The work to be accomplished with this award is to support lake champlain basin program's implementation of priority projects funded with appropriations from the infrastructure investment and jobs…

Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded a $7.52M Cooperative Agreement to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) on October 1, 2025, under the Geographic Programs – Lake Champlain Basin Program (CFDA 66.481) to implement priority projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in support of the Lake Champlain Management Plan. The award period extends through September 30, 2030, and supports three primary focus areas: (1) improving aquatic organism passage by removing barriers to restore stream connectivity and enhance natural ecosystem function; (2) strategic land acquisition and conservation to protect water quality, enhance aquatic and riparian habitat for native species, and provide flood resiliency; and (3) tree nursery support to expand native plant supplies for habitat conservation projects and build workforce development capacity.

NEIWPCC will deliver these products and services through direct implementation activities and coordination of subrecipient efforts, including stormwater intervention engineering design, competitive grant programs for aquatic organism passage improvements, aquatic invasive species management, and strategic land acquisition. Two notable sub-awardees are implementing land conservation projects: Vermont River Conservancy is leading acquisition and restoration of a 41-acre parcel on the North Branch of the Winooski River to restore floodplain function and support wildlife habitat, while the Stowe Land Trust is acquiring and protecting 150 acres of undeveloped land in Morristown, Vermont, featuring Lamoille River frontage and riparian forest habitat. NEIWPCC will also track progress toward Opportunities for Action goals through its annual reporting mechanism.

The work to be accomplished with this award is to support lake champlain basin program's implementation of priority projects funded with appropriations from the infrastructure investment and jobs act in support of the lake champlain management plan, opportunities for action (OFA). In FY25, priority work includes 1) improving aquatic organism passage to remove barriers to aquatic organism passage and restore stream connectivity, adding high-quality habitat, connecting cold-water stream networks, and enhancing natural ecosystem function of river systems; 2) land acquisition and conservation in support of clean water and healthy ecosystems through projects that protect or improve water quality, enhance aquatic, riparian, or shoreline habitat for native species, and provide flood resiliency; and 3) tree nursery support to measurably enhance the native plant supply available to local organizations for habitat conservation projects that benefit lake champlain through infrastructure investments and to support workforce development initiatives needed to build or grow tree nursery capacity and reduce the cost of stems for conservation planting projects.activities:the activities to be performed by the funding of this award include: - tracking progress towards goals in the opportunities for action, including the lake champlain basin program annual report - stormwater intervention. - coordination of an aquatic organism passage program, including staff support, direct implementation funding, and a competitive grant program. - strategic land acquisition for high priority land parcels that will provide enhanced water quality improvements, flood resilience, and public safety as CO-benefits. - tree nursery support for conservation habitat planting. - aquatic invasive species management and spread prevention.subrecipient:activities to be implemented through subawards include: stormwater intervention engineering design; aquatic organism passage improvements via a competitive grants and directly funded grants program, including engineering, design, and implementation for passage projects and DAM removals; strategic land acquisition for priority lands for habitat conservation, habitat restoration, and floodplain restoration; tree nursery support program to increase the availability of stems for conservation habitat plantings; and aquatic invasive species management and spread prevention. Outcomes:anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes will support implementation of the lake champlain management plan, opportunities for action. This management plan was most recently updated and approved in june 2022. Deliverables and outcomes include: - lake champlain basin program annual report of activities leading to increased coordination and collaboration to address environmental challenges facing the lake champlain basin. - engineered design for a stormwater intervention. - removal of at least 4 barriers to aquatic organism passage. - engineering design for 4 aquatic organism passage projects. - a minimum of three subawards and associated final report providing documentation of priority parcel(s) acquired and conserved. - increased number of acres or miles of conservation plantings along waterways in the US portion of the lake champlain basin. - a more secure seed supply to benefit nurseries and provide reduced cost tree distribution to project sites in the US portion of the lake champlain basin - removal of AIS in existing and new bodies of water and a year to year reduction in density levels. The outcomes from these projects will help improve the water quality and ecological health of the lake champlain basin and benefit all residents of the lake champlain basin.