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September 2012

October 13 - LCC 49th Annual Meeting

Come join Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) board, staff and friends at the “Barnhouse" amongst the fields, farms, forests, and fossils of historic Isle La Motte, Vermont for LCC's 49th Annual Meeting. Learn about LCC’s work, get a status report on lake…

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State of the Lake

How is Lake Champlain doing? The Lake Champlain Basin Program released a new State of the Lake report this summer that helps answer that question. The State of the Lake comes out every three to four years to report on progress meeting water…

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The State of the Lake report comes out every three to four years to report on Lake Champlain's condition. Graphic by LCBP.

Spiny Waterflea Spreads to Lake George

The spiny waterflea, an invasive plankton species, was found in Lake George in early August. The species was found from at least four different locations in the lake in both the South Basin and in northern stretches. Now they have a direct connection…

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Found in Lake George in August, the spiny waterflea now has a direct connection to Lake Champlain via the Lachute River. Photo by Katie Feil of the USGS.

Capital to Capitol Paddle En Route to DC

On September 5 a group of paddlers set off from Ottawa Ontario in a voyageur canoe bound for Washington DC. They will follow an 1800 kilometer route on rivers, lakes and canals to learn more about local water issues and stimulate greater civic…

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The team will travel in a 36' Voyageur canoe on a 1,118 mile journey from Ottawa to Washington, D.C. Graphic by Capital to Capitol.

Eco-Fest – September 8!

The 7th Annual Eco-Fest takes place Saturday, September 8 from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. Wander down to the Burlington waterfront for live music, good food, and to learn about regional conservation…

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The 2012 Vermont EcoFest will be held in Burlington, VT on September 8 from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Graphic by Outdoor Gear Exchange.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day September 29, 2012

Federal and state agencies are teaming up to host a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. LCC encourages everyone to check medicine cabinets for unwanted, unused pharmaceuticals and…

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Protect our waterways from pharmaceutical contamination by disposing of them properly at a Take Back Collection Day. Photo by morguefile.com.

Plattsburgh’s Drug Box Protects Public Safety and Water Quality

Plattsburgh New York residents can safely dispose of expired, un-used or unwanted medications thanks to a new drug drop box located at the City Police Department on 45 Pine Street. The drop box was initiated by Plattsburgh Police Chief Desmond…

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A new drug drop box is now located at the City Police Department on 45 Pine Street in Plattsburgh, NY. Graphic from Plattsburgh Police.

Nature Notes - Bonaparte’s Gulls

Starting in August and through the migration period, Lake Champlain’s smallest gull arrives, the Bonaparte’s gull. These are small graceful gulls with slender black beaks that sometimes act like terns, diving into the water. During the breeding…

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Bonaparte’s gull in both breeding and winter plumage. Photos by Wikipedia.

The Low-down on Low Lake Levels

What a difference a year makes! While the spring of 2011 brought record high lake levels, the summer of 2012 will be remembered for how low the lake dropped. As of August 31 the lake stood at 94.19 feet, about a foot and a half below average for this…

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As of August 31 the lake stood at 94.19 feet, the lowest the lake has been since January of 2002. Photo by Lori Fisher.

IJC Holds Lake Flooding Hearings

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has been charged with defining a scope of work for a study or studies needed to address lake flooding. The charge follows record lake flooding in the spring of 2011. The IJC recently held public hearings in…

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The IJC, charged with addressing lake flooding, recently held public hearings in Saint-Paul-de-I’lle-aux-Noix, Quebec and North Hero, Vermont. Graphic by the IJC.

LCC Tackling Invasives

The Lake Champlain Committee continues our collaboration with Arrowwood Environmental to map vegetation in Lake Champlain, identify invasive species populations, and eradicate any newly established populations. In addition we will produce maps of the…

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Frog-bit plants harvested from the Northeast Arm. So far, no new invasive populations have been found. Photo by Jessica Rossi.

On Closing the Champlain Canal

When New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was still Attorney General, he weighed in on the side of Michigan when they called for Illinois to sever a century-old Chicago Canal because of the threat that Asian carp would move from the Mississippi River…

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Champlain Canal Lock 12 in Whitehall opens up to the lake releasing its water and anything else in the water to the lake. Photo by Lori Fisher.

Spiny Waterflea Spreads to Lake George

The spiny waterflea, an invasive plankton species, was found in Lake George in early August. The species was found from at least four different locations in the lake in both the South Basin and in northern stretches. Now they have a direct connection…

More...
Found in Lake George in August, the spiny waterflea now has a direct connection to Lake Champlain via the Lachute River. Photo by Katie Feil of the USGS.

State of the Lake

How is Lake Champlain doing? The Lake Champlain Basin Program released a new State of the Lake report this summer that helps answer that question. The State of the Lake comes out every three to four years to report on progress meeting water…

More...
The State of the Lake report comes out every three to four years to report on Lake Champlain's condition. Graphic by LCBP.