Cleaner Shores, Healthier Waters: Taking on Marine Debris in the Lake Champlain Basin

As May approaches, skis and other winter gear get tucked away, and it’s time to start preparing for the warmer days ahead. Some of us may already be dreaming about a relaxing fishing trip or hoping for a sighting of “Champ,” the legendary monster said to live in Lake Champlain. Our beloved aquatic creatures share oxygen, food, and habitat —but unfortunately, they also share the water with something far less natural: our trash. A shampoo bottle floating in the lake, an abandoned boat, or a buoy washed up on a beach are all examples of what we call “marine debris.”  

Marine debris is any human-made material that ends up in our waterways, polluting the environment. Despite its name, marine debris is not restricted to oceans. Marine debris is also found in freshwater bodies like Lake Champlain, Lake George, and the rivers and streams that flow into them. So how does marine debris get to our waterways? What are its impacts? What can we do?  

From land to waterways 

While some marine debris comes from water-related activities such as boating and fishing, most marine debris enters waterways from the land. Trash is released into the environment from poor waste management and both intentional and accidental littering. This debris can then be blown by the wind or moved into nearby waterways by rain and snowmelt. This means a cigarette butt or a soda can tossed on your street can find its way to Lake Champlain!  

Much of this movement of trash happens unnoticed—but things look very different after a major storm. High winds, heavy rains, and flooding can sweep up unexpected items like yard furniture or break apart larger objects like docks. This can create clusters of marine debris that are hard to miss.  

Why do we care about marine debris?  

Marine debris comes in all shapes and sizes–from sunken boats to microplastics, which are plastic pieces smaller than a pencil eraser. Regardless of size, marine debris can impact the environment, human health, and the economy. A single abandoned boat can turn a navigable channel into an obstacle course. Other types of marine debris like sharp metal objects can deter people from enjoying a nice day at the beach. Fish and birds that eat pieces of plastic are exposed to toxic chemicals and may even starve to death thinking they are full. 

Plastics, so pervasive in modern life, are a common type of marine debris. Expanded polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, is one of several forms of plastic foam often found during cleanups on the shorelines of Lake Champlain. Made of tiny air pockets, plastic foam is light, breaks apart easily, and moves quickly across the water and shorelines. Plastic foam from dock floats, food service, and packaging makes up a large percentage of marine debris in Lake Champlain Basin.  

But there is good news! Both New York and Vermont recently banned the use of Styrofoam food and beverage containers. Since then, we’ve seen less foam trash during cleanups. In addition, Vermont’s new Flood Safety Act, passed in 2024, requires Styrofoam floatation in new docks and other floating structures to be covered with a protective shell. Such covering helps prevent foam from breaking into tiny pieces that are nearly impossible to remove. These policies are an important step forward, but continued efforts are needed to keep foam out of the water.