The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) will host Clean Water Day on Saturday, May 17, a special celebration honoring the environmental legacy of late founder Dr. David Laughlin, whose pioneering water quality initiatives in the early 1970s transformed the Ottauquechee River from an “open sewer” into the thriving ecosystem visitors enjoy today.
The family-friendly event, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, commemorates the life and contributions of Laughlin, while educating a new generation about the importance of clean water.
“Clean water is central both to our health and to the origins of VINS,” says executive director Alden Smith. “Without David Laughlin leading the efforts to clean our local waterways, VINS would not exist. We also have our founders to thank for the river otters, eagles, and other wildlife who have returned to VINS along the banks of the Ottauquechee River.”
While the river is cleaner today than when Laughlin found it, Smith emphasized that persistent challenges remain, including microplastics and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFAS — in our water systems.
Clean Water Day activities will include hands-on water research, water cycle and aquatic wildlife games, stream ecology demonstrations, activities for young children, guided nature walks, and storytelling about VINS’ history.
For young children, there will be interactive games like pretending to be water droplets and activities with blue scarves simulating water movement.
For older participants, Dan “Rudy” Rudel from the White River Partnership will lead guided walks through the gorge and trail system, discussing the current ecosystem, native species, and what individuals can do to maintain a balanced environment. Additional activities include a brook trout release in the waterway and raptor presentations focused on water systems.
For more on this, please see our May 15 edition of the Vermont Standard.
