News by Category

The Vermont Legislature passed and Governor Shumlin signed a bill that would prohibit fracking in Vermont. Lawmakers deliberated on a three-year moratorium but ultimately opted for a ban. LCC testified in favor of the legislation and strongly…

The Vermont legislature ended up merging and then passing lake and river bills that had been considered during the session. The larger bill institutes a suite of programs that will help Vermont prepare for and cope with future flooding issues. MORE

The New York legislature passed a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Sayward and Senator Little, to allow the Department of Environmental Conservation to help stop the spread of invasive species. MORE

We're looking for a few high quality items to help our office and field work hum along more smoothly. Do you have any items on LCC's wishlist you'd like to donate? MORE

Now in it's ninth year, the Lake Champlain Committee's Blue-Green Algae Monitoring Program is in full swing with over 100 individuals trained on how to identify this potentially toxic form of cyanobacteria. Learn more about how you can become…

LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow and Burlington Free Press environmental reporter Candy Page discuss the short and long-term impacts of the flooding and the interest that's been kindled in "flood control" with VPR's Jane Lindholm.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has been asked to develop a plan of study concerning the record flooding of Lake Champlain and its tributaries, and of the Richelieu River which occurred in Spring 2011. In letters from the Governments of the…

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. MORE

On March 9, 2012 a field hearing of the House Agriculture Committee convened in Saranac Lake, NY to hear from agriculture producers on their views of the Federal Farm Bill. Every five years Congress has to reauthorize the federal Farm Bill. The…

Even if air temperatures seem balmy, the lake takes much longer to warm up. Additionally, strong currents and springtime debris are potential marine hazards this time of year. Lake Champlain temperatures are still in the 30s. If you are immersed in…

As the weather warms we are more likely to turn to a nice cold drink of water to quench our thirst on a hot afternoon. Fill a pitcher and keep it in the refrigerator rather than running the tap until the water cools every time you need a drink. Doing…

Pollution loading from developed lands remains one of the most difficult sources of phosphorus to control. The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) recently released two requests for proposals for studies that could improve management of developed…

The Lake Champlain Committee has been working with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to help map aquatic natural resources in Vermont. The work is part of a larger project to produce a statewide map and supporting database identifying the lands…

Spring is a great time for finding driftwood on the shores of Lake Champlain. The wood can come from trees along forested shorelines that were undermined by wind and wave erosion, but more commonly it is delivered by streams and rivers entering the…

Earlier this month we reported that in February, the Vermont House passed a three-year moratorium on the gas extraction procedure known as fracking. Now that the cross-over deadline has passed, Senate and House Committees will be spending more time…

The proposal to install a 1,000-megawatt transmission line on the bottom of Lake Champlain to transport hydro and wind power from Canada to the New York City market continues to move forward. At the end of February the project proponent, Transmission…

The winter of 2011-12 will go down as the second warmest on record (behind only 2001-02) in the Champlain Valley. Meteorological winter includes the months of December, January, and February. Meteorologists report that low air pressure associated…

Dan Jacobs has donated over 25 hours of his time with the Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) since August 2011, assisting with organization mailings and member communication pieces. Jacobs, a Burlington, Vermont resident, began volunteering to help Lake…

On a recent winter day my family was exploring some woodlands along the shore of a river near Lake Champlain. My daughter exclaimed about the huge birds in the trees on the opposite side. Three bald eagles sat regally staring out over the landscape.…

The Plattsburgh Press Republican recently reported that the spillway at the 90-year old Mead Dam, which supplies water for the city, does not meet state regulations and must be reconstructed. Like many places throughout the country, Plattsburgh faces…

Lake Champlain Committee Staff Scientist Mike Winslow was featured on WCAX's evening news to discuss our aging national and local water infrastructure systems. Watch the interview on our website. MORE

The past year will forever be remembered as the year of flooding. Record high lake levels in the spring were followed by Tropical Storm Irene in the late-summer. With such tremendous increases in the amount of water in the lake and in our rivers, how…

Watershed for Every Classroom is a year-long, 11-day professional development experience for K-12 teachers. In a supportive, collaborative, and fun environment, we explore the many different ecological and cultural stories of the Lake Champlain…

Look in LCC’s Award-winning book! Why is ice so hard and slippery? Does Lake Champlain produce lake-affect snow? Why does fog form over the lake on cold days? What is the probability that Lake Champlain will freeze over in any year? MORE

On Thursday March 15, Brad Van Liew, the only American to win a solo around the world sailboat race will speak at the Main Street Landing Film House, 60 Lake Street in Burlington, Vermont. The event is the Spring Ice Breaker of The Regatta for Lake…

Educators and interested citizens can learn more about the science behind climate change and action steps for students in a hands-on workshop. The workshop will run from 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 10 at St. Michael’s College,…

Thanks to the work of Senators Leahy and Schumer, funding for USGS stream gages has been extended -- for the time being. Eighteen gages in the Champlain Valley – nine in Vermont and nine in New York - were slated for closure. MORE

The end of the year brought good and bad news on management of air pollution in the United States. On the plus side, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced new rules and standards that will cut mercury emissions from power plants by up to 90%. MORE

The issue of using hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” as a means of extracting natural gas from shale and other tightly packed rock formations has stirred a great deal of controversy. MORE

Winter is a great time for observing waterfowl on Lake Champlain. During the chilly months many birds escape from even colder northern climes to the relative warmth and tranquility of Lake Champlain. Ducks can be found wherever the edge of the ice…

Membership support provides the majority of LCC’s funding and helps us protect water quality, safeguard natural habitats and enhance recreational access. MORE

The historic flooding of 2011 sent unprecedented quantities of nutrients, sediments and debris into the lake and brought tragic losses to many communities. The events reinforced the need to adapt to climate change by ensuring that our infrastructure…

LCC is seeking the following items and help for our new office space and work on the water. If you have items or time to contribute, please contact LCC Executive Director Lori Fisher. MORE

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 2011the LCC Board of Directors and staff extend our thanks to everyone…

The Lake Champlain Committee staff got a boost this fall with the hiring of Office Manager Jessica Rossi. A graduate of Elon University with a degree in strategic communications and business administration, she previously worked for the Boy Scouts of…

On November 7th the new bridge over Lake Champlain at Crown Point opened to the public. It replaced a structure built in 1929 under the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was governor of New York at the time. That bridge was closed…

On November 15th at the Vermont statehouse, lawmakers discussed issues surrounding gravel extraction as a response to Tropical Storm Irene. They heard from academics and state regulators about how removing gravel can often exacerbate downstream…

The twice annual mixing of the lake’s warm and cold layers begins in earnest once the water temperature dips below 40F. At that point, the lake water temperature and thus density becomes relatively uniform from top to bottom. When the lake reaches…

Gary loved Lake Champlain. Binoculars at the ready, always a close eye on the level of the lake, concern for how the Winooski was affecting water clarity in a given summer, whether the storm rumbling above the Adirondacks would make it to Colchester…

The native mudpuppy, a large salamander that lives in rivers along Lake Champlain, was denied a spot on Vermont's Endangered Species List for the second time since 2002. The Endangered Species Committee and Natural Resource Secretary Deb Markowitz…