Environmental Action Committee
The Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance has formed a new committee to raise awareness of our local environment, support actions that reduce environmental impacts, and encourage participation in eco-friendly activities.
“Westport has tremendous ecological assets, including Lake Champlain, ecologically rich forests, productive farmland, scenic vistas, and the attractive hamlets of Westport and Wadhams,” said Jen Williams, the new President of the WWCA. “We are so pleased to have this new committee to engage residents and the broader community in honoring and protecting these valuable features.”
Some of the suggested initial projects for the committee are:
Developing and promoting an enhanced “Take it or Leave it” area for free items at the transfer station, to reduce disposal of items people may be able to use
Hosting green energy/eco-fair events and conducting educational outreach
Building upon the spring roadside trash cleanup and adding another in the fall
Scheduling hazardous waste disposal days
Encouraging the planting of pollinator gardens
Supporting the creation of a composting program for town residents
Chris Maron, who will serve as the committee’s Chair, said “As we develop our goals and the projects, priorities, and actions to accomplish them, we welcome new members from the community to join this exciting new venture to enhance the exceptional quality of life we all get to enjoy here in Westport and the Champlain Valley.”
Additional Resources
Champlain Area Trails (CATS). https://www.champlainareatrails.com/about/history
CATS, established in 2009, tackles the scarcity of public lands and hiking opportunities in the Champlain Valley, ensuring that all Adirondack communities have equitable access to trails and nature.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Service - Essex County Office. https://essex.cce.cornell.edu/
Connects people with the information they need on topics such as commercial and consumer agriculture; nutrition and health, youth and families, finances, energy efficiency, economic and community development, and sustainable natural resources. Their ability to match university resources with community needs helps them play a vital role in the lives of individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Essex County.
Boquet River Association https://boquet-river.org/
Works to improve the water quality of the Boquet River Watershed and to improve the lives of its residents.
Lake Champlain Research Institute. https://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/lake-champlain-research-institute/index.html
The primary objective of the Lake Champlain Research Institute is to promote student research. Current research activities among affiliates include many topics in a variety of disciplines. The Institute is actively involved in research in the Lake Champlain Basin.
Lake Champlain Basin Program. https://www.lcbp.org/
The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is a Congressionally-designated initiative to restore and protect Lake Champlain and its surrounding watershed. They work with partners in New York, Vermont, and Québec to coordinate and fund efforts to address challenges in the areas of phosphorus pollution, toxic substances, biodiversity, aquatic invasive species, and climate change. The LCBP also administers the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, which builds appreciation and improves stewardship of the region’s rich cultural resources by interpreting and promoting its history.
Lake Champlain Sea Grant. https://www.uvm.edu/seagrant/home
The Lake Champlain Sea Grant Institute develops and shares science-based knowledge to benefit the environment and economies of the Lake Champlain basin. The Institute is a cooperative effort of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont (UVM) and the Lake Champlain Research Institute at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. It operates through partnerships with UVM Extension, state and local government agencies, and numerous other local organizations.
Lake Champlain Committee's Cyanobacteria Tracker https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/tracking/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae-tracker
The Cyanobacteria Tracker Map is a data collaboration project of the Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation and the Lake Champlain Committee. The interactive map allows you to check recent lake reports, search by lake region, or by town, view the latest results by test site, and check the site’s alert status for more information.
Eddy Foundation. http://www.theeddy.org/
The Eddy Foundation is a charitable organization that works to preserve open space for the welfare of people, plants, and animals, including (but not limited to) the Adirondack Park. It works with individuals and organizations to help ensure that future generations can enjoy healthy landscapes with a full range of biodiversity. The Foundation supports projects that benefit old-growth forests, non-polluted watersheds, the arts, education, and wild nature.
Adirondack Land Trust. https://adirondacklandtrust.org/
Works to conserve the forests, farmlands, waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of our communities and the ecological integrity of the Adirondacks.
ADK Action. https://www.adkaction.org/
Works to make life better across the Adirondacks through partnerships and creative problem solving, where people and nature thrive together.
