Communicating Environmental Issues: Art, Education, and ...Communicating Environmental Issues: Art, Education, and the Environment . For our Environmental Studies Senior Seminar, our

Communicating Environmental Issues: Art, Education, and the Environment

For our Environmental Studies Senior Seminar, our class was paired with

Burlington City Arts, a public art gallery in Burlington, Vermont. Our role in working with

BCA and their artists in residence was to aid BCA in their preparation for their upcoming

Of Land and Local exhibition. The Of Land and Local exhibition is an event that

explores environment and environmental issues through art and community

engagement. In doing so, Of Land and Local is meant to facilitate interdisciplinary

dialogues about the topics explored in the exhibition, set in the specific context of

Vermont.

This year’s Of Land and Local event is themed around water, and the particular

political, social, and ethical issues concerning water that impact the Vermont

landscape. The topic of water has particular salience as this year marks the fifth year

since Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont. What is important to keep in mind, however, is

that Of Land and Local is meant not only to foster discussions about environmental

issues, but to serve as a means for people in Vermont to explore their own relationships

with the environment (or in this case water), and engage in community-based

discussions that delve into personal experiences, how and why meaning and value are

constructed, and overall influence of water in people's’ lives.

In consideration of these more grandiose implications of Of Land and Local, our

class began with readings and discussions that focused on much larger questions

concerning the intersection of art and the environment. Guiding many of our discussions

were questions such as: how can art interact with the current environmental

movement? What does the intersection of art and environment look like? Can art be

used to communicate scientific information to the public? How can art be an actor of

social change? And what is the role of place and space in the impact of art?

At the start of the semester, we received a project statement that outlined four

main tasks that we were to centralize our work for BCA around. First, we were to act as

content specialists, synthesizing our own multidisciplinary expertise as well as outside

research on relevant water issues in Vermont, in order to provide guiding themes for the

exhibition and the artists. Secondly, we were to work with BCA to gather and synthesize

personal narratives concerning water from people all around the state, thus providing

BCA’s artists with a grounded, personalized means of interpreting the water issues

addressed in our preliminary research. Third, we were to research and develop four

public events connected to the themes of the exhibition to increase community

engagement and encourage conversation about the topics highlighted by the

exhibition. Finally, we were to assist individual artists by researching topics they were

interested in to provide a context for the art they would then create.

Unsurprisingly, our process did not flow smoothly from this initial project outline

to the described finished products. Instead, over the next few weeks, our perceptions of

our goals and of how we might contribute to Of Land and Local fluctuated with startling

alacrity, with new aspects being brought in or being thrown out with every class

meeting. Throughout this process, difficulties and frustrations often arose; different class

members had different opinions concerning our role in the project and what we might

produce through it, and all of us felt strongly a desire to make this project meaningful,

both for ourselves and for our community partners. Aside from differences of opinion, a

great deal of frustration also arose in trying to organize and collaborate with a group of

nine people, which is never an easy task. In fact, in the process of determining what our

final products would be for our community partners, we were forced to form and disband

smaller groups several times, as our ideas continued to change.

Finally, after weeks of discussion both in class and with Burlington City Arts, we

settled on four main tasks or products which we then pursued and were able to provide

to our community partners and the artists. First of all, we stayed true to the original

project statement in that we identified and researched a wide range of water issues in

Vermont, and synthesized that research into a document which we gave to dj, Ashley,

and the artists to help set the context for Of Land and Local and possibly influence the

artists’ work. An important part of this as well was locating those issues we deemed of

consequence in Vermont in a global context, such that the more far-reaching relevance

of the themes contained in the exhibition could be fully realized. In addition to this, we

researched a number of local Vermont artists who explore water in their work, and

provided a list of artists, their contact information, and relevant past work to Ashley such

that she might find more artists to pull into the Of Land and Local event.

We also followed the general goal of the project statement by conceptualizing

four events meant to occur in concert with Of Land and Local in the fall. The first event

will be a panel about the intersection of water and natural disasters in Vermont and

beyond, featuring a variety of voices and perspectives, intended to educate and engage

the local community. There will be a children’s event, intended to engage a younger

audience and generate interest in environmental issues. In an effort to contribute to the

well-being of the local environment, there will be a river cleanup day on the Winooski

River. Lastly, we conceptualized and saw to fruition a Fireside Chat, which was a night

of meaningful conversations on North Beach in Burlington about many of the themes

from the course including the importance of water in Vermont and the intersection of art

in the environment. Because of the success of this event, Burlington City Arts is planning

on re-doing the event in the fall.

Another vital part of our work with BCA was collaborating with four local artists

involved with Of Land and Local. This was a unique and exciting opportunity, as we

were able to engage with the artists at a very early stage in their work, and thus were

able to watch their creative processes unfold. Most of our collaboration with the artists

took the form of engaged discussions in which different ideas were thrown back and

forth and explored. With one artist in particular, Cami Davis, we were able to take on an

even more involved role, creating a sound piece made up of different water sounds that

will be incorporated into her final work for the exhibition.

The last component of our involvement with BCA, and perhaps the one that

generated the most excitement within our class, was the production of a collaborative

zine, a short DIY publication. We felt that in spirit of this entire class and everything we

had discussed, it was fitting to have our own artistic and creative contribution to Of Land

and Local. The zine consists of drawings, paintings, photography, poetry, and non-fiction

prose from different members of the class - all of which is consistent with the theme of

water and Vermont. Creating pieces for the zine allowed us to explore not only the

specific water topics that were the context of Of Land and Local, but also to explore, on

a personal level, our own relationships to water through art, and to fully consider the

questions that shaped our discussions at the outset of the class. To disseminate the

zine amongst the public, a number of copies will be available at the Of Land and Local

event. On top of that, we placed a number of copies in books in Armstrong Library, and

spray-painted their call numbers around campus with a special paint that only is

discernable when the pavement is wet.

We are extremely pleased to have been the first iteration of a Middlebury Environmental

Studies Senior Seminar with an art focus. While it was at first challenging to find a

specific direction for the project, we were able to exploit the vast accessibility of art, and

the fact that everyone can relate to it in his or her own way, to make this project a

success. When Of Land and Local goes up in the fall, we hope that the true value of our

partnership with BCA, and the value of community engagement in general, will shine

through. With its art focus, this project allowed us all to engage with our different

disciplines towards a common (though sometimes uncertain) goal, working together to

produce something that we feel will be extremely valuable not only for BCA and Of Land

and Local, but also for us all personally as we conclude our educations here at

Middlebury, and come to consider how we construct value and how we interact with our

world.

Report on Relevant Water Topics in Vermont for Of Land and Local

April 2016

Compiled by the Students of Middlebury College

ENVS 0401 Spring 2016

2 REPORT ON RELEVANT WATER TOPICS IN VERMONT

Table of Contents Water Quality.........................................................................................................................................3

I. Common Contaminants...............................................................................................................................3Endocrine Disrupters.......................................................................................................................................................3Most Common Water Pollutants in Vermont..........................................................................................................3

II. Drinking Water............................................................................................................................................5Public Wells (Regulated)................................................................................................................................................5Private Wells (Unregulated)..........................................................................................................................................6Wells in Vermont: What Happened in North Bennington?................................................................................7

III. Pollution Sources.......................................................................................................................................7Agriculture..........................................................................................................................................................................7Stormwater Runoff...........................................................................................................................................................8

Vermont Flora and Fauna..............................................................................................................................9I. Flora.................................................................................................................................................................9

Algae Blooms.....................................................................................................................................................................9II. Fauna.............................................................................................................................................................9III. Invasive Species........................................................................................................................................10

Aquatic Habitat....................................................................................................................................13I. Habitat Factors............................................................................................................................................13

Circulation and Movement.........................................................................................................................................13Connectivity.....................................................................................................................................................................14Habitat Water Quality...................................................................................................................................................14Wetlands............................................................................................................................................................................15

Natural Disasters in Vermont............................................................................................................15I. Flooding.........................................................................................................................................................15

Effects................................................................................................................................................................................15Recent History.................................................................................................................................................................16

II. Hurricanes..................................................................................................................................................171938 Hurricane...............................................................................................................................................................172011 Tropical Storm Irene..........................................................................................................................................17

Cultural Significance of Water.........................................................................................................18I. Recreational Use..........................................................................................................................................18

Lake Champlain..............................................................................................................................................................18Mud Season......................................................................................................................................................................19Intervale.............................................................................................................................................................................20

II. Native Use...................................................................................................................................................20Native Americans of New England/Vermont.......................................................................................................20

III. Spirituality, Religion, and Water.........................................................................................................21Judaism..............................................................................................................................................................................23Islam...................................................................................................................................................................................23Hinduism...........................................................................................................................................................................24Christianity.......................................................................................................................................................................26

Climate Change....................................................................................................................................26I. Climate Change and Lake Champlain...................................................................................................26II. Artist Responses to COP21 in Paris......................................................................................................27

REPORT ON RELEVANT WATER TOPICS IN VERMONT 3

Water Quality

I. Common Contaminants

Endocrine Disrupters • Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that interfere with the normal

functioning of the endocrine system by either blocking or mimicking natural chemicals, which alters hormone functions. EDCs can cause reproductive, neurological, and developmental defects, and are often known to be carcinogenic.

o Found in many common household products: detergents, flame retardants, plastics, metal cans, pesticides

o National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2016. Endocrine disruptors: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/

o “Dirty dozen” of EDCs (as designated by the EPA) 1. Bisphenol A (BPA) 2. Dioxin 3. Atrazine 4. Phthalates 5. Perchlorate 6. Fire retardants 7. Lead 8. Arsenic 9. Mercury 10. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) 11. Organophosphate ethers 12. Glycol ethers • All are regulated in some way by the EPA • Environmental Working Group, 2013. Dirty Dozen Endocrine Disruptors:

http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors o Currently, there is a team of seven researchers from the United States and Europe who are

attempting to end a three-year-long stalemate on developing legislative requirements for the classification of EDCs. These researchers recommend that the same approach that is used for other equally concerning health hazards, such as carcinogens and other toxicants, should be used. They would also like to conduct and impact assessment on these legislative rules. This demonstrates the global concern regarding EDCs, especially as there is still so much to be learned about them, and exposure to them is unavoidable. From: Science Daily, 2016. Providing guidance on criteria for endocrine disruptor legislation in Europe: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160425142410.htm

Most Common Water Pollutants in Vermont • Currently in Vermont, there is a wide range of water pollutants that threaten the integrity of

the environment, as well as the safety of the ecosystems. While some of these pollutants are natural compounds, all of the pollutants listed below are at higher and more dangerous levels due to anthropogenic influences.

