LCC October ENEWS: Gov't Shutdown Affects the Lake, BGA Season Overview, Super Volunteers, Fall Paddling, Chaousarou, Zombie Commuters & More!

Government Shutdown Affects Lake Champlain

At midnight on September 30 the federal government shut down when the House of Representatives failed to pass a Continuing Resolution for the budget. Below is a rundown on some of the ways the government shutdown affects the lake.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working on a new phosphorus reduction budget for Lake Champlain - a TMDL or Total Maximum Daily Load. (See "Cleaner Water" article below.) The Agency was scheduled to release a draft of the plan later this month, but it is not clear they will be able to do so in the face of the shutdown. The new plan will likely call for additional regulations on roads, stormwater permits, agricultural lands, and floodplain development. However, authority for new regulations and funding for incentives has to be approved by the Vermont legislature, which reconvenes in January. The longer the draft plan is delayed, the less time the legislature will have to review and absorb requirements set forth in it. Fall is the time for developing budget priorities for the state and federal government. Read more on the government shutdown's effects on Lake Champlain.

Cleaner Water Requires Change in Practices and Regulations

A revised plan to accelerate phosphorus reductions in the lake to meet water quality standards will be released in the next few months, pending the government shutdown. LCC has been advocating for additional steps and a more aggressive program to protect and restore water quality. Learn more about the plan and its implications in two recent excellent articles from the St. Albans Messenger written by their Staff Writer Michelle Monroe. Here’s one of the articles: 

New Lake Champlain pollution limits being established by the federal government most likely will require changes to local ordinances, agricultural practices and require additional stormwater treatment within urban areas.
The landscape itself could change under measures designed to allow rivers and streams to meander within larger floodplains, and a permit process could be required for road projects.

The aim of all this is to a new and ambitious effort to remove phosphorous before it gets into the state’s waterways from agricultural lands, impervious surfaces such as roads and buildings, and erosion of the streambeds themselves. Read more on LCC's website.

PC Construction Celebrates 55 Years With Community Gifts to LCC & Others!

PC Construction, one of the countries' largest employee-owned construction companies, decided to celebrate its 55th anniversary by giving back to the communities where their employees work, live and play. Employees selected ten nonprofits which were then put to a public vote to determine the five final organizations to each receive a $5,500 donation from the company. Thanks to all of you who voted, LCC is a winner, receiving the second highest number of votes! In presenting the gift to LCC, PC Construction President Kevin McCarthy noted how stunned he was by Lake Champlain's beauty when he came to the region. "As a company we do a lot of work building wastewater treatment plants. Clean water is something we must invest in and we're grateful for the Lake Champlain Committee's work." The gift from PC Construction will support LCC's blue-green algae monitoring program and the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail. A big thank you to PC Construction for celebrating their birthday through philanthropy and congratulations to the other winners around the country: Champlain Valley Family Center, Committee on Temporary Shelter, The Daniel Center for Math and Science (NC), and the Foodbank of SE Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

Power Line Update

Transmission Developers, Inc. (TDI) is proposing to build a 1,000 megawatt high voltage direct current energy transmission powerline 335 miles from Quebec to New York City. In our region the power line would sit on the bed of Lake Champlain while further south it would sit beneath the Hudson River. The company came to Plattsburgh on October 1 at the invitation of the New York Citizens' Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain.

The project has been in review since 2010 and in that time LCC has worked to minimize environmental impacts. We have pushed for a route that would avoid wetlands and the sludge bed near the old International Paper plant in Ticonderoga. We advocated for the establishment of an environmental mitigation fund and recommended that the fund be used to establish an invasive species barrier for the Champlain Canal. And we have called on the Environmental Impact Statement to consider alternative, more environmental friendly sources of energy for New York City. Read more about the power line on LCC's website.

Blue-green Algae Monitoring Season Recap

LCC’s 2013 blue-green algae monitoring season ran for 12 weeks from June 15 to September 6, an increase of two weeks over previous seasons. This year we received a total of 675 reports including 557 from 54 regular monitoring locations that reported more than six times, 93 ‘supplemental’ reports, and 25 late-season reports received after September 6. The vast majority of reports from our regular monitoring locations (94.1%) indicated no algae blooms present with 4.0% of reports indicating low level blooms and 1.9% indicating extensive blooms. Volunteer monitors’ reports were used to guide public health decisions about when to close beaches and were used to populate the Vermont Department of Health’s status map of blue-green algae conditions on the lake. The only long-term major bloom in the US portion of the lake was seen on St. Albans Bay the last two weeks of August. Other reports of blooms were short-lived and widely scattered. Sincere thanks to our terrific blue-green algae monitors and project partners (see article below).

