Lake Information Archive

6th International Northern Lake Coalition Event

Lake Champlain Basin Program

Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee

Public Meeting

Saturday August 11, 2007

Shore Acres Inn & Restaurant

US Route 2, North Hero, Vermont

12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Hosted by the Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee

and Shore Acres

Please join us for the latest information on the Governor’s “Clean and Clear Action Plan”, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Carry Bay Causeway & Missisquoi Bay Causeway Removal, Blue Green Algae,  Quebec initiatives, Farmer’s Watershed Alliance and more.

 

1:00 WELCOME

Buzz Hoerr, Chair ………………………… VT Citizens Advisory Committee

Bill Howland , Manager ……….…………... Lake Champlain Basin Program

Keynote Speakers

                George Crombie, Secretary ………………. VT Agency of Natural Resources

                Julie Moore, Director …………………………..VT Center for Clean & Clear

                Roger Allbee, Secretary ……………………………... VT Agency Agriculture

Pierre Leduc,  Chair………………….. Quebec Citizens Advisory Committee

Mary Watzin, Professor …………………………… Rubenstein Center, UVM    

Blue Green Algae Update

Wayne Laroche, Commissioner ……………..…..VT Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

Carry Bay & Missisquoi Bay Causeway Removal

Public Comments, Questions & Discussion

                Lake Champlain Clean and Clear Northern Award Presentation

                Don Weaver,  Chair ……... Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee

Pixley Hill,  President ………………………… Friends of the Missisquoi Bay

Roger Rainville,  Chair ……………………….. Farmers Watershed Alliance

       

*Other invited guests: Pierre Paradis, Andre Riedl Quebec National Assembly; Christian Quellet, federal MP Brome-Missisquoi; Governor Jim Douglas, Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, Senator Don Collins, Senator Sara Kittell, Senator Richard Mazza, House members Mitzi Johnson & Ira Trombley

There will be lake displays, photos, projects and literature. Hot dogs and beverages will be available.* Please join us to share your concerns and suggestions relating to the Northern part of Lake Champlain.

Directions: I89 exit 17 to the islands. Follow Rte. 2 (15 miles) to North Hero, Shore Acres will be on your right as you approach North Hero Village.

Coming from the North follow Route 2 to North Hero, continue on Route 2 past Hero’s Welcome in the Village, Shore Acres will be on your left as you leave the Village proper.

 

 *Thanks to Coca-Cola, Green Mountain Food Service and Tim Lemnah

LAKE CHAMPLAIN FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE PRESS RELEASE

    United States Fish and Wildlife Service

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

    Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

 Release Date: March 14, 2007 

Contact: Dave Tilton (USFWS) 802-872-0629        
             John Hall (VTDFW) 802-241-3700           
             David Winchell (NYSDEC) 518-897-1211

 

LAKE CHAMPLAIN SEA LAMPREY CONTROL SUMMIT TO BE HELD APRIL 11
Public is Invited to Attend and Participate

  The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative today announced that it will sponsor a one-day summit on sea lamprey control in Lake Champlain on April 11, 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont.  The Cooperative will report on the status of sea lamprey control efforts in Lake Champlain and seek public input on the future of administering sea lamprey control.

  The Cooperative is maximizing the opportunity for the public to participate by holding the summit in two  sessions - one in the afternoon from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and a second in the evening from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.  Both sessions will provide overviews and opportunities for comments from participants.  However, the afternoon session will focus on identifying the future direction of sea lamprey control, while the evening session will focus on the details of the direction identified.

  “The restoration of land locked salmon and lake trout to Lake Champlain is one of the ecological success stories of the late 20th century,” said Marvin Moriarty, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Director and Chairman of the Cooperative.  “A key element of this effort has been and will continue to be control of the parasitic sea lamprey.  This summit will help determine how this program is administered in the future.”

  Securing a stable source of funding for control efforts is a key issue that will be addressed by summit participants.  A consistent and concerted lamprey control effort is essential to the continued recovery of the Lake Champlain recreational fishery and ecosystem.

  The Cooperative, a partnership formed over three decades ago by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of New York and Vermont, has led the effort to restore the landlocked Atlantic salmon and lake trout in the Lake. 

  As a result of habitat destruction, unregulated fishing, and sea lamprey parasitism, these species could no longer be found in Lake Champlain by the late 1800s. Today, through stocking and sea lamprey control efforts, Lake Champlain boasts a recreational fishery with an estimated annual economic impact of more than $200 million.