• Nitrogen and Phosphorous o Both are necessary for plant growth


o When too much of these elements are present in an aquatic ecosystem, algae will grow too quickly, and strip the water of oxygen, causing other species to die

o Agricultural runoff is the primary cause of excess nitrogen and phosphorous § These elements are found in fertilizers, manure, and crop residues

• Metals o Of most concern to VT: mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, copper, zinc,

nickel, chromium, aluminum, antimony, and silver o At high levels, toxic to humans and aquatic species o High-temperature combustion is primary source of these metals o Industrial and municipal runoff lead to metal buildups in water

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

o Used in plastics and dielectric fluids o Banned nationwide in 1977, and PCB transformers were stopped in Burlington in the

late 1980s o Persistent, so still exists in many landfills

§ Incineration and leaching can lead to PCB exposure in the environment § Bioaccumulate: increase in concentration up the food chain

o PCBs have been found in the tissues of trout from Lake Champlain → carcinogenic o New York State Department of Environmental Conservation initiated a substantial

remediation effort § PCB levels in Lake Champlain are expected to considerably decline due to

this effort • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

o Flame retardant found in fabrics, furniture, electronics, etc. o Similarly to PCBs, are persistent and bioaccumulate o Found in environment and fish tissues o Toxic and carcinogenic o No current assessment of PBDE levels in Vermont o PBDEs have been banned in the EU, Maine, and Washington o Vermont General Assembly is considering a ban

• Chlorides o Naturally-occurring mineral o Natural deposits are rare in Vermont, so chloride concentrations in Vermont are

anthropogenic


o Industrial waste, landfill leaching, agricultural runoff, and municipal waste o Vermont Department of Health doesn’t consider chlorides to be a significant risk to

human health o 250 mg/L in drinking water as limit o EPA Ambient Aquatic Life Criteria address chlorides o Concentrations above 250 mg/L likely to cause poor health and reproduction in

aquatic species, eventually leading to death • Pesticides

o Wide use in Vermont due to large agricultural industry o Ideal pesticides are very targeted and breakdown easily in the environment o Difference between pesticides and other surface water contaminants: pesticides are

intentionally being added to the environment o All pesticide use in the U.S. is regulated to some degree o Currently, Atrazine, Dazomet, Permethrin, and sodium tetraborate decahydrate, are

the most commonly used pesticides in Vermont § Vermont.gov, 2013. Pesticide usage reported.

http://agriculture.vermont.gov/pesticide_regulation/pesticide_usage_reported

• Lake Champlain International, 2016. Lake Champlain: the issues and threats: https://www.mychamplain.net/threats-explained

• There are current concerns worldwide on the connection between fracking and water pollution. Researchers are finding that fracking wastewater and old fracking wells, which are becoming more common, are a large source of water pollution. Many governments are investigating the full effects of the fracking industry. Although this is an issue that is slightly different than the pollution sources listed above, it shows the full force of water pollution throughout the world.

o Stewart, S., 2016. New report raises concern over possible connection between fracking and water pollution: http://kfor.com/2016/05/17/new-report-raises-concerns-over-possible-connection-between-fracking-and-water-pollution/

II. Drinking Water

Public Wells (Regulated) • While well water is an accessible form of drinking water, due to potential groundwater

contamination and leeching, it is important that public wells are well regulated. The State of Vermont has extensive legislature on the regulation of these wells in order to ensure safety and environmental sustainability.

• Permitting o Department of Environmental Conservation, 2016. Drinking water and groundwater

protection: http://www.drinkingwater.vermont.gov/pcwspermits.htm o Public Water Supply Systems are required to obtain a permit for:

§ Any new well § Deepening or hydrofracturing of an existing source § Withdrawal of an existing source

o Each county has a designated hydrogeologist o Steps for permit review:

§ Source water permit application


§ Source testing review application § Tests for water quality and specifically designated compounds § Construction permit § Operating permit

• Drilling a well: o Town of Middlebury, 2016. Drilled wells:

http://www.townofmiddlebury.org/vertical/sites/%7BCA36F8A3-652B-4085-AA8E-DD3623CC0020%7D/uploads/Drilled_Wells_Health_Information.pdf

o Once drilling begins, steel casing is inserted 10 feet into the bedrock for support § If drilled since 1987, will also have ID number → corresponds to well report § Drilling will continue until enough water is present

o Sources of contamination must be taken into consideration when deciding on location o Well should be located uphill o Permits are issued by Department of Conservation (regionally) o Bleach is used to disinfect wells of any bacteria or viruses after construction or

modifications o Testing for coliform bacteria and E. coli are always performed

§ Coliform bacteria indicates that surface water has leeched into the well

Private Wells (Unregulated) • While the EPA does not regulate private wells, the EPA does provide extensive guidance on

maintaining a safe private well. These materials include testing procedures, recommendations for where to drill a well, among many other things.

• United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2016. Private well owners: https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/private_well_owners.html

• 2.3 million people in New England get their drinking water from private wells • Common contaminants: methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), radon, arsenic • Vermont Department of Health, 2012. Testing drinking water from private water supplies:

https://www.townofmiddlebury.org/vertical/sites/%7BCA36F8A3-652B-4085-AA8E-DD3623CC0020%7D/uploads/Water_Testing__Wells.pdf

• Recommendations from Vermont Health Department: o Perform total coliform bacteria test annually o Perform an inorganic chemical test every five years o Perform a gross alpha radiation screen every five years

§ Tests for naturally occurring mineral radioactivity • Testing kits can be ordered from Health Department Laboratory • Currently in the news, there is a lot of hype surrounding well water contamination, in both

private and public wells. Recently in New England, the focus has been centered on arsenic, which is contaminating the water because of its presence in bedrock and pesticides. Studies are showing that high arsenic levels in drinking water may lead to bladder cancer clusters.

o Fox News Health, 2016. Arsenic in New England well water tied to bladder cancer risk. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/05/05/arsenic-in-new-england-well-water-tied-to-bladder-cancer-risk.html


Wells in Vermont: What Happened in North Bennington? • Stanforth, L., 2016. North Bennington finds PFOA in wells:

http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/North-Bennington-finds-PFOA-in-wells-6859711.php

• February, 2016 - perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) found in private wells in North Bennington • Hoosick Falls’ (8 miles away) found PFOA in water

o Sparked water testing by Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation • Elevated levels of PFOA found in wells near former manufacturing plant on Water Street • EPA PFOA limit: 100 parts per trillion (ppt)

o Vermont Department of Health PFOA limit: 20 ppt o One well contained 2,880 ppt

• Former ChemFab plant (owned by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics) likely responsible • People living within a mile and a half of the plant are told to use only bottled water → VT

Department of Environmental Conservation is distributing water • More on PFOA:

o Banned by the EPA over a decade ago o Very persistent due to chemical structure (not easily degraded) so is still prevalent in

the environment o Possibly carcinogenic o Also linked to adverse effects on child development

• Suspected that regulators have been aware of the potential PFOA risks since 2005, but regulators say they were not required to take action in 2005 by law

• Whitcomb, K., 2016. Elevated PFOA levels found in North Bennington, public water supply unaffected says Gov. Shumlin: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_29561924/elevated-pfoa-levels-found-north-bennington-public-water

• Public water supply (located two miles away from ChemFab plant) tested negative for PFOA • Department of Conservation will provide water testing for anyone else in the area who is

concerned • ChemFab shut down in 2002 • PFOA was commonly used to non-stick cookware and wire insulation • PFOA also suspected to be an endocrine disrupting chemical (affects hormone levels) • Saint-Gobain is paying for bottled water for effected peoples • Media coverage:

o http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/North-Bennington-finds-PFOA-in-wells-6859711.php

o http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_29561924/elevated-pfoa-levels-found-north-bennington-public-water

o http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/nyregion/fears-about-water-supply-grip-village-that-made-teflon-products.html

III. Pollution Sources

Agriculture • Blog post on VT’s farm runoff: http://www.clf.org/blog/vermonts-standards-for-managing-

polluted-farm-runoff-need-more-work/ • VT Agriculture is a main contributor of excess phosphorus loading in Lake Champlain


o Polluted runoff from farming practices lead to toxic outbreaks of blue-green algae in Lake Champlain

• Nutrient pollution caused by many factors: o When farmers spread manure on their fields, not all manure is absorbed into the soil

and can wash off during rainstorms o When manure is piled/stored, the stack leaches nutrients as rainwater flows over the

pile o Excess nutrients in waterways also a result of livestock roaming freely and defecating

in waterways • Large efforts to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution in Vermont over the past

several decades o Focused on: improving animal waste management in dairy agriculture. o Construction of manure storage structures, barnyard runoff management, and

adoption of waste utilization plans • Direct deposition of waste into streams, destruction of riparian vegetation, and trampling of

stream banks and streambeds are all problems associated with livestock grazing. • Recent legislation on Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs)

o Rules lay the foundation to better regulate farm practices near waterways

Stormwater Runoff • How does it work?

o VT Agency of Natural Resources watershed management: http://www.watershedmanagement.vt.gov/stormwater.htm

o Increased Champlain Valley population = greater development = more impervious surfaces

o Simple concept, complex problem § Precipitation runs off impervious surfaces (rooftops, paved surfaces, etc.)

rather than infiltrating into the soil § The runoff is dirtied as it picks up pollutants from the surface it flows

over § Pollutants like phosphorous and nitrogen end up in waterways leading

to increased pollutant loading in Lake Champlain o Impervious surfaces decrease VT’s flood resiliency – making infrastructure more

vulnerable to rivers overflowing their banks. • Stormwater management

o List of Stormwater management solutions: http://letitrainvt.org/stormwater_solutions/ o Green stormwater infrastructure: "systems and practices that restore and maintain

natural hydrologic processes in order to reduce the volume and water quality impacts of the built environment while providing multiple societal benefits."

o Rain gardens, bioswales, retention ponds, rain barrels, permeable walkways/driveways

o Green Infrastructure: “a wide range of multi-functional, natural and semi-natural landscape elements located within, around, and between developed areas at all spatial scales."

o Forests, meadows, wetlands, floodplains, riparian areas


o Adoption of Low Impact Development (LID): “ innovative land planning and design approach that seeks to maintain a site’s pre-development ecological and hydrological function through the protection, enhancement, or mimicry of natural processes.”

Vermont Flora and Fauna

I. Flora• Native Flora

o Summary of VT vegetation community types: http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=111319

o Comprehensive list of native species (images are not included): http://www.lindenlandscaping.com/documents/vt_native_landscape_plants.pdf

• Endangered Flora o Endangered or threatened VT plants:

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=229829

Algae Blooms • What causes them?

o Seasonal overturn (mentioned above) can trigger blooms because nutrients which limit algae blooms are freed up and brought to the surface

o Algae blooms are limited by phosphorus, primarily, which is why increases in phosphorus from commercial and residential runoff can trigger and support large algae blooms

o VT Department of Health resources: http://www.healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/bgalgae.aspx

o https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/lcc-at-work/algae-in-lake/

II. Fauna• Native species of interest

o Brook Trout/Brown Trout § Brook trout are a native species in Vermont whose numbers are being

influenced by competition with the non-native Brown trout. Brown trout were first introduced to Vermont in 1892 from their native source in Europe. The Brown trout will hybridize with native Brook trout and produce sterile offspring. The two compete for spawning habitat.

o Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) § The Sea Lamprey is a parasitic fish that uses a suction-cup mouth lined with

teeth to puncture a fish and drain it of its fluids, consuming it. They spend four years as worm-like larvae in the waters that flow into Lake Champlain. They then develop into parasitic adults that prefer to feed on fish such as Lake Trout and Atlantic Salmon. After a year to a year and a half, they migrate upstream to spawn and die. Sea Lamprey is a native species that was believed to be a non-native invasive in Lake Champlain until recently. Sea Lamprey likely has been around (as genetic studies have shown) since the last ice age and the closing of the Champlain Sea. There isn’t historical evidence of lamprey going back as far, so many people did believe (and some probably still do) that they are not native.


