-Hi, I'm -Eric Ford for Made Here, -long time -Waterbury, Vermont filmmaker -Vince Franke's latest film -is titled Summit to Shore: -Celebrating -and protecting the Waters -of the Lake Champlain Basin.

-In the film, Vince profiles -the efforts of community -organizations, -scientists, ecologists, -and volunteers to protect -and restore the waterways -that feed Lake Champlain.

-You can watch Summit to Shore -and other great made here -!films streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the film -and thanks for watching.

-Lake Champlain, -a natural gem -with magnificent beauty -and a rich history, -is fed with waters -delivered by a large network -of rivers and streams.

-These tributaries drain -an expansive landscape known -as the Lake Champlain Basin, -from distant mountain summits -and remote headwater -seeps to beaches and wetlands -on the lake's shoreline.

-These tributaries pass -through a patchwork -of forests, -farms, towns, and villages.

-Lake Champlain -and the basin's rivers -have been used for travel -routes, agriculture, -industry, and recreation -since the first inhabitants -arrived -in the region -thousands of years ago.

-!These waterways continue to be -the lifeblood of communities -throughout the region.

-Many organizations -and individuals -in these communities -are working to protect -and restore the waters -they rely on for health, -sustenance, and rejuvenation.

-Whether improving backyard -habitat, -removing trash -from a local stream, -!or improving recreation access -to a favorite river, -this work helps safeguard -the health of Lake Champlain -and waterways -that may seem far -from the lake, -but are inextricably -connected.

-The stories here -tell of these efforts -on three of the major -!tributaries to Lake Champlain.

-From the -spine of the Green Mountains, -where fragile alpine plants -cling to ancient bedrock, -to shoreline wetlands that -filter pollutants and team -with migratory water fowl.

-The Winooski River Sub- -basin is home to diverse -wildlife habitat -and the largest -human population center -in the Lake Champlain basin.

-The Winooski is the largest -tributary to Lake Champlain.

-From its humble -headwaters in Cabot.

-The river joins -with hundreds of miles -!of streams and rivers to drain -more than 1000mi of forest, -farm fields, towns and -villages in northern Vermont.

-Individuals and organizations -in communities across -the watershed -are working -in a variety of ways -to protect the health -of Lake Champlain -and waterways -that may seem -far from the lake but -are inextricably connected.

-Oh yeah, that is so cool.

-So cool.

-I received a grant, -and it provided me -the opportunity -!to have an artist in residence -come in and work -with my students -for the first part -of the project.

-We went for a biodiversity -walk and collected plants -Block prints -will essentially be about -the things that they found -life that's here -in our local watersheds.

-Yeah, this was like -a different experience.

-Learning -was like a different way -to learn about it, -which I'm like -getting more hands on.

-I would say -the goal really -is for students -just to connect -with the creative part of -understanding the watershed.

-And, thinking about really -how all things -are connected to one another.

-Then they become invested, -they become connected -to their local place.

-And, they make decisions -!about our place in the future.

-And so the more they know, -the more they're invested.

-Great.

Oh, yeah.

-I think there's all sorts -of small things -that people can do -to protect the watershed.

-We started a program to two -years ago -that we were calling lawns -to forest, where we offered, -free trees, free shrubs, -to landowners who are willing -to let us plant -into their lawn.

-!So if you can reduce your lawn -and plant and sort of, -sort of reforest -it to some extent, -you can reduce that runoff.

-So there's like a swale -to push through here -and lots of water.

-Yeah.

-I had seen the work that the, -Friends of Winooski -were doing.

-I had seen some of -the plantings they had done.

-So I reached out to them -and said, hey, you know, -we got this land -that we're just kind of -leaving out here -to be natural.

Anyways.

-We had the option to just -sort of mow -it into a big green lawn, but -try to minimize the mowing -down to just certain -paths through it.

-We find it far more enjoyable -than just an open green yard.

-And then that's good -for the brook -because, -then you don't have that, -you know, -onslaught of a runoff, right?

