NOTE: Linked documents are no longer available.

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Heritage Area Workshops to be Held in April, 2009 [4/09/09]

A new source of funding, coordination and technical services for historic, cultural, agricultural and recreational sites and programs will be discussed at three public workshops on the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. Upcoming workshops will be held in Vergennes, Plattsburgh and Lake George (details below).

The workshop will be led by Jim Brangan, the cultural heritage and recreation coordinator for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Participants will learn about proposed implementation strategies for the recently designated Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP). The LCBP will present a framework for managing the CVNHP, which includes approaches for conservation, interpretation, and promotion of heritage resources. The workshop will conclude with a discussion on strategies, alternatives and outcomes.

Created by the U.S. Congress in 2006, the CVNHP was established to recognize the importance of the historical, cultural, and recreational resources of the Champlain Valley; to preserve, protect, and interpret those resources; enhance the tourism economy; and encourage partnerships among state/provincial and local governments, and non-profit organizations in New York, Vermont and Quebec. This workshop will help in the development of a draft plan for the CVNHP, which will be available for public review in August. Once a plan is approved, the CVNHP is eligible to receive $1 million per year.

• Thursday, April 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Vergennes Opera House in Vergennes, Vermont.
• Tuesday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. in Plattsburgh, NY (Location TBA).
• Thursday, April 30 at 6:00 p.m. in Lake George, NY (Location TBA).

The events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and locations, contact the LCBP at 372-3213.

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Lake Champlain Basin Program Awards $275,000 to Local Groups
Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Projects Reap Benefits [12/9/08]

Grand Isle, VT – Forty-six Vermont and New York local organizations will receive a combined $275,000 through local grants awarded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program this week. Grant recipients will implement cultural heritage and natural resources projects designed to improve the future of the Lake Champlain Basin. Projects range from cleaning-up public access areas, to removing invasive species along shorelines, to reducing stormwater runoff through low-cost landscaping techniques. (Download full list in PDF).

These appropriations, as well as other significant support for Lake Champlain stewardship, were obtained through the efforts of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (VT), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We continue to seek appropriations for the National Park Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to benefit the Lake Champlain watershed. Our work with New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey to appropriate funds for the Quadricentennial Celebration will provide help to both Vermont and New York as we prepare for the commemoration of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration to Lake Champlain next year,” said Senator Leahy.

Twenty-three cultural heritage projects were chosen for funding, many of which will support the upcoming Quadricentennial and work towards long-term cultural heritage recognition for the region. Examples of approved projects include a celebration of Wabanaki Heritage, a Franco-American workshop and festival, and interpretive exhibits in many communities.

“More than $850,000 was requested through 121 applications this year,” noted Bill Howland, Program manager for the LCBP. Local groups often utilize community volunteers for specific tasks, or provide matching local funds which can stretch the federal dollars further. “Nearly every project was worthy of funding, making a challenging task for grant reviewers,” said Howland. Howland indicated that the local grants program is critical for helping local organizations and municipalities implement small, but important, steps of the overall management plan for Lake Champlain, Opportunities for Action. “We hope to offer another round of local implementation grants in 2009.”

Read the full listing of the grants (PDF file) chosen to receive funds or call the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (802) 372-3213 for more information.

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100,000th Guest Visits the LCBP Resource Room![02/12/08]

When Alexa Euler, her son Isaac and his friend Eva Stoll walked into the Resource Room on Saturday, January 19th they were part of a big milestone for the Lake Champlain Basin Program—one of them was the 100,000th guest to visit the room since opening in May 2003. Since it wasn’t exactly clear who walked in first, the two children thoughtfully decided to share the mobile which was the “prize” for the lucky guest. The spirit of sharing and cooperation conveyed by the children echoes the longstanding partnership between the Lake Champlain Basin Program and ECHO for the Resource Room and other educational initiatives.

“Reaching more than 100,000 people with our message about caring for the Lake is a superb milestone for the Program,” said LCBP Manager Bill Howland. “Our thanks go out to the entire ECHO staff for their partnership and to Senator Leahy for his longstanding support of both ECHO and the LCBP.”

The LCBP also thanks our terrific staff at the Resource Room: Laura Hollowell, Cynthia Norman and Stephanie Larkin as well as our cadre of dedicated volunteers. Many repeat Resource Room guests visit not only for the exhibits and activities, but also to spend time with our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We look forward to many more years working in partnership with ECHO and to welcoming the next 100,000 guests to the Room!

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Love the Lake: 2008 Speaker Series [02/07/08]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) offers the Love the Lake speakers series in memory of our co-worker, Jane Potvin, who loved to bring locals together to talk about the Lake. On Thursdays from February 21 to March 13 at 6:30 p.m., the public is invited to join LCBP staff and these speakers for homemade desserts, tea, coffee and lively lake conversations. The LCBP office is in the stone house at 54 West Shore Road in Grand Isle, Vt – a short walk from the LCT ferry.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE.

Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:30 p.m.
Shoreham Sloop: Discoveries from the South Lake’s Murky Waters
Adam Kane, Nautical Archaeologist, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
LCMM Nautical Archaeologist Adam Kane will present recent findings from the Maritime Museum’s excavations of the Shoreham Sloop. Investigations of this 1820s canal sloop between 2004 and 2007 have yielded fascinating new details about Lake Champlain’s commercial heyday. Do not miss this opportunity to get the latest scoop on this Lake Champlain shipwreck and view newly discovered artifacts.

Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:30 p.m.
Who Knew? The Coral Reef in Your Backyard
Dr. Char Mehrtens, Professor and Chair, University of Vermont Geology Department
The fossil reefs on Isle la Motte have received a lot of press in the past few years but do you actually know why they are so important to scientists and educators? Prof. Char Mehrtens will discuss the scientific significance of the fossil-bearing lime stones of Isle la Motte.

Thursday, March 6, 2008 6:30 p.m.
Preparing for Champlain 400: an Abenaki Perspective
Dr. Fred Wiseman, Professor, Johnson State College
Issues surrounding the commemoration and portrayal of the European discovery of Lake Champlain are quite complex. Prof. Fred Wiseman will summarize the ways that the Vermont Native community has been working with Vermont Quadricentennial Commission to accurately portray the role that the Native Nations of the Far Northeast played in bringing three Frenchmen from Quebec to an historic battle on the southern reaches of the Lake. The presentation will be illustrated with original and reproduction artifacts and video clips.

Thursday, March 13, 2008 6:30 p.m.
Nesting Turtles of Lake Champlain
Steve Parren, Rare Species Biologist, Vermont Nongame and Natural Heritage Program
Where do turtles hang out in the winter? What do their food requirements and how are they vulnerable to prey? As coordinator of the Nongame and Natural Heritage Program, Steve Parren will share terrific photos of hatchling and adult turtles, helping us to identify them as we travel through the watershed this summer. Some mounted turtle shells will be available to see firsthand. Many of these turtles, including snapping, map painted and spiny softshell turtles are also on exhibit at ECHO.

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Conversational French Classes Offered as Quadricentennial Planning Gets Underway [01/15/08]

In 2009, Vermont, New York and southern Quebec will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s first visit to the region and the exploration of the lake that now bears his name. Quebec City will celebrate in 2008, and many of their visitors will head south in 2009 to explore the Champlain Basin and experience our many attractions. The Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to offer basic French classes this winter.

“These classes will give Islanders enhanced language skills in preparation for the Quadricentennial and for assisting visitors from north of the border,” said Ruth Wallman, Executive Director of the Chamber.

Instructor Michelle Josselyn has been teaching the introductory French class through Burlington College Continuing Education for 16 years. Born in Canada, Michelle moved to the states 42 years ago. She and her husband Horace have summered on the lake for many years. They have recently built a year round home on the shores of Keeler Bay on land that has been in the Josselyn family for almost 200 years.

“With Michelle’s enthusiasm and commitment to teaching the French language, she’ll have many Islanders trying to speak the ‘the language of love’ by springtime,” said Colleen Hickey of the LCBP.

Classes will be held on Monday evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Lake Champlain Basin Program offices in the Gordon-Center House located at 54 West Shore Road in Grand Isle. Classes will begin on February 4th and conclude on April 7th. Class size is limited to 15 students, so please register early. The class fee is $100 for 20 hours of classroom instruction plus a $25 fee for the workbook, French is Fun. Twenty hours of instruction time will include “French basics.” The workbook is user-friendly and will serve as a handy reference for further learning. Register by calling the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce at 372-8400. Checks should be made out to LCICC. The registration deadline is January 22, 2008.

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Love the Lake: 2007 Speaker Series [02/16/07]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) offers the Love the Lake Speaker Series in memory of our co-worker, Jane Potvin, who loved to bring locals together to talk about the Lake. On Thursdays from February 22 to March 22 at 6:30 pm, the public is invited to join LCBP staff and these speakers for homemade desserts, tea, coffee and lively lake conversation. The LCBP office is in the stone house at 54 West Shore Road in Grand Isle, VT—a short walk from the LCT ferry. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE!

February 22, 2007 - 6:30 pm                
Lake Champlain: A Broad Overview of Water Quality Issues
Angela Shambaugh, Aquatic Biologist, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Lake Champlain monitors are on the water almost daily from May until early November, collecting water quality samples and biological data. Angela is one of the monitors who collect data for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Angela will share her photographs from Whitehall to Missisquoi Bay and provide an overview of Lake Champlain’s current water quality issues.

March 1, 2007 - 6:30 pm  
History of Vermont’s Fishes
Rich Langdon, Aquatic Biologist, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Vermont’s 77 native fishes, many of which are found in Lake Champlain, arrived when the glaciers melted over 10,000 years ago. Rich will discuss how and when various species arrived and explain current patterns of fish distribution in Vermont, including the impacts of nonnative fish. Rich is one of the author’s of the new book, History of Vermont Fishes.

March 8, 2007 - 6:30 pm  
Endangered Common Terns: New Steps to Restore the Island Populations
Mark LaBarr, Conservation Biologist, Audubon Vermont            
Common terns, an endangered species inhabiting a few small islands in northern Lake Champlain, have something in common with Maine coast puffins. For more than decade, Audubon Vermont has monitored common tern reproduction, tracked their movements, and developed citizen volunteer programs. Mark will discuss the biology these important birds, and explain how decoys and sound systems used for Maine’s Puffin Project may soon be replicated on Lake Champlain. 

March 15, 2007 - 6:30 pm  
Lake Champlain Shipwrecks and Underwater Reserve: Exploring with an ROV
Erick Tichonuck, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Rachel Miller, Lake Champlain Shipwrecks
More than 300 shipwrecks lie on the bottom of Lake Champlain, but only a handful are part of the Underwater Historic Preserve.  Divers come from all over the world to explore the Lake’s unique wrecks, but now technology is allowing non-divers to get close without donning wet suits and air tanks. Erick and Rachel will show new footage of shipwrecks and discuss how remote operated vehicle (ROV) technology is helping students and adults explore the bottom of Lake Champlain.

March 22, 2007 - 6:30 pm  
Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island: History and Restoration
Roger and Linda Harwood, Clinton County Historical Association
First lit in 1874, Valcour Island’s Bluff Point Lighthouse was elaborately restored by local citizens and relit in November 2004. The lighthouse was built to aid ship navigation in the channel between Valcour Island and western shore of Lake Champlain. Learn about the woman who was “keeper” of the light and efforts to make sure this lighthouse remains accessible to the public. Roger and Linda’s presentation concludes with aerial images of all the Lake Champlain lighthouses.

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July 2006 - December 2006

LCBP 15th Anniversary Open House! October 20, 1-4pm [09/27/06]

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LCBP 15th Anniversary Open House! October 20, 1-4pm [09/27/06]

Celebrate our partnerships for Lake Champlain!

15th Anniversary Open House
Friday, October 20, 2006
1:00-4:00 pm

A short program highlighting accomplishments over the past 15 years will begin at two o’clock. Light refreshments to follow. Gordon Center House, Route 314, Grand Isle, VT. Directions here. We are a short walk from the ferry landing.

Casual attire. Please dress warmly for this indoor/outdoor event. RSVP if you plan to attend to kjarvis@lcbp.org or 802-372-3213.

