District Activities

EDUCATION:

Diamond Run Nature Trail

During 2005-2006 the Diamond Run Trail was both expanded and enhanced. A new entrance was added from the Rutland Regional Field House and 4 new signs were installed.

Vermont Envirothon

The District participates in promoting the Vermont Envirothon program through visits to high school science departments and presenting information to teachers on the virtues of student participation in the Vermont Envirothon. The District sponsored (4) teams in the 2008 statewide competition.

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC)

The District participates in promoting the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps program by visiting high schools and presenting information on this program to Guidance Counselors and students.

Real Estate Resource Information Workshop

Each year the District sponsors and organizes a Real Estate Resource Information Course/Workshop. This Course is designed for Real Estate Brokers and Salespeople in need of obtaining credits towards fulfillment of the educational requirements for renewal of their real estate license.

OUTREACH:

Newsletters

The District publishes two newsletters a year, one for Spring/Summer and one for Fall/Winter to enhance outreach. The District maintains a mailing list of over 500 persons and organizations who have exhibited interest in natural resources conservation.

RNRCD Annual Meeting

The District’s annual luncheon/meeting was held on February 26, 2008 at the South Station Restaurant in Rutland. The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. followed by a buffet lunch and then presentations by guest speakers:

Netaka White,  Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Vermont Biofuels Association, which is working towards development of a sustainable biofuel industry in VT.  Topic title was “Biodiesel in Vermont: Fuel from our Farms”.

John Williamson and Steve Plumer, A Farmer and business partner growing oil seed in Bennington County.  A biodiesel processor has been constructed on the farm and a press installed for oil production from Canola and Mustard.  All farm tractors run on biodiesel made from processed cooking oil and Ethanol is being distilled from sorghum.  Topic title was “Biodiesel on the farm: Production and Use”.

Nutrient Management ProgramThe District continues to co-sponsor a nutrient management program. Farmers from Rutland, Poultney- Mettowee, Windham and Bennington Counties are engaged in this program which is designed to maximize farm productivity by means of soil testing and assessments providing quantitative recommendations for fertilizer and other soil supplement applications. Click on link to view Southern Vermont Nutrient Management

New Program - Growing With You. Click on link to view

MNMP growing With you Brochure

Land Treatment Planning

The Land Treatment Planner works with the agricultural community to develop plans that control soil erosion and protect water quality by implementing land based conservation practices. 

LTPbrochure August 2007

Agricultural Resource Specialist (ARS)
Sylvia Harris

The District promotes the Agricultural Resource Specialist programs. Sylvia brings landowners and producers together with conservation experts from different fields, connecting technical, financial and community resources to make things happen on the ground. Whether it is a contaminated well, a collapsing streambank or an expanding dairy farm, the ARS can help find the right match of people and programs to find a solution. The two main services that the ARS provides are:

• Farm A Syst - a free drinking water protection program.
• Accepted Agricultural Practices Program which offers free technical assistance and information to help farmers meet the requirements of the VT AAP regulations.

ARS brochure August 2007

AAPBrochure August 2007

Farm A Syst brochure August 2004

Better Back Roads Assessment In 1998-1999 the District completed an assessment of water body contamination due to runoff from Rutland County’s gravel roads. As a result the District has available to the general public two reports volume #1 entitled: Management, Finance, and Natural Resources’ Impacts and volume #2 entitled: Assessments and Recommendations. Copies of these reports are available upon request.

Local Work Group

Rutland District Supervisors participate in a Local Work Group meetings. The focus of this group is to assist and enhance the USDA Natural Resources Conservation program.

SERVICES:

Seedling Sale

Each year in the Spring the District makes available to the public evergreen and hardwood trees, wildlife/songbird trees and shrubs, apple trees, berries and wildflower seeds in order to encourage landowners to increase plantings for wildlife habitat, conservation and aesthetics.

This year over 100 customers participated in the seedling program.

Trout Sales

The District sponsors a Spring and Fall Trout program that provides pond owners with trout for stocking their ponds.

WATER QUALITY:

Upper Otter Creek Watershed Council (UOCWC)

During FY 2002 the District received grant funds from the Natural Resources Conservation Council to assist the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources with legislatively mandated watershed planning for the Otter Creek and its tributaries. Since November of 2003 the District has organized seven public meetings throughout the watershed to determine public views on water quality concerns/issues and ways and means to meet such concerns and issues.

Currently the Upper Otter Creek Watershed Council are holding monthly meetings and are working on prioritizing these concerns/issues.

Current activities for the UOCWC include:

• Awarded funds through ANR, DEC (Clean & Clear)  to    complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 Geomorphic Assessments on various tributaries to the Otter Creek. 

  • Completed volunteer water quality monitoring programs during the summers of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 with laboratory services provided by ANR, DEC LaRosa Laboratory in Waterbury.  These programs have expanded each year to include additional streams and additional partners.
  • Awarded funds through ANR, DEC (Clean & Clear) to do a restoration analysis on the Mussey Brook which flows through the VT State Fairgrounds.
  • Co-sponsored 2 public forums for residents of the Moon and Mussey watersheds regarding the physical, chemical and biological conditions of these brooks.
  • Awarded funds through ANR, DEC (Clean & Clear) to install a Rain Garden at the Vermont Achievement Center in Rutland.
  • Awarded funds through ANR, DEC (Clean & Clear) to construct portable skidder bridges to rent to loggers and consulting foresters in Rutland, Addison and Bennington Counties.  Portable skidder bridges when properly installed and used as a temporary stream crossing structure, will reduce streambank and streambed disturbance caused by heavy logging equipment, thus minimizing the potential for sedimentation.     Click on link to view Skidder Bridge Brochure
  • Awarded funds through ANR, DEC (Clean & Clear) to complete a River Corridor Management Plan for the Moon and Mussey Brooks in Rutland Town and Rutland City.
  • The UOCWC and RNRCD sponsored a River Clean-up in conjunction with the first annual Governors Clean Water Day in Rutland City on June 10, 2006.  
  e-mail:   nanci.mcguire@vt.nacdnet.net

Home | Activities | Meeting Notes | District Maps
Vermont Envirothon | Assessments | Newsletters | Sponsors
Board and Staff | Annual Report | Partners | Photos