-You know, when you have that, -that rain rainstorm, -the water instead will slowly -percolate down into the soil -no matter where you live.

-It doesn't have to be -right on the stream -or right on the river.

-!You can do all kinds of things -to to protect water quality -and prevent flooding, -prevent erosion.

-My husband -and I purchased Camp Jacobi -!and then very recently changed -the name to the Woods Lodge.

-So we're on Bull -Run Road in Northfield.

-our property is 36 acres -bisected by the road itself, -and we have 25 acres on -the eastern side of the road.

-And those 25 acres are -where the Bull Run -Brook runs through -that part of the property.

-!We were approached a few years -ago by Michele Braun, -who was representing -the friends -of the Winooski River -and said that -they were interested -in removing the dam, -and we were very receptive to -the idea of removing the dam -because we had experienced -several flooding events, -and the process was so easy, -and they did all of the work -for the permitting.

-And we got to see -all the plans -and they explained everything -really well.

-The whole process -of actually removing the dam -only took a couple of months, -and it's taken -a couple of years, -!but it's it's starting to look -really beautiful down there.

-And we're really happy with -the decision that we made.

-My whole -thing has been getting people -on the river.

-In the river.

-If you get them on, there's -something that happens.

-It's.

-It's magical.

-They, -you know, start to relax.

-We're glad we came -because it's something -you get to experience.

-Not often.

-Plus, we're trying -to preserve nature.

-That's something that we care -a lot about.

-I'm from Norwich, New York, -and I am participating -in the volunteer weekend here -with Northwoods Canoe Trail -straddling the U.S. -Canada border, -Missisquoi Bay on Lake -!Champlain receives waters from -mountains, lakes and farms -in Vermont and Quebec.

-In the upper -reaches of the watershed.

-The Missisquoi and Trout -Rivers -are the only federally -designated -Wild and Scenic Rivers -in the Lake Champlain Basin, -where it empties -into Lake Champlain.

-The Missisquoi River fans out -in a biologically rich -delta at the Missisquoi -National Wildlife Refuge.

-Quebec's rich French heritage -!mingles with English tradition -to create a unique -cultural milieu -that has shaped communities -on both sides of the border.

-These communities -have a strong connection -to the landscape -and are working -to provide access to -and protect -their shared waterways.

-Through the 90s boom, RBA -doing a lot of good things.

-We are getting recognition.

-!2004 went to a conference and -heard about Wild and Scenic, -and so we decided to -maybe try, try -that took ten years -and two acts of Congress to -to get.

-But we are now -officially listed.

-So it took a couple of years -to get around.

-Westfield Lowell -Westfield Troy, North Troy -Village, Richford, Berkshire.

-Montgomery.

-Enos.

Berg town.

-!Use Berg Village to get around -to all of them and get in -and convince them to give -a letter of recommendation.

-So you spend three years or -so trying to, -you know, amass enough -community support.

-So then you do a three year -study -and then all the towns have -to vote on town meeting day.

-Our wild and scenic -!designation is relatively new.

-It's taking time, -but it'll continue to build -between the Northern Forest -Canoe Trail efforts.

-Missisquoi -River Basin Association, now -the Wild and Scenic -committees, -!they're all helping to finance -river access.

-And we're looking at getting -perhaps even easements -in a couple spots to, -ensure that that access stays -there.

-Or people are showing up -and going on the river.

-It's a cool thing.

-We came here today -because they were having -!an event where this Granby zoo -raised baby turtles -to release them into nature, -and we were lucky enough -to draw a coupon -where we were able to come -to the river and let one go.

-Today it's a special day -is the sixth edition -of the Festival in Mackinac.

-The it's a festival about -the production of turtles -in the Lake Champlain region.

-It's important for us -because we want to -to talk with the people -of the community.

-And I bring people -to act to protect -these turtle in nature.

-Actually, my -favorite part is to see kids -that release themselves -a turtles in the River.

-Oh, because kids -!are the future of, our planet.

