Water systems that apply for these funds will be ranked using a procedure that considers public health, compliance, and affordability on a per-household basis. This new fund includes money for providing technical assistance to small public water systems, augmenting the existing water operator program, and assisting with source protection. Streamside and lake shore buffers Protecting the fish, wildlife, and water quality of Vermont's lakes and streams involves more than controlling discharges from wastewater treatment plants and other direct sources of pollution. One of the most effective ways to ensure that rivers and lakes remain healthy and provide Vermonters with rewarding recreational opportunities is to maintain natural vegetation along their banks and shores. There are many reasons to protect or restore these riparian buffers.
Trees provide shade, which helps maintain cooler water temperatures during the summer.
Cooler water can contain more dissolved oxygen, which is essential to all forms of aquatic life. Many species, including trout, prefer cooler water temperatures. Riparian buffers also help remove pollutants and nutrients contained in run-off from farm fields, roads, and other sources. The pollutants and nutrients are broken down and incorporated into plants, soil, and microorganisms before reaching the water. Vegetated buffers along water bodies are usually more stable and less subject to erosion, which protects adjoining land and reduces the accumulation of sediment downstream.