  The University of Vermont conducted a number of economic studies in the late 1990s, and determined that at that time the landlocked Atlantic salmon fishery alone was estimated to be worth $54 million annually. Also, sea lamprey control was found to generate an estimated $42 million in increased fishing-related expenditures and an additional 1.2 million days of fishing annually.

  The Cooperative’s work currently centers on 21 rivers and several associated deltas throughout the Lake Champlain Basin.  A variety of methods are used to control the sea lamprey population.  Specific chemicals, known as lampricides, are used to selectively target sea lamprey larvae.  Specialized barriers that block adult sea lamprey from reaching their spawning grounds in the Lake’s tributaries have been built or repaired.  Traps are set in the spring to capture adult sea lamprey migrating up tributaries to spawn.

  The Cooperative is requesting all participants to register before April 1.  Although there is no charge, this will ensure that enough seating and refreshments are available.  Additional information about sea lamprey control, the summit, and registration materials, can be found at www.ChamplainLamprey.org or by calling the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 802-872-0629. 

 

Oranges in the North Lake

ih.constantcontact.co/63302DD3
The Lake Champlain Valley has sometimes been called the Banana Belt in comparison to the higher elevation mountains surrounding it. Nonetheless, oranges floating around the lake should raise eyebrows. A crate of oranges was dumped into Missisquoi Bay by Dr. Greg Boyer of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the State University of New York in Syracuse. He’s trying to understand surface currents in the area and how they might impact algae blooms.

 
"Oranges are biodegradable and they float right on the surface just like algae, so they are good markers for how the algae travel," he said.

 
Each orange is numbered and marked with the Lake Champlain Research Institute phone number. Anyone finding an orange in the lake or on shore should call with information about the time and location of their finding.

 
Lake Champlain Committee ~ 106 Main Street, STE 200 ~ Burlington, VT 05401

email: www.lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org
phone: (802) 658-1414
web: http://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org
Photo Credits:
Water Chestnuts - Pixey Caney; Blue green algae on rocks - Mary Watzin; Oranges - morguefile.com; Closed to swimming image - Waukesha County Park System

Credits: sent by Hardy Machia 7/25/06...also on the Local news 7/23/06

North Hero on Lake Champlain

5th International Northern Lake Coalition Event
and
Lake Champlain Basin Program Public Meeting

Saturday August 12, 2006

North Hero Marina
Pelots Point Road, North Hero, Vermont

12:00 P.M. to 4:00  P.M.

Hosted by the Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee
and North Hero Marina

 

Northern Lake Coalition Event

                                                                                                By Don Weaver 


 4th annual Northern Lake Coalition Event

 

The 4th annual Northern Lake Coalition Event was held on August 13, 2005 at the North Hero Marina. The first part of the program was presented by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the second part by the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee. The Champlain Basin Program portion of the program was covered in last weeks Islander by George D. Fowler II, titled “The State of the Lake Examined.”

Many interesting displays, including photographs, were available for inspection. Between the two portions of the program, “Esprit des Ventes” (Sprit of the Winds) from Quebec performed a Lake Blessing ritual through music with drums. The ritual began with purifying their bodies with incense, followed by rhythmic drum beats and chants.

Tom Torti, Secretary of Agency of Natural Resources, stressed the importance of programs on the partnership between landowners, politicians, farmers and Canadians, supported by our Governor and Senators Lahey and Jeffords. Torti said, extensive studies regarding the removal of causeways were primarily for fish and wildlife preservation.

Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche said causeways from railroads cause fragmentation of waters, destroying the littoral zone. This is the shallow area at the lakeshore necessary for turtle habitat and small organisms. He also fielded many questions from the very interested audience. Many studies will be done, including the effects of the possible wave erosion on properties. Avoiding mistakes is key. Laroche provided a power point presentation, popular with attendees.

Governor Jim Douglas said, “We are all Shepard’s of the Lake.” He stressed we cannot solve all the lake problems quickly; however, we can all leave the lake better than we found it. Looking up stream to communities for better treatment plants and “farmer friendly” solutions for clean water are ideas the Governor hopes to implement. Governor Douglas has long been a proponent of the Clean and Clear Act.

