The presence of a new exotic species, Asian clam, has been confirmed in Lake George, NY. Lake George drains directly to Lake Champlain via the LaChute River. The thumbnail-sized Asian clam, blamed for clouding Lake Tahoe in the High Sierras... Read...

New York State has passed a bill regulating the use of phosphorus by homeowners. As of January 1, 2012, homeowners and landscape contractors will not be able to apply fertilizer containing phosphorus to their lawns in the absence of a soil test that demonstrates a need for phosphorus or if a new lawn is being established. LCC recommends always getting a soil test...

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Not sure what to do with leftover medicines collecting in your cabinet? The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring a nationwide collection event for unused, unwanted or expired drugs. On Saturday September 25 from 10:00 to 2:00 there will be free, anonymous drop-offs at numerous locations throughout the basin on both sides of the lake. Drugs and pharmaceuticals that are disposed of improperly can pass through sewage treatment plants and end up in the lake unchanged. Don’t flush unused medicines down the toilet or put them in the trash, bring them to a “Take Back” event for safe disposal. To find a collection site near you, just type in a zip code or city at this web page link: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/.  Check your medicine cabinets and spread the word. Read...

A friend recently commented on how different the water of Lake Champlain looked compared to the famous deep blue color of the Mediterranean Sea. The observation prompted me to remember the turquoise of the lakes in Glacier National Park in Montana... Read...

Come play in, on and around the lake with LCC on Saturday, August 28^th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at beautiful Oakledge Park in Burlington. We’ll have delicious food from local purveyors, lake news, a “State of the Lake” report, and plenty of opportunity for discussion and play in a great park. The gathering is free and open to the public but there is a small fee for parking. Click on the heading for further details and directions. Read...

Eurasian water milfoil (milfoil) is the bane of many a lake user. This aggressive non-native plant invades lake systems and spreads prolifically, choking out other plants and making swimming, boating, and fishing... Read...

What animal is more humble than a snail? They are the epitome of slowness. The dull-colored shells are easily overlooked within the lake and rarely studied, but snails are a source of food for 20% of freshwater fish species including sunfish and perch. There are approximately... Read...

If you’re thinking of fertilizing this fall, take time now to get a soil test to find out what it needs and help protect our waterways. Fall, not spring, is the best time to fertilize lawns in the Champlain Valley. You can obtain soil test kits through your area Extension Agency or by stopping by the LCC office...

Get your copy by joining LCC or renewing your membership!

The 2010 edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail Guidebook and Stewardship Manual is out! It’s jam-packed with important information for great adventures on the water including site descriptions and chartlets for 39 Trail locations (including several new sites!), launch site listings, natural history articles...

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The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently released a report titled “Climate Change in the Champlain Basin: What natural resource managers can expect and do,” one of the first efforts in North America to assess climate change on a watershed scale and offer adaptation strategies. LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow served as a reviewer on the report... Read...

On June 15th, a team with representatives from the EPA, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the McAllister Company and Phoenix Engineering conducted an observation of the sunken tugboat William H. McAllister. The team used a remotely operated submersible vehicle to search...

The Department of Energy has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required... Read...

Algae blooms on Lake Champlain have calmed down since early July when a heat wave triggered blooms from Charlotte to Port Henry. Sampling done by LCC monitors during the week of July 26th reported no blooms in the northern lake, Missisquoi Bay, the Main Lake, or... Read...

Our blue green algae monitoring program got underway this week with citizen monitors taking samples at 18 shoreline locations. The current hot, steamy weather conditions are ideal for algae growth and they’ve led to extensive algae blooms particularly in Addison (VT) and Essex (NY) counties. Blooms have been reported in many areas from Burlington south to the Crown Point Bridge area, including Port Henry, Westport, Panton, Ferrisburgh, Kingsland Bay, Long and Thompson’s Points, around Juniper Island in the Main Lake and other locations. Shifts in wind and water currents will move the blooms around the lake and scums may accumulate on the shoreline so keep a watch on the water.... Read...

The hot steamy weather has led to reports of extensive algae blooms particulalrly in Addison (VT) and Essex (NY) Counties. Bloom conditions have been reported from Port Henry, Westport, Panton, Ferrisburgh, and Charlotte. A determination of the species involved in the bloom and whether or not they may be producing toxins is expected by the end of the week. Meanwhile, those recreating on Lake Champlain in all locations should watch for and avoid dense accumulations of algae. ... Read...

