LCC and the University of Vermont are collaborating on a recreational study for the Lake Champlain Paddlers Trail. Surveys were sent this summer to all LCC members who receive our annual Paddlers’ Trail guidebook. Thanks to everyone who has responded. If you haven’t returned your survey yet, please set aside some time this week to give us feedback on the Trail. By sharing your paddling experiences, what you value about getting out on the water, and your thoughts on what enhances or diminishes your recreational experience, you will help guide management of sustainable boating on Lake Champlain. We value your input and need your help! Read...
LCC volunteers have been hard at work collecting water samples to identify algae blooms around Lake Champlain. This summer has been relatively quiet. The thick pervasive bloom often seen in the lake’s northeastern bays has been less prevalent than in years past although a patchy bloom has developed in Missisquoi Bay, particularly in the eastern portion, and occasional short term blooms cropped up in other areas. Monitoring efforts continue through the Labor Day weekend. Click here for an overview of the seasons monitoring results or go to http://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/lcc-at-work/algae-in-lake/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. Read...
If you see lights out on Lake Champlain in the next few weeks it’s probably not UFOs. The Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program will be conducting night time surveys of loons on Lake Champlain. Researchers have found that going out at night with spotlights allows them to sneak up on the birds and trap them with nets. They can then take blood samples to check for mercury and lead levels and evaluate immune response. They also tag the birds in order to track where they come from and where they are going. The project is a cooperative effort between the NY Department of Environmental Conservation, the Biodiversity Research Institute, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Read...
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department gave its recently-established muskellunge restoration effort a boost in August when it stocked 250 four-month old muskellunge in the Missisquoi River Delta. The fish were donated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.The muskellunge, related to northern pike, but larger, is a prized sport fish. Lake Champlain and the Missisquoi River are the only locations in New England that historically had a native muskellunge population. Muskellunge were native to Lake Champlain’s Missisquoi River and Missisquoi Bay but the population that last existed upstream of the Swanton Dam was apparently lost in the late 1970s following a chemical spill that occurred on the upper river. Read...
Imagine sitting in a lounge chair with your feet in the water looking out over a tropical sea. The sun blazes away and the reefs around you teem with life. There was a time, nearly half a billion years ago, when the area we now call Lake Champlain hosted such an environment. This was before life existed on land, before the bedrock of the region had even formed.
At the time, the continental plate upon which Lake Champlain sits today was located in the lower latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Carbon dioxide levels exceeded today’s levels by 14 to 16 percent, and the earth was so warm that practically no ice existed. As a result, sea levels were much higher and the continental shelf was covered by a shallow arm of the Iapetus Ocean. In this arm, some of the world’s earliest reefs developed. Read...
Their names can evoke spine-chilling fear - bog haunter, pond hawk, shadow dragon, widow skimmer - or elfin magic - jewel wing, aurora dancer, sedge sprite. They are the subject of old wives tales about sewn lips of misbehaved children or their ability to reincarnate snakes. Few animal groups inspire more colorful stories than dragonflies and damselflies. Yet, even if the wives tales are not true and the names are only fanciful, these insect masters of the sky still lead fascinating lives. Together, dragonflies and damselflies comprise the insect order Odonata or “toothed ones”. Generally, dragonflies are faster and larger than damselflies, but the most reliable visual difference between the two groups is how they hold their wings when resting. Dragonflies hold their wings horizontal to the ground while most damselflies hold theirs perpendicular. Both groups are predators as adults and nymphs. Read...
LCC kicks off its seventh year of algae monitoring around Lake Champlain on July 6th. Water samples are taken weekly by volunteers around Lake Champlain and the results are analyzed by UVM’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory. LCC coordinates volunteer efforts and transports samples to UVM for analysis. Monitoring continues through the Labor Day holiday.