The monitoring program had an educational value that transcended the weekly reporting. LCC held informational and training sessions for a wide variety of groups. Over 200 people were trained to assess water conditions, distinguish blue-green algae from other lake phenomena, and categorize bloom conditions. Read more about the 2013 season on LCC's website.

Fall Paddling - Be Prepared and Don't Go It Alone

Foliage season, bird migrations and the serenity of a near empty lake all beckon the fall paddler. It can be a wonderful time to be on the water – if you’re well prepared. The cooler fall temperatures require a wet suit or dry suit. Any time the combined air and water temperatures are less than 120 degrees F, you should wear this extra gear under your Personal Flotation Device (PFD). You’ll also need lots of fuel to maintain your core temperature and reinvigorate tired muscles so be sure to bring lots of water and carbohydrate-rich snacks with you. Be cautious about heading out and make sure you, your boat and your group are properly equipped:

  • Plan your trip ahead of time and make sure it matches the mental and physical skill set of your entire party.
  • Leave your itinerary with a responsible onshore contact.
  • Be aware of the wind, water and weather conditions before you depart.
  • Bring a weather radio or VHF with you, check the weather forecast repeatedly, and adjust your travel plans accordingly.
  • Always wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Nine out of ten drownings occur in inland waters, most within a few feet of safety. Most of the victims owned PFDs but died without them. A properly fitted, buoyant PFD can save your life, only if you wear it.

Read more fall paddling tips on LCC's website.

LCC Volunteer Spotlight: Susan Keefe

Have you received mail from LCC lately? If yes, chances are LCC volunteer Susan Keefe’s fingerprints are on it! Susan has been visiting the LCC office regularly during the last few months to help with a variety of mailings and administrative tasks. A Waterbury native and retired high-school English teacher, Susan began volunteering at LCC with her husband Richard Gaull. “My husband was actually the one who volunteered and I went along out of curiosity,” says Susan. Susan helped LCC staff and other volunteers get over 10,000 pieces of mail out about the lake during the summer. Everyone at LCC appreciates her sense of humor, flexibility, and willingness to lend a hand wherever it’s needed.

In addition to volunteering at LCC, Susan is an avid reader who helps out at a local school. LCC members for six years, she and Richard recently moved from Woodstock to South Burlington and are enjoying the city and being closer to the lake. “Lake Champlain is a significant asset in Vermont,” says Susan. “It faces challenges regarding its future and I want to do whatever I can to help those people who work for its well being.” Whether cruising on their trawler, taking day trips on the lake, or swimming with family, Susan immerses herself in the lake frequently.

Volunteers are essential to LCC’s mission of protecting Lake Champlain’s health and accessibility. From Trail stewards and water quality monitors to helping out in the office and at events, volunteers play a critical role in LCC’s programs and outreach. Love the lake and have some time to share? Please complete LCC’s online volunteer response form to let us know your interests and availability.

Thank You Blue-green Algae Monitors and Partners!

Over sixty volunteers trained by LCC headed lakeside on a weekly basis during the summer to observe water conditions and file online reports. Their data populated the blue-green algae tracking map housed at the Vermont Department of Health. The information the monitors provide is relied upon by public health and environmental officials to assess the safety of the lake for recreating (see "Blue-green Algae Monitoring Season Recap"). It's also adding to our body of knowledge about the triggers for blooms so we can work to reduce their frequency. If you'd like to be trained as a monitor for the 2014 season, sign up here.

Some of the monitors, like Mike Roach of Missisquoi Bay and Jim and Sally Brabham from Carry Bay in North Hero, have been monitoring conditions for LCC since we began the program over a decade ago. Tara Gibson and Dan Pettit check on three sites at Burlington's Oakledge Park, Jeff Clock monitors two different locations in Willsboro and new monitor Tim Etchells does the same across the lake in Ferrisburgh. When the blue-green algae bloom started in St. Albans Bay this year, monitor Brad Gooding offered to file daily reports to keep us posted on conditions not only from the sites he regularly monitored, but throughout the Bay. He drove the shoreline daily, talked to anglers and others on the water about conditions, and called or emailed the office with reports while the bloom persisted. The monitoring program wouldn't exist without the dedicated, enthusiastic involvement of all our volunteers and the generous support of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and the Lake Champlain Basin Program and our project partners  the New York and Vermont Departments of Health and Departments of Environmental Conservation. Hats off to: Read more on LCC's website.