§ Every four years Lake Champlain tributaries are treated with lampricide to control native lamprey populations.

§ Sea lamprey management: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20502/20120919/combating-sea-lamprey-on-lake-champlain

o Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) § Atlantic salmon are anadromous fish, meaning that they live their adult lives

in the ocean before returning to freshwater streams to spawn and die. This life cycle requires that the salmon are able to make it upstream in order to spawn.

§ Salmon used to occur in almost every major river north of the Hudson in New England. In Vermont, salmon occur in major lakes including Champlain and are landlocked, though they are the same species as those found in the ocean.

§ Salmon runs upstream to spawn are affected by impediments to upstream travel such as dams, culverts, and waterfalls. Additionally, salmon, like many species in the family Salmonidae (which includes trout species) require very cold, clear water, which is affected by runoff and warming temperatures.

• Beavers and watersheds o Early competition among Native American bands to hunt the most beavers in order to

gain wealth and good standing with the powerful Europeans led to the near extinction of the beaver. By the mid-seventeenth century New England was “trapped out” of beavers.

o Historically, beaver dams created streams systems with slow, deep water and floodplain wetlands dominated by emergent vegetation and shrubs. Because beavers were overhunted to scarce levels and other beavers simply left the region, gradually, unmaintained dams gave way to marshes, marshes gave way to meadows, meadows gave way to fields, and fields gave way to European occupation and settlement. Geomorphology and plant communities of small low-gradient streams changed throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere after the reduction of beaver populations.

o Recently there has been widespread recognition that beavers and their dams play a vital role in maintaining and diversifying stream and riparian habitat.

o Storage of water within the stream reach is particularly important for many aquatic species during low-flow periods, when direct hydrologic inputs are limited. When beaver recolonize stream systems, their impoundments increase base flows, as well as recharge and elevate the water table.

o Given climate change related projections of increased drought and reduce snow pack, water storage from beaver impoundments may be an effective tool to help mitigate the associated reductions in water resources.

o Source: Chapter 1—Effects of Beaver Dams on Physical and Biological Processes Greg Lewallen, Michael M. Pollock, Chris Jordan and Janine Castro: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/ToolsForLandowners/RiverScience/Documents/BRG%20v.1.0%20final%20reduced.pdf

III. Invasive Species • Lake Champlain aquatic invasive plants

o Purple Loosestrife o Eurasian Watermilfoil


o Water Chestnut o Japanese Knotweed o Flowering Rush o European Frogbit o Common Reed o Yellow Floating Heart o Curly-Leaf Pondweed o Variable-leaved Watermilfoil o Hydrilla o Fanwort o Brazilian Elodea o Parrot’s Feather o Salvinia o Indian Swamp Grass o Images and information of Lake Champlain invasive plant species:

http://adkinvasives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Lake-Champlain-Basin-Aquatic-Invasive-Species-Guide.pdf

• Notable invasives o Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

§ Geography § Milfoil is a non-native aquatic plant native to Europe, Asia, and North

Africa and is found in over 30 states in the US. It is found in lakes across Vermont, including Lake Champlain. It is considered to be the worst aquatic weed in the US because it grows rapidly and spreads quickly.

§ Life cycle § Milfoil reproduces by breaking off in fragments that drift away and

take root to grow a new plant. Wind, waves, and boating activity can encourage fragmenting and the spread of milfoil. On the whole, milfoil is spread by human activity between waterways and lakes (pieces cling to boats, shoes, propellers—which is why it is encouraged to clean equipment). It can grow to reach the surface in up to 20 feet of water, growing in what looks like an underwater root system that is very dense.

§ Effects § Because it grows in shallow areas and becomes very dense, patches

can reduce fish spawning grounds, outcompete native plants, and change the structural habitat of the lake. Milfoil also isn’t typically part of the natural diet of any native species so nothing eats it. Where it is infested, fishing, boating, and swimming are difficult or impossible.

§ What is being done: § There is no known way to completely eradicate milfoil after it has

spread to a lake, it can only be controlled to reduce the spread. There are no natural controls for milfoil, though a number of strategies including chemical control and hand removal have been used—none


of which with great success. All controls are extremely labor intensive and costly.

§ Read more: § http://www.uvm.edu/~vlrs/doc/eurasian_milfoil.htm

o Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) § Geography:

§ Native to the Caspian and Black Sea region of Eurasia. Rapidly spreads. First identified in the Great Lakes region in 1988 and confirmed in Lake Champlain in 1993. Currently found in Lake Champlain and its lower tributaries as well as Lake Bomoseen in Vermont.

§ Life cycle: § Each female mussel can lay up to 1 million eggs in a summer.

Fertilized eggs hatch into juveniles that travel through the water or on boating equipment. Mussels attach themselves to firm surfaces by hair-like structures and develop into adults. Can reach densities of up to 700,000 individuals per square meter.

§ Effects: § Can clog intake pipes and water supply pipes on Champlain, causing

financial loss to repair or clean. Most individuals and companies with these pipes on Champlain installed technology to prevent this during the beginning of the infestation but those systems are costly to maintain. Swimmers in Champlain have to wear shoes while swimming to protect their feet from the sharp mussels. Additionally, historic artifacts in the lake are being obscured by mussel growth. Mussels also consume a large amount of the microscopic food and plants that are the base for the Champlain food web. They can also attach themselves to Native Mussels and outcompete them—now several native mussels are listed as threatened in Vermont.

§ What is being done: § No methods have been found which effectively eliminate mussels.

§ Read more: § http://www.watershedmanagement.vt.gov/lakes/htm/ans/lp_zebra.htm § http://www.watershedmanagement.vt.gov/lakes/docs/ans/lp_zeeb-

factsheet.pdf § http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/10/02/zebr

a-mussels-champlain-invasive/73177896/ § http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhikers/mollusks_zebra_mussel.

php o Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes longimanus)

§ Geography: § Native to northeast Europe, it originally appeared in Lake Huron in

1984. First appeared in Lake Champlain in the summer of 2014. Previously found in Lake George and the Champlain Canal in 2012. Officials suggest that they gave fair warning of the possible infestation and that it could have been preventable, if the government had acted.


§ Life cycle: § These tiny organisms can reach up to 15 mm in length. They are a

species of zooplankton which has a long abdominal spine covered in barbs that is about 70% of the length if its body.

§ Effects: § Many of the ecological implications of the water flea are unknown

because it has not yet been introduced to a body of water similar to Lake Champlain. It is a huge nuisance to fishermen because the fleas can stack up and attach to fishing lines, making it difficult to reel in lines. The economic loss if recreational fishing is impaired will be significant. May also be responsible for declines in alewife in other waters (alewife are an exotic species in Champlain).

§ What is being done: § There is no known way to control the infestation, but it can be stopped

from spreading to other bodies of water by cleaning equipment. § Read more:

§ http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/green-mountain/2014/08/28/invasive-spiny-waterflea-confirmed-lake/14755991/

§ http://wamc.org/post/invasive-spiny-water-flea-confirmed-lake-champlain#stream/0

o General resources on Lake Champlain invasives: § https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/lcc-at-work/invasive-species-in-

lake/ § https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/learn/lake-look/the-mutual-

suffering-of-milfoil-and-algae/ o Global parallels:

§ In general, invasive species movement is on the rise globally with increasing human travel. In the US and other parts of the world, aquatic invasives have presented a unique challenge. Like the invasives mentioned, plants and other invasive species are often transported on boating or fishing equipment or in ballast water. As climate change continues, there is increasing potential for novel or newly opened habitat niches where invasives are likely to flourish.

Aquatic Habitat

I. Habitat Factors

Circulation and Movement • Seasonal overturn

o Water is least dense when it is frozen, which is why at freezing and below, it floats. But above freezing, water is least dense the warmer it gets...

o Over the summer, the top of any lake is heated and then the cooler water underneath basically flips over it, overturning the decomposing nutrients underneath

o The same thing happens every spring as cooler water (below freezing) overturns as the warmer water underneath the ice rises up


o Nutrients from decomposition at the bottom of the lake get overturned every spring and fall by this movement

o Seasonal lake stratification: http://faculty.gvsu.edu/videticp/stratification.htm • Seiche

o Occurs in large lakes--basically is wind pushing the top water layer over to one end, which then pushes another block of water back, creating underwater lake currents

o Can occur at depths of 20-40 meters in Champlain o Lake Champlain seiche: http://digital.vpr.net/post/say-what-lake-champlain-

undergoing-turnover-and-seiche#stream/0

Connectivity • Dams

o Dams have a whole host of negative effects on habitat for fish and other riparian flora and fauna:

§ They block passage of fish (particularly anadromous ones, like the salmon) § They trap sediment upstream which changes the substrate of the river (which

can reduce spawning grounds for fish and habitat for macroinvertebrates) and halts the release of sediment from reaching downstream ecosystems, where it may be critical for ecological function

§ Hydrologically, they also change the river habitat and geomorphology of the river to a slack-water reservoir rather than a fast-moving flow, which can affect species that require such habitat

§ Alter the flood regime of a watershed by regulating flows into unnatural patterns or no flooding at all, which can decrease habitat for flood or disturbance-dependent vegetation

§ They change the temperature of the water around the dam, usually raising the temperature of water above the dam, and some dams will release water downstream the bottom of the upstream reservoir, which is usually colder--fish are very sensitive to water temperature (as it affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, among other things)

§ Resources on the effects of dams and removals: § http://www.americanrivers.org/initiatives/dams/why-remove/ § http://www.vtwaterquality.org/rivers/htm/rv_dameffects.htm § http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/features/242682/releasing-rivers

• Culverts o Culverts may produce similar, though reduced, effects to dams o Primarily, culverts may be an impediment to the movement of organisms

(macroinvertebrates, fish)

Habitat Water Quality • Temperature

o Higher temperatures mean less dissolved oxygen o Also, water’s temperature can resist a lot of fluctuation because it has a high specific

heat, but dramatic changes in temperature will affect water temperature and can kill fish

o http://www.lakeaccess.org/russ/temperature.htm • Dissolved oxygen


o Too little dissolved oxygen in the water can kill fish o Certain species require higher dissolved oxygen (such as trout, salmon) o Water becomes oxygenated again through waterfalls and movement o Decomposition of organic material uses dissolved oxygen and reduces it o http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-

quality/dissolved-oxygen/

Wetlands • Current Wetlands Guidelines for Vermont

o http://vtdigger.org/2013/11/17/vermonts-wetlands-rules-put-onus-landowners/ o According to Vermont’s Wetlands Rules, Landowners must obtain permits if they

wish to build on designated as Class 1 or 2 wetlands, tracts deemed “significant” for wildlife habitat, aesthetic or other environmental reasons.