-Actually, -we want them to learn -!all the species, learn to love -and to protect -what's around them.

-We really like having people -get on the river.

-You know, -when you get on the river -and experience -the beauty, -you learn to appreciate it -and connect with it, -!and you're more likely to care -about its conservation -and water -quality and issues like that.

-This is an informal access -that's been used -for many years -by anglers and paddlers -seeking to explore this -beautiful part of the river.

-So today -we're building a set of stone -stairs and timber stairs -to facilitate access -for users of all abilities.

-All these projects -are partnership projects.

-We are working today -with the Town of Richmond, -which is the landowner, -as well as the Upper -Missisquoi -and Trout River Committee, -which is providing -funding for this project.

-And we're fortunate -to help them, -implement projects like this -that benefit the community, -reduce erosion and increase -access to the river.

-Volunteers -are really important -for our organization -and this work.

-A lot of this work -lends itself -well for volunteer labor.

-It helps keep the costs down, -and it also creates a sense -of kind of -community engagement -and community buy in.

-Yeah.

-So to see the improvement -you know, that the volunteers -are giving to the trail, -giving to our crew -!is it's essential and amazing.

-We can't do it -without the volunteers.

-People are getting a chance -to get to know each other.

-I mean, it's amazingly fun.

-So I am so glad that I came.

-Don't be -afraid to -!come out and try this, because -there's plenty of support.

-There's plenty of opportunity -for anybody of any age -and any gender -who wants to come out -and just give it a whirl.

-Yeah.

-So I'm going to do -the Adirondacks -are a very special place, -!and the rivers are an integral -part of that.

-!It's interesting, since moving -!to Upper Day in the town of J.

-I've come to realize that -the river is really -!just the backbone of the town.

-It's an amazing watershed.

-It's known -throughout the country -for its tremendous -fishing, its enormous beauty, -its clean water.

-The Sable River flows -from the heart -of the Adirondack Park, -one of the oldest, largest, -and most unique protected -areas in the United States.

-Its headwaters rise -on the flanks of Mount Marcy, -Whiteface, and other summits -in the High Peaks Wilderness.

-At the river's -outlet into Lake Champlain.

-A sable marsh is an oasis -for breeding birds -and other wildlife.

-In between, the river -and its tributaries traverse -a patchwork of preserved -and primitive areas, hamlets -and villages, and timber -and industrial lands.

-We do the salt application -!with having a negative impact.

-The idea -!first was to try to figure out -how to measure -the amount of salt -that was being applied -in the wintertime.

-What is on the land -ends up in our waterways.

-I think is a big message -from this cleanup.

-Doing something good, -something productive -and having fun is just -makes it a win win.

-We created something -with an incredible science -team, created -what's called the East -Branch Restoration Plant -from Summit to shoreline.

-The stories told here -reflect the commitment -of Adirondack communities -!to protecting lands and waters -!that inspire and sustain them.

-Sound -science, community engagement -and individual action -come together to foster -a sustainable future -for the Sable River.

-This was our annual paddling -river cleanup.

-This is our sixth year -that we've partnered up -!with Adirondack River rentals, -and we had -members from the community -come out and volunteer -to clean up the river.

-I think it's good to -!give back, and we were offered -volunteer time -through our work.

-It's a nice day.

-We're on the water.

-Can't be that bad right?

-!It's it's a simple thing, but, -you know, it's -a sense of accomplishment -when you can load up, -you know, several -hundred pounds of tires, -that are otherwise -polluting this waterway.

-So, yeah, -I mean, it's a fun morning, -and it's a beautiful day.

-And who could -who could argue being waiting -around in the Ausable River?

-So volunteers -are really important for us, -especially in work like this, -where, you know, -what would three of us -do compared -to a whole group of us?

-The river is, -you know, it's -kind of a staple -through all the communities -that it runs down through.

-So it's nice that people -are trying to keep it clean.

-It's kind of fun to be, you -know, part of a group effort -that, is clearly aimed, you -know, in the right direction.

