Clean Lake Tip: Choose Materials That Protect Our Lakes

Walking the shoreline of Lake Champlain and Lake George, you might find sand, pebbles and rocks, driftwood, and all sorts of natural objects. These contribute to the beauty of our region. They are also important to the many animals and plants that call our region home. You might also find objects far less pleasing to the eyes, such as polystyrene foam. These little pieces can come from a broken dock float, a discarded takeout food container, or other type of foam items. Much of this debris enters our lakes slowly and unintentionally, breaking off everyday structures and items over time.

If your dock is made with unencapsulated polystyrene foam, consider replacing it with encapsulated foam or an alternative dock system. As wind, waves, sunlight, and heat interact with unencapsulated foam in floating structures, it breaks down, dispersing thousands of fragments into our lakes where they are nearly impossible to remove. 

If you don’t have a dock, consider how to reduce single-use materials in your everyday activities on and around the water, choosing reusable, durable options instead. For example, bring refillable water bottles instead of disposable plastic bottles, and use reusable food containers rather than plastic wrap. Small choices, whether upgrading a dock or opting for more durable items to replace single-use plastics, can make a meaningful difference in keeping our lakes clean and healthy.

LCC is a member of the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition—learn more about the coalition in our May 2025 Lake Look column.