If you see algae blooms outside Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay or the Alburg Passage, first check out LCC’s pamphlet on floating phenomena (pdf) and then contact us at lcc@ lakechamplaincommittee.org for guidance on collecting a sample for identification. Read...
As part of the Quadricentennial celebrations, a fleet of birch bark canoes will paddle to the Burlington waterfront on July 14, 2009, the exact anniversary of Champlain’s arrival to the lake. Paddlers are invited to accompany the canoeists in a flotilla of human-powered watercraft. Participants will muster at noon at Shelburne Bay and launch at 1 pm. The birch bark canoes will land in Burlington at 5 pm for a special ceremony. Please contact veteran boat-builder Douglas Brooks at 802 877-3289 if you’d like to join the event. There’s a $10 fee to participate but it’s free to watch. Read...
An impressive array of cultural and historic events have been unfolding this year as the region commemorates the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s voyage to the lake. You’ll find more information on some of the programs scheduled at www.celebratechamplain.org and www.discoverlakechamplain400.org. The Quadricentennial is an opportunity to learn some history, recreate, and explore. It’s also a time to think about the lake’s future and how we can ensure it’s a healthy one. With that in mind, please consider celebrating the lake by taking LCC’s Lake Protection Pledge and committing to steps that will reduce your personal impact on water quality. Together we can create a clean lake! Read...
Learn more about the lake at these upcoming events
Explore the forces that shape Lake Champlain, the creatures that call it home, and how you can make a difference in its future at Main Street Landing’s Film House, 60 Lake Street in Burlington on July 6th at 7 pm. Click on the title above to see what we have lined up for the next few weeks or check out the LEARN section of our website for upcoming programs. Contact us at lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org if you’d like to schedule an LCC presentation in your community. Read...
LCC along with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has recently completed our third year of monitoring at a stream restoration site on Rugg Brook in St. Albans. Rugg Brook is an impaired waterway that flows into St. Albans Bay. An LCC assessment of the stream in 2005 revealed a section with steep eroding stream banks. ANR then partnered with landowners Andy and Nicole LaPierre, the town of St. Albans and LCC to flatten the banks and allow flood waters to dissipate over the surrounding lands rather than continuing to erode them and carry sediment to St. Albans Bay. LCC has remained active in assessing the success of the project.
Over the last three years the stream has settled into a well-defined channel, vegetation has re-established at the site, and planted willows are thriving. This is in stark contrast to the first year following construction when there was extensive disruption. Vegetation had not yet established and the stream thrashed about in its floodplain, cutting off meanders and creating new channels. Sometimes conditions need to get worse before they can improve. Monitoring will continue for two more years. Read...
The 2009 Quadricentennial edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail and Stewardship Manual is out! This year’s edition includes new site descriptions, revised maps and a special section on cultural history. Join or renew your membership at a level of $40 or more and we’ll mail you the informative guide to the Trail’s 37 locations that provide access to more than 700 campsites. Read...
Washing the car on a sunny weekend afternoon is part of the typical suburban summer scene. But usually the dirt, grime, detergents, and greases from the car end up in the local waterway and eventually Lake Champlain. Here are some tips to make your car washing more lake friendly:
- Use a commercial car wash - water from commercial washes is treated before reaching streams and less water is used overall.
- Wash over permeable surfaces like grass or gravel rather than in the driveway.
- Reduce excess use of water by using a trigger hose and bucket.
- Dispose of leftover water in the toilet.
For more lake friendly tips, check out the Learn and Get Involved sections of our website and consider taking our Lake Protection Pledge. Read...
On land plants have developed elaborate mechanisms to ensure pollen passes from male flowers to female flowers through wind or intermediate pollinators and thus ensuring reproduction; water presents a different challenge. Pollen can not move through water as it can through air and the reliable insect pollinators are much less abundant. Most aquatic plants compensate by holding their flowers above the surface of the water. Once pollination has been completed the stem holding the flower might coil as in water lilies, pulling the flower down below the water surface and out of sight from seed and fruit predators.
