NEW YORK – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, and the city of South Burlington,
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, and the city of South Burlington,
Vt., have signed a Project Partnership Agreement to move forward with stormwater management
projects that will help reduce the amount of pollutants that enter the Lake Champlain Watershed during a rainfall event while also improving local drainage.
Uncontrolled stormwater runoff has been identified as a significant contributor of phosphorous and
other pollutants to Lake Champlain and Bartlett Brook has been identified as not meeting Vermont
water quality standards due to impacts of unmanaged stormwater runoff.
Part of the project will be in the Stonehenge neighborhood of South Burlington and will include the
construction of a stormwater treatment pond in nearby Szymanski Park, construction of bioretention
facilities (which use plants and soils for filtration) and improvement of existing drainage swales/ditches.
In Laurel Hill South, stormwater conveyance will be improved through the neighborhood by increasing
the capacity of the existing drainage pipe network, which is regularly overwhelmed when stream flows
in Bartlett Brook increase during storm events. This will include replacing undersized pipes,
underground storage and the installation of additional pipes.
These stormwater management improvements will help to improve local drainage while also helping to
improve the water quality of Bartlett Brook and decrease the flow of pollutants, primarily phosphorus,
into Lake Champlain.
“I’m happy to move forward on this partnership with the city of South Burlington to improve the lives of
Vermonters while also protecting the water quality of the Lake Champlain Basin,” said New York District Commander Col. John R. Boulé. “This project takes advantage of a great opportunity to leverage available federal funding to make stormwater management enhancements for South Burlington.”
"I am very pleased to see the project reach this important milestone on the way to construction,” said Sen.
Patrick Leahy of Vermont. “It is an important Lake Champlain water quality project and more than $1 million
in assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers means local homeowners and the City of South Burlington
don't have to shoulder the full cost of these expensive, but much needed, improvements."
The city of South Burlington, the federal government’s local sponsor on the approximately $1.65 million
project, will be managing the design of the project features and after external and Army Corps reviews
the Army Corps will manage the construction of the features. Construction is expected to be completed
in spring 2013.
“We’re excited to begin work on this important project.” said South Burlington Stormwater
Superintendent Tom DiPietro. “Construction of these stormwater improvements will provide benefit to
Lake Champlain, local streams, and residents who have suffered due to the inadequate drainage
system in these areas.”
The project is part of the Lake Champlain Environmental Assistance Program, which the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, provides assistance with
planning, designing and construction of projects that contribute to protection and enhancement of the
water quality, water supply, ecosystem and other water related issues within the watershed.
About Us: New York District is responsible for the Corps of Engineers’ water resource development,
navigation, and regulatory activities in northeastern New Jersey, eastern and south-central New York
State, including the New York Harbor and Long Island, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. The District is also responsible for design and construction at Army and Air Force
installations in New Jersey, New York, Virginia and overseas in Greenland.