The area of open water on Lake Champlain has been steadily closing with the frigid winter we have had. Birder Ian Worley reported that the ice front moved northward 18 miles between January 22 and January 24, from near D.A.R. State Park in Addison,…
Lake Champlain is breathtakingly beautiful. Spread that beauty around with the purchase of LCC's stunning new photo cards. An eight-card set includes two cards each of four different arresting scenes and costs $10 for members, $14 if you haven't…
The state of Vermont and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a series of six meetings around the state to discuss clean-up plans for Lake Champlain. The meetings were very well attended with 60-130 people at each location. MORE
The FDA recently announced that it is requiring manufacturers of anti-bacterial soaps to prove they're safe. We think that's a good idea. The active ingredient in anti-bacterial soaps does not breakdown at wastewater treatment plants so it can end up…
If you walk along a stream in an agricultural area it is not unusual to encounter pipes discharging water directly into it. These pipes are attached to drain systems that farmers use to lower the water table for their fields. The practice, termed…
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…
A new report from the USDA offers hope that conservation practices can spread widely in a region in a relatively short period of time. The report shows that adoption of farm conservation practices in the last five years have led to significant…
Many thanks to everyone who has supported LCC's long-term work by making a donation to our 50th anniversary Legacy Fund endowment! We are very near our $30,000 goal! If you haven't contributed yet, please consider making a gift to the lake's future…
Purchase LCC's stunning new photo cards and you'll get to look at the lake every day! An eight-card set includes two cards each of four different arresting scenes and costs $10 for members, $14 if you haven't joined yet. MORE
Why is ice so hard and slippery? Does Lake Champlain produce lake-effect 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
Almost 20 years ago Richard Moss set up LCC's first networked computer system. He connected all our office machinery, made sense of a labyrinth of wiring, and ensured all our systems "talked to each other". He's been handling LCC's IT work pro bono…
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 2013 the LCC Board of Directors and Staff extend our thanks to everyone…
Does your family enjoy a good game of Scrabble during the long winter nights? A student of lake ice formations can add such terms as frazil, nilas, and shuga to their repertoire. MORE
Blue-green algae have been implicated in the development of some neurodegenerative diseases leading to headlines like, “Could tap water cause Lou Gehrig’s Disease?” or “Are toxins in seafood causing ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?” It is no…
Wish you could look at Lake Champlain every day? Now you can with a purchase of LCC's stunning new photo cards featuring beautiful vistas of our favorite lake! MORE
Know someone who loves the lake? Have a good friend who you play on the water with? Express your caring for the wonderful people in your life and your concern for water quality at the same time by gifting a membership in LCC. MORE
Since 2007, the Lake Champlain Basin Program has funded a boat launch steward program for the lake. The stewards interact with boaters as they are launching or removing their boats. MORE
Yellow floating-heart (Nymphoides peltata) is a non-native, potentially invasive species. It likely got into the lake through the Champlain Canal. The species has been here for many years, growing in shallow quiet bays. MORE
Seaplanes moving from water body to water body can serve as a vector for invasive species movement. To reduce such risks, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has developed a video for seaplane owners about how to avoid picking up and…
Earlier this week a Senate panel passed legislation to designate the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in Vermont as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. MORE
Tile drains are used extensively by farmers in the Champlain Valley and beyond to increase crop productivity on marginal lands. Drains work by lowering the water table allowing more oxygen to reach crop roots. LCC recently attended a tile drainage…
New York State boating laws require all persons aboard motorboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and sailboats less than 21 feet in length to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while on New York waters from November 1 to May 1. MORE
Ever wonder what makes brook trout spots so orange? Or sunfish so bright? The color of fish is determined by the arrangement and patterns of chromataphores in their scales. MORE
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. MORE
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…
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 non-profits which were…
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…
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…
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. MORE
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.…
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. MORE
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…
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. MORE
Flushable wipes, tampon applicators, and other personal care items often advertised as "disposable" can wreak havoc at wastewater treatment plants and cause sewage overflows. Read more about the problem and your role n prevention in this news story…
The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) has released a study examining the effects of lakeshore development on Lake Champlain's shoreline habitat. The study conducted by Fitzgerald Environmental Associates began in 2011 and examined 90 shoreline…
PC Construction is celebrating its 55th anniversary year by giving $5,500 grants to five non-profit organizations. PC Construction employees chose the top ten contenders and now the public gets choose the winners. MORE
Funding appears to have been secured for the remaining Lake Champlain Basin stream gages that were threatened with closure. Thanks to all of you who made calls or wrote letters emphasizing the importance of our stream gages and the need for on-going,…
Roads have an ecological impact far greater than would be anticipated based on the amount of area they cover. They act as filters for animal movement; allowing only some individuals to cross. They provide conduits for seed dispersal for many…
Strong winds in the lower atmosphere often develop in late autumn along Lake Champlain. These events, called low-level jets, can occur when a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean creates southerly winds which become channelized and…
Help keep our waters clean by sweeping or raking leaves away from roadways. Piles of autumn leaves can become part of the stormwater flow into the lake. Rake up any leaves you see collecting on sidewalks, driveways, and roadways near your house. MORE
