The Lake Champlain Basin Program's efforts are guided by the Lake Champlain Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is advised by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Citizens Advisory Committees in New York, Vermont and Quebec, an Education and Outreach Advisory Committee, and a Cultural Heritage and Recreation Advisory Committee. Details on all of these committees are provided below. Committee meetings are open to the public; view the LCBP Meetings schedule.

• List of LCBP Committee Members

The Steering Committee serves as forum for information exchange and a mechanism to coordinate state and provincial policies and programs. Created by the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation on the Management of Lake Champlain in 1988, it is the only formal, international, tri-party, government-based institution currently focused on Lake Champlain. It meets about four times each year. An Executive Committee subset of the Steering Committee conducts the business of the LCBP between meetings.

Membership of the Steering Committee consists of top-level environmental officials representing state and provincial government in Vermont, New York, and Quebec, local government representatives, the Citizen Advisory Committee Chairs, the Technical Advisory Committee Chair, Cultural Heritage and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair, Education and Outreach Advisory Committee Chair, and three federal agency representatives. The Steering Committee serves the following roles in guiding implementation of Opportunities for Action:

• facilitates communication and coordination among key players;
• monitors and evaluates progress and produces an annual State of the Lake report;
• secures and directs funding;
• updates Plan recommendations every two years based on changing environmental conditions, management programs and public input;
• develops LCBP's annual budget to ensure implementation;
• negotiates commitments among agencies and groups;
• seeks consistency in regulatory programs and standards (consistency does not predetermine that standards will be more restrictive or less restrictive than present standards);
• provides technical and financial assistance to local communities and organizations.

The Citizens Advisory Committees(CACs) in New York, Quebec, and Vermont were initially created by the Steering Committee. The CACs make recommendations on the condition and management of Lake Champlain to the Steering Committee. The New York CAC has fourteen members appointed by the Commissioner of NYSDEC; the Vermont CAC has fourteen members appointed by the Governor and the Legislature; and the Quebec CAC has eight members appointed by the Minister of Environment. The CACs serve the following roles in implementing Opportunities for Action:

• provide a forum for citizens, interest groups and local governments to discuss Lake issues;
• distribute funds to community based projects through LCBP Partnership Program grants;
• advise the Steering Committee about public concerns;
• link the Steering Committee to state legislative bodies and local groups;
• make recommendations to the Steering Committee about Plan priorities;
• encourage agencies to follow through with their commitments to the Plan.

More Information About the CACs and Action Plans:

• Vermont CAC 2007 Action Plan (689 KB PDF)
• Vermont CAC 2006 Action Plan (call for copy)
• Vermont CAC 2004 Action Plan (237 KB PDF File)
• New York CAC 2006 Membership Roster (31 KB PDF File)
• Vermont CAC 2001 Action Plan (256 KB PDF File)
• Vermont CAC 1999 Action Plan

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is composed of professionals from academia, management agencies, and others. The TAC was appointed by the Steering Committee. The TAC has the following functions:

• presents the Steering Committee with technical information to be used for decision-making;
• advises the Steering Committee about emerging management issues and prepares research or action to address those issues;
• oversees and facilitates the technical aspects of implementation projects;
• interprets monitoring program results and other technical information to help determine success or redirection of projects.

The Cultural Heritage and Recreation Advisory Committee includes the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) chairs, and heritage, recreation, commerce, and transportation specialists from the public and private sectors. The role of the CHRAC includes the following functions:

• Present the Steering Committee with sound information concerning cultural heritage and recreational initiatives to be used in the decision-making process.
• Advise the Steering Committee about emerging issues with management implications and the necessary research or actions to address those issues.
• Advise the Steering Committee regarding opportunities for transboundary partnerships and cooperative projects both within the Basin and with adjacent areas outside the Basin.
• Determine technical merit of LCBP funded cultural heritage and recreation studies and projects.
• Interpret the results of cultural heritage and recreation programs to help determine success or redirection of projects.

The Education and Outreach Advisory Committee is comprised of professionals from educational institutions in the Basin and with representation from the Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) and other appropriate sectors.

• Present the Steering Committee with sound education and outreach information information to be used in the decision-making process.
• Advise the Steering Committee about potential outreach methods to achieve needed communication with stakeholders regarding emerging public information issues and plan implementation actions.
• Guide and facilitate aspects of implementation projects to inform and involve the public.
• Interpret the results of information and outreach programs to help determine success or redirection of projects.