A few plants actually pass pollen through the water. One such species is coontail, a common native underwater plant sometimes mistaken for Eurasian water milfoil. In this species, male flowers break off of the plant and float to the surface. Once there they drop pollen which sinks down onto the female flowers which remain below water. Despite the fascinating strategies that some species have developed, vegetative growth from existing plant material is still the most common form of reproduction. Read...
Get out on the water and support great lake-related causes - including the Lake Champlain Committee - by participating in the 2009 Regatta for Lake Champlain! The event kicks off Friday, July 24th from 7:30 pm to midnight at the ECHO Science Center in Burlington, VT with a Lake Lovers' Dance Party. In addition to great entertainment, food and drink, there will be many door prizes and a silent auction featuring a 4 day/3 night vacation at Andros Beach Club in the Bahamas and lots more. Tickets for the lake benefit are $15/person, or $25/pair (21 years and up) and can be purchased at the door or in advance from http://www.regattaforlakechamplain.org.
The Regatta Sailing Race will be held on Saturday, July 25th, at 11:30 am just outside Burlington Harbor. Awards for this family-friendly pursuit-style race are given for placement in various classes, the Largest All-Family Crew, Last Boat, Youngest Crew, All Female Crew, Oldest Boat, and Middle of the Fleet. The boat that raises the most sponsorship money wins a special prize for the entire crew. The "pursuit" race has a staggered start to eliminate the stress and jockeying of a traditional race. Participating boats are given a handicap based on the length of the course and the speed potential of the boat. Smaller boats start first. The appeal of the race is that it brings all the classes of boats to the finish line around the same time making for a fun and exciting conclusion! The Regatta is open to racer, cruiser, or daysailor sailboats. For pre-race party and race entry details, prize and award information, or to sign up a crew or sponsor a boat, go to www.RegattaForLakeChamplain.org.
Since 2004 the Regatta has raised over $40,000 for lake causes. Over $10,000 has been donated to the Lake Champlain Committee to support our water quality protection and lake access work. Read...
“For most creatures being parasitized is a way of life” writes Annie Dillard in A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She later notes that an estimated ten percent of the world’s animal species are parasites. Lake Champlain is not immune.
Parasites, by definition, have an extended relationship with their host during which time they feed from the host, but in most cases they do not kill the host. Under this definition, mosquitoes or black flies do not count as parasites because they have a fleeting relationship with their food source. Of course, the exact line between an “extended relationship” and a “fleeting relationship” is fuzzy.
Most studies of parasites in freshwater systems focus on those that affect fish. Wildlife ecologist David Marcogliese estimates there are over 700 known parasites of Canadian fish, not including bacteria and viruses. The numbers for Lake Champlain are probably not much lower. These range from the very large and well-known sea lamprey to more cryptic mussels, worms, and fungi. Click on the title to read the complete article.
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Lake Champlain: A Natural History has won an IPPY Award from Independent Publishers. The group recognizes the best independently published books of the year. Our book tied for silver for Best Regional Non-Fiction in the US Northeast.
If you haven’t gotten your copy yet or sent one on to a fellow lake lover, you can make a purchase today at our secure website www.lakechamplaincommittee.org or by calling us at 802 658-1414. Read...
New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) has completed removal of contaminated wastes for an upland area of a former manufactured gas plant on Saranac Street in the City of Plattsburgh. The plant operated from 1896 to 1960, and the contaminants were by-products of gas production. Over 150,000 tons of tar-contaminated soils and over 7-million gallons of contaminated liquids were collected and treated. At this time, proposals are being considered for Phase II of the project which will address contaminated river sediments. Read...
Join in a fun day of trail maintenance and hiking at beautiful Niquette Bay, one of the stops on the Paddlers’ Trail. Individuals and families with children 8 and up are welcome to help us get this popular network of trails ready for summer. Lunch will be provided. Come prepared with sturdy boots, gloves, water, sunscreen and bug repellant. Please register in advance with Jessica Ricketson at 802 879-5680 or jessica.ricketson@ state.vt.us so we’ll be sure to have enough food!
