Vermont business, municipal, and environmental leaders came together in January to express shared support for long-term clean water funding via a parcel fee, and the establishment of a Clean Water Authority to collect and distribute those funds to on-the-ground clean water projects throughout the state. Groups endorsing the measure included the Lake Champlain Committee (LCC), Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Natural Resources Council, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Pomerleau Real Estate, and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
Read...In late December 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $65 million four-point initiative to aggressively combat harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Upstate New York waters. Twelve lakes that are vulnerable to HABs and are critical drinking water sources and vital tourism drivers were chosen as priority waterbodies. Lake Champlain and Lake George are two of the twelve that will receive greater focus. Lessons learned will be applied to other impacted waterbodies moving forward. Read...
Looking for an outdoor summer job near the water? Enjoy talking to people about the lake? If yes, consider becoming a Lake Champlain boat launch steward. The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is hiring up to twelve boat launch stewards to work at New York and Vermont public boat launch access areas during the steward program’s 12th season. The stewards help to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species by identifying high-risk boats for courtesy inspection and providing information about invasive species spread prevention. Read...
Winter weather doesn’t stop dogs from having to head outside to fulfill their “dooty” and it shouldn’t stop dog owners from cleaning up after their canine friends either. Unfortunately, even diligent pet owners may get a little lax about scooping poop when the mercury drops and sidewalks and walking trails become snow covered or icy. Excuses range from “it’s too cold or hard to pick up poop with gloves on” to “it doesn’t matter in winter”. It may seem harmless to leave hound mounds behind on your winter walks to melt away when temperatures rise. However, that pet waste doesn’t just disappear, it’s flushed off into our waterways with snowmelt and spring rains. Read...
This past January, confused vacationers unknowingly drove their car onto the frozen waters of Lake Champlain by the Burlington Coast Guard Station. The vehicle quickly broke through and sank in the inner harbor. Fortunately, all of the passengers were able to escape unharmed and the car was ultimately moved to shore. While the group didn’t intend to drive onto the lake, their tale is a reminder to leave cars and trucks in the parking lot and always be cautious about venturing onto ice. Natural ice is a beautiful and intriguing phenomenon but it’s critical to be prepared before exploring it. The fluctuating temperatures of recent weeks urge caution. Widely varying temperatures that cause ice to thaw and then refreeze triggers honeycombed ice that is weak and unsafe. Follow the link to learn about some safety tips based on guidance from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Read...
During this month of Valentines we thought you’d enjoy a look at lakes in the universal symbol of love. From Canada’s Heart Lake to India’s Eros Lake they’re beautiful to behold. Click here to see lake love across the globe.
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President Trump's 2019 budget would again remove all EPA funding of cleanup programs for Lake Champlain, the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound and South Florida, including the Everglades and Keys. Again, it's a short-sighted draconian move that will degrade freshwater resources and threaten public health and our economy. Read more here.
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“It appears the Vermont legislature will join Gov. Phil Scott in delaying again any decision on how to raise millions in new revenue to pay for Vermont's billion-dollar cleanup of its waterways. Environmental advocates and federal regulators are looking on with increasing concern."
Read...Vermont officials' refusal to share their stormwater document leaves unanswered questions about how the state is — or isn’t — working toward its commitments on water quality. Read more in this Seven Days article that outlines the Lake Champlain Committee and VNRC’s request for answers. Read...
"It sounds like a scene from a movie -- friends from Connecticut on a ski vacation in Vermont get lost, turn on their GPS, and next thing you know they are driving on a lake as the car is sinking. Well, that's exactly what happened” Read...