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January 2006 - June 2006

2006 Speaker Series:Love the Lake! [02/15/06]

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2006 Speaker Series:Love the Lake! [02/15/06]

The LCBP offers a free winter speaker series in memory of our former co-worker, Jane Potvin, who loved to bring people together to discuss Lake Champlain. Programs will be held at the LCBP offices, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, Vermont. New York residents can easily walk from the ferry. Coffee, tea and homemade desserts will be served. Please join us!

• Easy Hikes for Your Summer Visitors
  Peter Espenshade, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Land Trust
  February 16th 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Icebergs and Whale Tales: How Did Belugas Come to Live in the Champlain Sea?
  Dr. Charlotte Mehrtens, UVM Professor and Chair, Dept of Geology
  February 23rd 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Lake Champlain's Crab Island: A Journey through Time
  Jim Millard, Author/Publisher, America's Historic Lakes
  March 2nd 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Diver Down: Valcour Artifacts Tell a Story
  Erick Tichonuk, Education Director, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
  March 9th 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Alewives, Hydrilla, Nuisance Species, Oh My!
  Madeleine Lyttle, Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
  March 16th 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
• Those Crazy Cormorants!
  Adam Duerr, UVM Wildlife Biologist
  March 23rd 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  

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July 2005 - December 2005

LCBP 2005 Salute to Farmers! [09/08/05]
Public Meeting: Northern Lake Coalition Event, August 13th [08/09/05]

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LCBP 2005 Salute to Farmers! [09/08/05]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is seeking award nominations for exemplary farms that are making steady progress toward reducing agricultural pollution to Lake Champlain. The LCBP will recognize three farms, one each from New York, Vermont and Quebec, especially for their private and voluntary contributions to watershed cleanup and environmental leadership within the farm community.

Nomination Process: Click here to download the nomination form (27 KB PDF), or contact the LCBP to be mailed a copy.

Deadline: The nomination must be received by Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. Nominations may be submitted by email to the LCBP office at chickey@lcbp.org or mailed to the LCBP, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, Vermont 05458.

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Public Meeting: Northern Lake Coalition Event, August 13th [08/09/05]

The Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee is hosting a public meeting to hear from experts and discuss Lake issues. The Keynote Speaker will be Governor Jim Douglas. Additional speakers include Bill Howland of the LCBP on the State of the Lake; Mary Watzin, LCBP Technical Advisory Committee Chair on blue-green algae; and VT Citizens Advisory Committee Chair, Buzz Hoerr. Tom Torti, Secretary of the ANR and Wayne Laroche, Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife will provide an update on the causeways. To view the complete agenda, click here.

When: Saturday, August 13th 2005
12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: North Hero Marina, Pelots Point Road, North Hero, VT

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January 2005 - June 2005

New LCBP Website Design and Updates Debut! [01/24/05]

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New LCBP Website Design and Updates Debut! [01/24/05]

We've changed our look for 2005! The LCBP's new website design features everything from the old site, and some great new pages and improvements:

*Search engine & link to sitemap on every page.
*Improved website navigation--find what you need faster.
*NEW pages:

• Lake and Watershed Data Sources
• Program Partners
• Mercury
• Stormwater
• TMDL Program

In 2005, we expect to post even more user-friendly pages, including a searchable database of LCBP grants awarded and a searchable publications database. Please forward any questions and comments about the LCBP website to: Nicole Ballinger, LCBP Communications Coordinator & Webmaster.

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July 2004 - December 2004

LCBP/US Army Corps Watershed Restoration Project RFP Released [12/08/04]
Lake Champlain FY 2005 Budget Signed (exit LCBP) [12/08/04]
IJC Releases International Missisquoi Bay Task Force Report and Schedules Public Hearings (exit LCBP) [11/16/04]
Wayside Exhibits Win National Interpretation Award! [11/15/04]
Education and Outreach Grants Available [11/08/04]
Mini-Grants for Professional Development Available [11/08/04]
Comments Welcomed on Champlain 400th Anniversary Commemoration [10/20/04]
LCBP Teams with LakeNet and ECHO on New Exhibit [10/18/04]
LCBP Hosts Land Use/Land Cover Workshop [10/12/04]
Fall 2004 Public Input Meetings on October 20, 26, and 27! [10/04/04]
Lake Champlain Basin Atlas Updated for 2004! [9/17/04]
LCBP Local Implementation Grants Now Available! [7/02/04]

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Wayside Exhibits Win National Interpretation Award! [11/15/04]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Steering Committee was awarded the 2004 Community Interpretive Service Award for its wayside exhibit program by the National Association for Interpretation at its national convention in November.

The LCBP published the Lake Champlain Wayside Exhibit Manual in 2001 (available online at www.lcbp.org/wayside/manual.htm). Since its publication, the LCBP has provided free design services to communities and organizations using the template identified in the manual. The LCBP also provides translation services for bilingual wayside exhibits. This successful program has generated more than 110 new wayside exhibits in the Lake Champlain Basin. Go to the Wayside Exhibit Website to browse all the exhibits.

The National Association for Interpretation is a professional organization dedicated to serving park interpreters, heritage interpreters, zoo and museum educators, and park managers. The organization has over 4000 members, including those in a number of foreign countries. Web site: www.interpnet.com/home.htm.

LCBP Teams with LakeNet and ECHO on New Exhibit [10/18/04]

Using a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) New England Office, LakeNet teamed up with ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and other partners to create "Wide World of Lakes," an interactive, hands-on exhibit at Lake Champlain’s science center and lake aquarium in Burlington, Vermont. Click here to read the full news release...

More information about this exhibit is on the LakeNet website.

Fall 2004 Public Input Meetings on October 20, 26, and 27! [10/04/04] You’re invited by the Vermont and New York Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) on Lake Champlain and the LCBP to share your comments about Lake Champlain issues. The evenings will begin with a brief update by the LCBP on current Lake cleanup progress.

Wednesday, October 20th 2004, 2004 7-9pm Alburg Elementary School—Alburg, VT Opportunity for public comment on general Lake issues, and a brief presentation on monitoring blue-green algae by Dr. Mary Watzin of the University of Vermont. The school is located on 14 N Main St (Rt. 2) in Alburg.

Tuesday, October 26th 2004, 2004 7-9pm Vergennes Opera House—Vergennes, VT Opportunity for public comment on general Lake issues, and a brief presentation on the nuisance aquatic species plan by Lisa Windhausen of the LCBP. The opera house is located on Main St (Rt. 22A) in Vergennes.

Wednesday, October 27th 2004, 2004 7-9pm Essex Cty Board Chamber (Gov’t Building)—Elizabethtown, NY Opportunity for public comment on general Lake issues, and a brief discussion about LCBP grants and how your local group/community can apply for grants.

LCBP Hosts Land Use/Land Cover Workshop [10/12/04]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program is convening Land Cover/Land Use Change Workshop workshop to involve lead professionals in the field in determining the best approach to acquiring reliable current land use data for the whole Basin. This information is of vital importance to the LCBP as the existing basin-wide land cover data now is outdated (1992), though it remains the basis, with various updates, for our phosphorus loading models. In addition to being current, new land use and land cover data should provide higher spatial resolution, allowing more discrete classes of land use than existing information. This data will increase the accuracy and validity of LCBP modeling efforts and can be used for many more applications and by many professionals throughout the basin. Therefore the LCBP is interested in hosting a collaborative process that will identify what type of data and analyses will best fit the range of needs and interests in the Basin, so that the data acquired can be of maximum use to all Basin stakeholders.

Land Cover/Land Use Change Workshop Friday, October 15th, 2004 Wyndham Hotel in Burlington, VT 10am-3:30pm

Pre-registration is required for this meeting. For more information, contact Meg Modley, Technical Associate at 802-372-3213 ext. 15, or mmodley@lcbp.org.

Lake Champlain Basin Atlas Updated for 2004! [09/23/04]

The Lake Champlain Basin Program has released a new version of its popular Lake Champlain Basin Atlas CD ROM and website. Updated for 2004, the Atlas contains more than 40 full-color maps, articles, photographs, and a glossary. It is recommended for anyone curious about the Lake, as well as students and educators.

The Atlas has been extensively updated with current information on watershed issues, such as zebra mussels, blue-green algae, Eurasian watermilfoil, and phosphorus. The Atlas also explores the nature of the Basin, such as its climate, geology, plants and animals, and wetlands. Maps of the region's rich cultural heritage and recreation opportunities are detailed in a people and economy section. A new "Students and Educators" section contains a scavenger hunt to the Atlas and blank maps for students to create their own personalized maps of Lake Champlain and it watershed. Many additional information resources such as website links, fact sheets, and LCBP publications are available on the Atlas as well.

Click here to explore the online Atlas. A CD ROM version may be purchased for $5.00 from the LCBP. For more information, contact the LCBP at 800-468-5227 (in NY & VT) or 802-372-3213, or email lcbp@lcbp.org.

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July 2004 - December 2004

LCBP Seeks Proposals for Wayside Exhibit Design Services [6/23/04]
Water Chestnut Public Forum on August 7th (126 KB PDF flyer) [6/16/04]
Updated Wayside Exhibit Manual Posted [6/04/04]
Six NEW Sites Added to Wayside Exhibit Pages! [5/26/04]
2004 Organizational Support Grants Now Available [5/21/04]
LCBP Grant Funds to be Available in 2004 [5/21/04]
RFP posted for demonstrating technologies for reducing nutrients in farm waste streams [4/22/04]
LCBP Wayside Exhibits are now online! [4/15/04]
RFP's posted for research on blue-green algae, sea lamprey, and phosphorus. [4/15/04]
March is Community Month @ ECHO! (leave LCBP) [2/24/04]
Job Opportunity: Environmental Analyst [2/17/04]
VT CAC 2004 Action Plan Online [2/02/04]
Funds Secured for Ag. Conservation (exit LCBP) [1/27/04]
Leahy Secures $7.3 M. For Lake Cleanup (exit LCBP) [1/23/04]

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July 2003 - December 2003

Cultural Heritage Tourism Toolkit Available [12/02/03]
GRANTS AVAILABLE: Education & Outreach [11/17/03]
VT Governor Douglas Creates Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Commission [10/16/03]
NEWS RELEASE: Basin Program Seeks Public Input on Lake Champlain Issues [10/06/03]
April 2003 Opportunities for Action Plan Available Online [10/06/03]
VT Governor Douglas Launches Clean and Clear Water Action Plan[9/30/03]
Advisory Released on Blue-Green Algae in St. Albans Bay [08/21/03]
LCBP RFP: Integrated Ecological-Economic Cost Benefit Analysis [07/28/03]
LC SEA GRANT RFP: Lake Champlain Research Initiative for 2003-04 [06/27/03]
EXPLORE-VOLUNTEER: Summer Activity Calendar for Lake Champlain! [06/10/03]

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NEWS RELEASE: Fall 2003 Meetings, Basin Program Seeks Public Input on Lake Champlain Issues (10/06/03)

Grand Isle, VT - The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is holding a series of four public meetings in New York and Vermont to gauge public interest and concerns about Lake Champlain and its watershed. Each meeting will begin with a brief update on Lake issues and the long-term cleanup process for Lake Champlain. The newly revised edition of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of Lake Champlain, which was signed by New York Governor Pataki and Vermont Governor Douglas earlier this year and supported by Quebec's Premier Jean Charest, will be available at the meetings. It will also be posted on LCBP's website, www.lcbp.org.

"Public guidance is vital to our long-term planning process and the success of our partnership-based program," said Bill Howland, Program Manager for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. "We encourage anyone who has an interest in the health of the Lake to provide us with feedback during these meetings."

The meetings will be hosted by the Vermont and New York Citizens' Advisory Committees on Lake Champlain. These committees, and the Quebec Citizen's Advisory Committee, keep the LCBP apprised of citizen issues throughout the year.

Vermont Citizens' Advisory Committee Chairman, Buzz Hoerr, said "This past summer has been a difficult one for residents of the northern end of Lake Champlain. It is important that the Citizen's Advisory Committee meet in that area to hear the public's concerns, and provide some clarification regarding the efforts underway to address nutrient reduction and public health matters."

Concerns vary depending on which part of Lake Champlain is being discussed. "In Whitehall, NY and the South Lake, two very big citizen concerns are water chestnuts and the Lake's walleye population," said Ron Ofner, Chairman of the New York Citizen's Advisory Committee. There is also a strong interest in enhancing the Basin's recreation and cultural heritage features. "That's why it's important for us to have meetings in different geographic locations so that we listen to a variety of citizen opinions." A meeting scheduled for Plattsburgh will also provide a venue for a northern Lake Champlain residents to participate.