o Class I wetlands must have a 100-foot buffer zone around them, while Class II wetlands must have a 50-foot buffer.

o Landowners usually can build on Class 3 wetlands o “Significant Wetlands Inventory Maps” must be reviewed prior to any development

of wetlands o 5% or less of VT can now be considered wetlands, roughly half of VT’s wetlands lost

to development and agriculture • Wetland function and values

o http://www.lcbp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/8_-WetlandsAcquisitionStudy.pdf o Study assessed the functions and values of the major wetlands in the Champlain

Valley, and ranked them according to those functions and values § Ranking system of cultural and physical attributes, biological attributes

§ Cultural: Surrounding land use, recreation, open space/aesthetics § Physical: Flood storage, surface/groundwater protection, erosion

control, filtration of sediment and pollutants § Biological: Wildlife value, waterfowl & wetland birds, fisheries,

threatened and endangered species, covertype, plant species diversity o Wetlands of the Lake Champlain Valley an irreplaceable natural resource o Top ranked Champlain Valley wetlands in need of protection:

§ Mud Creek, Rock River, Malletts Creek, Lower Lamoille Oxbow, East Creek, Lower Otter, Cornwall Swamp, Poultney River Marshes, The Narrows

§ For more information http://www.watershedmanagement.vt.gov/wetlands.htm

Natural Disasters in Vermont I. Flooding

Effects • Flooding is the most frequent and damaging natural hazard in Vermont. Regular springtime

flooding resulting from snowmelt and rainfall usually happens March-May, and damages due to such seasonal flooding are generally localized. However, severe statewide floods have occurred several times in Vermont’s history at various times of year. Flooding in Vermont poses serious dangers to homes, businesses, roads, bridges, and agriculture. Flooding also


accelerates erosion and can degrade surface water quality by flushing large amounts of pollutants into streams.

• Floods in Vermont result in extensive property damage and disruption of services; each year millions of dollars are spent as the direct result of flood damage or to fund existing and future flood control structures.

• Effects on water quality o Floods and droughts can adversely affect water quality o Flooding accelerates erosion and the flushing of pollutants into receiving streams o The operation of water-supply and waste-treatment systems are commonly disrupted

during floods (Burlington Waste Water Treatment Facility) o Large quantities of pollutants can be washed into streams. o The pollutants generally are flushed rapidly downstream by high flows

• “Vermont Floods and Droughts” http://md.water.usgs.gov/publications/wsp-2375/vt/ • For a Chronology of major and other memorable floods and droughts in Vermont, 1770-1988

scroll down to the table on this survey page: http://md.water.usgs.gov/publications/wsp-2375/vt/

• A note on droughts o Severe droughts are rare in Vermont because of frequent thunderstorms and moisture,

but droughts have occurred during 1930-36, 1939-43, and 1947-51. The worst recorded drought was during the 1960's, which affected the entire state.

o Droughts occur when soil moisture is deficient result in economic losses from decreased crop yields and dry pastureland.

Recent History • November 2-4 1927: Most severe flood recorded in Vermont history

o Known as “The Flood Worse than Irene”, the 1927 flood caused massive damage throughout Vermont. Heavy rains ranging from five to close to ten inches fell across Vermont, causing rivers and streams (including Lamoille, Winooski and White) to overflow their banks. The recurrence interval of discharge at many sites exceeded 100 years. Damage was greatest in the valleys of the Winooski, Lamoille, Missisquoi, Passumpsic, and White Rivers. Widespread flooding caused more than 100 deaths, drowned many farm animals, destroyed 1285 bridges, many miles of roads and railroads, and countless homes and other buildings. The flood also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agricultural land, as it deposited large amounts of silt, rocks, and other flood debris. Overall, the flood resulted in $35 million in damages, and left 3% of the population homeless. Vermont Congressman Ernest Gibson told the U.S. House Committee on Flood Control that the damage equaled half the total assessed real property value of the entire state.

o A quote about Vermont’s response to the flood: “The flood and its aftermath brought to light the continued traditions of the Vermont character-self-reliance and independence—that were sometimes in conflict with the modernizing efforts which were also present in the state”

o Sources for more information: § UVM Landscape Change Program: “History of the 1927 Flood” (Includes

many photographs of the flood) https://www.uvm.edu/landscape/1927_flood/about_1927_flood.htm


§ Vermont Historical Society: “The Flood of ’27” http://vermonthistory.org/research/research-resources-online/green-mountain-chronicles/the-flood-of-27-1927

§ Selected images of the 1927 flood from the Vermont Historical Society Library: http://vermonthistory.org/virtual-vhs/photographs/1927-flood

• March 11-12 1936: two statewide floods in succession, over $100 million in damages o Caused by moderate temperatures, intense rain, and resultant snowmelt o Total rainfall and snowmelt ranged from 10-16 inches over the southeastern half of

the state • September 1938: New England-wide flooding caused by a hurricane

o 700 deaths and $400 million in damages in New England • June 1952: North and central Vermont saw ten days of rain

o Families evacuated from homes, 4 deaths, $500,000 in damages • June 1973: Nearly statewide, state declared a disaster area

o 6 inches of rain in under 24 hours in some areas, 3 deaths, $64 million in damages o 2 frontal systems (fronts are boundaries between air masses of different temperatures)

joined to produce the largest rainfall since the 1927 flood o Peak discharges of streams in the northeast and central sections of the State had

recurrence intervals greater than 50 years. • August 1976: Statewide flooding from intense rains brought by Hurricane Belle • June & July 1984: caused by severe thunderstorms

o Central Vermont declared a disaster area o 5 deaths recorded, one train was derailed

II. Hurricanes

1938 Hurricane • The 1938 hurricane was the most destructive and powerful storm to hit New England in the

20th century. The hurricane swept through New England, leaving a massive trail of destruction, causing over $400 million in damages in New England – adjusted to 2008 dollars, that is an estimated $4.5-6 billion. Over 19,000 buildings destroyed by water, wind and fire, and many services were interrupted, as the hurricane brought down over 20,000 miles of electric and telephone lines and caused major damage to railways and roads. The hurricane also caused severe ecological damage, bringing down over 275 million trees, including about half of Vermont’s sugar maples.

• Sources for more information: o RMS, “The 1938 Great New England Hurricane: Looking to the Past to Understand

Today’s Risk” http://forms2.rms.com/rs/729-DJX-565/images/tc_1938_great_new_england_hurricane.pdf

o Northern Woodlands, “One for the Ages: The Hurricane of 1938 Battered New England’s Woods 75 Years Ago” http://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/hurricane-1938

2011 Tropical Storm Irene • In August of 2011, Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, causing the worst flooding since the

infamous 1927 flood. Heavy rains inundated creeks and rivers, leading to widespread flash flooding, eroding riverbanks, causing landslides, and even changing the courses of some


rivers. Vermont fared worse than some other states affected by the storm, with 500 miles of roads and 200 bridges destroyed, six recorded deaths, and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed. 13 communities were left entirely isolated by severe flooding and had to be flown in supplies by helicopter. In all, Irene caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Vermont.

• Sources for more information: o NASA, “Hurricane Season 2011: Hurricane Irene”

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2011/h2011_Irene.html o Norwich University, “Impacts of Tropical Storm Irene on Streams in Vermont”

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/geo/pdfdocs/IreneGeomorphRevised02142012small.pdf

o Middlebury College ES0401 2012, “After Irene: Adaptation, Policy, and Management” http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/422751/original/final_2012_es_irenereport_web.pdf

• Photo galleries of flooding post Irene: o http://mansfieldheliflight.com/flood/ o http://wingsovermont.com/TSIrene.html

Cultural Significance of Water

I. Recreational Use

Lake Champlain • Recreational History

o Historically, Lake Champlain did not become a center for recreation until after World War II. Before then the lake was mainly used for commercial vessels to ship goods back and forth between New York and Vermont. Initially, locals would use small wooden boats to leisurely cruise around the lake. Today, Lake Champlain has become one of the centers of attraction in Vermont and New York and in 1998 the basin saw a record of more than 3 billion tourists visit the lake year round, contributing an estimated $3.8 billion dollars to the local economies.

o There are many different reasons for people to enjoy Lake Champlain, however the increase of people using the lake each year has resulted in some detrimental effects to its water quality and biological integrity.

• Fishing o As one of the largest and deepest lakes in the country, Lake Champlain offers

fishermen have plenty of water to troll in search of their big catch. The lake is 120 miles long, contains 600 miles of shoreline, and is around 400 ft at its deepest point. There are over 80 different species of fish including 72 native species. These include large and smallmouth bass, northern pike, and many different species of trout. One of the most unique aspects of Lake Champlain is that fishing comes in waves of two different seasons. There is the traditional fishing in the spring and summer months when the weather is warmer and then come mid-January the lake is open for ice fishing season. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Services estimate thousands of anglers


each winter venture on the lake to fish. However, many times there are accidents with inexperienced fisherman attempting to fish on the frozen lake.

§ Anglers coming to fish on Lake Champlain on average spend $205 million a year

§ Currently there are 98 fishing or fishing-related business located within ten miles of the Lake

• Public Beaches o There are 600 miles of shoreline around Lake Champlain, and around 50 public

beaches for people to enjoy in both New York and Vermont. Many of these beaches are small and privately owned, but there are also extensive state parks and wildlife management areas, including the Adirondack Park on the New York side, surround much of the lake. One of the most popular beaches on the lake is North Beach in Burlington, VT. North Beach is the largest in Burlington and the only beach with active lifeguards. North Beach has many different activities available including paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and bike rentals. Many of the other beaches around Lake Champlain do not have these amenities but are rather public spaces where people can swim and picnic.

• Boating o The lakes usually flat surface water and multitude of islands to explore make it an

ideal location for boating. Lake Champlain is navigable in all different vessels including sailboats, fishing boats, research vessels, cruisers, and even barges. Where boating is allowed so are the many activities that come with it including tubing, waterskiing, and kitesurfing. Located near many of the public beaches, there are over 50 different public boat launches with access to Lake Champlain. Most of them (28) are located in Grand Isle and Chittenden counties.

• Champy o The famous legend of Lake Champlain is the story of Champ or Champy. This

folklore talks of a giant sea monster that lives below the lake and there have been over 300 sightings to date. Photographs surfaced throughout the years of Champ but none of them have any real credibility. The last known footage of champ taken in 2006 by local fishermen. Visit http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/c/champ/ for more information.