This maintenance project is a collaborative effort of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Girl Scouts, American Hiking Society, No Child Left Inside, and the Lake Champlain Committee. Read...
For the seventh consecutive year, the Lake Champlain Committee is coordinating a volunteer blue green algae monitoring program for near-shore areas of the lake. Citizen monitors collect water samples on a weekly basis which are analyzed by the University of Vermont. The program is critical to expanding knowledge of how, why, and when blooms form and what triggers them to turn toxic. It also provides data to public health agencies for posting about swimming safety. We need monitors to sample at Beggs Park in Essex, NY and High Rocks in Highgate Springs, VT. LCC will provide sampling equipment, training, and ongoing support. Willing volunteers need to be able to take water samples between 10AM and 2PM on Sundays or Mondays between July 6th and September 8th. LCC will arrange a Monday morning pick-up with the Essex volunteer. The High Rocks volunteer must deliver the samples to the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters by Tuesday morning. Samples are taken in very shallow water, so a boat is not necessary so long as the volunteer has access to the shore. A short training session will be held on Monday June 29th. If you or anyone you know is interested please contact LCC staff scientist Mike Winslow at 802-658-1461 or mikew@ lakechamplaincommittee.org. Read...
The 2009 Quadricentennial edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail and Stewardship Manual will be mailed in June. Join or renew your membership at a level of $40 or more and we’ll mail you the informative guide to the Trail’s 37 locations that provide access to more than 700 campsites. Read...
Even if air temperatures seem balmy, the lake takes much longer to warm up. Additionally, strong currents and the presence of springtime debris add to risks this time of year. Current Lake Champlain temperatures are in the 40s. If you are immersed in water that cold for a half hour, exhaustion and unconsciousness can set in. Water temperatures of less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit can cause you to lose precious body heat up to 25 times faster than comparable air temperatures. Water temperatures in many areas of Lake Champlain, particularly the Main Lake, never reach the 70s. Be cautious about heading out on the water and make sure you and your boat are properly equipped. Bring a weather radio or VHF with you and check the weather forecast repeatedly. 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. Dress for the season. If kayaking or canoeing in cold water conditions (no matter what the air temperature is) wear a wetsuit or drysuit with an insulating layer. Here's to safe, fun adventures on the water. Read...
Over 3,800 individuals participated in this year’s Way to Go Week – an event to promote environmentally-friendly, healthy alternatives to driving solo. Thanks to everyone who joined in. Collectively we saved 254,633 miles of driving, 11,307 gallons of gas, over $23,000 in gas money, over $35,000 total in driving related expenses, 7,429 pounds of pollution and over 221,000 pounds of CO2 in just one week! Read...
Whether in the street, the park, or your yard, cleaning up after pets helps to keep the waters safe. Left unattended, pet waste leads to:
-Bacteria in the water that can close beaches and make people sick.
-Excess nutrients that cause algae blooms.
-Oxygen depletion when the poop breaks down.
What to do with the poop?
Flush It
The best option is to flush it down the toilet so it can be treated at the wastewater treatment facility or septic system.
Bury It
Burying the waste about 5” deep will allow soil micro-organisms to break it down while keeping the poop from being washed away by the next rainstorm.
Trash It
While not the best solution, putting pet waste in the trash is preferable to leaving it in place.
For more lake friendly tips, check out the Learn and Get Involved sections of our website and consider taking our Lake Protection Pledge.
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As spring advances the world fills with sound. Months of winter’s muffled silence give way to a great symphony of singing, gurgling, croaking, and drumming. Yet what we hear as a joyous ensemble masks some nasty competition.