The public is encouraged to attend one of the Lake Champlain Basin Program's meetings in October. Information received during the public meeting process will be used to help shape the distribution of LCBP's 2004 funding. Lake Champlain public meetings are scheduled as follows:

Thursday October 16, 2003
Vergennes Opera House, Vergennes, VT @ 6:00-8:00pm
Tuesday October 21, 2003
Plattsburgh City Hall, Plattsburgh, NY @ 6:00-8:00pm
Tuesday October 28, 2003
Ticonderoga Community Building, Ticonderoga, NY @ 6:00-8:00pm
Thursday October 30, 2003
Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, VT @ 6:00-8:00pm
For further information, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, Vermont 05478 at (800) 468-5227 or (802) 372-3213. Written comments are also accepted. Individuals may also email comments to kjarvis@lcbp.org.

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January 2003 - June 2003

ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is OPEN! [06/01/03]
TAP Grants (Cultural Heritage Projects) Now Available: Due June 13th! [05/15/03]
PRESS EVENT: Your Lawn Your Lake Brochure Release! (05/09/03)
NY and VT Governors Sign Plan and Lake Champlain MOU [04/23/03]
Employment Opportunity: Lake Champlain Resource Specialist (4/02/03)
2003 Local Implementation Grants Now Available: Due May 2nd! [03/25/03]
Public Info Session on Phosphorus in Missisquoi Bay (03/10/03)
VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS: Work in ECHO at the Leahy Center! (02/13/03)
Employment Opportunity: Environmental Analyst (1/23/03)

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PRESS EVENT: Your Lawn Your Lake Brochure Release! (05/09/03)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program, Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC) and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend a press event with Governor Jim Douglas to kick off the release of the “Your Lawn Your Lake” brochure, a joint product of the three entities listed above. The brochure highlights 10 steps that basin residents and businesses can take to help reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Champlain. The brochure will be distributed through Buyers Digest, Home Depot, and Gardener’s Supply and will be available at many business locations in Chittenden County.

The LCBP is very pleased to serve as a partner on the production and distribution of this piece which was designed by LCBP’s Maja Smith. The brochure will complement existing efforts by LCBP and many other organizations to reduce phosphorus runoff. Please call the LCBP if you would like copies of the brochure.

If you are planning to attend this press event, please respond to our office Manager Kathy Jarvis at (802) 372-3213. Thank you.

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NY and VT Governors Sign Plan and Lake Champlain MOU (04/22/03)

On Earth Day - April 22, 2003 - Governor George E. Pataki of New York and Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont signed two important documents along Lake Champlain's shoreline. The governors met at the Crown Point New York State Historic Site to reaffirm the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that extends the partnership among Vermont, New York and Quebec to study, manage and protect the Lake, and the management plan for Lake Champlain, Opportunities for Action.

Originally signed in 1996, the Plan called for periodic updates and 2003 marks the first revision of the Plan. The regional administrators of the US Environmental Protection Agency also sign the management plan. The current administrators are Jane M. Kenny for EPA Region 2 (New York) and Robert W. Varney for EPA New England. Last Fall, the Lake Champlain Steering Committee endorsed the Plan.

Visit the Opportunities for Action page for more information about the Plan. We expect to post a final version this summer. We look forward to implementing this new Plan with our partners throughout Basin.

Governor Jim Douglas Press Release
Governor George E. Pataki Press Release

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Public Info Session on Phosphorus in Missisquoi Bay (03/10/03)

Phosphorus Reduction in Missisquoi Bay -- FREE Public Session
Thursday, March 13 2003 at 7:00pm
Swanton School Apartments Community Room
55 Church St in Swanton, VT
More Info: (802) 933-9009

The Missisquoi River Basin Association invites you to learn more about phosphorus reduction in the Bay and the responsibilities of Vermont and Quebec for reducing the load to the Bay. Speakers include, Eric Smeltzer of the Vermont DEC, Mike Winslow of the Lake Champlain Committee, Martin Mimeault of the Quebec Ministry of Environment, and Richard Lauzier of the Quebec Department of Agriculture. The session is funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

To read more about phosphorus in the bay, click here.

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July 2002 - December 2002

Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Modeling RFP Released by VT DEC for Carry Bay (12/13/02)
Local Projects Funded - NEW PAGE! (12/04/02)
Employment Opportunity: Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator (10/18/02)
Great Lake & River Cleanup Days! (09/05/02)
VT and Quebec Sign Phosphorus Reduction Agreement (08/29/02)
NY Bond Act Funds Lake Champlain Projects (08/20/02)
Blue-Green Algae Advisory Issued (08/12/02)
Clean Marine Engine Initiative Signed (07/31/02)
Agricultural Pathogen RFP Available (7/12/02)
RFP For the Operation of the "WEATHERWAX" - A Historic Lake Champlain Sailing Ferry Replica Available (7/03/02)
Celebrate the Lake! 2002 Event Schedule (7/01/02)

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Great Lake & River Cleanup Days! (09/05/02)

September 14th and 21st, 2002

Have fun while volunteering in Lake Champlain's watershed. Events will be held in New York and Vermont at six rivers and also on Lake Champlain. Great community events for adults and kids. Click here to view the EVENT POSTER/SCHEDULE (53 KB PDF), or read the schedule below. All the events are coordinated by the watershed groups listed.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th EVENTS:

Potash Brook Storm Drain Stenciling with Voice for the Potash Brook
Stencil "Please Don't Dump, Drains to River" on storm drains in S. Burlington, VT
Volunteers Meet At: Call for details Contact: Sharon Behar at (802) 862-3830
Outdoor concert and byo picnic to follow at Queen City Park Green, Central Ave, S. Burlington, VT - 1-4:00pm
Winooski River Cleanup with Celebrate the Winooski!
Volunteers Meet At: Montpelier City Hall Lot, Montpelier, VT at 9:00am Contact: Ben Strand (802) 223-8082
Don't miss the Celebrate the Winooski! River Festival on September 21st at Montpelier High School
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st EVENTS:

Boquet River Cleanup with the Boquet River Association
Volunteers Meet At: Clean any site along the river and then take trash to the Elizabethtown, NY Memorial Band Stand Park on Rte. 9 by 10:30am
A "pick of the litter" trashy art contest will immediately follow the cleanup
Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail Cleanup with the Lake Champlain Committee
Volunteers Meet At: Sites in NY & VT - call for details Contact: Lori Fisher (802) 658-1414
Missisquoi River Cleanup with the Missisquoi River Basin Association
Volunteers Meet At: Near Troy, VT - call for details Contact: Cynthia Scott (802) 933-8851
Poultney-Mettowee Rivers Cleanup with the Poultney-Mettowee Watershed Partnership
Volunteers Meet At: 9:00am - call for location details Contact: Joel Flewellyn (802) 287-4284
Saranac Riverbank Cleanup with the Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Volunteers Meet At: Plattsburgh H.S. Parking Lot, Rugar Street, Plattsburgh, NY at 9:00am
Contact: Hap Wheeler (518) 564-3013 or Don Lee (518) 562-6840

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VT and Quebec Sign Phosphorus Reduction Agreement for Missisquoi Bay (08/29/02)

On August 26th 2002 in Québec City, an agreement between Vermont and Québec regarding phosphorus reduction in the Missisquoi Bay watershed was signed. Scott Johnstone, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources of the State of Vermont and André Boisclair, the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs of Greater Montréal, Environment and Water signed the agreement. Vermont and Québec share a common border in Missisquoi Bay, which is part of Lake Champlain.

The agreement states that Vermont will have 60% of the responsibility for reducing phosphorus laods to the Bay and Québec will have 40%. Accordingly, the target phosphorus load for Vermont will be 58.3 mt/yr, and the target load for Québec will be 38.9 mt/yr. The target loads set by the agreement were based on the report of the Québec - Vermont Missisquoi Bay Phosphorus Reduction Task Force, a subcommittee of the Lake Champlain Basin Program's Technical Advisory Committee.

The signing of this agreement fufills a highest priority action of the Lake Champlain Management Plan, Opportunities for Action, which is being implemented by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and its partners. Although this agreement was just signed, both Québec, Vermont and other local groups and agencies have already been implementing many phosphorus reduction controls in the Missisquoi watershed. Efforts include best management practices on farms to reduce runoff, upgrading wastewater treatment plants, and restoring streambanks.

Read the VT-Quebec Phosphorus Agreement Online [13 KB PDF]

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NY Bond Act Funds Lake Champlain Projects (08/20/02)

New York Governor Pataki has announced nearly $1 million in Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grants for three projects to help protect and improve Lake Champlain's water quality. The three projects are: improvements at the Village of Lake Placid wastewater treatment plant; improvements at the Town of Moriah wastewater treatment plant; and an improvement project at a five-acre wetland on Halfway Brook in Warren County. The 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act authorized $15 million for water quality improvement projects for Lake Champlain. With this funding, Governor Pataki has earmarked the entire authorization from the Bond Act for 30 projects to clean up and protect Lake Champlain. For more information, please read the complete press release.

Complete Press Release from the Office of Governor Pataki

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Blue-Green Algae Advisory Issued (08/12/02)

The Vermont Department of Health has been notified by researchers at the University of Vermont that blue-green algae blooms have been detected at sites sampled in Missisquoi Bay and St. Albans Bay. The Health Department suggests that people should avoid swimming in areas where there is visible green or blue-green scum collected on the surface of the water. Children and pets should also be kept from entering scummy water since they are more likely to ingest the water. Ingesting (drinking) toxic algae can result in symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin exposure can result in irritation or allergic reactions. Some blooms die off after a few days or weeks, while others persist for a few months. Please read the complete release (link below) for more information.

VT Dept of Health Advisory on Blue-Green Algae - August 2002

More about Blue-Green Algae

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Clean Marine Engine Initiative Signed (07/31/02)

On July 11th, a voluntary initiative was signed to promote cleaner marine engines in the Lake Champlain region. The "Get On Board" initiative encourages the sale low-pollution two-and four-stroke marine engines which emit less pollution than conventional marine engines. It was signed at the Burlington, Vermont Boat House by representatives from: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 2 and New England), the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the Empire State Marine Trade Association, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Marine Retailers Association of America, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Burlington Mayor and Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee Member, Peter Clavelle, hosted the event.

The new initiative states that all groups, including retailers who are members of the marine trade associations, will work to achieve a goal of selling 75 percent clean engines this year across all of Vermont as well as the New York Lake Champlain region, 80 percent in 2003, and 95 percent by 2004. EPA regulations require that by 2006, all manufacturers' average emissions for new outboard and personal watercraft engines meet low-pollution standards. The initiative was based on a New Hampshire program and similar programs were announced earlier this year in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine.

After the signing ceremony, Phelan Fretz, Executive Director of the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy ECHO Center for Lake Champlain, hosted a tour of new center, which is under construction on Burlington's waterfront. Formerly the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center, the ECHO Center for Lake Champlain will feature interactive exhibits about the ecology, culture, and history of the Lake Champlain Basin, as well as opportunities for visitors to become environmental and community stewards. The new facility will open during the summer of 2003.

US EPA Press Release About Clean Engine Initiative Signing

Environmentally Friendly Outboard Motors (VT DEC)

New England Clean Marine Engine Initiative (US EPA)

ECHO Center for Lake Champlain

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RFP For the Operation of the "WEATHERWAX" - A Historic Lake Champlain Sailing Ferry Replica Available (07/03/02)

The Lake Placid/Essex County Visitor's Bureau (LP/ECVB) is requesting proposals from qualified operators to manage and crew a replica sailing vessel on Lake Champlain in a manner that would bolster the economy of New York's waterfront communities, provide the best public access to the vessel, called the "Weatherwax," and enhance opportunities to experience Lake Champlain. The LP/ECVB will lease the vessel for a nominal sum to the successful Proposer. The contract period is for a five-year period of time, provided the operator meets the project requirements. Click on the link below for the complete RFP or contact:

Janet Kennedy
Sail Ferry Project Coordinator
814 Bridge Road, Crown Point, NY 12928
518-597-9660
anca@cptelco.net

The deadline to submit a proposal is 12:00 Noon, Friday, July 26th 2002.

