Environmental Planning

The BCRC engages in a number of environmental programs to develop regional forest plans, river basin conservation plans, identify and map important natural resources, and other projects. The BCRC participates in a range of water quality improvement initiatives, assisting municipalities with projects designed to reduce erosion and stormwater runoff from roads and other developed areas as well as implementing projects to stabilize streambanks and other sources of sediment and pollution. Regular collaborators on these projects include the Bennington County Conservation District (BCCD), US Forest Service, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), and other organizations.

The BCRC’s Brownfields Program pursues site assessments and clean-up planning for contaminated properties. The program is funded through environmental site assessment grants awarded by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Assessments are conducted at properties that are either vacant or underutilized because of known or perceived contamination and remediation, and re-use planning is completed with the objective of redevelopment to meet identified community objectives. Projects have been completed at historic industrial buildings, vacant automobile dealerships and service stations, old mill buildings, dams and former hydroelectric generating facilities, and other properties often located in or near economically important downtowns and village centers.