• Statistics about Lake Champlain: o https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/explore/access-points/#c184 o http://www.lcbp.org/about-us/ o http://www.lcmm.org/museum_info/visit.htm o http://enjoyburlington.com

Mud Season • Mud Season is a VT/Northern New England colloquial term for the Late March-May period

(aka a fifth season) of extreme muddiness due to winter thaw/snow melt and rainfall combining with the many unpaved roads and unstructured areas of Vermont’s landscape

• Article on Mud Season: http://katu.com/news/travel-and-outdoors/new-englands-mud-season-is-an-annual-annoyance

o “It's the ugly mirror image to the picture-perfect foliage of September and October that draws millions to look at mountains painted red and gold.”


o “It’s emblematic of everything that’s bleak and horrible about being isolated at the end of a road that you just can’t get out of”

o “Mud season does provide recreation for the creative.” • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnSbjbwGhlk • Mud bogging / Mudding: To go out in the mud in the back of a truck or jeep or other 4x4

vehicle and spin in the mud until all the occupants are covered in mud. o Environmental impact: unauthorized "mudding" can cause uncontrolled runoff that

damages fish habitat in streams and lakes. • Compilation of mud boggin’

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXYwuBNiKss&nohtml5=False o Vermonster 4 x 4 http://www.vermonster4x4.com

Intervale • Intervale is a colloquial term used only in New England, means “bottomland”, flat low-

lying tract of land along a river or stream, typically very fertile • History of 700 acres of bottomland within the city limits of Burlington, Vermont

o 3000 BC: small bands of Native Americans (most likely Abenaki) harvested game and foraged seasonal crops

o 1000-1500 AD: larger native settlements thrive on agriculture in the interval o 1772: Ethan Allen & his family form the Onion River Land Company to sell

Intervale land o 1927: Intervale experiences epic flooding o 1944: A municipal dump opens; operates through the 1970s o 1986: Will Raap spearheaded an Intervale clean-up effort to restore the intervale to its

agricultural roots § In the 1980s the Intervale was made up of abandoned agricultural fields being

used as informal dumping ground for tires, furniture and other garbage § Raap & community members removed garbage and debris, rebuilt depleted

soils through composting and started gardening and farming, and through their actions, began to transform the Intervale from an informal dump to a beautiful agricultural and recreational resource for Burlington

§ The intervale has been transformed into a nationally recognized center for sustainable agriculture

o More information on the intervale: http://www.intervale.org/about-us/history/

II. Native Use

Native Americans of New England/Vermont • Perceptions of land often manifest themselves in the way a culture subsists, and in turn, play

a large role in determining the ecology of that culture’s region. • The Native American principle was to “live and let live, for the Indian felt himself in the

presence of living entities who were as conscious of his existence as he of theirs” (Russell, 44). To the Native Americans, everything was related and everything was equal—all “animals, plants, and rocks were alive and could be communicated with directly” (Merchant, 23).

• The humans and animals of pre-colonial New England “migrated in seasonal patterns within riverine homelands. Summers were spent on the seacoasts and lowlands, winters upstream in


small hunting bands organized predominantly by matrilocal, but including patrilocal patterns” (Merchant, 50).

• Native peoples migrated season after season, “from snug winter homes to early spring fishing sites, to late spring planting fields, to summertime gathering and fishing, to fall hunting grounds, and from old fields to new fields” (Main, 7).

• Post contact period, the burgeoning European timber industry resulted in the building of sawmills, gristmills, and filling mills on the New England landscape in response to the need to refine and finish the raw wood. These were typically located near rivers, occupying the former interval habitats of Indians and damming streams and polluting waters where fish spawned (Merchant, 87).

• Sources: o Merchant, Carolyn, and Ebook Library. Ecological Revolutions: Nature, Gender, and

Science in New England. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2010. Print.

o Russell, Howard S. A Long, Deep Furrow: Three Centuries of Farming in New England. Hanover, N.H: University Press of New England, 1976. Print.

o Main, Gloria L. 1933- (Gloria Lund). Peoples of a Spacious Land: Families and Cultures in Colonial New England. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2001. Print.

o Weinstein, Laurie Lee. Enduring Traditions: The Native Peoples of New England. Westport, Conn: Bergin & Garvey, 1994. Print.

• Abenaki fishing rights o 1990 - Vermont Supreme Court rules Abenaki Indians of northwestern Vermont have

a right to fish in their ancestral homeland without licenses o Abenaki ancestral territory extending from Albany and southern Quebec through

Vermont and New Hampshire and into western Maine and northern Massachusetts o 2016 Abenakis are still not federally recognized as a tribe by the Federal Bureau of

Indian Affairs o Media coverage:

§ http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/06/us/vermont-justices-say-indians-may-fish-without-licenses.html

§ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u_olAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6979%2C5850784

III. Spirituality, Religion, and Water Spirituality • Nature as a higher power

o The feeling of awe is linked to religious feelings, as it makes people more likely to feel the presence of a “higher power”

o Nature can fulfill the same innate desires and needs as religion o There is correlation between “religiosity” and natural amenities, which can be seen

through the regional religiosity of the U.S. o “Ferguson told me that, as he sees it, the study contributes one piece of the puzzle as

to why regions in American differ in religiosity ‘It doesn't explain everything, but it does offer another mechanism for regional variation. For instance, the West Coast has lower rates of


religious adherence, not because the population is in any way less religious/spiritual. It's that there is an additional supplier of spirituality (nature) and so they are less likely get their spiritual needs met from traditional religious congregations’”.

o Spiritual water § Nature, especially water, is particularly good at instilling awe, therefore

making people more inclined to think religiously § Chimps perform ritual dances near waterfalls and other sources of moving or

falling water • “I think chimpanzees are as spiritual as we are, but they can’t analyze

it,” Goodall says in the video. “You get the feeling that it’s all locked up inside them, and the only way they can express it is through this fantastic rhythmic dance.” Maybe these waterfall dances—and also similar dances she’s observed at the start of sudden, seasonal downpours—will someday give rise to animistic proto-religion, imbuing falling water with existential meaning. Perhaps they already have.”

o Resources: § http://science.time.com/2013/11/27/why-there-are-no-atheists-at-the-grand-

canyon/ § http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/08/20/432911010/nature-may-have-a-

profound-effect-on-our-religiosity § http://nautil.us/blog/chimps-and-the-zen-of-falling-water

• From: Groenfeldt, D. 2005. Water development and spiritual values in Western and Indigenous societies. http://www.indigenouswater.org/user/Water%20Spirituality.pdf

o “Groenfeldt’s analysis of typical “Western” perspectives on water § Resource, inert, fully defined by physical properties, not alive § Value of water defined in economic terms § Minority view that water is social good, should be accessible to all

• Economic vs social is dominant discourse § In response to Thoreau, Emerson, other traditional spiritual writers on nature:

• “The reaction of mainstream American society to spiritual interpretations of nature was to treat these as metaphors, without acknowledging a true spiritual aspect of nature.”

§ National Catholic Rural Life Conference • Forming a water ethic, seeks to respond to the Pope’s call to undergo

an ecological conversion • Protecting environment is moral

§ “The spiritual message about water is a qualified one that does not explicitly acknowledge water or water bodies as having a spirit quality; rather, water is sacred through a logical framework of the earth and all creation as representing a sacred trust from God (Christianity) or from evolutionary history (Earth Charter). The spiritual message, in other words, is muted; it is there, but it is weak.”

o Indigenous societies § Spirituality clearly articulated


§ Indigenous People’s Water Declaration • Humans placed in sacred manner on earth, must care for water • Recognize, honor, respect water for sustaining life • Relationship with land and water is fundamental physical, cultural, and

spiritual basis for existence § Indigenous peoples sometimes fail to protect their waterways, but it is a

political failure not spiritual o Western culture must learn to feel a kinship with the earth itself before water can be

genuinely protected § Can only do through education

Judaism • From: http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-views-environment

o As one of the most important natural resources to humanity's survival, water has a special place in Jewish tradition, playing a role in nearly every major story in the bible. Isaac's wife was chosen for him at a well; the baby Moses was saved after floating down a river; the Israelites were freed when the red sea parted; Miriam will forever be remembering by her gift of water to the Jewish people in the desert. Our clean, fresh water supplies and mineral resources are being exhausted by industrial and population growth, and it is vital that we lead in conservation while developing natural resources. Jewish tradition has long advocated that local and national governments take appropriate measures to remove or ameliorate the growing threats of environmental pollution and to afford protection to the environment.

• From: Hunter, P. The modern environmental movement: a Jewish perspective. http://www.adherents.com/largecom/jew_env.html

o During Talmudic period, water symbol of divine teachings o The Talmud says that the destruction (i.e., pollution) of water can be a violation of bal

tashit (Helfand 1986, 44) and allows for "claim[ing] damages or obtain[ing] an appropriate injunction to remove the nuisance where the purity of one's water supply is endangered by a neighbor's drainage or similar works" (Solomon, 1989, 16).

Islam • From: The Message Of Islam: Water

http://english.islammessage.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?articleId=305 o Water is the primary element that existed before all the rest of creation o Water is symbol of god’s benevolence o Water is major element in visual depictions of paradise o “Water is a gift from God. It is one of the three things that every human is entitled to:

grass (pasture for cattle), water, and fire. Water should be freely available to all, and any Muslim who withholds unneeded water sins against God: “No one can refuse surplus water without sinning against God and against man.” The Prophetic Traditions say that among the three people God will ignore on the Day of Resurrection there will be ‘the man who, having water in excess of his needs refuses it to a traveler’”.

• From: Ahmad, H. 2011. Islam and water: the Hajjar (r.a) story and guide. Global One. http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/Hajjar%20Story.pdf

o Water source of growth, sustenance, purification


o One of immense mercies Allah gave to people is water o Ablution rituals

§ When rise to perform prayer, must wash all over in order to purify before prayer

o Story of Hajjar § Saved her son from death by going in search of water through the desert,

found it and started digging, eventually water flowed from earth § Start of Hajj pilgrimage ritual

o Zam Zam § Holy well of water in mecca § “Zam zam water is the best and noblest of all waters, the highest in status, the

dearest to people, the most precious and valuable to them. It was dug by Jibril and is the water with which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismail”

o Access to safe drinking water is responsibility of all Muslims, because: § “Muslim Ummah is like one body. If the eye is in pain then the whole body is

in pain and if the head is in pain then the whole body is in pain.” o Planting trees

§ “If a Muslim farms the land or plants a tree, and then a bird, a beast or a man eats something from it, he receives in return the reward of a charity.”

