Saving Our Waters
Vermont PBS tackles the urgent need to protect our water, including issues facing Lake Champlain and other vital waterways in Vermont.
Through episodes and town hall meetings, we aim to further a statewide conversation on how all Vermonters can help to save our waters!
The Program
Saving Our Waters, is comprised of three thought-provoking short documentaries covering steps toward keeping our waterways clean; the impacts of phosphorus and other contaminants; and using the science behind the issues to derive solutions that have positive impact on our communities. Featuring interviews with scientists, citizens, farmers, business owners, and dozens of other stakeholders, the series creates a comprehensive look at the health of the entire watershed of the lake, which encompasses approximately 40% of the state. Saving Our Waters aims to examine the state of the Lake Champlain Basin today with an eye toward practical solutions to keeping Vermont’s waterways clean in an age of extreme weather events.Produced by Vermont PBS together with independent producers Fran Stoddard and Vince Franke. Both have vast experience with producing content focused on raising cultural and environmental awareness. Read press release.
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Where Do We Stand?
Watersheds, lakes and ponds, climate change, current efforts to save our waters.
28:25
Published:
Achieving a culture of clean water. Watersheds, lakes and ponds, climate change, current efforts to save our waters, and how they're all connected. Saving Our Waters aims to examine the state of the Lake Champlain Basin today with an eye toward practical solutions to keeping Vermont’s waterways clean in an age of extreme weather events.
Lake Champlain: A Jewel in Trouble
Human effects on the lake, current regulations, with an eye toward practical solutions.
28:30
Published:
Our crown jewel in trouble. Human effects on the lake, current regulations, phosphorus levels, watershed management and natural infrastructure, current funding and future need for lake clean-up. Saving Our Waters aims to examine the state of the Lake Champlain Basin today with an eye toward practical solutions to keeping Vermont’s waterways clean in an age of extreme weather events.
Our Actions Matter
What government, municipalities, farms, businesses and individuals can do.
26:34
Published:
Making a difference. What government, municipalities, farms, businesses and individuals can do. What more is possible to make a difference and what is necessary to provide hope for the future? Saving Our Waters aims to examine the state of the Lake Champlain Basin today with an eye toward practical solutions to keeping Vermont’s waterways clean in an age of extreme weather events.
Discussions
Vermont PBS hosted multiple town hall meetings in three of the communities most affected by watershed issues. The events are over but we are bringing you videos of these in-depth conversations.
Thinking Like a Watershed
A conversation about water quality science, policies, and advocacy in the Lake Champlain watershed, with community members and an expert panel.
57:33
Published:
Host: Fran Stoddard
Asim Zia, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) Integrated Assessment Co-Leader UVM, Associate Professor, Community Development and Applied Economics Dept.
Julie Moore
Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)
Former Water Resources Group Leader at Stone Environmental, Montpelier VT
Jon Groveman, Esq.
Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) Former Chair of the Vermont Natural Resources Board(NRB)
Recorded Nov. 1, 2017 at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington
Asim Zia, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) Integrated Assessment Co-Leader UVM, Associate Professor, Community Development and Applied Economics Dept.
Julie Moore
Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)
Former Water Resources Group Leader at Stone Environmental, Montpelier VT
Jon Groveman, Esq.
Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) Former Chair of the Vermont Natural Resources Board(NRB)
Recorded Nov. 1, 2017 at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington
Our Lakes Matter
A conversation focusing on cyanobacteria blooms, water quality science, what can be done, and changing policies, with community members and an expert panel.
57:32
Published:
Host: Fran Stoddard
Andrew Schroth, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Lake Watershed Team Leader
UVM, Associate Research Professor of Geology
Chuck Ross
Director, UVM Extension
Former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Lori Fisher
Executive Director, Lake Champlain Committee
Recorded Nov. 15, 2017at 14th Star Brewing Company, St. Albans
Andrew Schroth, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Lake Watershed Team Leader
UVM, Associate Research Professor of Geology
Chuck Ross
Director, UVM Extension
Former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Lori Fisher
Executive Director, Lake Champlain Committee
Recorded Nov. 15, 2017at 14th Star Brewing Company, St. Albans
Resilience in a Time of Extreme Events
A conversation focusing on efforts to address water quality in local waterways and the science information best practices, with community members and an expert panel.
56:10
Published:
Host: Fran Stoddard
Chris Koliba, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) Social Systems Leader
UVM, Professor, Community Development and Applied Economics Dept.
Alan Betts, Ph.D.
Independent climate scientist at Alan Betts Atmospheric Research, Pittsford VT. Known as Vermont’s leading climate scientist.
Kari Dolan
Program Manager, Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Recorded Nov. 8, 2017 at Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Chris Koliba, Ph.D.
Vermont EPSCoR
Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) Social Systems Leader
UVM, Professor, Community Development and Applied Economics Dept.
Alan Betts, Ph.D.
Independent climate scientist at Alan Betts Atmospheric Research, Pittsford VT. Known as Vermont’s leading climate scientist.
Kari Dolan
Program Manager, Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Recorded Nov. 8, 2017 at Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Extras
Canadian Perspectives on Water
51:14
Published:
From Lake Champlain to the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence, a panel of Canadian experts explores our connections and common interests in our water. Saving Our Waters is documentary series covering steps toward keeping our waterways clean; the impacts of phosphorus and other contaminants; and using the science behind the issues to derive solutions that have positive impact on our communities.
Host: Fran Stoddard
Dr. Christiane Hudon
Environment & Climate Change Canada
Pierre Leduc
Quebec Citizens Advisory Committee for the Lake Champlain Basin Program
Dr. Pierre-Yves Caux
Director of Science and Engineering, International Joint Commission
Host: Fran Stoddard
Dr. Christiane Hudon
Environment & Climate Change Canada
Pierre Leduc
Quebec Citizens Advisory Committee for the Lake Champlain Basin Program
Dr. Pierre-Yves Caux
Director of Science and Engineering, International Joint Commission
Vermont Clean Water Network Panel Discussion
1:25:57
Published:
A panel discussion examining the challenges and opportunities for restoring the lakes and rivers of Vermont. Recorded Jan. 22, 2018 at Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Montpelier
Moderator: Anne Galloway, Executive Director VTDigger
Julie Moore
Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Sen. Christopher Bray
Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
Rep. David Deen
Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife
Jon Groveman
Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Jen Kimmich
Co-Owner, The Alchemist
Anson Tebbetts
Secretary, Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Market
“We all play a role in the rich history, economic vitality and recreational lifestyle that is tied to Lake Champlain. Saving Our Waters aims to educate Vermonters around the science behind water pollution and to support a dialogue around the ways in which we can all create the circumstances for cleaner waterways.”
- Holly Groschner, President and CEO of Vermont PBS
Resources
We all have a shared stake in ensuring that our lakes and streams are resilient to the changes we can expect from changing weather patterns and land uses. Participate in the crowd sourcing of solutions to the challenges we face in the coming years and decades.
resilientwaters.org
Friends of Northern Lake Champlain is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding solutions to improve water quality in Lake Champlain.
www.northernlakechamplain.org
An active, non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to the restoration of the Missisquoi River, its tributaries, and the Missisquoi Bay.
mrbavt.com
The Lake Champlain Committee (LCC), with a history of over 50 years, is the region's only bi-state citizens' organization dedicated to lake health and accessibility.
lakechamplaincommittee.org
Additional funding provided by...
This project was funded in part
by a Vermont Watershed Grant.
by a Vermont Watershed Grant.