View the complete RFP online (52 KB Adobe Acrobat File).

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January 2002 - June 2002

Lake Champlain Basin Atlas is Online! (5/16/02)
Stormwater Management and Smart Growth Outreach RFP Available (5/16/02)
JOB POSTING: Cultural Heritage and Recreation Coordinator (4/19/02)
QLF Heritage Strategy Report Now Online (03/18/02)
Educators Summit 2002 This Spring! (03/11/02)
EPA Seeking Nominations for 2002 Drinking Water Protection Business Honors Program (03/05/02)
Place-Based Course Offered for Educators (03/05/02)
Now Accepting Local Implementation Grant Applications! (closed) (02/26/02)
What's New In Your Watershed?: Watershed Newsletter (02/12/02)

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Stormwater Management and Smart Growth Outreach RFP Available (05/16/02)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for outreach and education to support local implementation of stormwater management, smart growth planning, and other measures to control pollution related to development in the Lake Champlain Basin. The LCBP seeks proposals for an outreach program focused on stormwater management and pollution prevention designed for regional officials that can be tailored to the needs of individual towns. The program should include training workshops and tools for regional entities to provide on-going support to local town officials, residents, business owners and landowners. Proposed outreach programs should build upon stormwater and smart growth programs that have already been developed. The deadline to submit a proposal is June 21, 2002.

View the complete RFP online (46 KB Adobe Acrobat File).

Contact the LCBP office at (802) 372-3213 if you would like to be mailed a copy.

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JOB POSTING: Cultural Heritage and Recreation Coordinator (04/19/02)

Opportunity for bright, energetic, environmentally astute person with excellent communication skills to work at the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Office in Grand Isle, VT. Function as the lead staff in implementing cultural heritage and associated recreation programs of LCBP. Work with LCBP team implementing the comprehensive resource management plan for Lake Champlain. Coordinate grants and the review of proposals and develop work plans. Three years experience with a degree in History, Historic preservation or Resource Management or a related field; experience in recreation planning a plus.

Job descriptions available (978) 323-7929. Apply by May 10th, 2002. Resume and short writing sample to NEIWPCC, Boott Mills South, 100 Foot of John St, Lowell, MA 01852. www.neiwpcc.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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QLF Heritage Strategy Report Now Online (03/18/02)

The report, Developing a Heritage Strategy for the Champlain-Richelieu-Upper Hudson Region, by the Quebec Labrador Foundation (QLF) is now online. During the fall of 2001, the QLF conducted a project on the development of a heritage strategy for the Champlain-Richelieu-Upper Hudson region encompassing parts of New York, Vermont, and Quebec. The project was requested through an RFP from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in response to a directive from the U.S. Congress in the 2001 Interior Appropriations bill. The Lake Champlain Basin Program provided project oversight. This report summarizes the QLF's findings and presents their assessment of the heritage opportunities and needs, guiding principles, and six key elements of a coordinated heritage program.

View the Heritage Strategy Report (273 KB PDF file)

For more information about the QLF, visit the Quebec Labrador Foundation website. Visit the LCBP's Cultural Heritage page for more information about LCBP programs.

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EPA Seeking Nominations for 2002 Drinking Water Protection Business Honors Program (02/12/02)

The US EPA New England Region is currently seeking nominations for its Drinking Water Business Honors Program. Past projects have included farms, landscape companies, communications companies, retail stores, and others. Nominations must be postmarked by March 15, 2002. Fore more information, visit the EPA New England website or contact Ted Lavery at 617-918-1683 lavery.ted@epa.gov.

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Place-Based Course Offered for Educators (03/05/02)

The one-week summer course, "Connecting Students to Their Home Place: Designing Place-based Curriculum" is designed for teachers seeking to link their classroom to the local landscape. Through readings and discussion, the class will provide an insight into placed-based theory and access to resources, publications and exemplary place-based units. The schedule allows teachers time to collaborate or work independently to develop their units and experience outdoor explorations with local naturalists/educators.

Instructors: Amy Demarest and Amy Powers
Credits: 3 UVM graduate credits (at discount price!)
Time: Monday-Friday June 24/02 to June 28/02, 8:30am to 3:30pm
Location: Off-Campus - Browns River Middle School, Jericho. Vermont
More Information: Contact Amy Powers, Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: 802-985-8686 X51
Email: apowers@shelburnefarms.org

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What's New In Your Watershed?: Watershed Newsletter (02/12/02)

Learn about activities by local watershed, lake and river groups in the Lake Champlain Basin! The "Lake Champlain Basin Watershed/Lake Association Newsletter" is an annual publication by the LCBP which highlights the activities of these groups.

Click Here to Read On-line (Adobe Acrobat PDF - 72 KB)

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July 2001 - December 2001

LCBP Receives National Watershed Award (11/07/01)
RFP Announced: Alternative Manure Management Technology Coordination (10/26/01)
RFP Announced: Policy Options for Reducing Phosphorus (10/17/01)
UPCOMING WORKSHOP: Public Issues and Conflict Management (10/15/01)
Public Meetings for Opportunities for Action Draft Update and Online Documents (10/15/01)
JOB POSTING: Technical Coordinator (9/18/01)
News Release: Historic Landings Opening (8/22/01)
JOB POSTING: Cultural Heritage Coordinator (8/13/01)
New Urban Runoff Posters (7/25/01)

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LCBP Receives National Watershed Award (11/07/01)

The LCBP is the recipient of a National Watershed Award, sponsored by CF Industries through the Conservation Fund. Four recipients are being honored in 2001. The Conservation Fund encouraged us to submit a nomination form after reviewing our website last spring. The award is an outgrowth of the National Forum on Nonpoint Source Pollution, convened by the National Geographic Society and the Conservation Fund.

The award recipients were chosen for innovative local partnerships that seek to improve water quality by balancing a watershed's environmental and economic needs and emphasizing economic incentives, voluntary intiatives and education. WPTZ, the National Wildlife Federation and the Missisquoi River Basin Association served as references for our nomination. The Basin's phosphorus reduction efforts, voluntary mercury reduction programs, and the LCBP's education and outreach efforts were some of the major points in our application.

More information about the National Watershed Award

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RFP Announced: Alternative Manure Management Technology Coordination (10/26/01)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for coordination of alternative manure management technology projects in the Lake Champlain Basin.

The LCBP partners have committed to phosphorus reduction goals for each of thirteen segments of Lake Champlain. Significant progress has been made, but alternative manure management technology methods will be required to retain a viable agricultural sector and meet the phosphorus reduction goals.

The LCBP, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and agencies, seeks a contractor to coordinate ongoing and new alternative manure management technology projects aimed at reducing phosphorus inputs to surface waters. The contractor will provide coordination, administrative oversight, and technical support to ongoing projects, and seek new technologies and funding resources for additional demonstration projects.

DEADLINE NOTICE: Proposals must be POSTMARKED by November 19, 2001.

For more information read the complete Request for Proposals Online in Adobe Acrobat (21 KB) or contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (800) 468-5227 or (802)372-2313 (NY and VT).

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RFP Announced: Development of Policy Options for Reducing Phosphorus to Lake Champlain (10/17/01)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of phosphorus reduction policy options for the Lake Champlain Basin, and for an economic analysis of those policies.

The LCBP seeks a comprehensive list of policy options for reducing phosphorus inputs to Lake Champlain. Improved wastewater treatment and the implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Basin have greatly reduced phosphorus inputs. However, current phosphorus reduction programs are insufficient to completely meet future phosphorus loading goals, especially in some lake segments, and urban development is offsetting some of the gains that have been made. An assessment of the potential policy options for phosphorus load reductions will assist LCBP partners in developing a fair, equitable and cost-effective program that will achieve phosphorus reduction goals.

DEADLINE NOTICE: Proposals must be POSTMARKED by December 12, 2001.

For more information read the complete Request for Proposals Online in Adobe Acrobat (32 KB) or contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (800) 468-5227 or (802)372-2313 (NY and VT).

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UPCOMING WORKSHOP: Public Issues and Conflict Management (10/15/01)

A workshop titled, "Navigating in Rough Seas: Public Issues and Conflict Management" will be held at the University of Vermont on November 27-29, 2001. The goal of this 2 1/2 day conflict resolution workshop will deal specifically with watershed, coastal and water resources issues. The workshop is sponsored by Lake Champlain Sea Grant and UVM Extension, in collaboration with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

For more information visit the Lake Champlain Sea Grant website or contact Jurij Homziak, Sea Grant Extension Specialist at 802-656-0682 or jhomziak@nature.snr.uvm.edu.

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JOB POSTING: Environmental Analyst for Technical Coordination (9/18/01)

Opportunity for bright, energetic, environmentally astute person with excellent communication and teamwork skills, and physical or biological science background to work at the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Office in Grand Isle, VT. Work with LCBP staff to synthesize and evaluate technical data, set up and facilitate Technical Advisory Committee meetings, organize technical workshops, and assist local groups and agencies to design watershed projects and proposals.

DEtailed job descriptions available (978)323-7929. Apply by September 28, 2001. Resume and short writing sample to NEIWPCC, Boott Mills South, 100 Foot of John Street, Lowell, MA 01852 or sbrown@neiwpcc.org. www.neiwpcc.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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News Release: Historic Landings Opening (8/22/01)

On August 24, 2001, 10:00 a.m., Mayor Daniel Stewart from Plattsburgh, NY and the Lake Champlain Basin Program will be celebrating the opening of the Lake Champlain Historic Landings Heritage Trail at the unveiling of the Battle of Plattsburgh Bay exhibit at its new home in Plattsburgh, NY. This exhibit is the first in the series to be presented in a bi-lingual format and highlights the crucial War of 1812 battle. At the unveiling, the public will also have a chance to view the Port Kent and Whitehall exhibits before they are installed in their respective locations.

The Lake Champlain Historic Landings Heritage Trail links sites on Lake Champlain in Vermont, New York and Quebec that once were lively boat landings where ferries transported travelers and sightseers, battles were launched, and crews loaded and unloaded their cargo. The sites are identified and interpreted with full color outdoor exhibits. To date, the Basin Program has created four of these exhibits and plans are underway for up to twenty-two more at sites on the lake. In addition to the Heritage Trail project, the Basin Program has just completed the Lake Champlain Wayside Exhibit Manual to launch its free program of design services and technical assistance for organizations and communities interested in developing their own exhibits along the Basin Program's model.

The ceremony will occur at the beginning of the new Plattsburgh bike path, at the corner of Jay and Hamilton Streets. From Plattsburgh City Hall south, turn left on Bridge Street. Continue straight to Y in Road. Stay right. Ceremony on left at the beginning of bike path at the corner of Jay and Hamilton Streets.

For more information, contact Maja Smith, Recreation Coordinator, Lake Champlain Basin Program, PO Box 204, Grand Isle, VT 05458 or call (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227.

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JOB POSTING: Information Officer - Cultural Heritage Coordinator (8/13/01)

Opportunity for bright, energetic, environmentally astute person with excellent communication skills to work at the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Office in Grand Isle, VT. Function as the lead staff in implementing cultural heritage programs of LCBP. Implement the cultural heritage components of the pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan produced by the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Coordinate grants and the review of proposals, work plans, and final reports. Three years experience with a Graduate Degree in History, Historic Preservation or Heritage Resource Management or equivalent.

Detailed job description available (978-323-7929). Apply by August 31, 2001. Resume and short writing sample to NEIWPCC, Boott Mills South, 100 Foot of John Street, Lowell, MA 01852 or email to sbrown@neiwpcc.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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January 2001 - June 2001
Spring 2001 Casin' the Basin On-line (5/24/01)
2001 Local Implementation Grants Now Available! (4/23/01)
RFP Reissued: Proposals Sought for Lake Champlain Public Attitudes Survey (4/13/01)
News Release: Proposals Sought for Obtaining Public Input on Champlain Valley Cultural Heritage Initiatives (4/03/01)
Job Posting: LCBP Technical Fellow (3/21/01)
CBEI Educator Workshops for 2001! (3/20/01)
Press Release: Lake Champlain Projects Funded (2/22/01)
Workshop: "WAYS OF THE WOODS" (2/22/01)
Public Attitudes Survey Request for Proposals (Deadline 3/7/01)
(12 KB PDF File) (2/15/01)
Vermont CAC 2001 Action Plan (256 KB PDF File)
Teacher Workshop: "The Age of Steam Navigation" (2/13/01)

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2001 Local Implementation Grants Now Available! (4/23/01)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program is pleased to announce the 2001 Opportunities for Action Local Implementation Grants! The LCBP will award over $200,000 to support local community involvement in the implementation of the comprehensive management plan Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. Grant programs inlude the Partnership Program, Organizational Capacity, and Annual Priorities. The applications are due by May 23, 2001.