Hinduism • From: Water and Hinduism

http://history-of-hinduism.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-and-hinduism.html o “Water represents the ‘non-manifested substratum from which all manifestations

derive’ [Dr. Uma Mysorekar, Hindu Temple Society of North America] and is considered by Hindus to be a purifier, life-giver, and destroyer of evil”.

o There are a vast number of rituals in Hinduism that require the use of water o Water plays large role in health,

§ Water therapy (“internal bathing”) used to cure many ailments • From: Narayanan, V. 2001. Water, wood, and wisdom: Ecological perspective from the

Hindu traditions. Daedalus Special Issue: Religion and Ecology. 130 (4): 179-206. o “Every tree, every stream near the precincts of the temple exudes this sense of

sacredness. Bathing in the sea, river, stream, or pond of water near the temple is said to grant salvation. Hindus are beginning to use these notions of sacrality and rituals of pilgrimage as one inspiration for ecological cleanups.”

o 5 elements of nature are sacred: earth, fire, water, ether/space, air § But, rivers are particularly revered

o Passage from Matsaya Puranam § “O [Goddess] . . . almost everyone wants children. When people see their

children and grandchildren, they feel they have been successful. What do you achieve by creating and rearing trees like sons . . . ? Parvati replied: “One who digs a well where there is little water lives in heaven for as many years as there are drops of water in it. One large reservoir of water is worth ten wells. One son is like ten reservoirs and one tree is equal to ten sons (dasa putra samo druma). This is my standard and I will protect the universe to safeguard it. . . .”

o Priest Veer Bhadra Mishra says about polluting rivers:


§ “These people,” says Mishra bitterly, “are trying to kill my Mother.” Mishra avers that there is a saying that Ganges grants us salvation; he added: “this culture will end if the people stop going to the river, and if the culture dies, the tradition dies, and the faith dies.”

o Influential guru Sathya Sai Baba says “rivers are the gift of God” § “Water is getting scarcer every day. What is the reason? Because of the

decline of morality among men, water is getting scarce in the world. For human life morality is the life breath. Morality makes humanness blossom. Because morals have been lost, water is getting scarce.”

• From: http://htlenexa.org/signs-symbols-of-baptism o “…God uses the sacrament of water to give his divine life to those who believe in

him…cleanse him from sin in a new birth to innocence by water and the Spirit.” - The rite of baptism (Catholicism)

• From:http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/427289/jewish/Tashlich-Prayer-English.htm

o Rosh Hashana tradition: Tashlich § Cast past years sins into the sea (throw bread in water), let old sins go into

water and start year anew with goals for how to live a better life Buddhism • From: http://e-collection.library.ethz.ch/eserv/eth:2577/eth-2577-11.pdf

o Water symbol for life o Purest form of food o In nature water is what connects all life o Symbol of purity, clarity, calmness, reminder to cleanse minds and attain mental state

of purity o Water used to heal sick, poured over heads to cleanse o Moving water is meditative, used to focus the mind and increase self awareness

Taoism • From: http://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com/tao-and-water/

o Water is relentless. It never stops exerting its force. o Its force is a manifestation of its nature. It does not try to be something it is not,

applying neither morality nor immorality. o When it is restricted, Water seeks the weakest spot of any obstruction and applies

constant force until it is free. o When it is pressed or attacked, it changes form and repositions itself. It exerts

constant counter force to search for weakness. o Water is opportunistic. Given the slightest opening it will pass through. It will do so

while the opening is present. It will widen the opening if possible. o Water always seeks to do the easiest thing as long as it can. o Water does not complain about the path it follows. It simply follows the path. o Water has a wide range of energetic expressions, but continues to be Water. It can be

still. It can be sluggish. It can be swift. It can be pounding. It can be vapor.


Christianity • From: The Meaning of Water in Christianity

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/PokhiltoWater.php o “Water is a mystically powerful element which, being connected with God in some

way, can cleanse sins, inner and outer defilement, and regenerate the human body. It is even possible to assert that water has taken on the religious symbol of life”.

o “Water transmits a number of symbols: destruction; death and burial; life; purification; cleansing; healing; blessing; sanctification; baptism including remission of sins, illumination, regeneration, new birth; the presence of the Holy Spirit; redemption; salvation. These rely upon a "rational" theological perception of mysteries hidden in water according to which the omnipresent God initiates any sacramental activity therein. From this perspective water appears to be a unique earthly element capable of immediate contact with God. Taken together these give us the meaning of water in Christianity”.

• From: Gronski, R. 2013. Water for life: regeneration of new spirit. Catholic Rural Life. o “I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all impurities” (Ezekiel

36:25-26). o “Water is a good of creation: meant for all human beings, all communities and all life.

God intended that water, like all natural created things on earth, would be shared fairly by humankind under the guidance of justice tempered by charity.”

o “Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes… “On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” ~ Ezekiel 47:9, 12

Climate Change

I. Climate Change and Lake Champlain • Climate change, caused by increased levels of atmospheric CO2, has caused rising

temperatures throughout the world. The effects of these rising temperature vary greatly based on the location. Vermont and Lake Champlain will face certain challenges in the coming years and decades as a result of climate change; however, these challenges might not be as extreme as those in more vulnerable areas (such as poor, costal communities).

• Observed climate change in the region o Increased temperatures

§ From 1976 – 2005, the average air temperature increased 2.2°F (1.2°C). Since 1964, the average surface temperature of Lake Champlain has increased by 6.8°F (3.8°C). Projections indicate the region could expect an additional 3-6°F increased by the middle of the century.

o Increased precipitation


§ While climate change has decreased precipitation in certain areas (such as California), it has actually increased precipitation in the northeastern United States. The average annual precipitation in the Lake Champlain Basin over the past 40 years is 3 inches greater than that of the previous 80-year period.

• Potential major impacts o Increased storm events and flooding

§ While flooding is a normal phenomenon in Vermont, climate change is intensifying the severity and frequency of flooding events. This poses several problems, such as threatening shoreline properties, increasing erosion and washing pollutants into the Lake.

o Fish and native species § Less annual snowmelt yields lower average lake levels, disrupting the

spawning habitat for certain fish and amphibians. § Shorter winters affect the breeding cycles for certain waterfowl. § Higher average temperatures threaten Lake Champlain’s ability to support

cold-water fish species, including salmon and trout. § Longer, warmer months provide an environment for potentially toxic algal

blooms to thrive. Algal blooms deprive the water of oxygen, making it harder to support other aquatic life, and can threaten human welfare.

§ These changes in Lake Champlain’s ecosystem open the door for invasive species. A warmer climate means that species that species that previously could not survive in the lake could now thrive.

o Changes in recreation § Declining ice cover has hurt ice fishing, a large economic boon in the region.

Additionally, the fact that precipitation is falling as rain more than snow has seriously hurt the skiing industry. However, warmer temperatures have increased tourism during the summer months.

• Adaptation o Current adaptation measures are focused on increasing the resilience of natural and

human systems to absorb the effects of, and quickly recover from, extreme weather events. Many of the strategies are continuing time-tested and effective strategies.

o Such examples include land conservation, river corridor and floodplain protection, pollutant control, water quality regulation, species monitoring, prevention of alien species invasions, best management practices, and the maintenance of vegetated lake and stream shoreline “buffer” zones.

• Additional sources: o Lake Champlain Basin Program overview of climate change in the region:

http://www.lcbp.org/water-environment/climate-change/ o 2015 State of the Lake Report: http://sol.lcbp.org/Climate_Affects.html o Nature Conservancy: “Climate Change in the Champlain Basin”:

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/vermont/what-we-do/champlain-climate-report-5-2010-2.pdf

II. Artist Responses to COP21 in Paris


• COP21: United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP21 or Conference of the Parties 21) This global conference was held in Paris from November 30th to December 12th 2015, to negotiate agreements on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through agreed upon targets.

• Groups all over the world held demonstrations and rallies pushing for a strong agreement, including a climate march in Burlington, Vermont.

• Fake ads with anti-corporate messages hung all over Paris • http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/11/brandalism-fake-ads-paris/ • Using advertisement design that specifically utilizes the styles of well-known

companies and their campaigns, artists created 600 anti-corporate posters that were hung all over the city in traditional advertising locations (bus stops, etc).

• The posters addressed a variety of issues - including greenwashing of products, failure of political leaders to act, and various atrocities committed by corporations.

• Their tactics for this project had the intent to surprise viewers or at least break up the endless bombarding of corporate messages with images that fought back.

• Hundreds of artists from all over the world collaborated on this project. • Olafur Eliasson: Ice Watch

• http://www.artists4climate.com/en/artists/olafur-eliasson/ • Ice Watch Paris: 80 tonnes of ice split into large blocks and arranged in a clock

formation that melt over the course of the day. The ice was taken from chunks that had already broken off in the Arctic and transported to Paris.

• As the pieces melt, you can hear little pops and crack as they release air trapped from thousands of years ago.

• Exploring relationship between data and understanding, doing, and feeling - what motivates people to act?

• Intent: making climate issues visible and tangible through his work • “A circle is like a compass. It leaves navigation to the people who are inside it. It is a

mistake to think that the work of art is the circle of ice—it is the space it invents.” – Eliasson

• Edward Burtynsky: Water • http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/site_contents/Photographs/Water.html • Photography that documents the changing relationship between people and the

environment. • Much of his previous work is photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes • In the exhibition Water, his photographs search for an understanding of what water is

- how it is used and misused. Many are aerial shots that show fractals or patterns created by water or the lack of it.

• Janet Laurence: Deep Breathing: Resuscitation for the Reef • http://www.artists4climate.com/en/artists/janet-laurence/ • Her piece is breathtaking installation of an imagined "hospital for the reef" where a

variety of specimens both real and cast are put into beds and glass tanks to "heal". She mixes both scientific facts with an imagined solution for recovery from traumatic damage.

• This work focuses on emotional response of the viewer to feel attached to loving and caring for all the specimens in the installation.


• Her work explores our relationship to the environment, specifically in regards to species extinction and climate change.

• Gideon Mendel: Drowning World • http://www.artists4climate.com/en/artists/gideon-mendel/ • Photographs that explore the effects of climate change much more intimately -

beyond just statistics but into the lived experiences of victims. • Photographed two floods - one in the UK and one in India; both on film.

• Liam Gillick: The Logical Basis • http://www.artcop21.com/events/10072/ • His work consists of 42 panels using one of formulas of Syukuro Manabe, one of the

world's leading scientists in climate change modeling. They are large-scale, long panels.

• They are installed in several railway platforms in Paris along the walls. • His work conveys the complexity of climate science in a way that also feels universal.

• http://www.artcop21.com/ • Silent March

• 22,000 shoes were laid out across Place de Republique as a silent march in place of the rallies and protests that were banned in Paris following the terrorist attacks.

• Shoes from all over the world were collected - including from Pope Francis and Ban Ki-Moon.

• It is symbolic of people standing in protest - but also touches on the idea that we are rooted to the earth and solidarity

Matt W., Hannah G. and Tim G. May 24, 2012

Final Events Writeup I. Fireside Chat:

Mission/Marketing Statement for PreEvent May 12th, 79PM, North Beach Shelter This event will be a discussion on the significance of water in Vermont through the form of personal narratives. Artists from Of Land & Local will attend to talk about their work in the exhibit, sparking a larger conversation on how artwork can play a role in the Vermont community’s appreciation for sustainability, specifically pertaining to water. In order to foster a productive conversation, we want to create a casual environment, where students, community members, academics, families, and the artists will gather at North Beach around a bonfire to form a sense of community and learn from each other’s knowledge and experiences. S’mores and light refreshments will be provided.

