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Ice Safety

Five people fell through three-inch thick ice in West Addison, Vermont earlier this month. Luckily they were all pulled to safety. The chart below provides some guidance on necessary ice thickness for various activities but there is no such thing as…

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Lake Look: Goldeneye

While winter’s cold drives many birds away from our region, it also brings different species here. A day spent walking along the shores of Lake Champlain may reward you with rafts of hardy ducks at the edge of the ice. MORE

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Winter Water Conservation Tips

Water conservation is something we may think about during the hot days of summer but what about winter? While we aren't watering lawns or gardens in the Champlain Valley there are still plenty of ways to cut back on water use during the chilly…

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Nature Note: Winter Algae Blooms

We usually think of algae blooms as a summer phenomenon, but some species will occasionally bloom under the ice. Sunlight can still pass through ice allowing photosynthesis. MORE

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Clean Water Costs

Earlier this year the Vermont Legislature asked the Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR) to produce a report that did four things: examined funding options for water quality improvements, estimated the total state-wide need for such funding,…

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NY Fracking Fracas

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has issued draft regulations for fracking and is accepting public comments until January 11. In 2012 Vermont became the first state to ban fracking. LCC lobbied for the ban and is…

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LCC Joins Climate Change Planning Exercise

As our climate warms, Lake Champlain changes. Already we have seen a decrease in winter ice cover and an increase in precipitation throughout the Basin. Where once the lake froze over almost every year, it has now been five years since the last…

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The Arrival of Spiny Waterfleas

In August of this year, the spiny waterflea was found in Lake George, greatly increasing the possibility of its eventual arrival in Lake Champlain. Lake George has a direct connection to Lake Champlain via the LaChute River. Spiny waterfleas have…

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LCC Helps Develop BioFinder

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR) is on the verge of releasing a new map of biological resources in the state. This map goes well beyond what might appear on a flat piece of paper. VT ANRs’ BioFinder project will provide an important…

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Sunrise Sunset

One of the great joys of living near Lake Champlain is the breath-taking sunrises or sunsets one can see over the water. Colors can range from a crisp red to a blend of pastel hues, from pink to baby blue, shifting even over the course of the event.…

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New Stormwater Permits

On December 5th, Vermont issued the second round of permits for municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4). The first round was required under the Clean Water Act in 2003. The first round permit covered twelve Chittenden County communities, UVM,…

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Draft Missisquoi River Basin Plan Out for Review

The draft Missisquoi Bay Basin Water Quality Management Plan has been released for review. The plan lays out the current condition of the surface waters and aquatic habitat, water quality problems, and strategies to improve and restore water quality.…

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Thank You Volunteers & Partners!

LCC’s work for a healthy, accessible lake depends upon the active involvement of many dedicated volunteers who lend heads, hands, and heart in a myriad of ways. As we close out 2012 the LCC Board of Directors and staff extend our thanks to everyone…

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Predicting Blue-green Algae Blooms

Wouldn’t it be nice to know at the beginning of the summer how bad blue-green algae blooms were going to be on Lake Champlain? Well, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Coastal Sciences (NCCOS)…

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Satellite image showing mild bloom on Lake Erie in 2004. Right – Satellite image showing 2011 blue-green algae bloom, the worst in decades. Both images courtesy of ESA/MERIS; Processed by NOAA/NCCOS.

Law Island Reclamation

Law Island is an 8.5 acre island close to the breakwater in Malletts Bay. A site on the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail, it provides a secluded setting in a high traffic area of Lake Champlain with outstanding views of the lake and several islands.…

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One of the dilapidated buildings contaminated with lead and asbestos that was removed from Law Island.

Want to Check the Health of a Waterway? There’s an App for that.

Earlier this month the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or…

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Check water quality using the How’s My Waterway app. Photo by EPA.

Fun and Fossils at LCC’s 49th!

