Please note: The Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee was created by a statute of the Vermont State Legislature and provides citizen input into the Lake Champlain Basin Program. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Lake Champlain Steering Committee, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A requirement of 10 V.S.A. Chapter 63 §1961
January 1999
Dear Friends of Lake Champlain,
As the millennium approaches, we here in the Lake Champlain region face another important milestone in the year 2009: the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival on Lake Champlain.
Just a few years ago, Vermonters and New Yorkers agreed on a strategy to protect and restore Lake Champlain. Individuals and organizations from throughout the lake basin have joined together in a partnership and have begun to implement this comprehensive plan. For example, Vermont continues to appropriate capital funding to reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake Champlain from municipal wastewater facilities and farms. New York State voters approved an environmental bond act in 1996 which committed $15 million to the Lake Champlain basin and reduced the time-frame for achieving New York's share of phosphorus reductions to seven years instead of twenty. Funding from federal agencies has also increased to help meet this challenging task.
While much progress is being made throughout the region, much more remains to be done. The Citizens Advisory Committee undertook a careful review of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin in preparation of this annual report and action plan. We unanimously concluded that the single most important priority for Lake Champlain is to shorten the time for achieving the goals of the plan. In simple terms, we encourage all involved to take appropriate actions today so that ten years from now we can celebrate a healthy environment and prosperous economy on the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of the lake.
The Citizens Advisory Committee calls upon our legislators, government agencies and citizens throughout the Lake Champlain basin to join with us in meeting this challenge. We all must work together to secure adequate funding, to look for new opportunities and technological breakthroughs, and to support education and public involvement efforts -- three key elements of achieving our goals by 2009.
Sincerely,
Buzz Hoerr, Chair
In 1998, the Vermont, New York and Quebec Citizens Advisory Committees held a public meeting to discuss the State of the Lake Report released by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and to review progress on implementing Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. Some of the key issues raised by those in attendance included:
In its recommendations this year, the CAC calls upon the Vermont General Assembly and state agencies to join them in an effort to accelerate implementation of the plan. Specific actions are described in the following pages.
Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin addresses many issues ranging from the improvement of water quality, to the protection of the Basin's living resources, to the preservation of the region's rich cultural heritage. The three highest priorities for action: reducing phosphorus in targeted sub-watersheds; preventing and controlling persistent toxic contaminants; and implementing a comprehensive management program for nuisance nonnative aquatic plants and animals.
"Our most important priority is to shorten the time-frame for implementing the plan and achieve phosphorus reduction goals by 2009, the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival on Lake Champlain."
- Buzz Hoerr, Chair, Vermont CAC
ACTIONS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
When the Governors of New York and Vermont and the Administrator of EPA approved Opportunities for Action: an Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin in 1996, they anticipated the need to continually update the plan and its recommendations. Since that time, New York State voters approved the Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act which has greatly accelerated implementation activities in the New York portion of the basin, especially related to phosphorus reduction goals. What was anticipated to take 20 years to implement in New York will now be completed in seven years. Vermont, too, has been systematically implementing a phosphorus reduction plan for municipal wastewater treatment plants and agricultural nonpoint source pollution. In recognition of this, the CAC's highest priority this year is to accelerate implementation activities in Vermont in order to shorten the timeframe needed to achieve in-lake water quality criteria.
Another important priority for action is preventing pollution from toxic contaminants. By reducing toxic substances and waste products at the source, municipalities, businesses and individuals can help keep toxics out of the waste stream and out of the lake and even increase profit margins. Some state and local programs are underway in the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain basin, but more are needed to address pollution concerns in urban and residential areas.
Legislative Actions
Agency Actions
ACTIONS TO CONTROL NUISANCE AQUATIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Since they were first found in 1993, zebra mussels have spread throughout Lake Champlain and are now being found in major tributaries. In recent years, water chestnut populations have also expanded and spread as far north as McNeil Cove in Charlotte, VT. In addition, the alewife, a new nonnative species to the lake basin, was recently found in large numbers in Lake St. Catherine. All of these species pose serious threats to the ecological health of Lake Champlain, not to mention the impacts on recreational opportunities and the economy in general. Other species also pose threats if they invade Lake Champlain, making spread prevention and control programs a high priority.