Following the Governor’s key note speech, he was presented with the “Northern Lake Champlain Clean and Clear Award” by the International Northern Lake Coalition. The award is in celebration for his commitment and vision of those who help restore or preserve Vermont’s great natural resource, Northern Lake Champlain.

The program came to a close with a narrated demonstration on weed harvesting by the Pelots Bay Restoration Association.

The Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee appreciated the great turnout and would like to thank everyone for attending. Hope to see you next year.

 4th International Northern Lake Coalition Event
Saturday August 13, 2005
North Hero Marina
Pelots Point Road, North Hero, Vermont
12:30 P.M. to 4:00  P.M.

A crowd of 75+ concerned citizens and interested parties gathered together at North Hero Marina on Pelots Point for a day of information concerning the "State of the Lake".

Presentations included Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program Manager; Dr. Mary Watzin of UVM; Buzz Hoerr, chair of Vt Citizens Advisory Committee (VTCAC),  Wayne LaRoche of Vt Fish & Wildlife; SecretaryTom Torti, & Vt Natural Resources Dept. A.  A special guest to the event was our own Governor Jim Douglas.

Exhibitors included Louis Hak of the Conservation Baie-Missisquoi group in Clarenceville, Local Motion, & Shaklee Products, Forcier Aldrich & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers, Vt Boating Safety, & Friends of Missisquoi Bay.

Topics of discussion  were of high phosphorus trends in the St. Albans Bay, Missisquoi Bay and Inland Sea, an update on the Blue-Green Algae situation, some history of the changes affecting the lake.  A monitoring program for lake quality has been established by concerned citizens on the lake who bring in weekly samples of water from 15 sites on the lake. Comments addressed were from concern of raw sewage still entering the lake from residential sites, which is being investigated under the Universal Septic Regulations.  Those regulations will be fully in effect as of July 2007.
There are many detrimental habits of we humans that leads to the high phosphorus content in the lake from fertilizing our lawns, farm runoff, storm water runoff, to even out dishwashing soaps.  We must all take a look at what we can do individually to help curtail the negative impact we have on our environment.  by Vanetta Darby 8/16/05

The State of the Lake Examined

by George D. Fowler II

About seventy five Champlain Valley citizens and concerned stakeholders gathered at North Hero Marina to listen to a presentation on a variety of issues concerning Lake Champlain. Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Manager introduced the Basin Program’s "State of the Lake, Lake Champlain in 2005-A Snapshot for Citizens"publication. He called attention to the Status and Trends of Lake Champlain Phosphorus Concentrations section of the publication. St. Alan’s Bay, Missisquoi Bay and the Northeast Arm of the lake all have higher than target levels of phosphorus according to the publication. There has been no detected change in the major tributaries of these bays, the Lamoille and Missisquoi Rivers. Dr. Mary Watzin gave an update on Blue Green algae in the lake. "Blue Green algae has always been in the lake but in the last six to seven years, the balance has been out of wack." said Dr. Watzin. Blue Green algae produces microcystin, a toxin which can be harmful to humans. "In Missisquoi Bay, microcystin concentrations regularly exceeded recreational use guidelines from July to September in recent years" reads the LCBP publication.

The LCBP, University of Vermont and the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee (VTCAC) on Lake Champlain’s Future and the state of Vermont have established a citizen’s monitoring program which collect water samples on fifteen shoreline sites. "The historical data for toxic levels of the lake only date back to 1999" stated Dr. Watzin. The monitoring program in conjunction with other research projects by the stakeholders will collect data on the ongoing program with Blue Green algae.

Concerned citizens raised comments about the direct discharge of sewage into the lake from private cottages, homes and city utilities, such as the million gallon spill from a City of Burlington sewage pipe. Secretary Torti explained the Universal Septic Regulations will take affect in July of 2007. Under these regulations, the State of Vermont will send out investigators to inspect any failed systems and any new designs to ensure compliance. Due to human resource constraints the state will only be able to investigate complaints made by concerned citizens.

When one citizen addressed the "tunnel vision policies" concerning farmers and non-source point pollution phosphorus sources, Buzz Hoerr, chair of the VTCAC replied that farmers are not the only source, or even the major source of phosphorus levels in the lake. The high levels of phosphorus are due to a collective of "our" behavior, from fertilizing our lawns to storm water drainage.
Received by Don Weaver  - 8/16/05 edition of The Islander

 

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