North Country Climate Club. https://northcountryclimateclub.com/
The North Country Climate Club is a youth-led organization that engages in projects to inspire passion for conserving our natural environment as an avenue to achieve social and health equity in our local communities.
Nature Conservancy - New York. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/new-york/
With a grounding in rigorous science, they take innovative conservation approaches from idea to impact, scaling to achieve system change. Their website contains links to Adirondack-specific areas, news, and initiatives.
Lake Champlain Land Trust https://www.lclt.org/
Founded in 1978, the mission of the Lake Champlain Land Trust is to save the scenic beauty, natural communities, and recreational amenities of Lake Champlain by permanently preserving significant islands, shoreline areas, and natural communities in the Champlain Region.
Lake Champlain Committee https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/
LCC is a bi-state nonprofit that uses science-based advocacy, education, and collaborative action to protect and restore water quality, safeguard natural habitats, foster stewardship, and ensure recreational access.
Northeast Wilderness Trust https://newildernesstrust.org/
The Northeast Wilderness Trust takes a forever-wild approach to ensure every acre they protect will be a future old growth forest: bolstering biodiversity and storing carbon naturally to conserve landscapes for nature and people.
Adirondack Council https://www.adirondackcouncil.org/
The Adirondack Council is a not-for-profit environmental organization that is committed to protecting the natural environment of the Adirondack Park to preserve wild habitat in harmony with human communities for generations to come. The Council does not accept any government funding. They are supported by private donations from generous members and donors.
Lyme Adirondack Forest Company https://lymeadirondack.com/
Lyme Adirondack Forest Company manages 234,000 acres of forestland in the Adirondack Mountain region in northeastern New York. This company owns most of the "Westport Woods" forest.
Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest - NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)https://dec.ny.gov/places/split-rock-mountain-wild-forest
The 3,700-acre Split Rock Wild Forest is part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Located in the eastern foothills of the Adirondack Mountains along the shore of Lake Champlain, it comprises the largest tract of undeveloped Lake Champlain shoreline in New York.
Ausable Freshwater Center https://www.ausableriver.org/
The Ausable Freshwater Center advances science and stewardship of Adirondack waters.
Adirondack Mountain Club https://adk.org/
ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) works to protect New York State wild lands and waters by promoting responsible outdoor recreation and building a statewide constituency of land stewardship advocates.
Adirondack Wild https://adirondackwild.org/
Adirondack Wild values and works for an interconnected, unfragmented, intact and healthy network of protected public and private wildlands across the entire Adirondack Park.
Protect the Adirondacks! https://www.protectadks.org/
Protect the Adirondacks! Inc. is a non-profit, grassroots membership organization dedicated to the protection and stewardship of the public and private lands of the Adirondack Park, and to building the health and diversity of its natural and human communities for the benefit of current and future generations.
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers https://www.backcountryhunters.org/
Through advocacy, education, and boots-on-the-ground action, they work to keep public lands in public hands and access within reach of all who roam.
Environmental Advocates NY https://www.eany.org/
Environmental Advocates NY works to restore and protect New York’s environment, support healthy, vibrant communities, and secure benefits and outcomes for all within and beyond the state through policies, education, partnerships, and advocacy.
Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) https://www.adirondack.org/
ANCA is an independent, nonprofit organization and regional economic hub. Focused on small businesses, climate & energy, local food systems, and welcoming & belonging, ANCA is working to ensure the long-term viability of our one-of-a-kind region, empowering individual wellbeing, economic strength, and regional stewardship.
Adirondack Architectural Heritage https://aarch.org/
Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) is the nonprofit historic preservation organization for New York State’s Adirondack region that promotes public understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Adirondacks’ architectural heritage and unique communities through education, advocacy, technical assistance, and direct action.
Adirondack Wilderness Advocates https://adirondackwilderness.org/
As a wilderness advocacy organization, their mission is to speak for and protect the wilderness quality of the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
Adirondack Lakes Alliance (ALA) https://www.adirondacklakesalliance.org/
The Adirondack Lakes Alliance, ALA, representing lake and river associations within the Adirondacks, has as its primary mission the protection and preservation of our Adirondack waters.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) https://www.esf.edu/
ESF is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies and building of a sustainable future.
