LCC Autumn E-News: A Great Party, Dirty Roads, Click to Win, Low-level Jets, and More!

We had a wonderful 50th anniversary celebration at Flat Rock Camp in Willsboro earlier this month. The sun shone, conversation flowed, the food and drink were delicious, and a good time was had by all! LCC founding father Peter Paine reflected on the past and told some stories about LCC's seminal work preventing the international seaway and nuclear power plant as well as efforts to clean up toxic waste sites, develop the water quality standards that guide New York, Vermont and Quebec's phosphorus reduction efforts, and institute proactive measures to prevent pollution. Executive Director Lori Fisher looked ahead at the challenges facing the lake noting that citizen involvement is just as important now as it was during LCC's founding 50 years ago. Stormwater-runoff, nutrient loading, new generation toxins, invasive species and climate change are all present day challenges requiring civic engagement and activisim. We also honored LCC volunteer of the year Cliff Landesman for his outstanding work on the Legacy Campaign and gave Peter Paine a surprise award for his of fifty years of leadership.

If you missed the meeting, click here to see some pictures thanks to longtime LCC member Carolyn Bates. A professional photographer, Carolyn has been generously sharing her photographs with LCC for over 28 years. Sincere thanks to Peter and Patty Paine for hosting the party, Champlain National Bank for their sponsorship, and Ann Ruzow-Holland and friends, The Tyler Place Family Resort for making the delicious food. We're grateful for the support of Boyden Family Winery, Shelburne Vineyard, Otter Creek Brewing, and Switchback Brewing Company for their support and the generous donations of food from Alan and Jennie Booth, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Chef's Corner, City Market, Full Moon Farm, Great Harvest Bread Company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Hannaford Brothers, Lake Champlain Chocolates, New Moon Cafe, Shelburne Orchards, Stewart's Bakery, Sugarsnap, The Nomadic Oven, Vermont Brownie Company, Vermont Creamery, and Vermont Smoke and Cure. Read more about the party on LCC's website.

Flushable wipes, tampon applicators, and other personal care items often advertised as "disposable" can wreak havoc at wastewater treatment plants and cause sewage overflows. Read more about the problem and your role n prevention in this news story from WCAX TV or watch the newscast.

At Montpelier's wastewater plant, Bob Fischer takes a great interest in what you flush down the toilet. Fischer, who operates the city plant, says over the past few years he's seen it all.

"We find a lot of tampon applicators; we find shop rags," he said, "toothpicks, dental floss, small toys."

But what he says he's finding with increasing regularity is disposable wipes. Wastewater operators across the state and the country say it's a growing concern, especially with the booming growth of products claiming to be "flushable."

In wastewater parlance, they fit into a broad category called "non-dispersibles"-- basically everything besides your number 1 and 2s and the toilet paper you use. Fischer says this debris clogs up sewage lines and pump stations like a clogged artery in a heart. Read more on LCC's website.

PC Construction is celebrating its 55th anniversary year by giving $5,500 grants to five non-profit organizations. PC Construction employees chose the top ten contenders and now the public gets choose the winners. The Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) is in the running as a finalist but we need your help to win the funds for our water protection work! All voting must be completed by October 1 so please act now. Click here and cast your vote for the Lake Champlain Committee (we're the second to the last entry on the alphabetical list). You can vote separately from your computers and mobile devices.

Funding appears to have been secured for the remaining Lake Champlain Basin stream gages that were threatened with closure. Thanks to all of you who made calls or wrote letters emphasizing the importance of our stream gages and the need for on-going, stable funding!

A variety of partners have stepped forward to fill the gap in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) budget. Vermont and New York Departments of Environmental Conservation have taken responsibility for most of the gages while the City of Montpelier will fund two gages on the Winooski River and the Champlain Water District will tentatively fund the LaPlatte River gage. On September 18 the Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee authorized funding for one year for the five gages remaining on the chopping block, with a caveat that a long-term plan for funding be put together by partners in the near future. Stream gages are critical for flood-forecasting, pollution monitoring, and environmental evaluation. By chairing the Basin Program’s Technical Advisory Committee, LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow sits on the Steering Committee and was able to have a direct say in the resolution of the funding dilemma. 

Help keep our waters clean by sweeping or raking leaves away from roadways. Piles of autumn leaves can become part of the stormwater flow into the lake. Rake up any leaves you see collecting on sidewalks, driveways, and roadways near your house. Once they're off hard surface areas and on your lawn, mulch them them with a few passes of the lawnmower so the nutrients left in the leaves go back to your lawn instead of into the lake. 

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!