LCC Lake Ripples - Summer 2012 E-news

Scientists and LCC Call for Canal Closure

Earlier this month the spiny waterflea was confirmed in the Champlain Canal and the Glens Falls feeder canal. The spiny waterflea is an invasive plankton species native to Eurasia. The Champlain Canal is directly connected to Lake Champlain in Whitehall, so this invasive is now at our doorstep and, without immediate action, could soon enter the lake.

The Lake Champlain Committee, along with a host of scientists and lake advocates, has signed onto a letter urging the Canal Corps to close the gates at the top of the Feeder Canal in Glens Falls and halt boat traffic between Lock 9 (at the height of land between the Champlain and Hudson drainage) and Lake Champlain. MORE

50+ LCC Volunteers Monitoring Lake Conditions

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. MORE

Cumberland Bay Dredging – 12 Years Later

For many years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has warned anglers that consuming yellow perch, brown bullhead, or American eel caught in Cumberland Bay posed a risk to their health. This year perch and bullhead were removed from the list. The perch and bullhead are now considered safe to eat because of actions taken over a decade ago to dredge PCB-laden sediments from the bay.

The Cumberland Bay PCB bed was discovered following the first lake-wide toxic contaminant study, a project initiated after substantial advocacy by the <link about-lcc>Lake Champlain Committee (LCC). LCC then championed the clean-up strategy to remove the PCBs.MORE

LCC Is Turning 50 – Help Celebrate!

Do you have ideas for how we can commemorate half a century of lake advocacy? We want to hear from you. Volunteer opportunities abound in planning our 2013 birthday party. In our first 50 years LCC was instrumental in preventing Lake Champlain from becoming an international seaway, opposing a lakeshore nuclear power plant, banning phosphate detergents... MORE

Get Out on the Water – As an LCC Site Steward

LCC is seeking site stewards for several locations along the Paddlers’ Trail. Stewards visit Trail sites at least once a month during the paddling season to check on conditions, pick up trash and report their findings to LCC. “Volunteer stewards play a key part in Trail oversight and maintenance,” notes LCC Executive Director Lori Fisher.

Locations in need of a steward include Five Mile Point in Shoreham, Bay Park Beach in Shelburne, Niquette Bay in Colchester, Mill River Falls Parcel in Georgia, and Schuyler Island in Chesterfield. Several of the Trail locations are easily reachable by land while others require a boat. Interested paddlers should contact Lori Fisher at lorif@ lakechamplaincommittee.org or (802) 658-1421.

Every Drop Counts - Water Conservation Tips

Everything from fixing the leaks in your house to changing the watering patterns for your lawn can add up to big water savings. If you wonder whether the small changes you make really matter, consider this: each of us uses an average of 100 gallons of water per day – enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! Learn some tips to save water. MORE tips

  • Cook Smart. Peel and clean vegetables in a bowl of water instead of under running water.

  • Slow the Flow. Install low-flow faucet aerators to reduce water consumption up to 50 percent.
  • Sweep Up. Clean the driveway and sidewalk with a broom instead of a hose to save hundreds of gallons of water.

  • Speak Up. When you see an open hydrant, errant sprinkler or broken pipe, tell the property owner, local authorities or your Water Management District.

The Turtles of Lake Champlain

Warm days, particularly in the spring and fall, bring out hordes of sunbathing turtles. Sometimes it can even be hard for them to find a place to set their shell. There are five species of turtle that might be spied on the lake. Most people are familiar with snapping and painted. The other three species are at the northern limit of their range in Lake Champlain. MORE

Vermont Fix on Fracking

The Vermont Legislature passed and Governor Shumlin signed a bill that would prohibit fracking in Vermont. Lawmakers deliberated on a three-year moratorium but ultimately opted for a ban. LCC testified in favor of the legislation and strongly supported the prohibition. Fracking is a controversial gas extraction procedure that has been blamed for groundwater contamination in areas where it has been used. “We commend the legislature on this proactive measure to protect Vermont’s natural resources,” said Lori Fisher, LCC Executive Director. Vermont is the first state in the nation to approve an outright ban on fracking.

Lake and River Protections

The Vermont legislature ended up merging and then passing lake and river bills that had been considered during the session. The larger bill institutes a suite of programs that will help Vermont prepare for and cope with future flooding issues. The final bill established a study committee to identify new funding sources for water quality protection and restoration efforts. MORE

New York Invasive Species Restrictions

The New York legislature passed a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Sayward and Senator Little, to allow the Department of Environmental Conservation to help stop the spread of invasive species. The legislation requires the state Department of Environmental Conservation, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, to restrict the sale, purchase, possession, introduction, importation and transport of invasive species. Penalties will range from a warning for a first violation to fines of no less than $250 for subsequent violations. Financial penalties will be greater for nursery growers, operators of public vessels and commercial fishing vessels.

LCC Wish List

We're looking for a few high quality items to help our office and field work hum along more smoothly. Please contact LCC Office Manger Jessica Rossi at jessicar@ lakechamplaincommittee.org or (802) 658-1414 if you can help provide any of the following items:

  • An energy efficient refrigerator/freezer standing model in good condition
  • Bicycle for carbon-free commuting to meetings and lakeside locations
  • Laptop computer for field work
  • Color laser printer

Thank You Donors!

LCC’s work depends on the financial support of people and businesses that care about the lake and invest in our efforts to protect water quality, safeguard natural habitats and enhance recreational access. Our heartfelt thanks to the members who renewed, or joined between 04/01/12-06/30/12.

Moving? Changing Email Addresses?

If you’ve changed your address recently, please send us an email so we can update your files and ensure you receive news on lake issues and LCC’s work. Email is our primary form of communication with members. Mailing electronically saves time and resources and reinforces the stewardship ethic of our mission. We don’t give away or sell email addresses. To ensure you receive email from LCC, please add lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org and the domain enews.lakechamplaincommittee.org to your safe/allowed list and address book. Thanks!

Lake Champlain Committee Board of Directors

Gary Kjelleren - Chair (South Hero, VT), Sharon Murray - Treasurer (Bolton, VT), Alan Booth (Plattsburgh, NY), Sandy Montgomery (Montreal, QC), Ann Ruzow Holland (Willsboro, NY), Mary Van Vleck (Charlotte, VT), Chuck Woessner (Grand Isle, VT).

Lake Champlain Advisory Council

Megan Epler Wood (Burlington, VT), Steven Kellogg (Essex, NY), Peter S. Paine, Jr. (Willsboro, NY), Mary Watzin (Burlington, VT).

Lake Champlain Committee Staff

Lori Fisher, Executive Director

Jessica Rossi, Office Manager

Mike Winslow, Staff Scientist