Effective July 1st, 2010 Vermont stores can no longer sell automatic dishwasher detergents that contain phosphorus. What does this mean for your dishes? Nothing! Phosphorus-free dishwashing detergents perform just as well as their phosphorus containing counterparts. This is great news for Vermont’s lakes and waterways! Phosphorus helps harmful algae thrive. It is easier and less expensive to reduce our use of phosphorus than it is to remove it at wastewater treatment plants. The ban is a result of a multi-year campaign LCC began in 2003 to get phosphates out of automatic dishwasher detergents. Similar legislation is pending in New York State. Read...

The burst of hot weather has many of us outside doing lots of lawn and garden projects. With that in mind, below are a “clean lake” tips to follow to ensure that the investments you make in your property stay there rather than running off into a nearby waterway (and eventually the lake)... Read...

In late April the EPA agreed to reconsider the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain clean-up plan (known as a TMDL). The TMDL is used to set limits on the amount of pollution produced by wastewater treatment facilities and to set goals for pollution reduction efforts from other sources. The original TMDL had been approved in 2001... Read...

This month LCC welcomes Ryan Garber as an Environmental Service Corps student intern for the summer. Ryan is a Master’s candidate at McGill University in Montreal. He is working on a project to identify ways municipalities might adapt to anticipated warmer temperatures, and greater frequency and intensity of storm events resulting from climate change.  While state and federal agencies have the capacity to develop adaptation plans, municipalities have fewer resources. Thus, Ryan’s work will fill a gap in our efforts to adapt to a changing climate. We’re delighted to have him onboard! Read...

Reserve your copy by joining LCC or renewing your membership! 

The 2010 edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail Guidebook and Stewardship Manual will be out in June. It’s filled with important information for great adventures on the water including site descriptions and chartlets for 39 Trail locations (including several new sites!), launch site listings, natural history articles, safety and stewardship tips, equipment check lists and more! - And it's available to all members who renew annually for $40 or more. Click here to make an online donation to ensure you have the guidebook in hand at the beginning of the paddling season. Read...

A new study released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service examines possible routes by which the invasive plankton species, spiny waterflea, might reach Lake Champlain, as well as options for trying to prevent such spread... Read...

TDI – Transmission Developers Inc. – has filed initial documents for their proposal for an underwater buried electric cable with the New York State Public Services Commission. The proposed cable would run the length of Lake Champlain and bring electricity from Canada to New York City and vicinity. Where possible, the proposed ... Read...

Work to replace the Champlain Bridge between Crown Point, NY and Addison, VT is progressing on schedule according to presentations at a meeting in Addison on May 11th... Read...

The Coast Guard has established a no-wake zone effective May 7, 2010 until December 31, 2011, during the construction of the new Lake Champlain bridge connecting Crown Point, New York, and Chimney Point, Vermont. Until now, the Coast Guard had been enforcing a safety zone that excluded all vessel ... Read...

In late April and early May the temperature of the lake at the King St. ferry dock in Burlington rose above 40 degrees for the first time this year. This signals the beginning of lake stratification. Water 39 degrees ... Read...

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, and organizations can all easily participate. Just pledge to get to work, school or play by walking, ... Read...

Celebrate the outdoors at Saturday’s May 8th Point Au Roche State Park EcoFair. Due to New York state budget cuts, the Park will be closed for the 2010 season. Sponsored by the Friends of Point Au Roche State Park, the EcoFair is an opportunity to enjoy and explore the Park’s 800 acres of woodlands, rolling meadows, scenic walking trails and stunning lakefront before public access is curtailed.

Activities run from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM and include a host of programs from nature walks and scavenger hunts to hands-on activities making snow shoes and bucket gardens. There will be live owls, live performances, free healthy snacks, and displays and demonstrations from twenty-five organizations and businesses. LCC Staff Scientist Mike Winslow will be on hand to give a noon natural history talk and provide information on lake issues at a 2:00 PM panel discussion.

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Feeling a bit shaggy? Are your locks too long? Is your coif in need of shaping? Get your hair cut or trimmed, styled or colored on Sunday April 18th and help LCC and the Lake! Head to O'Brien's AVEDA Institute at 1475 Shelburne Rd in South Burlington between noon and 4:00 PM for a Service-a-thon to benefit the Lake Champlain Committee. Look good and feel even better by helping to safeguard Lake Champlain. When it comes to our water source we are all "localvores." A minimum donation of $10.00 per haircut is requested with all funds going to LCC! Read...

Join Aveda representatives, local stylists, and others for an Earth Day walk from Burlington’s Church Street to North Beach and back. The walk is part of Aveda’s global initiative that acknowledges the daily struggle of ... Read...

Lake art, literature and natural history will be served up with light refreshments at Phoenix Books and Café in Essex, Vermont on Thursday, April 22 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. ... Read...