White River 
Natural Resources Conservation District

District Calendar
* Please check back for finalized events and details
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2018 Board Meetings
All are welcome!

Upcoming Events:
White River Tactical Basin Plan Public Meetings
All landowners and stakeholders are welcome!
6:30-8pm, snacks provided.
Wed Oct.3rd
Randolph Town Hall, 7 Summer St.
Thursday Oct.11th
Royalton Academy Building, 4266 Route 14
Review the draft White River Tactical Basin Plan before attending, or submit comments to the conservation district.

Clean Water Week No Till Workshop
Agriculture in Vermont has been under intense scrutiny the past few years, with clean up efforts ongoing in Lake Champlain and the passing of the Required Agricultural Practices. Traditional farming practices are being reevaluated and many multi-generation farms are going out of business. Milk prices are low and the cost of implementing Best Management Practices, such as new manure storage facilities, are high. Despite all of this, there are farms continuing to make efforts in improving their operation and the health of our waterways. They are passionate about providing local food to Vermonters and ensuring that agriculture remains prominent in our state’s landscape—because what would Vermont look like without our open fields and local dairies? Some of these passionate farmers joined a recent No Till Workshop in Fairlee during Clean Water Week.
















No Till management continues to garner interest from agricultural communities across the United States. No till management has multiple benefits. It increases organic matter in soil, improves water infiltration, reduces nutrient runoff, and retains soil in the fields. It also can increase crop yields and saves on the cost of fuel and equipment maintenance. Local Vermont and New Hampshire experts shared this knowledge with attendees at the No Till workshop at Birch Meadow Farm in Fairlee on August 4th. The event was hosted by the White River Natural Resources Conservation District (WRNRCD) and the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance (CRWFA), who both have No Till drills available for rent.
















The WRNRCD’s 107C Haybuster (featured left) has been used on over 700 acres on 20 different farms since its purchase in 2015, thanks to Clean Water funding from the VT Department of Environmental Conservation. As the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance continues to grow, its board decided to purchase its own no till drill for use on both sides of the river in 2018. This was done through the VT Agency of Agriculture’s Capital Equipment Assistance Program. Renting out such a piece of equipment supports CRWFA’s mission in promoting Best Management Practices and helping its members overcome some of the financial difficulties in implementing them. Continued educational workshops to highlight the benefits of No Till management and how to use the drills is made possible by Clean Water funding through the VT Agency of Agriculture. All of these different cost share programs highlight the fact that it takes a group effort to improve farming practices and the health of Vermont’s soil and water.
The 16 farmers that attended the No Till workshop understand the importance of soil health and will use the drills to interseed hay fields, renovate pastures, widen vegetative buffers, and plant cover crops. If you are interested in renting one of the drills, such as the CRWFA’s ESCH 5512 (featured below), please contact the WRNRCD at 802-369-3167 or visit our websites at www.whiterivernrcd.org and www.crwfa.org.


Lake Fairlee Association receives grant to continue Lake Fairlee preservation and fight against invasive species!
A $21, 600 grant was awarded to the Lake Fairlee Association along with the White River Natural Resource Conservation District (WRNRCD) from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to continue the support of protecting Lake Fairlee from invasive plant species. 
This is the third year the WRNRCD has been able to assist the Lake Fairlee Association in its ongoing battle against the invasive milfoil plant.  The funds will be used to continue the very successful boat launch greeter program as well as herbicide lake treatment.
The Lake Fairlee Association is an organized group of volunteers committed to protecting and preserving the natural beauty of Lake Fairlee for current users and future generations.  Membership is open to all! LFA members include lake residents, nearby neighbors, and regular visitors.  The affairs of the Association are managed by a Board of Trustees, which meets monthly through most of the year. The WRNRCD is a locally led and operated organization that promotes soil and water conservation by working with people in the area and through area projects, education programs, and partnerships with federal, state, and local groups involved in natural resource management.