It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Lake Wise is a program developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to recognize outstanding efforts by homeowners who live along a lakeshore to protect the water quality and habitat along the shoreline and within the near-shore area of the lake.

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge. While small-scale improvements on individual properties may not seem like they have much impact, collectively the implementation of many small projects will have a positive benefit on the water quality in the lake and the surrounding watershed. Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

The LSCA was happy to again be partnering with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) on this program, using funds earned through a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC.

Although no properties received the Lake Wise Award this season, Jaden the Lake Wise team leader from PMNRCD reports that multiple properties are very close. Work will continue on these properties, and they can be reevaluated in the future.

Currently, Lake St. Catherine has 29 Lake Wise Award winning properties. You can see where these properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

The LSCA and PMNRCD have again applied for grant funding from LCBP & NEIWPCC to continue the Lake Wise Program next year.

Thank you to all the Lake Wise participants for the work they have put into their property in an effort to become Lake Wise. This work represents a model of what all LSC lakeshore owners should strive for, as these projects are both beautiful and lake friendly.

Before the Lake Wise crew got to work around the lake this year, they once again participated in a training day conducted by the Vermont DEC, which has taken place at Lake St. Catherine over the past several years for our region. Thank you to the property owners who allowed PMNRCD and DEC staff to use your properties for the training!

The PMNRCD crew completed a tremendous amount of work in support of the Lake Wise Program this season (thank you Jaden!). They were also able to leverage their Lake Education Action Program (LEAP) program, which pairs student and community lake education with the implementation of small planting projects for shoreline owners to increase the amount of projects completed. This year, the LEAP team included high school interns from Poultney High School, and Long Trail High School.

Here are some stats of the work performed by the PMNRCD Lake Wise team this year:

• 7 new property assessments
• 1 property reassessment
• 4 projects funded through Lake Wise
• 2 projects funded through LEAP
• 206 total native plantings!

Projects can include the creation of buffer areas, native plantings, water diversion and water infiltration, and shoreline stabilization.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 110 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. This program is FREE to shoreline property owners, with funding earned through grants. If you would like to have your property assessed, or if you would like a reassessment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up for Lake Wise 2026.

Photos: By Jaden Groff.

- Left, LEAP intern Devon Barnes with native plantings
- Right, PMNRCD & Vermont DEC staff at Lake St. Catherine for Lake Wise training