Vermonters face federal clean water changes

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) — Vermont farmers compete to secure money for clean water projects as federal funding cuts create a smaller pot to draw from.

Vermont’s recently released 2025 clean water report documents the end of millions of federal dollars to keep the Green Mountains’ waterways clean.

The American Rescue Plan Act, spanning 2022 to 2025, brought $121 million to Vermont for clean water projects.

Another $76.5 Million dollars went to Vermont’s clean water state revolving fund via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That ends this year.

State officials say they were able to distribute those funds strategically because they’re ending on schedule.

“The competition to access those limited dollars has become steeper and made it more difficult for farmers to access that financial assistance that they need to be able to get this work done,” said Emily Bird of the Vermont Environmental Conservation Department.

What they weren’t accounting for was the early end of an inflation reduction act grant. That was rescinded last fall instead of 2027.

The state lost over $10 million meant for farmers and forest landowners to improve water quality and boost flood resilience and riparian habitats.

Bird says the sudden loss means remaining funding is stretched thin.

“The loss of financial assistance for them will make meeting regulations more expensive for farmers…It really does have also an economic toll that it can take in terms of the production of the land and the ability to remain resilient to extreme weather,” she said.

A state water quality expert says 187 landowners applied for assistance under the Inflation Reduction Act grant.

Now, they’re vying for other funds through the US Department of Agriculture.

The state is appealing the rescinded Inflation Reduction Act grant.

Meanwhile, state officials say they’re working to use remaining funds to advance clean water initiatives and support landowners.

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