VIEW THE APPLICATION ONLINE (94 KB Adobe Acrobat File)

If you cannot access the file, you may request a hardcopy of the application from the LCBP Office by calling 800/468-5227 (toll free in VT and NY) or 802/372-3213.

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RFP Reissued: Proposals Sought for Lake Champlain Public Attitudes Survey (4/13/01)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program has reissued its request for proposals for a Lake Champlain Public Attitudes Survey about Lake Champlain pollution and other issues identified in Opportunities for Action. The new deadline for proposals is May 18, 2001.

Since 1991, more than 30 formal LCBP public input meetings have been conducted within the New York, Vermont and Quebec regions of the Lake Champlain Basin. A series of focus groups was also conducted in New York and Vermont during the early 1990s relevant to Lake Champlain. A statistically valid survey is now desired to better understand the public’s thoughts about contemporary Lake Champlain issues. The survey concerns public attitude data only and will not involve assembly or analysis of environmental data.

VIEW THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ONLINE (18 KB Adobe Acrobat File)

For more information contact Colleen Hickey, Education and Outreach Coordinator, at (802) 372-3213 ext. 11.

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LCBP Seeks Proposals for Obtaining Public Input on Potential Champlain Valley Cultural Heritage Initiatives (4/03/01)

For Release: Immediate
Date: April 2, 2001
Contact: Bill Howland, Program Manager (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227 54 West Shore Rd., Grand Isle, VT 05458

Grand Isle, VT - The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is seeking proposals designed to obtain public input about possible implementation of one or more of the recommendations of the Special Resource Study Report of the Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project (1999). This LCBP project will evaluate the Special Resource Study and the public comments it generated. It will also gather new information, including additional public input on the potential development of some form of heritage tourism and resource enhancement program in the Lake Champlain Basin.

The main work under this RFP includes conducting an assessment of the report and related public comments to the National Park Service and facilitating additional meetings to be held in 2001 with stakeholders on behalf of the LCBP. Stakeholders include municipalities, chambers of commerce, non-government organizations, landowners and others interested in this topic. The task also includes working with the LCBP and its advisory committees on designing a heritage program that meets the needs and interests of those who live and work within the Lake Champlain Basin.

Up to $30,000 has been allocated by the Lake Champlain Steering Committee to fund this project. The LCBP is seeking proposals from qualified teams or individuals. The deadline for submitting proposals is April 23, 2001.

For more information about the project or to obtain a copy of the request for proposals, contact Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program, at (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227.

VIEW THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (26 KB Adobe Acrobat File)

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Job Posting: LCBP Technical Fellow (3/21/01)

Available: April, 2001 or when filled
Application Deadline: April 12, 2001

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is seeking a Technical Fellow to provide support on technical and management issues related to implementation of the management plan for Lake Champlain, especially concerning phosphorus reduction strategies. The Technical Fellow will work under the supervision of the LCBP Technical Coordinator and gain exposure to cooperative environmental management at a watershed level.

For a detailed description, CLICK HERE (20 KB Adobe Acrobat file) or call the LCBP at (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227.

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CBEI Educator Workshops for 2001! (3/20/01)

The Champlain Basin Educator Initiative (CBEI) announces three new educator workshops for 2001. Don't miss:

Well, Well. Wa-ter We Have Here? (note: 114 KB Adobe Acrobat file)
Thursday, April 12, 2001

Paddling the Watershed
July 26, 2001

Exploring Biodiversity in the Watershed
October 2, 2001

CBEI Summit - Coming Spring 2002!!

For more information about these workshops and an agenda/sign-up form for the April 12th workshop, view the CBEI Announcement on-line (note: 36 KB Adobe Acrobat file). Or, call Colleen Hickey at 802/468-5227 or 802/372-3213 and we'll snail-mail you the announcement.

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PRESS RELEASE (2/22/01)

For Release: Immediate
Regarding: LCBP Approves FY 2001 Budget
Date: February 22, 2001
Contact: Bill Howland, Program Manager, (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227, 54 West Shore Rd, Grand Isle, VT 05458

Lake Champlain Projects Funded

Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) recently approved its funding plan for Lake projects in fiscal year 2001. The Lake Champlain Steering Committee, the governing board of the LCBP, allocated $2.4 million, including $1.5 million from the Lake Champlain allocation in the US Environmental Protection Agency budget. The National Park Service ($350,000), the US Department of Agriculture ($90,000) and the US Geological Survey ($270,000) provided additional funding.

Funds will be used to support the top priorities in Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of Lake Champlain. The highest priorities in the plan are reducing the Lake’s phosphorus levels, preventing pollution from toxic substances, and managing nuisance aquatic species. The Steering Committee also supported local grants programs, water quality monitoring, sea lamprey assessment, agricultural best management projects, an assessment of mercury cycling in the Basin, the cultural resources underwater survey, and several recreation projects. US EPA funding will also be used again this year to support aquatic nuisance management programs, including water chestnut harvesting on Lake Champlain.

“Supporting local community projects is an essential part of the Lake Champlain Basin Program,” said Stuart Buchanan, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 5 Director, and co-chair of the Steering Committee. “In FY 2001, $260,000 has been allocated for grants to support these important local projects.” Since 1992, the Lake Champlain Basin Program has awarded funds to more than 380 local projects.

The Lake Champlain Steering Committee received input from the NY, VT and Quebec Citizens Advisory Committees, technical and education experts, interested citizens and many organizations that participated in preliminary budget sessions.

“The Steering Committee’s budget is an important part of the overall effort to implement the long term plan for Lake Champlain,” said Canute Dalmasse, VT DEC Commissioner and co-chair of the Steering Committee. “In addition, Vermont, New York and the Province of Quebec address these and other Lake Champlain issues using many different agency resources.”

The Steering Committee is often able to find matching funds from federal and local partners too. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the US Army Corps of Engineers are also contributing support in 2001. The Lake Champlain Basin Program also cooperates with Lake Champlain Sea Grant on many Lake projects.

Contact Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program Manager at (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227 for additional information about the LCBP’s FY 2001 budget.

Attachment: Detailed Chart of LCBP FY2001 Budget (9KB Adobe Acrobat File)

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Workshop: "WAYS OF THE WOODS: Exploring a Deeper Meaning of Wealth in the Northern Forest" (2/22/01)
Join people from across the Northern Forest April 18-20, 2001 for serious discussion and serious fun at the Northern Forest Center's third regional conference at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH. Participate in discussions and workshops on healthy communities, artistic traditions, heritage-based community development, entrepreneurship, biodiversity, creating a culture of learning, and more. Enjoy music and storytelling, field trips, walks in the woods, and a banquet of traditional foods. Meet and talk with great people from across the Northern Forest working in business, conservation, education, econonomic development, forestry, folklore, and more! For more information and to register, visit the Center's website at www.northernforest.org, or call (603) 229-0679.

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Teacher Workshop: "The Age of Steam Navigation" (2/13/01)
Increase your knowledge base on steam technology and the era of commerce on Lake Champlain by attending this professional development opportunity for educators.

Thursday, May 3, 2001
9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
4472 Basin Harbor Rd
Vergennes, VT 05491

Sponsored by the LCMM with support from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Vermont Council on the Humanities under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Cost: Free with lunch included
Deadline for Registration: April 1, 2001
Call the LCMM Education Office at (802) 475-2022 x120 to register or for more information.

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July 2000 - December 2000
Watershed Programming Grants Available (11/06/00)
TAP Grants for Cultural Heritage Projects Available (10/6/00)
Progress 2000 Reports Available
Animal Feed Demo RFP Available (7/11/00)

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Animal Feed Demo RFP Available (7/11/00)
VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & MARKETS ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Proposals -- Animal Feed Education Demonstration Project

The Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VDAFM) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for projects providing education regarding the benefits of reducing phosphorus imported into Lake Champlain through animal feeds. The project will support the goal of reducing phosphorus inputs to the Lake to promote a healthy and diverse ecosystem and provide for sustainable human use and enjoyment of the Lake, as outlined in the Basin Program's management plan, Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. Funding for this project is provided by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, with additional support from USDA/NRCS and VDAFM.

For more information, view the complete RFP in Adobe Acrobat or contact the VDAFM's Plant Industry office at (802) 828-2431.

Click here to view the Acrobat version of the RFP (28 KB)

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January 2000 - June 2000
Bike Champlain 2000! - Coming this September (6/26/00)
AuSable Watershed Clean-up: May 13th!
Winter 2000 Casin' the Basin is on-line. (3/8/00)
2000 Implementation Grants for Local Communities Now Available! (2/28/00)
Educators: Register for Summit 2000 (199 KB .PDF file) (2/28/00)
Educators: Summit 2000 is Coming! (2/02/00)
Public Meetings Scheduled for Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project (2/02/00)
Cumberland Bay Sludge Bed Update (1/11/00)
Cumberland Bay Sludge Fact Sheet (1/11/00) Note: PDF file

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Bike Champlain 2000! (6/26/00)

Ride the Bike Champlain 2000 bicycle tour! Lake Champlain Bikeways, Inc. with support from several area organizations including the Lake Champlain Basin Program is hosting the tour in September. The tour will follow the "Champlain Bikeway" on quiet back roads through breathtaking scenery, history and culture in Vermont and New York. Options for route extensions into Quebec will also be offered. The terrain is generally flat-to-gently rolling and interspersed with occasional hills.

The tour will be held in conjunction with the Triangle of Excellence, an annual meeting organized by the Mayors of Burlington, Vermont, Plattsburgh, New York and St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This year, Mayor Peter Clavelle will host the Triangle of Excellence meeting in Burlington on September 8th. This annual gathering brings together public officials, the business community and interested citizens to look at how the three cities can work in partnership. The theme for this year's meeting will be tourism, with a special focus on bicycle tourism and Lake Champlain Bikeways.

For more information contact Lake Champlain Bikeways at: Lake Champlain Visitors Center, RR 1, Box 220, Crown Point, NY, 12928, (518) 597-4646, lcvisit@capital.net, www.champlainbikeways.org.

The first 150 lucky ones go…so register early!

Bike Champlain 2000! at a Glance

When: September 8-10, 2000
Distance: 150 miles
Where: Begins in Burlington, Vermont with overnight stay in Plattsburgh, New York, return to Burlington through the Champlain Islands
Cost: Early Registration by August 15, 2000 - $125.00, Late Registration - $150.00. Price includes a sunset dinner cruise, support vans and many extras, but not lodging.
Special Events: 8th Annual South-End Art Hop (5-11 PM in Burlington) and Battle of Plattsburgh activities on September 9th (a multi-day celebration, September 6-10)
Register: On-line at www.champlainbikeways.org or call (518) 597-4646

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AuSable Watershed Clean-up: May 13th! (5/3/00)
Join the AuSable River Association on May 13th for their second annual watershed-wide clean-up. Volunteers can sign up from 12:30PM to 1:30 PM at either the Monument Parking lot on Rt. 86, The Jay Town Hall in Au Sable Forks, or Keene Valley Civic Center. Instructions and pick-up bags will be available at registration stations. Any person involved in the clean-up is invited to a barbeque following the clean-up at 4:30 PM at the Mt. Everest picnic area in Wilmington. For more information call the Director, Janet Swentusky, at 518-873-3752.

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Public Meetings Scheduled for Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project (2/02/00)
Opportunities have been scheduled in Vermont for the public to learn more about the Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project. A report prepared by the National Park Service at the request of Senator James M. Jeffords is open for public comment until March 1, 2000, and will be the focus of the upcoming meetings.