Members and friends gathered at “The Barnhouse” in historic Isle La Motte earlier this month for LCC’s 49th Annual Meeting. Attendees learned about current work, got a status report on lake health, conversed with other lake lovers, ate great food,…

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Thanks to Selby and Maureen Turner for hosting LCC at The Barnhouse. Photo by Selby Turner.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry on the International Wine Trail

A new international wine trail was unveiled at Snow Farm Vineyards in South Hero, Vermont in late September. Linking many wineries extending from Middlebury, Vermont, to Plattsburgh, New York and to Dunham, Québec, the Champlain Valley International…

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Nature Note: Lake Levels

Strong winds out of the north during Hurricane Sandy led to a decrease in lake level at Rouses Point and an increase at Whitehall as waters were pushed south. The difference amounted to about four inches. Following the storm, the lake leveled out…

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Water blowing into Kingsland Bay as the winds pick up. Photo by Mike Winslow.

Thank You Donors!

Members are the lifeblood of LCC. Annual membership helps fund our work to protect and restore water quality, safeguard natural habitats, provide access, and educate and engage people in stewarding this beautiful waterbody. Our deep thanks to LCC…

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Membership donations fuel LCC’s work. Photo by morguefile.com.

Lake Champlain in the Energy Grid

Two recent proposals have shown that Lake Champlain is likely to be in the center of our region’s future energy transmission network. One project proposes to lay a power line at the bottom of Lake Champlain to transmit energy from large…

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Does it make sense to place power lines and other energy transmission projects at the bottom of Lake Champlain? Photo from Wikipedia.

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.

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…

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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.

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.

Like LCC on Facebook!

LCC is now on Facebook! We invite you to 'like' LCC's Facebook page. It's a great way to get the latest lake news, blue-green algae monitoring updates, beautiful lake photos, and other engaging content. MORE

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Like LCC's new Facebook page!

LCC Discusses Lake Health on Channel 17

Watch LCC on Channel 17's Live at 5:25PM program if you weren't able to catch the original show. LCC staff discuss Lake Champlain water quality issues, blue-green algae and aquatic invasive species. MORE

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Thank You Donors!

LCC’s work depends on the financial support of people and businesses that care about the lake and invest in our efforts to protect water quality, safeguard natural habitats and enhance recreational access. Our heartfelt thanks to the members who…

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Thank you for investing in our efforts to protect water quality, safeguard natural habitats and enhance recreational access. Photo by Carolyn Bates.

Scientists and LCC Call for Canal Closure

Earlier this month the spiny waterflea was confirmed in the Champlain Canal and the Glens Falls feeder canal. The spiny waterflea is an invasive plankton species native to Eurasia. The Champlain Canal is directly connected to Lake Champlain in…

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50+ LCC Volunteers Monitoring Lake Conditions

LCC’s blue-green algae monitoring program, now in its ninth year, got underway earlier this month. Thanks to a grant from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, over 50 volunteers are checking water conditions on a weekly basis at more than 50 shoreline…

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Cumberland Bay Dredging – 12 Years Later

For many years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has warned anglers that consuming yellow perch, brown bullhead, or American eel caught in Cumberland Bay posed a risk to their health. This year perch and bullhead were…

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LCC Is Turning 50 – Help Celebrate!

Do you have ideas for how we can commemorate half a century of lake advocacy? We want to hear from you. Volunteer opportunities abound in planning our 2013 birthday party. LCC was instrumental in working for Lake Champlain's health and accessibility…

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Contact us if you'd like to help LCC celebrate its first five decades! Photo by Pete Morawski on Flickr.

Get Out on the Water – As an LCC Site Steward

LCC is seeking site stewards for several locations along the Paddlers’ Trail. Stewards visit Trail sites at least once a month during the paddling season to check on conditions, pick up trash and report their findings to LCC. MORE

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Every Drop Counts - Water Conservation Tips

Everything from fixing the leaks in your house to changing the watering patterns of your lawn can add up to big water savings. If you wonder whether the small changes you make really matter, consider this: each of us uses an average of 100 gallons of…

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