Lake Champlain Sea Grant BLUE Stormwater Program expands to Williston, Vermont
Storm events are increasing in severity in the Lake Champlain basin, which makes stormwater management a top priority in climate change planning. Rain that falls on impervious surfaces, like rooftops and roadways and is unable to infiltrate into the ground is considered ‘stormwater’ which can impact local waterways.
Storm events are increasing in severity in the Lake Champlain basin, which makes stormwater management a top priority in climate change planning. Rain that falls on impervious surfaces, like rooftops and roadways and is unable to infiltrate into the ground is considered ‘stormwater’ which can impact local waterways. Lake Champlain Sea Grant works with partners across the basin to increase the implementation of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). GSI practices use nature-based solutions incorporating soil, drainage stone, plants, and other design features to slow, infiltrate, and reduce stormwater pollutants which can improve water quality in rivers and lakes and help create more resilient communities.
Stormwater management in Williston is uniquely challenging due to prevalent heavy clay soils and a high groundwater table. Groundwater exists as a layer between bedrock and surface soils, constantly flowing and fluctuating like an underground and invisible river. These two elements combined reduce soils’ ability to drain stormwater, leading to pooling and flooding.
In areas where groundwater is high, it’s especially important to manage stormwater from rain events on-site. Stormwater can be redirected away from house foundations and impervious surfaces such as parking lots and roads, and toward stable vegetated areas that can help slow and spread stormwater.
To protect Williston’s waterways and help residents prepare for larger and more frequent rain events, the Town of Williston and Lake Champlain Sea Grant’s BLUE Stormwater program provides support to implement stormwater solutions.
If you are located outside of Williston and would like to learn about stormwater management, check out these stormwater programs and resources:
- Burlington’s BLUE Stormwater Program
- Storm Smart run in partnership by the Winooski NRCD, Friends of the Mad River, and Friends of the Winooski River for homeowners located within the Winooski Watershed
- Lake Wise for properties on lakeshores across Vermont
- Stream Wise for properties on streams across the Lake Champlain Basin
- Story Map on residential stormwater management in Vermont