Monday, February 7, 2000; 6:30-8:30 pm at the Burlington Boathouse
Hosted by the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain's Future

Thursday, February 17, 2000; 7:00-9:00 pm at Middlebury College Bicentennial Hall, Room 216
(Follow the new access road off Route 125 at the foot of the steep hill just west of the Middlebury College campus)
Hosted by Office of United States Senator James M. Jeffords
At each of these events, brief presentations will be given summarizing the heritage corridor project, followed by a question and answer period and an opportunity for public input. Phil Huffman, a Burlington-based consultant working on public outreach for the project for the National Park Service (NPS), and Tom Berry, from Senator Jeffords' Burlington office will present findings and options from the NPS report and answer questions.

A presentation on the project will also be given during a regular meeting of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission at 7:00 pmonWednesday, February 23, 2000 at the Swanton Municipal Complex (located on Route 78 near Exit 21 off I-89).

For more information about these meetings or the Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project contact:

Phil Huffman, NPS Consultant, at (802) 865-4523; email phuffman@sover.net

Tom Berry, Natural Resources Coordinator for Senator James Jeffords, at (802) 658-6001; email Tom_Berry@jeffords.senate.gov

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Educators: Summit 2000 is Coming! (2/02/00)
Mark this date on your calendars!

On May 18, 2000, The Champlain Basin Education Initiative presents:

SUMMIT 2000: This Land & Water - Linking Students to Their Watershed

For more information click here (43k PDF file*), or call the LCBP at (800) 468-5227 or (802) 372-3213.

The registration information will be posted on this website during February.

*You will need Adobe Acrobat reader for this.

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Cumberland Bay Sludge Bed Update (1/11/00)
The work at the Cumberland Bay Sludge Bed Removal Site has been discontinued due to cold weather. Low temperatures and winds made it difficult for dredging crews to work under harsh winter conditions. Therefore, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Earth Tech, Inc., the engineer for the project, and Sevenson Environmental Services (Sevenson), the contractor, decided to shut down site operation during the winter months. The work, including Cumberland Bay beach cleanup, is scheduled to resume at the end of April 2000.

Past discharges of waste including PCBs into the Cumberland Bay of Lake Champlain has resulted in creation of a sludge bed in the northwest comer of the Bay. The site is listed in the Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites as a Class "2' site. A Class 2 site poses a significant threat to public health or environment and requires action.

Work Performed Under the Contract: It is estimated that the project has reached 85 % completion.

The contractor removed by hydraulic dredging 141,000 cubic yards of PCB contaminated sludge. This material was dewatered prior to transportation and off-site disposal.
17,250 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soil were excavated from the shoreline and disposed off-site.
34,700 tons of PCB contaminated hazardous waste and 80,200 tons of nonhazardous contaminated waste were shipped off-site and disposed.
A temporary dewatering and wastewater treatment facility operated continuously during dredging operations, treating water to the required discharge standards.
Your Opportunities to Be Informed and Involved: You are encouraged to contact the staff listed below if you have questions or concerns. NYSDEC will keep you informed through the cleanup process.
The Site Cleanup Program:
Lech Dolata
NYSDEC, Div. Env. Remediation
50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12233-7010
(518)457-9285; 1(800)342-9296

Health-Related Concerns:
Richard Fedigan/Mark Van Dusen
NYSDOH, 547 River Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518)402-7890; 1(800)458-1158, ext. 27890

See the Cumberland Bay Sludge Bed Cleanup Fact Sheet for more information about the upcoming cleanup. Detailed project information is available for review at the repositories listed below.

Document Repositories. Two locations provide access to site information:

Plattsburgh Public Library
Oak and Brinkerhoff Street
Plattsburgh, NY (518)563-0921

NYSDEC Region 5 Office
Route 86, Ray Brook, NY
Contact: Daniel Steenberge (518)897-1241

Note: The above information was adapted from a fact sheet from December 1999 by NYSDEC, Region 5, Clinton County.

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May 1999 - Dec 1999
The Lake Champlain Atlas is Now Available (12/16/99)
New Historic Site and Boating Fact Sheets (12/16/99)
Grants Available from South Lake Champlain Trust (10/26/99)
Household Hazardous Waste Day for Clinton Co.- 11/20/99 (10/25/99)
Lake Champlain Basin Program Awards $10,000 to Bicycle-Friendly Enhancement Projects (9/7/99)
Citizens Advisory Committee Boat Trip (8/5/99)
Vermont Coordinator Hired for Lake Champlain Basin Program (8/4/99)
Progress '99 Report Available
Attend a Public Meeting on Progress '99 and the Lake's Management (7/15/99)
LCBP Hires Program Manager (7/6/99)

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New Historic Site and Boating Fact Sheets (12/16/99)
The Lake Champlain Basin Program recently published two new free fact sheets on Lake Champlain's history and the places along its shores that played key roles in the founding and development of the United States and Canada.

Historic Sites on Lake Champlain highlights 33 publicly accessible historic sites in New York, Vermont and Quebec. Contact information for each site is included. Boating to Lake Champlain's State Parks and Historic Villages highlights 20 historic villages and cities in New York, Vermont and Quebec, all of which are accessible by boat. This fact sheet also lists Vermont and New York State parks and campgrounds along Lake Champlain.

These fact sheets add important cultural heritage information to the Lake Champlain Basin Program's existing fact sheet series, which highlight zebra mussels, wetlands, nonpoint source pollution, and the basin. The fact sheet series is intended to help residents and visitors of all ages learn about the diverse issues that face Lake Champlain and its Basin.

Contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227 for more information or to obtain a copy of the fact sheets.

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Grants Available from South Lake Champlain Trust (10/26/99)
Research and education grants will be funded again this year by the South Lake Champlain Trust, Inc. Applications and guidelines are available by writing to the South Lake Champlain Trust, Inc. P.O. Box 161, Shoreham, VT, 05770. As in the past, applications will be due by December 1, 1999, and will be awarded in February 2000.

The Trust will award several small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 and one or two larger grants of up to $10,000. Research or educational projects should focus on South Lake Champlain (below the Crown Point Bridge). Some recent successful projects include: the Clinton Community College workshops for educators and citizens on "The Revolutionary War on Southern Lake Champlain (IV)" and "Native Americans in the Southern Lake Champlain Region;" "The Carillon Experience," which gives Vermont and New York students a chance to take an informative boat trip along the shores of the Lake; and "A Sense of Place: Experiencing the Lake Champlain," an exhibit at the Ticonderoga Historical Society, which will become individual interpretive components to rotate among area schools.

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Household Hazardous Waste Day for Clinton Co.- 11/20/99 (10/25/99)
Clinton County and New England Waste Sevices of NY (Casella) are planning a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event on Saturday November 20, 1999 from 8 am to 2 pm at the Mooers Transfer Station. For more information contact:
William Bingel, Clinton County (565-4600)
Richard Kelly, NEWSNY (563-5514)
Karen Flanders, NEWSNY (802/223-7128)

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Lake Champlain Basin Program Awards $10,000 to Bicycle-Friendly Enhancement Projects (9/7/99)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program recently awarded a total of $10,000 to nine new projects along the Lake Champlain Bikeways network, or along bicycle loops off of the principal route. The principle route is a 350-mile route on existing roads around Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont.

Lake Champlain Bikeways is a public/private initiative as part of the Lake Champlain Basin Program which aims to create and promote a network of interconnected, international bicycle routes around Lake Champlain and the Upper Richelieu Valley of Québec.

For more information about Bikeways Enhancement Awards contact Maja Smith at (518) 597-4464. Information about Lake Champlain Bikeways can be found on their website, http://www.lakeplacid.com/bikeways/ or email lcvisit@capital.net.

Bikeways Enhancement Awards:

North Country Visitors Center - Bicycle Amenities Project
Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Plattsburgh, NY $1,220
At a visitor information center along the Lake Champlain Bikeways principal route, the Chamber will add exterior equipment for bicyclists, such as a bicycle rack and benches.
Richford Shuttle Bicycle Racks
Northwest Vermont Public Transit Network, Inc., St. Albans, VT $1,200
The Northwest Vermont Public Transit Network will purchase, assemble and install two bicycle racks on their buses between St. Albans and Richford, VT. The racks are an important part of the Network's plan help provide alternative transportation.
Champlain Islands Bicycle Parking Facilities
Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce, North Hero, VT $1,200
The Chamber will develop an incentive program for businesses to provide secure parking facilities for bicycle travelers by sharing costs for the purchase of nine bicycle racks and/or hitching posts throughout Champlain Islands communities.
Adirondack Coast Bicycling Guide II
Moriah Economic Development Zone, Port Henry, NY $1,285
Working with Adirondack Coast Bikeways, Moriah EDZ will produce a second edition of the Adirondack Coast Bicycling Guide for the 2000 season. The new guide will feature the original six loops, as well as six "new" loops which connect to the Lake Champlain Bikeways principal route.
Whiteface Mountain Bikeway Enhancement Project
Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau, Wilmington, NY $525
The Visitors Bureau will purchase six bicycle racks for six locations in the Towns of Jay and Wilmington, including the visitors center, two libraries, Wilmington Town Beach, Wilmington Town Park and Jay Village Green.
Cyclists Rest Stop Project
Village of Keeseville, NY $785
The Village of Keeseville will create two rest stops for cyclists as a pivotal point in joining interconnected bicycle loops from Plattsburgh, Lake Placid, Ticonderoga and Burlington. Funding will be utilized to purchase two bicycle racks and a bench.
Cycle the City Guide
Burlington Bikeways Inc., Burlington, VT $1,285
New for the 1999 cycling season, "Cycle the City" is a historic interpretive bicycle loop that showcases the history, culture and natural splendor of Burlington. Funds will be used to assist with the printing costs of a 16-page guide.
Accessible Bikeways Project
Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport, Burlington, VT $1,500
LCCSC and VASS have teamed up to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to easily access and enjoy Burlington Bikeways. Funds will be utilized to purchase adaptive bicycle equipment and staffing to assist people with the adaptive bicycles.
Vergennes Bicycle Parking Project
City of Vergennes, VT $1,000
The City of Vergennes will purchase and install four leaning bicycle rails along the Lake Champlain Bikeways principal route in three City parks, including the City Green, Falls Parks and MacDonough Park on historic Otter Creek.

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Citizens Advisory Committee Boat Trip (8/5/99)
On July 20th members of the New York, Vermont and Quebec Citizen Advisory Committees toured the South Lake on the Carillon. After a short meeting, the cruise departed from Whitehall which gave the participants a first hand view of the New York State Canal System as well as the waterchestnut infestation of the South Lake. For pictures of this event, click here. The Citizen Advisory Committees provide a forum for the public on Lake Champlain issues.

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Vermont Coordinator Hired for Lake Champlain Basin Program (8/4/99)
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is pleased to announce the Michaela Stickney has been hired as the Vermont Coordinator for the Program. Ms. Stickney brings 15 years of watershed planning and and natural resource management experience to the LCBP that includes working in five countries, three states and 20 Vermont towns. Most recently, Ms. Stickney worked on international watershed and resource planning projects in Eastern Europe including coordinating the Lake Champlain - Lake Ohrid Sister Lake Exchange with partners from Albania and Macedonia. Prior to that she managed the Lake Champlain water quality monitoring program for the State of Vermont. Her consulting work with Vermont communities ranged from land and water conservation to forestry issues and sustainable development.

Ms. Stickney will work with many Vermont State agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals to help incorporate their issues into Lake Champlain activities and serve as the state's liaison with New York and Quebec entities. In addition, she will provide staff support to the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain's Future. Ms. Stickney may be reached by calling the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources at (802) 241-3619.

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LCBP Hires Program Manager (7/6/99)
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is pleased to announce that William Howland has been hired as Lake Champlain Basin Program's (LCBP) Program Manager, a new position for the program. Howland, the Executive Director of Green Mountain Audubon, will assume responsibility for managing the Lake Champlain Basin Program and will work to strengthen partnerships within New York, Vermont and Quebec. Howland will carry out the decisions of the Lake Champlain Steering Committee, the governing board for the Lake Champlain Basin Program. In his new role, he will work closely with the States of New York, Vermont and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Stuart Buchanan, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Region 5 and representative to the Lake Champlain Steering Committee noted, "We hired Bill Howland because of his solid experience with natural resources and program management including planning, budgeting and public relations. His experience in building partnerships within local communities will be an important strength for the LCBP."

