Green Mountain Power honors Friends of Waterbury Reservoir with award
December 17, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti
For their work to steward Waterbury’s favorite water body including efforts to guard against invasive species and to protect its loon population and habitat, the Friends of Waterbury Reservoir have been honored with Green Mountain Power’s annual environmental award.
Green Mountain Power’s Vice President of External Relations Kristen Carlson (center) presents the GMP Zetterstrom Environmental Award to Eric Chittenden, president of the Friends of Waterbury Reservoir, at the Waterbury Public Library on Dec. 13 with current and past board members in attendance. Photo by Gordon Miller
Meeting at the Waterbury Public Library on Wednesday afternoon, present and past board members from the local nonprofit organization were presented with the 2023 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award.
Kristen Carlson, Green Mountain Power’s vice president of external relations, praised the group’s application that detailed its breadth of work on and around the reservoir.
The annual award recognizes either an individual Vermonter or a Vermont organization for their dedication to protecting and improving the state’s natural resources. Started in 2010, it was created to honor the legacy of the late Meeri Zetterstrom of Milton, a tireless advocate whose dedication to ospreys over 25 years led to the birds’ ultimate removal from the endangered species list. Zetterstrom immersed herself in firsthand knowledge of the raptors to inform her lobbying efforts with the state, utilities and private landowners to restore and protect the birds’ nesting areas and ultimately, their population in the state.
“She was a single person who had a big impact, because as you know, osprey are doing great in Vermont,” Carlson said in recounting the award’s history.
Osprey in Vermont have rebounded thanks to efforts led by Meeri Zetterstrom. Green Mountain Power photo
“This award is to really honor like-minded individuals and groups for making a big impact on Vermont, our wildlife, our environment and our community, and Friends of Waterbury Reservoir does all of that and more,” Carlson said.
Eric Chittenden, president of Friends of the Waterbury Reservoir, thanked Carlson and Green Mountain Power for the recognition. “The volunteers who make up Friends of Waterbury Reservoir are both humbled and honored to be selected for this award, and we’re proud to continue Meeri Zetterstrom’s legacy of advocacy and commitment to the environment through our work in Waterbury,” he said. “The reservoir is a tremendous community resource and protecting it for all to enjoy is what motivates us.”
Founded in 1994, the all-volunteer, nonprofit Friends of the Waterbury Reservoir has worked on numerous initiatives to improve the environment for both wildlife and human visitors at the popular man-made lake that lies within two state parks in Waterbury. Among them are:
The greeter program in conjunction with the town of Waterbury and the state Agency of Natural Resources that prioritizes reducing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Since adopting state Aquatic Invasive Species guidelines eight years ago, the group says it has not seen the spread of any new invasive species at the reservoir. Greeters at access points around the lake talk with boaters and inspect watercraft on the lookout for “aquatic invasive hitchhikers” that could spread to the reservoir, the group explained.
A monofilament fish line recycling program that provides containers for anglers to dispose of used fishing line to reduce instances of wildlife becoming entangled in discarded tackle. Recycling efforts have expanded in recent years to include collection of lead lures which can be fatal to birds when swallowed.
A loon conservation program that uses a floating nesting platform that is resilient to water-level shifts to improve chances of loon fledgling survival.
A new program begun this past summer to provide “safe food-hang bags” to state park visitors at remote campsites to reduce encounters with wildlife over food.
The loon raft on the Waterbury Reservoir is seen floating on July 15, four days after the July flood. Photo by Duncan Goss
The award winner is chosen by a panel of the utility’s employees who have responsibilities related to land management, resource protection, community relations, education, and environmental compliance. A top honor in the Vermont environmental-activism community, the GMP-Zetterstrom Award is a crystal engraved trophy shaped like a feather as inspired by ospreys. It also comes with a $2,500 check to further the recipient’s cause. Carlson presented both on Wednesday.
Friends of Waterbury Reservoir president Eric Chittenden with the GMP Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Photo by Gordon Miller
Chittenden said that the group, having just learned of their selection for the award recently, has not had a chance yet to discuss how it will use the funds. That will be a topic for discussion at its board meeting in February, he said.
Group members gathered for the ceremony reflected on their organization’s history and shared how their work relies on collaborating with the public, state parks staff, as well as state and other fish and wildlife experts.
Nominations are not yet open for the 2024 GMP-Zetterstrom Award. Detailed guidelines are online from the 2023 application period.
Loons on the Waterbury Reservoir this past summer. Photo by Gordon Miller
Past GMP-Zetterstrom Award winners
2022, Mike Korkuc, a volunteer who led successful loon recovery efforts at Lake Dunmore and surrounding lakes
2021, Angella Gibbons, who founded EarthWalk Vermont
2020, Brian Lowe, who has helped hundreds of American kestrels successfully hatch and fledge in Vermont over two decades
2019, Eric Hanson, a biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, who helped save endangered loons in Vermont
2018, Steve Parren, a biologist for the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
2017, Marty Illick of Charlotte, a founding member and longtime executive director of the nonprofit Lewis Creek Association
2016, Lake Champlain International, a nonprofit working to protect, restore and revitalize Lake Champlain
2015, Roy Pilcher, founder of the Rutland County Chapter of Audubon
2014, Kelly Stettner, who founded the Black River Action Team in southern Vermont
2013, The Lake Champlain Committee, which works to protect and improve Lake Champlain
2012, Margaret Fowle, who led Vermont’s peregrine falcon restoration program
2011, Michael Smith, the founder of Rutland’s Pine Hill Park
2010, Sally Laughlin, a scientist whose work was instrumental in restoring three species of endangered birds in Vermont
Find more information online about Friends of the Waterbury Reservoir on its website friendsofwaterburyres.org.