Champlain Aquatic invasive Monitoring Program 2025 Season Review

2025 marked the third year of LCC’s Champlain Aquatic invasive Monitoring Program—CHAMP. Through this program, trained community scientists take to a shoreline site along Lake Champlain and survey for invasive species—including both species known to exist in the lake, and species at our doorstep that pose a risk of invasion. Last year, we had more volunteers covering more sites and conducting more surveys than ever before. Check out this breakdown of survey reports and a map of which aquatic invasive species were recorded at which sites.

CHAMP 2025 by the Numbers 

Note that while LCC has vetted and reviewed these figures, they are still subject to change after the close of the project and external review.

LCC trained over 50 CHAMP participants, including volunteers and Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Boat Launch Stewards through both virtual and in-person sessions focused on identifying and surveying for "target" aquatic invasive species that are known to be in Lake Champlain, and "watchlist" species that are not yet discovered in Lake Champlain but pose the risk of invasion. 

CHAMP participants surveyed a total of 40 sites, ranging from the northern shores of Missisquoi Bay in Quebec, to the southernmost reaches of Lake Champlain in New York. LCC collected and approved 92 CHAMP surveys from late June to late September.

Good news - Zero species on the watchlist were reported through CHAMP in 2025.

For the target AIS:

Zebra mussels were the most frequently reported AIS in 2025. They were reported in 77 of the 92 surveys, or 84% of surveys, and at 37 of the 40 sites, or 93% of sites. 

Eurasian watermilfoil was the second most frequently reported AIS. It was reported in 66 of the 92 surveys, or 72% of surveys; and at 36 of the 40 sites, or 90% of sites. 

Curly-leaf pondweed was reported in 19 of the 92 surveys, or 21% of surveys; and at 17 of the 40 sites, or 18% of sites. 

Water chestnut was reported in 5 of the 92 surveys, or 5% of surveys; and at 2 of the 40 sites, or 5% of sites. 

Variable-leaf watermilfoil was reported in 4 of the 92 surveys, or 4% of surveys; and at 2 of the 40 sites, or 5% of sites. 

Brittle naiad was reported once in 2025, in 1% of surveys and at 3% of sites. 

European frogbit was reported once in 2025, in 1% of surveys and at 3% of sites. 

Golden clam, a species that was moved off of the watchlist in 2025 due to a CHAMP volunteer discovering it during her surveys in 2024, was reported once in 2025 - by the same volunteer at the same site. New York and Vermont state partners have surveyed nearby sites for golden clam and as of the time of this update it has not been found outside of the CHAMP site in Whitehall, NY. Surveys continue into the fall and management of the species will be ongoing.

CHAMP 2025 Site Map

Click here to view the interactive 2025 CHAMP Site Map.

The map linked above displays all of the sites that were surveyed for aquatic invasive species through CHAMP in 2025. You can view the interactive online map by clicking above. Click on a point to see the site name, the AIS reported, and the number of surveys conducted over the course of the June - October surveying season.

Thank you to all volunteers and partners with CHAMP. Keep posted for CHAMP 2026 volunteer sign-up and training dates in May!

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (LC00A01526) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP). NEIWPCC manages LCBP’s personnel, contract, grant, and budget tasks and provides input on the program’s activities through a partnership with the LCBP. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NEIWPCC, the LCBP, or the EPA, nor does NEIWPCC, the LCBP or the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.