Legislative Actions
Agency Actions
ACTIONS TO ENHANCE RECREATION AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES
With state and federal funding, progress is being made to enhance public access and encourage new recreation opportunities. The Lake Champlain Basin Program began a grant program to enhance public access sites in 1997 and continues to implement the Lake Champlain Bikeways. A 350-mile bicycle route around the lake was finalized, 40 shorter loops totaling 1,200 miles have been assessed, and nine theme loops completed in 1998. Steady progress is also being made in the establishment of the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail with the Lake Champlain Committee becoming the permanent home of the trail in 1998. Citizens from both states continue to call for a reciprocal fishing license, and as a result, officials from Vermont and New York have begun to explore this possibility.
Agency Actions
ACTIONS TO PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES
A team of researchers led by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum have now completed an underwater survey of 120 miles of lake's bottom and identified 25 previously unknown shipwrecks, including the exciting discovery of a revolutionary war gunboat in 1997. The threats posed by zebra mussels highlight the importance of this work as well as the tremendous challenges in protecting these valuable historic resources. In 1998, two new preserves, including the first in New York state, have been added to the Lake Champlain Underwater Preserve System, making a total of seven shipwrecks more accessible and providing them with better protection. Also, the National Park Service continues to work on an initiative to establish the Lake Champlain Heritage Corridor.
Agency Actions
Twenty-two organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin were awarded $70,000 through 1998 Partnership Program funding by the New York-Vermont Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) on Lake Champlain.
This marks the sixth year that Partnership Program awards have been made to grassroots projects that demonstrate practical ways to address economic and conservation challenges. Funding was made available through the Lake Champlain Basin Program from the U.S. EPA and the National Park Service. Since 1992, the CACs have awarded $294,000 for local, community projects.
The 1998 Lake Champlain Partnership Projects:
Land For Learning, Moriah Central School - $4,000
The Vermont Guidebook: Touring Vermont's Oldest City, City of Vergennes - $2,800
Final Intervale Land Restoration, Intervale Foundation - $2,500
Saranac Lake River Corridor Commission Riverbank Stabilization, Village of Saranac Lake - River Corridor Commission - $5,000
Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative, Otter Creek Audubon Society - $2,000
Missisquoi River Dynamics/Canoe Course, Arvin A. Brown Public Library - $500
Field Barn Stabilization, The Nature Conservancy - $5,000
Youth Corps State Park Improvements, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps - $2,500
The Winooski Mills: Economic, Social & Ecological Impact, Heritage Winooski - $4,500
The Northern Lake Champlain Endangered and Threatened Species Project, Green Mountain Audubon Society - $4,200
Mentors in the Champlain Basin, VERMONT Museum & Gallery Alliance - $3,000
Boat-building Program for Youth at Risk, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum - $2,500
Preserving our Agricultural Heritage - The Historic Monitor Barns Project, Richmond Land Trust - $3,000
Burlington Guidelines for Stormwater Pollutant Reduction, Burlington Conservation Board - $4,000
Gilleland History/Nature Foot & Canoe Trail, Boquet River Association - $2,000
Otter Creek Heritage Corridor, UVM - $3,000
Coon Mountain Preserve/Split Rock Link, Adirondack Nature Conservancy & Adirondack Land Trust - $5,000
B.A.C.S.T.O.P. Summer '98, Village of Whitehall, NY - $3,000
East Bay (Poultney River) Watershed Improvement, Whitehall Jr./Sr. High School - $1,500
Adopt-a-Salmon Family, Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited - $1,200
Lake Champlain Bilingual Boating Publication, Lake Champlain Committee - $5,000
Lake Champlain Paddlers Trail Outreach Project, Lake Champlain Committee - $2,000
Point source phosphorus reductions--To date, 18 facilities in the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain basin have completed phosphorus removal upgrades. Three additional facilities, including Middlebury, Montpelier and Castleton, have received state funding for construction of phosphorus removal upgrades.
Nonpoint source phosphorus reductions--Through joint federal and state cost-share programs, the VT Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets has been able to account for a reduction of 13,500 pounds in phosphorus in the Lake Champlain basin over the last four years.
