EPA Research in Vermont
EPA researchers are working hard to protect communities across the nation. Learn about some of the work EPA researchers are doing in Vermont.
- Working with Farmers to Reduce Phosphorus in Lake Champlain
- Cleanup at Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site
- Response to Ricin Contamination
- Stream Monitoring Network
For more EPA work, see EPA in Vermont.
Cleanup at Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site
The Elizabeth Mine site is an abandoned copper mine located in Vermont and was added to the Superfund National Priorities list in 2001. EPA researchers worked with a team of other experts on the cleanup efforts to solve complex problems at the abandoned mine site. Read Sustainable Treatment System Caps Off Cleanup at Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site.
Working with Farmers to Reduce Phosphorus in Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain has a phosphorus problem. EPA researchers are working with small dairy farmers in the state of Vermont to explore whether pasture-based rotational grazing can be a viable, cost-effective, option to help to reduce phosphorus loading to the lake. The goal is to find an equitable, socially acceptable solution that supports farmers in the region. Read Working with Farmers to Reduce Phosphorus in Lake Champlain.
Response to Ricin Contamination
Ricin is a deadly biological toxin that is easily produced from castor beans, making it one of the most worrisome biological threat agents. In response to an increase in ricin incidents occurring between 2013-2019, including an incident in Vermont, EPA researchers in the Office of Research and Development developed innovative solutions that led to significantly shortened response times and decreased costs and resources required for ricin incidents. This work provided the federal government with important new capabilities for helping states and local communities respond to ricin incidents.
Stream Monitoring Network
EPA's Office of Research and Development is working with EPA regions, states (including Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation), Tribes, river basin commissions and other entities to establish Regional Monitoring Networks for freshwater wadeable streams. The objectives are to collect long-term biological, thermal, hydrologic, physical habitat and water chemistry data to document baseline conditions across sites and detect long-term changes. This data can be used for many purposes, including informing water quality and biological criteria development and setting protection planning priorities, refining lists of biological, thermal and hydrologic indicators, and detecting trends in commonly used water quality and biological indicators.
The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network
The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network uses historical and current satellite data to provide an early warning for harmful algal blooms in freshwater. Since 2015, CyAN imagery has detected algal blooms in Ohio, Florida, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island before traditional monitoring efforts alerted watershed managers. Read The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network.