Helping schools meet state stormwater regulations

Vermont DEC’s Green Schools Initiative

Under the Vermont Clean Water Act, properties with three or more acres of impervious surfaces, such as rooftops or parking lots, must install stormwater management systems to help prevent polluted runoff from entering the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog watersheds. Before making these upgrades, property owners are required to obtain General Permit 3-9050.

To help public schools with three or more acres of impervious surfaces meet these requirements, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) started the Vermont Green Schools Initiative and chose Greenprint to lead both phases. Phase 1 helped schools design their projects and get the necessary permits, while Phase 2 focuses on building the projects.

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Greenprint guided over 60 public schools through the permit application process, reaching out to school districts and hosting a webinar to share program details. We partnered with the Lake Champlain Sea Grant to provide educational resources for teachers and hired local engineering firms to design the sites. Impressively, 20% of the funds went to women-owned businesses, surpassing the State’s 5% goal. 

As the main connection between schools and contractors, Greenprint provides clear communication and coordination, ensuring project success. In particular, we work closely with school and district contacts, including superintendents, principals, facilities and operations managers to keep everyone in-the-know. Our team is now managing the construction phase, bringing each school's stormwater management project to life.