Pathogen levels--Water quality testing by the Town Health Officer in Colchester, Vermont, documented problems with pathogen levels in Lake Champlain near the mouth of the Winooski River.
Water chestnut control--A $270,000 control program was able to prevent the range of nuisance water chestnuts in Lake Champlain from expanding further northward in 1998. Despite these efforts, surveys by the VT DEC documented an expansion of water chestnut growth in a number of areas including both sides of the lake between Chipman's Point and Benson Landing and in Dead Creek and Otter Creek.
Wetland conservation--3,000 acres of wetlands are targeted for protection with $800,000 of funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) as part of the second phase of a strategy to protect Lake Champlain wetlands. Phase one of the acquisition strategy was completed in 1997 and has already resulted in the protection of 3,500 acres of wetlands in the Lake Champlain watershed.
Paddlers' trail--The first edition of the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail Guidebook and Stewardship Manual was released by the Lake Champlain Committee published with support from the Lake Champlain Basin Program in 1998. The guidebook includes descriptions and locator maps of 18 public sites on the trail.
Pubic access enhancement--Eight public access projects in Vermont and New York recently received grants through the LCBP with funding from the National Park Service.
Underwater historic preserves--In June 1998, two preserves were added to the system which already includes five sites along Vermont's shores: the wreck of the Champlain II, the first preserve in New York, and the O.J. Walker which lies northwest of the Burlington breakwater.
| Legislative Actions | Action Needed in 1999 | Past Performance |
| Appropriate capital funding for wastewater treatment | * | + |
| Increase levels of funding available to farmers | * | + |
| Continue funding for water chestnut control | * | + |
| Continue funding for sea lamprey control | * | + |
| Reauthorize the Vermont CAC's legislative charge | * | + |
| Create a visitors center at Mt Independence | + | |
| Authorize conservation license plate | + | |
| Consider zebra mussel study recommendations | + | |
| Provide funding for historic artifact recovery | + | |
| Adopt phosphorus reduction plan | + |
|
Lake Champlain Budget Report Fiscal Year 1999 Budget (7/1/98-6/30/99)
|
|
| Salary and Benefits* | $49,331 |
| CAC board Member Per Diem | 3,200 |
| Travel | 2,600 |
| Action Plan Design and Printing | 1,500 |
| Equipment | 10,000 |
| Supplies/Other Expenses | 4,254 |
| Indirect Charges | 9,115 |
| Total | $80,000 |
| Source of Funds | |
| Federal - U.S. EPA | $60,000 |
| State of Vermont+ | $20,000 |
| Total | $80,000 |
|
*The VT CAC is supported by the Lake Champlain Vermont Coordinator who devotes about 25% of his/her time to the Committee. The Vermont Coordinators salary is a portion of the salary and benefits noted above. +The Vermont Legislature has appropriated a sum of $5,000 related to per diem, design, printing, travel, and other expenses. The balance of the state funding is used to match federal funding. |
Nonpoint Source Pollution - nutrients or toxic substances that enter water from dispersed and uncontrolled sites, rather than through pipes. Sources of nonpoint source pollution include runoff from agricultural practices, urban and forest land, and on-site sewage disposal.
Pathogen - organisms, usually viruses, bacteria or fungi, capable of causing disease.
Phosphorus - a nutrient that helps plants grow. Phosphorus is found naturally in the environment and in human and animal waste.
Point Source Pollution - nutrients or toxic substances that enter a water body from a specific entry point, such as a pipe. For example, the discharge from a sewage treatment plant is point source pollution.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) - an estimate of the maximum amount of pollution that a body of water can receive and still meet water quality standards.
Toxic Substance - any substance which upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation or assimilaition into any organism, causes death, disease, genetic mutations, physiological malfunctions or physical deformation. Examples of toxic substances are cyanides, phenols, pesticides and heavy metals.
Watershed - the geographic reach within which water drains into a particular river, stream or body of water. A watershed includes both the land and the body of water into which the land drains.
For more information about the Vermont CAC, please contact the Vermont Coordinator at the Lake Champlain Basin Program at 1-800-468-5227 or (802) 372-3213. E-mail: lcbp@lcbp.org
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