50+ LCC Volunteers Monitoring Lake Conditions
A blue-green algae bloom in progress in Lake Champlain. Photo by Jessica Rossi.
LCC’s blue-green algae monitoring program, now in its ninth year, got underway earlier this month. Thanks to a grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, over 50 volunteers are checking water conditions on a weekly basis at more than 50 shoreline locations. The information gathered through LCC’s program helps expand knowledge of how, why, and when algae blooms form so we will be better able to reduce them in the future. LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow has trained volunteers to distinguish blue-green algae from other lake phenomena and guides the weekly reporting efforts.
LCC’s reports provide the majority of information on the Lake Champlain blue-green algae tracking map and are relied upon by communities and state health and environmental officials to keep our beaches safe. To date, we’ve trained over 100 citizens along with state and municipal personnel. You’ll find further background on blue-green algae and a host of tools on our website including what we can do to prevent blooms and how to report them.
