Shelburne Bay:
Shelburne Bay is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, oriented in a north-south direction
with a maximum length of 5.6 km (3.5 miles), a maximum width of 2.85 km (1.8 miles), and a surface area of 9.1 km2 (3.5 mi2).
The Bay is relatively shallow at the southern end and 36.6 meters (120 ft) where it joins the Broad Lake at the northern
end. The mean depth of the bay is approximately 15.2 meters (50 ft). Shelburne Bay is the municipal water supply for the
Champlain Water District. The intake pipe for the district is located near the mouth of Shelburne Bay and Redrocks Point.
Two municipal wastewater treatment facilities, South Burlington's Bartlett Bay and Shelburne Fire District #1, discharge
treated domestic waste directly into the bay proper. Two other wastewater treatment facilities, Shelburne Fire
District #2 and the Hinesburg plant, indirectly discharge into the Bay. Shelburne F.D. #2 discharges into McCabes Brook and
Hinesburg discharges into the LaPlatte River. Shelburne Bay is a prized recreational area, supporting swimming,
boating and fishing activities.
LaPlatte River Facts:
The LaPlatte River Watershed is located in Chittenden County, Vermont. The LaPlatte is the major
tributary to Shelburne Bay. The area is 57.4 square miles (36,740 acres) in size and runs through in the towns of Shelburne,
Charlotte, Hinesburg, Richmond, Williston and St. George. The LaPlatte River drainage area is 138 km2 at the mouth,
draining into Shelburne Bay. The headwaters of the LaPlatte River are located in Hinesburg and the main stem flows 15 miles
(24.1 km) in a northwesterly direction to Shelburne Bay. The major tributaries are McCabes Brook, Bingham Brook, Mud Hollow
Brook and Patrick Brook below Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg. The LaPlatte has a United States Geological Survey (USGS) station
located at Shelburne Falls. Station #04282795, is located approximately 2.0 miles from its mouth to the Bay. The station is 300
feet upstream of Shelburne Falls bridge. Hinesburg's wastewater treatment facility discharges into the LaPlatte River some
19.2 km (12 mi) above the mouth of the river.The LaPlatte River has been the most studied part of the watershed, it has been
the focus for many environmental studies by a broad range of groups. The LaPlatte River is listed on the Vermont List of
Impaired Waters for 1998, from Hinesburg to its mouth (10.5 miles). The parameter of concern is pathogens.
McCabes Brook:
The drainage area of McCabes Brook (at the confluence with the LaPlatte River) is 14.4 km2 and joins the
LaPlatte River in a large marsh area preserved by the Nature Conservancy. Shelburne Fire District #2 discharges treated
domestic and industrial waste to McCabes Brook 1.6 km (1.0 mi) from its confluence with the LaPlatte River.McCabes Brook
is listed on the Vermont List of Impaired Waters for 1998, from its mouth upstream for 3.5 miles. It is unspecified what
the parameter(s) of concern is.
Potash Brook:
Potash Brook flows between Burlington and South Burlington, Vermont. The main stem originates in the town
of Williston. The brook flows northerly until it approaches Route 2, where it then flows westerly discharging into the
northeast corner of Shelburne Bay.Potash Brook flows through East Woods, a conservation area owned by the University of
Vermont. The brook enters a culvert under Farrell Street. When the brook approaches Shelburne Road, it enters a 725 foot
culvert. The drainage area of the Potash Brook watershed is 7.49 square miles and the watershed is highly urbanized. Potash
Brook is listed on the Vermont List of Impaired Waters for 1998, from its mouth upstream for 5 miles. The parameters of
concern are sediment and pathogens.
Bartlett Brook:
The Bartlett Brook watershed is approximately 3.79 square kilometers. The headwaters begin in the vicinity of Spear Street
in South Burlington and then flow westward. There are two forks of Bartlett Brook (a north and south fork). There is a small
stream called North Brook, which enters Shelburne Bay approximately 100 feet north of the mouth of Bartlett Brook. The Bartlett
Brook watershed is a highly urbanized, developed area. Because of this, South Burlington established the Bartlett Brook Watershed
Protection Overlay District in order to control stormwater runoff and prevent worsening of erosion problems currently experienced
within the Bartlett Brook and North Brook watersheds.
Munroe Brook:
Munroe Brook is listed on the Vermont List of Impaired Waters for 1998, for unknown toxicity. Biomonitoring and fish studies during
1991 and 1999, at a site about 50 feet below Bay Road, indicate a poor community assessment for both macroinvertebrates and fish.
Mud Hollow Brook/Bingham Brook:
Mud Hollow Brook and Bingham Brook are tributaries to the LaPlatte River. Brigham Brook confluences with Mud Hollow Brook in Charlotte,
and then Mud Hollow continues to flow north where it enters the LaPlatte River in Shelburne (north of Lime Kiln Road and west of Spear
Street). The majority of these streams' travel is through agricultural and farmland. Mud Hollow Brook is listed on the Vermont List of
Impaired Waters for 1998, from the mouth to 3 miles upstream. It is impaired by the parameters: nutrients, organic enrichment, pathogens
and sediment.
Other Facts
Vermont Listing of Impaired Waters for 1998
Vermont Water Quality Standards
Vermont Statutes on Water Pollution Control
Phosphorus
E. Coli: (Escherichia coli)
Nitrogen
Pathogens
Nuisance Species
Projects Occurring in the Community