Vermont Governor Phil Scott this week joined state and local officials and others in declaring their commitment to protect the state’s waters as they marked Vermont Clean Water Week. Kicking off the week, they spoke from the terrace of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, with Lake Champlain as the backdrop.
“Vermont is a state of green mountains and blue waters known for its natural beauty, and we are here to reaffirm our commitment to the stewardship of those resources,” said Julie Moore, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
More than 90 businesses, organizations, and parks are sponsoring Vermont Clean Water Week and offering more than 60 events across the state. Experiences include participating in water quality monitoring, touring a dam, or visiting a hydroelectric or wastewater treatment plant.
Scott noted that the week coincides with the six-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene, which wreaked havoc and caused millions of dollars of damage around the state.
“Investment in clean water helps us better respond to flooding. It improves the roads we travel on every day,” he said. “It helps our businesses, our farms, manufacturers, cheese producers, and breweries invest in their future and in ours.”