Photo from Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation Lake Wise Program

Lake Wise

The Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) is offering Lake Wise assessments and technical assistance for properties on Lake Champlain in 2026.

Lake Wise is an initiative aimed at establishing a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that protects water quality and habitat. Lake Wise-trained staff visit the properties of interested lakefront property owners to evaluate conditions, provide free, voluntary, technical assistance, and issue awards for lake-friendly practices. The program is open to all lakefront properties, including private homes, businesses, state parks, and town beaches. If you are a lakeshore property owner on Lake Champlain and you would like a free Lake Wise assessment on your property, sign up through the form at the bottom of this page.

Sign up for a Lake Wise assessment with LCC

Lake Wise is being offered in New York State for the first time in 2026! LCC is excited to be part of this expansion and encourages folks on the New York shores of Lake Champlain to participate.

What is Lake Wise?

The goal of Lake Wise is to encourage and publicize lakeshore landscaping that is proven to protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a "model" shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake.

Shoreland disturbance can degrade water quality and aquatic habitat. The Lake Wise Program aims to shift lakeshore development trends away from shore clearing and seawalls in favor of more lake-friendly practices. Through Lake Wise, participants receive technical assistance so they can mitigate erosion and runoff problems and increase shoreland vegetation which will protect lake quality and wildlife habitat. Learn more about the science behind Lake Wise through the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s (VT DEC) resource page.

Lake Wise Assessment Process

Any lakeshore property owner, renter, or manager can sign up for Lake Wise. Assessments can be done at state parks, town beaches, private homes, and businesses. Land can also be undeveloped and still receive a Lake Wise award. LCC is focusing solely on properties along Lake Champlain’s shorelines in 2026, but we can refer you to another assessor if you’re from a different lake.

Assessments consist of a roughly one-hour visit by a trained assessor from LCC to determine how well your lakeshore landscaping supports lake health. Site visits are an opportunity to share what you value about the lake and your home, and why you are interested in Lake Wise practices. All assessments will include a follow-up report that describes your shoreland property and how it relates to lake health, recommendations for improvements, and resources for technical assistance to implement the best management practices identified in the report. Folks who meet Lake Wise requirements are issued awards.

Lake Wise History

Lake Wise was created by VT DEC when the Vermont Shoreland Protection Act passed in 2014 as a way to incentivize shoreland protection above and beyond statutory requirements in the state. The program has been successful in Vermont since then, with over 1,000 assessments conducted statewide, and many more homeowners reached with information about lake-friendly shoreline management.

Support from the Lake Champlain Basin Program has enabled LCC and other organizations to offer Lake Wise assessments and technical assistance in New York portions of the Lake Champlain watershed in 2026.

What Makes a Property Lake Wise?

Lake Wise evaluates a property in four categories: shoreland, recreation area, driveway, and structure & septic. Evaluation criteria are based on how each of these categories mitigate erosion and runoff while promoting shoreline vegetation; a “pass” means that the assessment category meets the science-based best management criteria. Passing two of the four categories earns a Lake Wise certificate. Passing in all four categories earns the property a Lake Wise award sign, indicating the property is a model for lake friendly living.

Lake Wise Sign-up

Please fill out this form to sign up for a Lake Wise assessment with LCC.

First and last name(s) *

Email address *

Phone number * (Numbers only, no spaces or dashes. Example: 8026581414)

Phone type *Please indicate whether the phone number you provided is for a landline or mobile phone

Street address *

City/Town *

State *

Zip Code *

Is the address listed above the site of the Lake Wise assessment? *

If you answered "no", please provide the full address of the Lake Wise assessment site

Lake name *Note that in 2026 the Lake Champlain Committee is conducting Lake Wise on properties along Lake Champlain only. If your property is situated along a different lake, LCC can refer you to another assessor organization.

When are you available for a Lake Wise assessment? *LCC will begin conducting assessments in June 2026. You can share specific dates and times between June and October that do or don’t work; or you can share your general weekly availability. LCC will reach out to you to schedule the assessment based on your availability.

Why are you interested in Lake Wise?

Additional comments

LCC’s work on Lake Wise is funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under an assistance agreement to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.