Mt Norris Boy Scout Camp BMP (Best Management Practice) Final Design

Through a grant provided by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) in 2021, the Lamoille County Conservation District (LCCD) in partnership with Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, LCC (FFA) and the Mt. Norris Boy Scout Reservation developed a full design intended to address natural resource and stormwater concerns at the MT Norris Bay Scout Camp in Eden VT.

In 2019 LCCD contracted FFA and partnered with Lamoille County Planning Commission, VT Agency of Natural Resources, VT Department of Fish and Wildlife, Boy Scouts of America, Town of Eden, Lake Eden Association, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fitzgerald Environmental Associates LLC, and Vermont Youth Conservation Corp (VYCC) to complete the Lake Eden Watershed Action Plan

Lake Eden is a pristine lake but has been showing nutrient (i.e., Phosphorus) and sediment loading stresses due to development patterns surrounding the lake. The study assessed what locations these stressors were most impactful by conduction road erosion inventories, stream walks and shoreline assessments. LCCD worked closely with the town and lake association to identify known issues as well. 20 possible projects were identified and 5 of these that ranked highest were brought to 30% design. The Mt. Norris Boy Scout Camp was one of the highest ranked projects to come out of this study.

Using a NEIWPCC approved Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP), LCCD and its partners assessed resource concerns on the MT Norris Boy Scout Camp reservation to determine BMPs to address stormwater and natural resource concerns that will mitigate Phosphorus and sediment loading into Lake Eden.

LCCD intends to implement theses BMPs thought further future grant funding.  Furthermore, the final design will address the camps 3-acre impervious surface stormwater permit needs. Currently, there is potential funding through the State of Vermont to address these needs.  It is important to note that this project, as well as all other stormwater, watershed, or natural resource conservation projects in Lamoille County, are focused on reducing the overall Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus in the Lake Champlain Basin as spelled out in the State’s Clean Water Initiative and the new goals of the Clean Water Act 76.

This project was funded by an agreement L-2021-020 awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. NEIWPCC manages LCBP’s personnel, contract, grant, and budget tasks and provides input on the program’s activities through a partnership with the LCBP Steering Committee. Although the information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection agency under agreement L-2021-020 to NEIWPCC, it has not undergone the Agency’s publications review process and therefore, may not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NEIWPCC, the LCBP Steering Committee, or EPA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

For more information, please contact the LCCD director.