"In the last 4 1/2 years, as Executive Director, Bill has had a tremendous influence in helping Green Mountain Audubon achieve its goals in environmental education and sanctuary stewardship," said Shirley Johnson, President, Green Mountain Audubon. "His dedication, work ethic and talent have made his time with us very productive. Although we will miss him, we are happy that his talent has been recognized and will be put to good use in the Lake Champlain basin."

"Bill's personal commitment to Lake Champlain and his professional integrity will be a tremendous asset to the LCBP as we move forward with the implementation of Opportunities for Action, the long-term management plan for Lake Champlain" said Buzz Hoerr, Chair of the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee and Steering Committee member.

Howland has more than 10 years of teaching and research experience at Middlebury College, the University of Vermont and McGill University. In addition, he has experience in state and city planning and the private sector. He will begin his new position on July 19, 1999.

Contact Stuart Buchanan, NYS DEC Region 5, (518) 897-1200 or Dennis Malloy, VT Agency of Natural Resources, (802) 241-3614 for more information.

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January 1999 - April 1999
Apply for a Bikeways Enhancement Award - Now Accepting Applications Until June 1, 1999 (4/19/98)
Sea Grant Comes to the Basin (4/19/99)
Educator Workshop -- Farming and Water Quality in the Basin (4/7/99)
Employment Opportunity: Program Manager for Lake Champlain Basin Program (3/26/99)
Lake Champlain Steering Committee Approves $1.84 Million 1999 LCBP Budget(2/18/99)
1999 Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee Action Plan Available(2/18/99)
Five Star Restoration Program Grants Available from EPA(1/14/99)
Watershed Assistance Grants Available from River Network(1/14/99)

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Sea Grant Comes to the Basin (4/19/99)
Two new Sea Grant positions are being established to develop a Sea Grant outreach program for Lake Champlain. The positions will be located at SUNY Plattsburgh and the University of Vermont. The presence of Sea Grant in the Basin is expected to strengthen the bridge between scientific researchers, educators, concerned citizens, while providing a link to existing Sea Grant programs in the Great Lakes. If you would like more information about SUNY Plattsburgh position, contact Nancy Greenawalt at (607) 255-2832. (Email: nag3@cornell.edu)

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Educator Workshop -- Farming and Water Quality in the Basin (4/7/99)
"Stewards of the Land: Farming for Water Quality in the Champlain Basin" is an exciting opportunity for educators of grades 4-8 in New York, Vermont, and Quebec to learn more about Lake Champlain. This workshop, sponsored by the Champlain Basin Educators Initiative (CBEI), will be held on April 30th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Shelburne Farms. Educators will spend the day learning about water quality issues and what farmers in particular are doing to address them on their farms. Farmers, researchers, conservationists, representatives from Foodworks and PROJECT WET facilitators will be on hand.

The fee is $15.00 for the workshop, which includes copies of This Lake Alive! An Interdisciplinary Handbook for Teaching and Learning About the Lake Champlain Basin by Amy Demarest and Project Wet. To register for this workshop, please call the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (802) 372-3213 or (800) 468-5227 (NY and VT).

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Employment Opportunity: Program Manager for Lake Champlain Basin Program (Environmental Analyst III) (3/26/99)
Opportunity for environmentally astute person with good communication skills to work in Vermont to provide overall program coordination, administration, and planning of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, in cooperation with the LCBP Steering and Executive Committees, NEIWPCC's Lowell, MA office, EPA, NY, VT, and Quebec. Responsibilities will include carrying out the decisions of the Executive Committee and Steering Committee leading towards the implementation of Opportunities for Action and to deal with other policy issues as they arise. Masters in public administration or field related to natural resources with six years experience. Full job description available (978-323-7929).

Apply by April 16, 1999. Resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and brief writing sample to: NEIWPCC, attn: LCBP, Boott Mills South, 100 Foot of John St., Lowell, MA 01852-1124.
http://www.neiwpcc.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

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Lake Champlain Steering Committee Approves $1.84 Million 1999 LCBP Budget (2/17/98)
On January 27, 1999, the Lake Champlain Steering Committee approved a plan to spend $1.84 million of U.S. EPA funds for Lake Champlain projects. The LCBP projects are related to the highest priorities listed in Opportunities for Action. All project recipients must provide a 25% match.

1999 LCBP Funding Plan (U.S. EPA Funding) Building Local Level Implementation
Local Grants $179,301
New York Circuit Rider $45,000
Partnership Program Grants $71,519
Training for Stream Classification $20,000
Technical Coordination/Assistance $67,900
Subtotal $383,720
Measuring and Monitoring Success
Lake Wide Monitoring $249,000
Lay Monitoring $13,338
Ecological Integrity Monitoring $93,500
Subtotal $355,838
Reducing Phosphorus
Tracking NY Agricultural Reduction from BMP's $76,265
Tracking VT Agricultural Reduction from BMP's $21,750
Stable Stream Assessment and Demonstration $32,000
South Lake Phosphorus Study $11,519
Subtotal $141,534
Understanding Toxic Pollutants from Urban Areas
Englesby Brook Urban BMP Effectiveness $15,000
Subtotal $15,000
Implementing Nuisance Aquatics Programs
Water Chestnut Harvesting Program * $178,544
Assessing Sea Lamprey in Poultney/Pike Rivers $62,500
Subtotal $241,044
Managing Fish and Wildlife
Osprey Restoration Efforts $18,000
Subtotal $18,000
Protecting Cultural Resources
Underwater Mapping Survey of Lake Bottom $20,000
Subtotal $20,000
Informing and Involving the Public
Outreach Activities, Publications and Media Efforts $91,330
Educator Training and Initiatives $12,000
Watershed Programming at Educational Facilities $59,754
LCBP Resource Room $10,500
Local Watershed Training Support $5,000
Joint NY/VT Fish License Assessment $5,000
Stream Buffers and Erosion $25,000
Education and Outreach Coordination $66,350
Communications Specialist $47,000
Subtotal $321,934
Program Coordination and Administration
VT-NY Program Coordination and Office Administration $312,930
NEIWPCC Fiscal Management $30,000
Subtotal $342,930
TOTAL $1,840,000
* The State of Vermont will provide a $150,000 match to this effort.

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1999 Vermont Citizen's Advisory Action Plan Available (1/14/98)
The VT CAC recently published its 1999 Action Plan to the Vermont Legislature. Highlights of the plan include a proposal to shorten the timeframe for achieving phosphorus pollution reduction to 2009: the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival on the lake. Other actions include: supporting watershed groups, increasing funds for water chesnut eradication, addressing declining walleye populations, and establishing a joint NY/VT fishing license. Call the LCBP to obtain a copy of the 1999 Action Plan at (802) 468-5227.

Click here to read a text only version.

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Five Star Restoration Program Grants Available from EPA (2/17/98) The Five-Star Restoration Program, an outgrowth of Presidents Clinton's Clean Water Action Plan, provides modest financial assistance to support community-based wetland and riparian restoration projects, to build diverse partnerships, and to foster local natural resource stewardship. Deadline: February 1, 1999.
Visit the EPA web site for more information and an application.

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Back to What's New
Watershed Assistance Grants Available from River Network (1/14/98)

The purpose of the Watershed Assistance Grants program is to support innovative efforts that build the capacity of community-based partnerships to conserve or restore watersheds.

Visit the River Network web site for more information and an application.

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December 1998
Coming Soon!!!: Local Implementation Grant Opportunities (12/15/98)

Call for Displays (12/15/98)

Lake Champlain Project Coordinator for Vermont Job Posting (12/7/98)

New Casin' the Basin (12/7/98)

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Coming Soon!!!
Local Implementation Grant Opportunities (12/15/98)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program will soon be seeking proposals for local projects supporting the implementation of the lakewide management plan, Opportunities for Action. Applications and Requests for Proposals will be available for several LCBP grant programs beginning in January 1999.

Projects will be solicited on a broad range of topics identified in the plan, including:

Bikeways*
Education and Outreach on Plan Issues
Environmentally-Sound Economic Development
Wildlife Monitoring Habitat Improvement and
Pathogens in Surface Waters
Phosphorus Reduction
Pollution Prevention, Focusing on Chemical Contaminants
Public Access Improvement*
Technical Assistance for Cultural Resources Projects*
Stream Restoration
*Please Note: total funding for projects related to these topics will likely be reduced from previous years due to reductions in National Park Service funding.
Start Developing Your Proposals Now

Anticipated Deadline for Proposals in Some Categories: Early March, 1999.

Applications and RFPs will be mailed out and posted on the LCBP web site grants page in January. The full text of the lakewide management plan, Opportunities for Action is also available here.

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Call for Displays (12/15/98)
Does your organization have a display about a Lake Champlain project?

The Lake Champlain Basin Program is seeking displays for three week periods to be exhibited at our Resource Room at the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center in Burlington, Vermont. Examples include:

watershed / river projects
wildlife / fisheries projects
water quality monitoring
recreation and cultural issues
Please call us (800-468-5227) or email us if you have a display to share!

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Lake Champlain Project Coordinator for Vermont Job Posting (12/7/98)
The State of Vermont is hiring a Lake Champlain Project Coordinator to work with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Visit the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources web site at: http://www.state.vt.us/pers/recruit/jobs/134000.htm to view the job posting and hiring process.

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New Casin' the Basin (12/7/98)
The latest edition of Casin' the Basin, LCBP's newsletter is hot of the presses. Our theme this time is Canadian Connections. Although we do not have it on-line at the present time, please send us an e-mail and we'll mail you a free copy!

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November 1998
Watershed Assistance Grants from River Network (11/24/98)

Research and Education Grants Available from South Lake Champlain Trust, Inc. (11/11/98)

Request for Proposals: Lake Champlain Maritime Historian (11/9/98)

Request for Proposals: Information Specialist/Freelance Writer (11/9/98)

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Watershed Assistance Grants from River Network (11/24/98)
The EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, & Watersheds recently awarded River Network $300,000 to distribute grants to local watershed partnerships to support organizational development and long term effectiveness. River Network, a national organization based in Portland, Oregon, supports river and watershed advocates at the local, state, and regional levels to build effective partnerships and organizations. The watershed Assistance Grants Program will distribute grants ranging from $2,000 to $30,000 in 1999 to support watershed partnerships working to protect and restore their watersheds.

Grant applications will be available after December 1, 1998. To request an application, please write to River Network, Watershed Assistance Grants Program, PO Box 8787, Portland, OR 97207, email River Network at info@rivernetwork.org. For more information visit their webpage at http://rivernetwork.org.

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Research and Education Grants Available from South Lake Champlain Trust, Inc. (11/11/98)
Research and education grants will be funded by the South Lake Champlain Trust, Inc. again this year. The trust will award several small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 and one or two larger grants of up to $10,000. Research or educational projects should focus on south Lake Champlain (below the bridge). Some recent successful projects include: the Clinton community College workshop for educators and citizens on the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War on southern Lake Champlain; "The Carillon Experience," which gives Vermont and New York students a chance to take an informative boat trip along the shores of South Lake Champlain; and "The Classroom Around Us," a summer program using the Poultney River as a classroom for interdiscipliary teaching of writing, science, art and comouter technology for students. Applications and guidelines are available by writing the South Lake Champlain Land Trust, Inc., PO Box 161, Shoreham, VT 05770. Applications are due by December 1, 1998, and will be awarded in February 1999.

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Request for Proposals: Lake Champlain Maritime Historian (11/9/98)
The following is a Request for Proposals to research historic landings on Lake Champlain for their potential inclusion in an Historic Landings Heritage Trail. The end results will be a report listing (and briefly describing) all identified sites, interpretive text for six of the highest priority sites, and design and production of interpretive panels.

Background

The Lake Champlain Basin Program was created as a result of the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act of 1990. The Act called for a management plan to be developed through the combined efforts of private citizens, interested organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The plan was accepted and implemented on October 28, 1996. One component of the plan, Opportunities for Action, addressed cultural heritage and recreational issues and specifically called upon the federal government and the States of Vermont and New York to implement a range of priority actions with regard to recreation and cultural heritage tourism within the basin. Developing and promoting locally planned, approved and managed networks of heritage trails around the lake is a cultural resources high priority action of Opportunities for Action.