Overall mission We see this event as a way to accomplish many goals. First, we want to create a sense of community surrounding water issues in Vermont, and open up a space where people can begin to think about these topics in a broader and more personal context, while also raising awareness around Of Land and Local. Furthermore, we see this as an opportunity for people to meet the artists and for the artists to have the chance to talk about their work and their involvement in this project. Finally, and as a more secondary goal, we want this event to serve as a culmination of our class and a way to tie our efforts together. Launch party for the Zine, including directions for the public art installation that people could participate in creating on the spot. Event vision The primary purpose of this event is to initiate conversations. In order to do this, we would like to bring in artists from Of Land and Local to North Beach in Burlington in May (choose a date depending on artists availability), where there would be a bonfire with s’mores. The location of this event is important, as it is close to BCA, as well as Lake Champlain, which should ideally help set the tone of the conversation. If it is raining we could use the space within North Beach campsite or possible BCA’s space. Besides the networks that the artists will bring in themselves, we want to attract a student audience, as well as local Vermonters who are interested in the arts. We are hoping that by having the artists initiate this conversation (i.e. talking about the inspiration for their work and their reasons for being involved with Of Land and Local), the audience will feel comfortable opening up about their own thoughts and feelings that the art inspires.

Introduction: Have everyone go around and share a brief selfIntroduction:

Who you are? Where you’re coming from? What do you hope to get out of this event?

Conversation: Seven or so stakes in a circle around the bonfire, each stake featuring a question.

People can casually walk around and engage in informal discussions based on the question they are closest to. Take however long you want at each stake (510 mins) before moving along to another question with a different group of people.

Bring everyone up for s’mores and a concluding discussion on what came up in the smaller groups for each individual question

Thank everyone for coming and remind them why we are here because of our partnership with BCA’s Of Land and Local exhibit in the fall

Quick 2 min meditation at the water’s edge looking at the lake Questions:

1. What is the relationship between art and the environment? Can art be used as an effective means for communicating issues of environmentalism in order to start a movement? What has your experience been with this intersection?

2. What significance does water hold in Vermont? How does it shape the culture, environment, people, and identity of Vermont?

3. Where do you think the biggest area of focus should be regarding water issues in Vermont?

4. How do you see the water issues that exist here, in Vermont, fitting into a global context? What issues are unique to Vermont? Which issues link Vermont into a larger community?

5. What’s your fondest memory of your relationship with water? 6. Take a meditative minute to observe your surroundings. When you’re ready,

reflect on your experience and observations with those around you. 7. Water has incredible power. It is necessary for life, but can also destroy it. While

it is important to display the idyllic beauty of water through art in order to create an appreciation for it, is it also essential to portray the destructive and polluted side of water to foster a deeper care and respect for the environment? Is one more important than the other?

II. Community Service Event: Overall Mission The purpose of this event is to bring the community together in an active and productive way. We would like to leave an environment in a better state than when we arrived. We see this as the event that will not only allow people to think about water in Vermont, but will also act as a vehicle for them to take charge and make an immediate difference.

Event vision We would like to have a river clean up at the Winooski River. This is a polluted site that is often worked on by several organizations (see more information here: http://www.winooskiriver.org/rivercleanup.php), so we think that this would be an accessible site where a lot of effective work could be done. The Winooski River runs directly through Burlington, so once again the location is relevant. This event will be open to people of all ages, and while we likely won’t be talking directly about Of Land and Local during this event, it will act as an active supplement to the messages that the exhibit portrays and will also raise awareness about the exhibit. This cleanup will take place on a weekend day so that anyone can attend, and attendees should expect to get their hands dirty while cleaning up trash and removing invasive plants. Plan For additional information on how to plan a river cleanup, look at this handbook: http://www.americanrivers.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/05/ARHandbook_general2014.pdf?17079b

We spoke with Ann Smith at Friends of the Winooski, who told us that this is a very doable event, but that it would make more sense to begin planning it in the middle of the summer, as the event is so far in the future. She recommends that this event take place in either September or October, and urges BCA to reach out to her before then. She also directed us to the above handbook to begin our thought process. From this handbook we learned that while we want to have this cleanup at the Winooski River, we will need help from Friends of the Winooski to choose a more specific site, as the handbook suggests a site that is heavily littered, but we also must ensure that it is a safe cleanup site. Additionally, registering this event with American Rivers’ National River Cleanup will be helpful as soon as the date and exact location are chosen, as it may draw in more volunteers for the event, and free trash bags will also be provided by this organization given that the cleanup is registered at least four weeks in advance.

In the advertisement for this event, it should be made clear that participants should wear sturdy shoes, long pants, and gloves. Additionally, participants should bring sunscreen, bug spray, and water (unless BCA chooses to provide these amenities). On the day of the event, volunteers should expect to spend about two hours at the cleanup, so

http://www.winooskiriver.org/river-cleanup.php

http://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AR-Handbook_general-2014.pdf?17079b

http://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AR-Handbook_general-2014.pdf?17079b

it would also be helpful if BCA could provide some snacks to ensure that volunteers are energized and safe.

III. Panel:

Overall mission The purpose of this event is place water issues in Vermont in a global context. This will be accomplished through a facilitated discussion amongst experts in various water related fields. Event vision This panel would be geared towards an audience that is eager to learn more about current water issues around the world. Therefore, the event would welcome a broad range of people, however, would probably not be attractive to young children.

A fitting theme for the panel would be water related natural disasters in Vermont and beyond. This theme is particularly relevant as Vermont honors the fifth anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene this year, and as natural disasters increasingly affect communities around the world. This topic could bring in a large audience, as the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene is still very much in the recent memory of Vermonters. Furthermore, the intersection of natural disasters and climate change has been widely reported and covered in the popular media’s portrayal of environmental issues. The effects of climate change are increasingly beginning to be felt and one of the most acute effects is the increase in relevance and intensity of hurricanes, typhoons and flooding events.

While we think that this topic would make for a productive and thoughtful panel, we understand that it is best to match the topic to the panelists. Therefore, if the panelists that we have identified are unavailable, or if we somehow get in contact with a great potential panelist, whose expertise is not necessarily in this area, it might be best to slightly change the panel’s focus. Another potential panel topic that would also be very strong would be polluted water sources; this topic would hit on an issue close to home, as Bennington recently discovered many drinking wells to be unsafe, as well as larger conversations, such as how the drinking water in Flint, Michigan made national headlines. The topics should be finetuned to coordinate with available panelists. Ultimately, the intended impact of this event is to help conceptualize water issues that exist within Vermont into a more global context.

We hope to get a diversity of voices in the panel, such as experts covering Irene and Vermont’s recovery from it, the role of climate change in these natural disasters, global communities affected by similar events, and community recovery from natural disasters. Below we have compiled a list of potential panelists.

We have identified these people as our “first tier” panelists (however, further conversations with them could :

Deborah Markowitz, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (top Vermont environmental regulator); involved in climate issues throughout the state

Media Contact: Joanne Garton, [email protected], 8022494217

Michael Newbury, Middlebury College Professor of American Studies [email protected]

Peter Edlund, Central Vermont Community Action; heavily involved in post Irene Recovery

Nolan Atkins, Lyndon State College Professor of Atmospheric Sciences [email protected]

Diane Munroe and Rebecca Gould (if interested!)

We also found these individuals, who we believe would bring an interesting voice and perspective to the panel

Jessica Louisos, of the South Burlington Planning Commission and Milone and McBroom, Inc.

Karen Purinton, Colchester Town Planning Office Tony Stout, Lakeside Environmental Andres Torizzo, Watershed Consulting Associates Marty Illick, of Lewis Creek Association and South Chittenden River Katherine Ash, Irene Recovery Office Interagency Liaison Joseph Holler, Middlebury College Geography Professor Gretchen Alexander, Fluvial Erosion Hazard Program Central Region

Coordinator Larry Straus, head of the Rochester Select Board; heavily involved in post

Irene Recovery

We envision this panel following a fairly traditional panel format. First, a short intro of the overall event and of each panelist by a moderator. Then each panelist would have a few minutes to introduce themselves and their perspective on the topic. The moderator would facilitate a conversational and casual panel, where each panelist has ample opportunity to share their thoughts on various questions. The event would finally allow for a Q & A from the audience to end the event.

Here is a list of potential questions for the moderator (however, we suggest that this list gets heavily editing as panelists get confirmed for the event):

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

What do you see as the major similarities and differences between what Vermont has experienced in the past 5 years in its recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and the experiences of other communities who have faced similar natural disasters?

Over the past decade we have seen increasing levels of severe weather events, from Superstorm Sandy to the extended drought in California. How do you see your role as an academic, community manager (adjust titles to panelists), and citizen to help your local community deal with the effects of such events?

How do you see this conversation about natural disasters fitting into current greater global conversations?

What role, if any, do you see art having in helping communities prepare for or recover from natural disasters?

How do you see natural disasters that involve water (e.g. hurricanes, tsunamis, drought) differing from other natural disasters (e.g. tornados, earthquakes)?

How should our future efforts be focused to prepare for and recover from natural disasters?

Plan Contact potential panelists to gauge interest and availability. With more information about possible dates for the event, reserve space (most likely at Shelburne Farms). Once again, work with BCA’s advertising team to spread the word about the panel.

IV. Children’s Activity:

Overall mission We want this activity to bring kids together to learn more about basic water concepts in Vermont. Hopefully, this will help bring more meaning to the exhibit for a younger audience, as well as act as an informative experience for children who likely are unaware of many of these water issues. Additionally we would love to have the children prepare a piece of art (in the form of a collage) for the BCA Of Land and Local exhibit. Event vision A group of kids would take buses into Shelburne Farms, where they would participate in a canoe trip around an area Lake Champlain. This trip would be guided with educators, who would talk about both the history of the lake, as well as some of the things that are affecting it today (in simple terms). Interesting facts and regions around the lake would also be pointed out to keep their attention. The trip would

probably last for about an hour, and would conclude back at the farm, where the children would have the opportunity to make a drawing (either a simple paper and marker drawing, or a painting on a piece of birch bark) about something they learned or something that inspired them from the day. These drawings could potentially be hung somewhere at the farm or at BCA in conjunction with Of Land and Local. Plan Ashley can connect with Shelburne Farms to share our idea with them and plan out the logistics of the event. Tre McCarney, the Director of Community Programs at Shelburne Farms, is excited about idea and is willing to help plan it out in the fall. Contact Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes and their various programs to see if they would be interested in attending the event. Also, it is important to talk to Shelburne Farms about the setup of the exhibit taking place in their barn to see if there is sufficient room for a collage of the children’s artwork, or if this is something that BCA is interested in at all.

Thermocline - Lake Turnover Activity (15 Minutes) Purpose:

1. Teach kids and adults alike about the dynamics of water mixing in Lake Champlain and other bodies of water based on temperature gradients.

Materials:

• Clear basin filled with water • Different colored dyes • Thermometers • Something that can be used to heat the water (e.g. hairdryer, heat lamp, etc.)

Activity:

1. Begin by heating up the top layer of the water in the basin slightly, to simulate the gradient of temperatures that would be found in Lake Champlain.

