount Holly to Brattleboro.
Members of the public can review and comment on the draft plan from June 15 to July 15, 2026. DEC will host hybrid public meetings to present the plan and hear comments from community members and stakeholders:
June 23, 2026 – 6:00 PM
• In-Person: Newfane Town Office, 555 Vermont Rt. 30, Newfane,
VT
• Virtual Access: Register in advance for this meeting. You will
receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the
meeting.
June 25, 2026 – 6:00 PM
• In-Person: Londonderry Town Office, 100 Old School Street,
South Londonderry, VT
• Virtual Access: Register in advance for this meeting. You will
receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the
meeting.
“The tactical basin plan for the West, Williams, and Saxton Rivers Basin will guide clean water efforts for the next five years,” said DEC Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “In light of that, it is critical that we hear from community members. We will use their feedback to ensure the plan resonates on a local level.”
Tactical basin plans serve as a five-year roadmap and detail how DEC will continue to:
• Improve water quality, restore aquatic habitat, and prevent
future pollution throughout the basin, and
• Work alongside farmers, towns, conservation districts, l
landowners, watershed groups, regional planning
commissions, and nonprofits to advance clean water projects
and watershed resilience.
The draft plan for the West, Williams, and Saxtons River Basin highlights measures to safeguard water quality during agricultural, development, wastewater, and natural resources activities. For example, DEC-funded River Corridor Plans and Stormwater Master Plans outline a range of projects. For example, lakeshore projects can reduce erosion and enhance habitat by using no mow zones and shoreline best practices. Other projects can reduce stormwater runoff by using underground infiltration systems.
"The Tactical Basin Plan is a critical tool for identifying priority areas for protection and restoration work in the watershed,” said Cory Ross, District Manager for the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District. “As a Conservation District, we will use this plan to inform the projects that we develop, design, and implement. We also use the plan to inform the locally led process that helps direct federal spending in Windham County in order to meet local needs."
Visit the Basin webpage at https://dec.vermont.gov/water-investment/watershed-planning/tactical-basin-planning/basin11 learn more about how to comment, join the meetings, view the draft plan, or find a map-based plan summary (also known as a Story Map). You can also contact the Watershed Planner, Marie Caduto, at [email protected] or 802-490-6142 for more information.
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The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for protecting Vermont's natural resources and safeguarding human health for the benefit of this and future generations. Visit dec.vermont.gov and follow the Department of Environmental Conservation on Facebook and Instagram.
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Including: Salmon, Canoe, Sacketts, East Putney, Chase, Fullam, Mill, And Morse Brooks and portions of the Connecticut River What's New The DRAFT 2026 Tactical Basin Plan for the West, Williams and Saxtons Rovers and the lower Connecticut River tributaries is now available for public review. Read th...
