LCC Urges Leadership on Lake Clean-up

The Lake Champlain Committee, along with the Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Natural Resources Council and Lake Champlain International, held a press conference at the State House in Montpelier last month asking Governor Shumlin to provide leadership to protect and restore Vermont’s waterways. Speaking after state officials and EPA had briefed legislative committees on the requirements and deadlines of a phosphorus reduction plan (see article above), the organizations called on the Governor to take decisive action on water quality and require that his Agency of Natural Resources develop a comprehensive and effective plan for restoring the health of Lake Champlain.

"Vermont adopted water quality standards for phosphorus pollution in Lake Champlain almost 25 years ago. A generation later those standards have still not been met," stated LCC Executive Director Lori Fisher. "While actions have been taken, they haven't been sufficient to improve conditions. The amount of phosphorus in the lake hasn't changed in many segments and is getting worse in some. The signs are all too evident in Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay and the South Lake." She noted that the State has acknowledged that the biggest reason the lake has been slow to recover is that not enough has been done to reduce loading. Fisher emphasized that "now is the time to "do enough" and deliver on the promise of the Clean Water Act to ensure drinkable water, swimmable beaches, and edible fish." Click here for the text of a joint statement by the groups.