Champlain Aquatic invasive Monitoring Program (CHAMP) Sign-up Form

In the summer of 2023, LCC piloted the Champlain Aquatic invasive Monitoring Program (CHAMP), which recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to survey for aquatic invasive species (AIS) at sites throughout Lake Champlain. Volunteers paddle or walk along a shoreline site, rake in samples of aquatic life, and report their findings of key target invasive species to LCC three times during the summer and fall.  With the data gathered by dedicated CHAMP volunteers, management professionals add to a database of information on where AIS are and aren’t established. Surveys also aid in early detection and rapid response to new invaders -- we train volunteers in identification of “watch list” invasive species that have been reported in the Hudson River and other nearby waterbodies, but not yet Lake Champlain.

CHAMP volunteers are required to:

  • Have monthly access to a public or private lakeshore location. LCC's top priority is to have public access sites monitored.
  • Attend an in-person training session in late spring/early summer 2024 to learn about aquatic species identification and CHAMP survey methods (this is a great learning opportunity for those who want to know more about what lives in the lake--native and invasive species alike!)
  • Conduct and submit three surveys for key target AIS at their selected site over the course of the July-October season
  • Agree to the protocols in the form below.

LCC supports CHAMP volunteers by:

  • Hosting a training session with state and local AIS partners.
  • Providing AIS identification resources, survey instructions and forms, sample submittal instructions and forms.
  • Being available for ongoing technical support over the course of the field season.

LCC is growing CHAMP for the 2024 season. Sign-up below to help protect the ecological health of Lake Champlain!

CHAMP Volunteer Sign-up

Sign-up here to join the 2024 CHAMP team!

Site Coordinates

The easiest way to find the coordinates for your site is through Google Maps.

  1. Go to Google Maps.
  2. Click on the area of water closest to where you plan to conduct your assessment; when you click, a pin icon will appear.
  3. Google will automatically create the coordinates (for example, 44.461378, -73.221476). On a desktop computer, the coordinates will appear in a pop-up box; on a smartphone, you must click on the pin icon to view the coordinates.
  • Have monthly access to a public or private lakeshore location. LCC's top priority is to have public access sites monitored.
  • Attend an in-person training session in late spring/early summer 2024 to learn about aquatic species identification and CHAMP survey methods (the training session consists of a classroom instruction and a field identification portion. In 2023 the training was about 5 hours total and held on a Sunday).
  • Conduct and submit three surveys at their selected site over the course of the July-October season.
  • Read and follow guidance provided by LCC throughout the season.
  • Follow all applicable local, state, and federal COVID-19 safety guidelines while monitoring and traveling across state and provincial borders for monitoring.
  • Agree not to survey any public locations if you are feeling sick, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the last five days
  • Follow any posted COVID-19 guidelines at any public sites where you monitor and agree not to monitor if the site isn’t open for public use
  • Wear a face mask and practice physical distancing at public sites including state parks, beaches and boat launches if it’s required.