Birds are the best known chorus members. They communicate a variety of messages to others of their species through song, but mostly they say “stay away from my territory, unless you are a female ready to mate”. Researchers have shown that if a bird is removed from a territory, playing a recording of its song will prevent other birds from occupying the territory.
Not all birds rely upon song for auditory communication. Ruffed grouse cup and then vigorously flap their wings to create a drumming sound. Woodpeckers bang against trees not just to get food but also to communicate. Snipe and woodcock conduct aerial displays where sounds are created by the wind whistling through their feathers.
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On May 4-8, leave your car at home and join the fun!
Way to Go is an annual program co-founded by LCC to promote the use of cheaper, healthier, more earth-friendly alternatives to driving alone. Individuals, businesses, schools, 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 in May. Sign up online and your pollution, gas and money savings will be calculated and you'll be entered into a drawing for great prizes – iPods, cordless electric mowers, snowboards, overnight stays, bus passes, and gift certificates! Whether you live in the Lake Champlain Basin year-round or just visit here occasionally, we hope you'll join in the event.
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Reserve your copy by joining LCC or renewing your membership.
The 2009 Quadricentennial edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail Guidebook and Stewardship Manual will be out in June. It includes Trail descriptions and chartlets, launch site locations, natural and cultural history articles and equipment check lists. - And it's available to all members who renew annually for $40 or more.
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The spring weather has many of us poring over seed catalogues and hankering to get out gardening. Here are a few "clean lake" tips to follow to ensure that the investments you make in your property stay there rather than running off into the lake:
Don't apply fertilizer in the spring. Early fall is the best time to fertilize in the Champlain Valley. So hold off on adding anything to your soil now and use the time instead to get a soil test done so you know what - if anything your soil needs. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension in New York and UVM Extension in Vermont to obtain soil test kits.
Don't use fertilizer with phosphorus. Studies indicate that the majority of northeastern lawns have more than enough phosphorus. If you do use fertilizer, make sure to buy a bag of the phosphorus free stuff. The three numbers on the fertilizer bag indicate the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) content. A "zero" in the middle means it is phosphorus-free. Lawns rarely need extra potassium (K) but adding some won't affect water quality.
Plant grass seed on existing lawns in the fall and spring. Use a grass mixture that does well in the area and leave legumes, such as common white clover, among the grass to add nitrogen to your lawn naturally. These practices will encourage strong root growth and enable the grass to outcompete weeds.
Mow to maintain a height of 3 to 4 inches. Cut off no more than 1/3 of the grass blade and leave the clippings on the lawn to add nutrients and organic matter.
Sweep any clippings and fertilizer off paved or hard surface areas. This will keep nutrients on your land instead of in the lake. Read...
On April 2nd Phoenix Books and Café played host to a celebration of Lake Champlain in words and pictures attended by about sixty people. The event was a collaboration between LCC, the bookstore and the Essex Art League. Lake paintings by over 20 artists, poetry by award-winning author Daniel Lusk, and natural history from LCC’s roving scientist Mike Winslow were served up with delicious refreshments. If you missed the opening, you can still view the lake art at Phoenix Books until the end of May. If you have an idea for a lake program you’d like to organize in your community, please get in touch with us at lcc@ lakechamplaincommittee.org. Read...
LCC is gearing up for another monitoring season and are in search of blue green algae monitors for St. Albans Bay and possibly Missisquoi Bay. These locations often have the highest density of algae blooms, so they’re important to maintain. We may need additional volunteers later in the year so please stay tuned. LCC will provide sampling equipment, training, and ongoing support. Willing volunteers need to be able to take water samples between 10AM and 2PM on Sundays or Mondays between June 30th and September 1st and deliver them to a designated drop-off location. Samples are taken in very shallow water, so a boat is not necessary as long as the volunteer has access to the shore. If you’re interested, please contact LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow at 802-658-1461 or mikew@lakechamplaincommittee.org. Thanks! Read...
