It has come to my attention that almost half of Vermont's seven watershed coordinators employed by the Agency of Natural Resources' Department of Environmental Conservation are currently threatened with losing their jobs as part of the state's effort to balance their budget. I am writing to request that we all deeply consider how this will affect the future of Vermont's streams, rivers, forests, farms, and communities over the next many decades before our legislators cast their votes.
On behalf of more than 200 friends and members and the board of directors for the West River Watershed Alliance (WRWA), I ask that you please tell our senators and state representatives that we need to keep our watershed coordinators.
Marie Levesque Caduto is the watershed coordinator for the West, Williams and Saxtons Rivers, also known as Basin 11, the region of the state where I have had the privilege to work as Director of WRWA's flagship Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP). This program is only one small, very tangible impact Marie and her counterparts have had on the state's watershed resources. Marie is the guiding light for our organization and others like it throughout our region. She is our connection to the state's conservation efforts and is instrumental in helping us to obtain funding to continue to engage Vermont's local citizens in conserving and restoring their watershed resources.
As you know, Vermont's economy is closely tied to its natural resources. For this reason alone, it makes very little sense to put jobs from the Agency of Natural Resources on the chopping block – these positions are not fluff! During Maries' 3½-year tenure as a watershed planner for Basin 11, Basin 10, and Basin 13 she has brought in over $700,000 in grant funds to support numerous monitoring, planning, and restoration projects throughout southeastern Vermont. In addition to their environmental benefits, these funds help to create jobs, employing people to do good work that would not be possible otherwise.
The watershed coordinators are an essential part of the “basin planning process,” which helps citizens know and understand the current condition of their natural resources as well as the specific projects that need doing to repair, protect, and restore the clean water and healthy forests that support Vermont's vibrant rural communities. This process took over three years of hard work in Basin 11 and has just been completed. The WRWA has been working closely with Marie on the implementation of many of the projects identified in the plan and are on the cusp of an opportunity to work with the Trust for Public Land, the Connecticut River Watershed Council, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to begin work on another round of projects that focus on protecting our coldwater fisheries.
Most people I know who have moved to Vermont have done so because it “so beautiful” and want their kids to grow up in a “pristine” environment – please preserve this right for our children and grandchildren. I come from a place where I was subject to watching my childhood home of northern coastal New Jersey marred by pollution and development. I am so grateful every day that I get to see my boys run down to play at the stream that runs through our backyard. It is the reason I am here, it is the reason many families are here, it is the reason Vermont is one of the greatest states in the nation.
I know that the budget must be balanced, but cutting funds and jobs from our Agency of Natural Resources does not bring balance. It is impossible to have a healthy economy without healthy ecosystems. Thank you very much for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. If you would like more information on how you can make your voice heard, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our blog to leave a comment there: wrwa.vt.blogspot.com.