-For Mer -Lake, it's a really good news -story around road salt.

-If it hadn't -been for a volunteer -that took it upon themselves -to enroll Mirror -Lake in the Adirondack -Lake Assessment Program, -we still might not understand -what is going on, -and we certainly wouldn't -have made -!the progress on salt reduction -that we've made, -since that time.

And short.

-It was one of the Saltiest -lakes in the Adirondack Park, -!and it does take the education -of everybody in where -we get that information -out to business owners, where -hopefully the business owners -are getting that -to their employees -!and the employees front facing -employees -can get that to the public.

-!And our message to businesses, -we're, you know, -just try to use less -!and use it at the right times.

-You know, -if you know -freezing rains coming, then -that's probably a good time -to apply to the sidewalk.

-But if it's just snow, -like really trying to shovel -that snow up, -and using -as little salt as possible.

-And I'm optimistic -with the education component.

-Just keep talking to people -and then keep making strides -towards that salt reduction.

-I really optimistic outlook -for the lake, -especially seeing the data -from this past year.

-!One of the significant changes -the village made -was and maintenance -of the sidewalks.

-They used to sweep and salt -!them every time they went out.

-And now they're going out -and sweeping, -but not always salting.

-We've seen the salt -concentrations in Mirror Lake -just on a steady downward -trend.

-So lots of good news -for Mirror Lake.

-Hopefully what's learned here -will be exported -to communities -throughout the basin -so that they can reduce -their salt use as well.

-So it's an amazing -watershed, but it's a place -with, an industrial past.

-I mean, this was a heavily -logged, heavily used river.

-Because of that legacy, -there was a lot of over -widening, straightening, -dredging to facilitate the -movement of logs downstream -that sort of starts -this self-perpetuating cycle -of of erosion.

-It became more -and more evident -to people that -!while the river looked pretty, -it had challenges in -its function and its ability -to do the things -that a river needs to do.

-So we were lucky in the late -1990s, -the community actually -got together and created -the civil River Association -because they knew they needed -they needed to think -about the river.

-Smart.

-So we've been thinking about -in places -like Upper Jay and Keene -and where the communities -and their roads are built -right next to the river.

-How do we help people -and the river coexist?

-We look to natural stream -restoration methods.

-We rebuild the form -!and the function of the river.

-And we can do that -!because there are big, healthy -!sections of river and transfer -that knowledge -to the damaged sections.

-So we created something -with a incredible science -team, created what's called -the East Branch Restoration -Plan, identified 13 projects.

-This was the first one -completed -on the Lower East Bridge.

-The exciting news -is that the upstream 13 -miles of the East -Branch is stable.

-River is now funded -for its own plan.

-When I was watching -the River project -that was completed in 2021, -definitely -I was one of the skeptics -and participated -in a lot of like the -community conversations -because seeing an excavator -in a natural resource just -feels so ridiculous to me.

-Participating in one of the -the community get togethers -feels really important -to just educate oneself about -what is happening -with the project.

-Because of all -the misconceptions.

-So now, -having had the understanding -of talking with folks -who are part of that project, -and also -then seeing in my experience -the success of that project, -but feels like -this is our best attempt -to like, act -in a reciprocal way -with the river to restore it -to its ecological health, -while also -maintaining our communities -and allowing people -to stay in their homes -and allowing businesses -to thrive -in the -locations that they're at.

-From summit to -shoreline, headwaters -!seep to Virden to River Delta.

-Each of these watersheds -!is home to complex ecosystems, -abundant natural beauty, and -vibrant towns and villages.

-While each -watershed is unique, -they share a common thread -of community engagement -in protecting their land -and waters.

-These stories are just -a few examples -of the impact of community -engagement and collaboration.

-People of all ages, -in all parts of the watershed -can help protect and restore -waterways and ecosystems.

-To learn how you can get -involved, visit -Vermont public, partnering -!with local filmmakers to bring -you stories made here.

-For more, -visit Vermont public.org.