2. Mix dye into water that is at roughly the same temperature as the top layer of water.

3. Slowly add the dye to the top layer of water, without agitating the water too much. And allow the dye to settle somewhat.

4. Apply heat (or add more hot water) to the top layer of water in the basin, and observe as the dye begins to mix with the deeper water as it warms and mixes with the top layer of water.

5. Have kids split up into groups and give them different color dyes, and have them experiment and see if they can create any cool mixing of dyes in the water by adjusting temperatures.

Possible Discussion:

1. How does this demonstration relate to Lake Champlain or other bodies of water? 2. How does temperature affect water mixing in Lake Champlain? 3. What do you think happens in the summer in Lake Champlain? Do you think the

water in the warmer upper lake layer and all the stuff in it would mix more fully in the lake?

Water Song-Making Group Activity (30 min) Purpose:

1. To engage students in collaboration on a group art piece. 2. For each group to produce a one-minute repeatable song, exploring the musical

properties of water. Materials:

• Buckets • Cups • Ping Pong paddles (or something to slap water) • Tubs • Watering cans • Stones to plop into water • Water source (sink)

Activity:

1. Break large group into groups of 4-6 students who will be “composer groups”. 2. Give the students five minutes to brainstorming all of the possible sounds they

can make using water (washboard, sloshing, swishing, splashing, spraying, falling water, etc.) given the materials provided. Encourage them to be creative!

3. Get the students back together and explain that they will be writing songs using only the sounds they can create with moving water. The songs should be one minute long, and include at least six distinct sounds. Encourage them to share experiences of times they have heard or listened to water (at favorite rivers, oceans, etc.) and to recreate or be inspired by those soundscapes. All students should participate and the song should be repeatable. Give them fifteen minutes to rehearse and plan their songs.

4. Gather students back together and have a “concert” during which each composer group will present their water song.

5. After each song, ask students to talk about what they liked in each song or identify ways each group used water that seemed creative to them.

Final Reflection on Collaboration with Artists:

Adam Kaminsky, Yvonne Chan, Kate Leib What we did: Cami: Stimulating conversation about her interest in water Immeasurable / measurable qualities and ecosystem value of water Holistic thinking with regards to water issues Art should not be constrained by “isms” (e.g environmentalism) Tension between grief and hope Sound piece

Recorded a number of water sounds using small hand-held recorders Created a 7-minute looping sound piece by layering and piecing together recordings

Uses natural and man-influenced water sounds Relaxing but also overwhelming at times Demonstrates power water holds, also beauty Uses natural breath rate as tempo to slow down and relax listener

Al and Sean: Research: Spirituality, recreation, mud season, water quality, flooding, Irene, climate change Discussion:

Specifics about their piece for exhibition Waves, how water is connected and moves Geography of lake Champlain Spiritual connections to water Data, different visualizations about data and how we interact with it Personal stories about water, art, and environmentalism Rachel:

Research: Climate change, artistic responses to climate talks, flooding, irene, water

damage

Discussion:

Connection between environmentalism, social activism, and environmental justice

Details on environmental justice, brainstorming ways art can take part in environmental justice

Previous work in social activism, and her recent move towards environmentalism

Global connections with regards to climate change and water issues Role of art in environmentalism, activism, etc.

How to incorporate themes we discussed into her eventual piece Reflection: Although our work with the artists was less involved than we initially thought, we feel as though we still made a valuable contribution to their work. First, all of the artists expressed interest in receiving a research document on a variety of topics, and as a class we were able to deliver on this request. The research was both relevant to the specific themes the artists were interested in and also provided a more comprehensive view on water with the hopes of expanding the intellectual thought of the artists. Additionally, through our discussions with the artists we were able to propose areas of study (such as environmental justice for Rachel), which they may not have thought of without our conversations. Beyond the research, we felt as though our discussions with the artist were productive, as they provided an outlet for the artists to conceptualize and explain their ideas to a third party, serving to help solidify their ideas in their minds. And for us as artists, we felt it an amazing opportunity to talk to working artists about their work and process. So even though we may have done less than we hoped for the artists, we came away from the experience with valuable knowledge and insights about the process of making art and the ways in which artists think. Additionally, we found the sound piece for Cami to be a productive endeavor as it tangibly helped Cami move towards the completion of her piece, and also provided us with the opportunity to think about water sonically, something we had not done with such intention before. Furthermore, we felt the Zine to be a part of the collaborative effort as well. Our conversations with the artists informed the outcome of the Zine, and the final product we hope to be useful both to the exhibition in the fall as well as to the artists personally.

Vermont Artists and WaterCompiled for BCA “Of Land and Local”

Eric Aho

Painter

“Ice Cuts” Exhibition at Hood Museum

“inspired by the hole cut in the ice in front of a Finnish sauna, an aspect of Finnish culture that Aho’s family has maintained to this day” - painted cuts he took out of the ice in his pond

Exhibition link: http://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/explore/exhibitions/eric-aho

Personal site: http://ericaho.com/exhibitions/hood-museum-2016/

http://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/explore/exhibitions/eric-aho



http://ericaho.com/exhibitions/hood-museum-2016/



Gary Hall

Photographer

“I am drawn to the movements and reflections of water as a liquid, it’s sculptural pulse as snow, it’s ambiguity as fog as well as it’s abstract qualities while frozen.” - lots of dynamic water photography

Edgewater Gallery: http://edgewatergallery.co/artists/gary-hall/

Personal site: http://www.garyhallphoto.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=1&pt=0&pi=1&s=0&p=-1

Christina Pellechio

Ceramicist

Lots of beautiful water-based ceramic wall work, and some vessels, as well

Personal site: http://www.cristinapellechio.com/

“Irene, Irene”

Michael Sacca

Videographer

“Water is the most abundant and vital substance on Earth. An ocean or waterway becalmed is an oasis of contemplation; astir it can inspire awe or terror. Videographer and photographer Michael Sacca’s flow-MOTION immerses the viewer in a mesmerizing installation of water images.”

Flow-MOTION exhibition at Brattleboro Museum: http://www.brattleboromuseum.org/2016/02/09/flow-motion-michael-sacca/

Link to video: https://vimeo.com/159337915

Vimeo Site: https://vimeo.com/user3702809

Christian Schoenig

Metal Sculptor

Lots of fish made out of discarded scrap metal objects

Green Mountain Fine Art: http://www.greenmountainfineart.com/gallery/christian-schoenig

Woodstock Gallery: http://www.woodstockgalleryvt.com/schoenig.html

Pete Boardman

"I find inspiration in the constant motion of water and it’s freedom to slide gracefully throughout the natural world. My art aims to represent the invisible current that is hidden within the wilderness.”

Personal site: http://peteboardman.weebly.com/

Chris Curtis

Sculptor

Vermont sculptor does a lot with stone and metal, lots of fountains and moving water

West Branch Gallery: http://westbranchgallery.com/artist-works.php?artistId=51914&artist=Chris%20Curtis

Personal site: http://www.christophercurtis.com/

Denise Trotier Johnson

Photographer

Personal site: http://denisejohnsonphoto.photoshelter.com/#!/index/G0000SxY_aOJ0RUM

Mariella Bisson

Mixed media on linen or wood

“I was born in northern Vermont in a house owned by Robert Frost. My lifelong obsession with painting was fostered by our local library, The St. Johnsbury Athanaeum where I spent my days with a remarkable world-class collection of Hudson River paintings – including Bierdstadt’s largest work, and landscapes by Thomas Cole, Sanford Gifford and Asher Durand. Those paintings and the rugged beauty of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom are still very present in my visual memory.”

Personal site: http://www.mariellabisson.com/

Jennifer Stock

Photographer

“Bordered by the Connecticut River and bisected by the vigorous energies of the Whetstone Brook, Brattleboro’s topography is defined by waterways. An audio-visual installation by Jennifer Stock, Water Studies, Brattleboroprojects abstracted visions revealed via reflections in the town’s water, complemented by processed ambient field recordings. From river to creeks to pools of rainwater, Brattleboro’s waterways offer altered constructions of locality, loosened and modulated by motion and the reflection of light. “

“Water Studies, Brattleboro” exhibition 2014 images: http://www.brattleboromuseum.org/2014/02/05/water-studies-brattleboro/

Kim Radochia

Painted and hand-torn paper on canvas and other large installations

Featured at West Branch Gallery in Stowe

Personal site: http://kimradochia.com/

Stuart Hall

Photographer

“What makes snowflakes so exciting is that everytime you go out to photograph them you know they’ll be different from any other you’ve previously taken.”

Personal Website: http://www.snowflakesbystu.com/

Julie Winn

Photographer

“I take pictures of nature and often use digital manipulation and effects to enhance and rearrange what is already present in the photograph to create something new and interesting. Much of my artwork focuses on trees, plants and flowers and often captures the symmetry and fractal patterns found in the natural world.”

Personal Website: http://www.juliewinnart.com/

Kathleen Kolb

Painter

Series of paintings on icebergs in Newfoundland

Personal site: http://www.kathleenkolb.com/icebergs.htm

Homer Wells

Painter

“Using translucent paint over his spun aluminum designs to enhance reflected light, Homer is able to create pieces that visually take on an almost kinetic like movement. As the viewer shifts their gaze across the piece, the refraction and reflection make it appear as if the clouds and water in his paintings are steadily moving across the panel”

Edgewater gallery: http://edgewatergallery.co/artists/homer-wells/

Elizabeth Nelson

Painter

“Tangential images and a focus on the glancing edge of vision expanding from the center is a new event, never before experienced. Illusion and reality become entwined, each becoming something of the other. I attempt to unite form and content, the concrete and ideal, art and life.”

http://www.elizabethnelsonstudio.com/

ORCA Boats

This company creates beautiful wooden boats, which have been featured at galleries before as art; manufactured by hand - search for VT handmade wooden boats (they exist)

Edgewater Gallery: http://edgewatergallery.co/artists/orca-boats/

Company site: http://orcaboats.ca/boatbuilder/contact.htm

Kasy Pendergast

Painter

“Through playing with depth, scale, color, and texture, the viewer’s eye moves back and forth from one space to another. Water, open space, landscape, and urban congestion are embedded in our collage of mental pictures. I aim for each viewer to have their own response to my work, drawing on individual perspective and experience.”

Personal Website: http://www.kasyprendergast.com/home

George Angelini

Painter

Oil painter who incorporates water into some of his paintings

Artist Website: http://www.georgeangelini.com/

Adelaide Tyrol

Painter

Personal site: http://adelaidetyrol.com/index.html

Krista Cheney

Photographer

Photographer who has a series of still lifes that focus on ice and frozen items

Website: http://www.kristacheneyphotography.com/

Georgina Forbes

Painter

“I am interested in water as a pathway and agent in the process of creating new life on the canvas. My dialog is with the liquid colors as they meet each other under a variety of circumstances...Working on the floor with acrylic paint, I invite the liquid nature of the paint to create a life of its own. I am always seeking to surprise myself, to be intrigued and moved beyond the limitations of realism and experience.”

Artist Website: http://www.georginaforbesart.com/water.html