Nature Note - Falling Leaves

Autumn is known for its falling leaves, and these can become a significant source of carbon for lake ecosystems. Usually we think of the carbon in lakes as coming from photosynthesis by algae and aquatic plants, but researchers added marked carbon that simulated terrestrial sources to lakes to determine how much of it got incorporated into the food chain. Their answer: quite a bit. The zooplankton in studied lakes consisted of 22-50% carbon from the watershed. Zooplankton are a food source for many fish, so much of the carbon in the zooplankton will eventually end up in perch or lake trout. This study shows that in-lake photosynthesis does not capture enough carbon from the atmosphere to support the entire food chain, and those falling leaves provide a substantial subsidy to aquatic food webs. This important carbon source is diminished when trees and shrubs along lake shores and stream sides are removed and replaced with buildings or lawns.

Lake Look: Chaousarou

In July of 1609 Samuel de Champlain recorded his observations on coming to the Lake of the Iroquois - now known as Lake Champlain. Among his observations he noted,

“There is also a great abundance of fish, of many varieties: among others, one called by the savages of the country Chaousarou, which varies in length, the largest being, as the people told me, eight or ten feet long. I saw some five feet long, which were as large as my thigh; the head being as big as my two fists, with a snout two feet and a half long, and a double row of very sharp and dangerous teeth. Its body is, in shape, much like that of a pike; but it is armed with scales so strong that a poniard could not pierce them. Its color is silver-gray. The extremity of its snout is like that of swine.”  

While some have touted Champlain’s description as the earliest reference to Champ, the reality is he was describing what is surely one of the strangest fish in our fauna, the longnose gar. Read more about Chaousarou on LCC's website.

Upcoming Events - Check Out These Activities Around the Region

10/14 - 10/18 Way to Go Week

Add some life to your commute this fall and sign up for Way to Go week in October! This is a program co-founded by LCC to reduce carbon pollution and promote environmentally sustainable transportation options. Way to Go events encourage the use of cheaper, healthier, more earth-friendly alternatives to driving along. Individuals, businesses, schools, and organizations can all easily participate. Just pledge to get to work, school or play by walking, biking, carpooling, taking the bus or telecommuting at least one day during the event week. Register for Way to Go Week here. Your pollution, gas and money savings will be calculated and you'll be entered into drawings for great prizes!

10/23 & 10/24 - Exploring the Wonders of Shoreland Habitats

Come and see the species who live where the water meets the land. This family-friendly, multi-media presentation sponsored by the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium will introduce the audience to the birds, bugs, fish, furry creatures, and amphibians who spend part or all of their lives on the shores and in the shallows of Vermont’s lakes and ponds. Expert presenters will also explain the threats facing this critical wildlife habitat and the steps people can take to help protect this special part of our environment.

The free public presentations will be held from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on October 23 at the Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier and October 24 at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. Light refreshments will be served. Click here for a brochure about the programs.

10/26 - National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Federal and state agencies are teaming up to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. LCC encourages everyone to check medicine cabinets for unwanted, unused pharmaceuticals and safely dispose of them at a nearby collection site. Medication brought to the drop-off should remain in the original bottle or package with the name of the product clearly visible. However, personal names and addresses may be removed or blocked out. More than 1.5 million pounds of medication were removed from circulation during previous National Take Back Days. Search for a collection site near you.

The proper disposal of medications has increasingly become an issue of environmental and safety concern across the United States. According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 70 to 80 percent of substance abusers said they took medications that belonged to a friend or relative. In addition, pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water of at least 41 million Americans, according to a March 2008 Associated Press investigation.  

Narcotics prescriptions and other prescription and over-the-counter medicines, ointments, sprays, inhalers, creams, medication vials and pet medications will be accepted at the Medicine Collection Day. Not accepted are illegal drugs, biohazardous materials, needles, personal care products and household hazardous wastes like paint or pesticides.

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 (NC).

Lake Champlain Committee Staff

Lori Fisher, Executive Director

Jessica Rossi, Office Manager

Mike Winslow, Staff Scientist