South Burlington, Burlington & UVM Upgrade Stormwater Pond

SOUTH BURLINGTON — Work is underway on a stormwater improvement project known as the UVM Main Street Pond, made possible through a partnership between the University of Vermont and the cities of South Burlington and Burlington. Located near the border of the two cities, where Williston Road transitions into Main Street, the project involves expanding and upgrading an existing stormwater pond into a gravel wetland that meets modern design standards. Constructed wetlands use a submerged gravel layer and wetland plants to filter stormwater runoff, effectively removing pollutants that would otherwise reach local rivers and streams. The project provides two primary benefits. First, by removing excess phosphorus from the watershed, stormwater practices like this one help improve overall water quality in the Lake Champlain basin. This gravel wetland alone is estimated to capture approximately 6.39 kilograms of phosphorus per year, preventing it from entering the lake. Second, by detaining and slowly releasing stormwater, the upgraded system will meet the Channel Protection Standard outlined in the 2017 Vermont Stormwater Management Manual, supporting ongoing efforts to restore flows in nearby Centennial Brook. More information can be found in the City of South Burlington’s Centennial Brook Flow Restoration Plan. UVM, Burlington, and South Burlington are each contributing to the project based on the amount of impervious surface they own within its drainage area. Impervious surfaces—areas like parking lots and roofs where water cannot infiltrate—directly contribute to stormwater runoff and associated water quality concerns. In total, the upgraded system will treat 19.64 acres of impervious surface upon completion. The City of South Burlington received a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Community Formula Grant from the State of Vermont to fund its share of the project costs. This grant utilizes federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Through this support from the State’s Clean Water Initiative Program, and by collaborating and combining resources, UVM, Burlington, and South Burlington are actively working toward their common goal of improving the health of Centennial Brook and the larger Lake Champlain watershed.