Project Overview

The work addressed in this RFP is part of a multi-year project to identify historic landings along the shores of Lake Champlain and increase the public's knowledge and awareness of these sites through interpretive signage. Consideration will be given to existing interpretation efforts in implementing signage. Data for sites will include 1) public or private ownership 2) present-day accessibility by water and by land 3) historic use and current use 4) category of use in the past (pre-historic, military, commercial, recreational etc.) 5) and other information to be determined by consultant, LCBP Recreation and Cultural Heritage Coordinators and a project advisory committee. Implementation of signage will continue over the next couple of years.

Scope of Work

Consultant will be responsible for developing criteria for inclusion (in conjunction with LCBP Recreation and Cultural Heritage Coordinators and the project advisory committee), preparing report on all known historic landings (archaeological sites and the location of sites on private property will be kept confidential) and writing the interpretive text for up to six panels. Consultant is expected to coordinate efforts with Lake Champlain Byways, a planning project guided by citizen participation at the local and regional/county level to promote and protect the natural, scenic, cultural, archaeological, historic, and recreational resources of the region. Panel design and fabrication will be contracted out separately.

Project Timeline

Consultant will be selected by January 4, 1999.

Work on the project will begin by mid-January of 1999. Final text will be due by June 15, 1999.

Proposal Information, Deadline, and Selection of Consultant

Proposal should include fee, resume, letter of interest, two writing samples, and the names of three references. The maximum contract amount is $12,000, including consultant's travel and telephone expenses. Consultant is not an employee and no benefits are provided.

Seven (7) copies of the proposal should be submitted to Historic Landings Heritage Trail Search Committee, Lake Champlain Basin Program, RR1 Box 220, Bridge Road, Crown Point, NY 12928, postmarked no later than December 4, 1998.

Please contact Tricia Foster, Cultural Heritage Coordinator at (518) 597-4212 or Maja Smith, Recreation Coordinator at (518) 597-4464 for more information.

This project is financed through a cooperative agreement between the states of New York and Vermont, and the National Park Service: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.

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Request for Proposals: Information Specialist/Freelance Writer (11/9/98)

The following is a Request for Proposals to develop a public information series on cultural resources and recreational opportunities throughout the Lake Champlain Basin. Topics for consideration include: 1) State Parks on Lake Champlain, 2) Historic Sites, 3) Underwater Historic Preserves, 4) Boating to Historic Sites and Villages, 5) Current Lake Champlain Initiatives, and 6) Available Lake Champlain Area Maps and Publications. Fact sheet information will include where to go, how to access sites, where to get more information, and education and interpretation.

Background

The Lake Champlain Basin Program was created as a result of the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act of 1990. The Act called for a management plan to be developed through the combined efforts of private citizens, interested organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The plan was accepted and implemented on October 28, 1996. One component of the plan, Opportunities for Action, addressed cultural heritage and recreational issues and specifically called upon the federal government and the States of Vermont and New York to implement a range of priority actions with regard to recreation and cultural heritage tourism within the basin.

Project Overview

Information sheets are provided already to the public by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) on zebra mussels, nonpoint source pollution, wetlands in the Lake Champlain Basin, and general facts about the Basin (contact LCBP for a sample). Continuation of this series will provide a comprehensive overview of the cultural resources and recreational opportunities of the Lake Champlain Basin area and guide tourists and other readers toward tourism opportunities, local initiatives, and sources for further information. This initiative will serve as a tool promoting Lake Champlain for recreational and cultural heritage tourism purposes.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for gathering information for inclusion (substantial research on state parks, historic sites, and underwater preserves has already been compiled for consultant's use) and writing descriptive text for each fact sheet. Publication design and printing will be contracted out separately. The consultant is expected to work with an advisory committee, consult with regional tourism entities, and coordinate efforts with Lake Champlain Byways, a planning project guided by citizen participation at the local and regional/county level to promote and protect the natural, scenic, cultural, archaeological, historic, and recreational resources of the region.

Project Timeline

Consultant will be selected by January 4, 1999.

Work on the project will begin by mid-January of 1999. Final text will be due by April 30, 1999 in order to produce the series in time for the 1999 summer season.

Proposal Information, Deadline, and Selection of Consultant

Proposal should include fee, resume, letter of interest, two writing samples, and the names of three references. The maximum contract amount is $7,000, including consultant's travel and telephone expenses. Consultant is not an employee and no benefits are provided.

Seven (7) copies of the proposal should be submitted to Public Information Series Search Committee, Lake Champlain Basin Program, RR1 Box 220, Bridge Road, Crown Point, NY 12928, postmarked no later than December 4, 1998.

Please contact Tricia Foster, Cultural Heritage Coordinator at (518) 597-4212 or Maja Smith, Recreation Coordinator at (518) 597-4464 for more information.

This project is financed through a cooperative agreement between the states of New York and Vermont, and the National Park Service: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.

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October 1998
Call For Technical Project Ideas (10/5/98)

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Call For Technical Project Ideas (10/5/98)
The Lake Champlain Basin Program's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is seeking advice from the broader technical community in the basin as it develops its recommendations for the Basin Program's 1999 funding cycle. The TAC consists of scientists, planners and managers from agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations from throughout the basin. It provides advice on technical issues to the Lake Champlain Steering Committee, which leads the Basin Program.

Lake Champlain Basin Program Priorities

The overall priorities of the Basin Program are presented in detail in Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. For a summary of the plan, please see the plan summary. The full text of the plan, background information on how it was developed, and other related information is also available on this site.

The plan focuses on three areas of concern: water quality, living natural resources, recreation, and cultural resources. From within these, three main priorities were identified:

Reduce phosphorus in priority sub basins of the lake.
Prevent and control the release of persistent toxic contaminants.
Develop and implement a comprehensive program to manage nuisance nonnative aquatic species, especially sea lamprey, Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut, and zebra mussels.
Other issues were also identified as important: wetland loss, habitat fragmentation, public access issues, recreational use conflicts, and loss of cultural and archeological resources. Measuring the status and trends of environmental conditions through continuous, long-term monitoring was also identified as key to protecting the resources of the basin.
For plan implementation activities, the Lake Champlain Basin Program generally supports: partnerships between various groups, a watershed-based ecosystem approach, integration of environmental and economic goals, pollution prevention, a consensus-based decision-making, and flexibility to adapt to emerging issues, resources and technology.

Your Ideas

The TAC is interested in your ideas for projects that the Basin Program should pursue to further the implementation of the plan. The Steering Committee is expecting a budget of $1-2 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

Please be aware that much of this budget is dedicated to ongoing activities. Only a small portion of the funds is available to support discretionary spending.

Instructions for Idea Submission

To submit your project idea, please prepare a one-page summary with the following information by October 20, 1998:

Project Title
Relationship to the plan priorities
Brief project description
Approximate cost
Who is best suited to do the work (i.e., the state agencies involved in the Basin Program or outside groups)
Submit ideas by fax, e-mail or USPS to:
Barry Gruessner
Technical Coordinator
Lake Champlain Basin Program
PO Box 204
Grand Isle, VT 05458

FAX: 802/655-6540
E-Mail:bgruessner@anr.state.vt.us

You may also contact Barry Gruessner with questions or comments at 802/372-3213.

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September 1998
CBEI Workshop for Educators Coming in November (9/16/98)

New Technical Coordinator Joins LCBP Team (9/16/98)

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CBEI Workshop for Educators Coming in November (9/16/98)
Calling all educators! Learn about the geography and sense of place of the Lake Champlain Basin at the next Champlain Basin Educators Initiative workshop (CBEI). The workshop "What a Relief" will be held at the Plattsburgh Elk's Club in Plattsburgh, New York from 8:30 to 3:30 on November 10th.

The workshop fee is $15.00 which includes the book, This Lake Alive!: An Interdisciplinary Handbook for Teaching and Learning About the Lake Champlain Basin by Amy B. Demarest, and other teaching materials about the Lake. Bring a bag lunch. Participants must preregister. Call the LCBP at (800) 468-5227 or (802) 372-3213 to register.

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New Technical Coordinator Joins LCBP Team (9/16/98)
Barry Gruessner joined LCBP in August as the new Technical Coordinator. Barry is happy to be back in the Lake Champlain Basin after spending several years in the Washington, DC area. Most recently, he served as Environmental Scientist for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. He brings to LCBP technical expertise in chemical contaminant and general nonpoint source pollution issues, as well as experience with interstate planning and management efforts in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay basins. Barry is also familiar with the science of the Lake Champlain Basin and its social context, having earned a Masters degree from UVM that focused on chemicals and their effects on the ecological health of rivers and streams. He is looking forward to providing staff support to the LCBP's Technical Advisory Committee and technical assistance to various government agencies and citizen groups in the Basin.

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July 1998

LCBP Seeks Education Committee Volunteers (7/10/98)

VT CAC Seeks Members (7/10/98)

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LCBP Seeks Education Committee Volunteers (7/10/98)
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is seeking additional members from New York, Vermont and Quebec for its Education and Outreach Committee. The Committee provides annual budget recommendations to the Lake Champlain Steering Committee regarding education and outreach efforts related to Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. In addition, committee members participate in the review of grant applications and advise staff on educational programming issues and lake outreach efforts. The Committee meets about six times per year.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and a resume by July 27, 1998 to: the Education and Outreach Committee, Lake Champlain Basin Program, P.O Box 204, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, Vermont 05458 or call (800) 468-5227 or (802) 372-3213.

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Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee Seeks New Members (7/10/98)
The Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain’s Future is seeking additional members representing broad interests of the Lake Champlain basin. The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) was established by the Vermont Legislature in 1990. The CAC provides a citizen perspective on issues related to implementing Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin and makes annual budget and programming recommendations to the Lake Champlain Steering Committee.

The Vermont CAC, which is comprised of 10 citizens and four legislators, generally holds monthly meetings to address a variety of Lake Champlain issues and is required to report to the Vermont Legislature each year.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and a resume by July 31, 1998 to Dayle Ann Stratton, Vermont Coordinator, Lake Champlain Basin Program, PO Box 204, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT 05458 or call (800) 468-5227 or (802) 372-3213.

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June 1998

New York-Vermont Citizens Advisory Committees on Lake Champlain Award $70,000 to Local Organizations (6/24/98)

Spring/Summer 1998 Casin" the Basin hot off the presses! (6/24/98)

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New York-Vermont Citizens Advisory Committees on Lake Champlain Award $70,000 to Local Organizations (6/24/98)
The New York-Vermont Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) on Lake Champlain announced Partnership Program awards for 22 organizations within the Lake Champlain Basin. Funding, which totaled $70,000, was made available through the Lake Champlain Basin Program from the U.S. EPA and the National Park Service. 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. Recipients designed projects which enhance cultural, recreational and natural resource issues facing the Lake Champlain Basin.

To date, the CACs have awarded $294,000 for local, community projects. Applications for the 1999 Partnership Program will be available on November 1, 1998.

Summary of 1998 Lake Champlain Partnership Projects

Land For Learning
Moriah Central School
$4,000
Project Description: The Moriah Central School, in cooperation with several community organizations, will utilize funds to complete a self guided educational and recreational trail on school property. Materials will be developed about the natural features on the trail for use in classrooms and for visitors to the region.

The Vermont Guidebook: Touring Vermont's Oldest City
City of Vergennes
$2,800
Project Description: The City of Vergennes, in cooperation with several community organizations, will utilize funds to help complete a guidebook of the oldest city in the Lake Champlain Basin focusing on cultural, recreational, historical and natural resources within the oldest city in the Lake Champlain Basin. The guidebook will be used by both residents and visitors for walking and bicycling tours of the area.

Final Intervale Land Restoration
Intervale Foundation
$2,500
Project Description: The Intervale Foundation will utilize funds to help pay for operational costs associated with land management of the final 80 acres of tillable land, seeking to restore this land to agricultural production. This parcel is the last remaining piece of land which the Foundation will be restoring along the Winooski River through a three year cycle to improve fertility and reduce the amount of phosphorus that reaches Lake Champlain

Saranac Lake River Corridor Commission Riverbank Stabilization Effort
Village of Saranac Lake - River Corridor Commission
$5,000
Project Description: The Saranac Lake River Corridor Commission, in cooperation with the Village of Saranac Lake and several community organizations, will utilize funds to stabilize the embankment along the Dorsey Street Bridge, a portion of the River Walk along the Saranac River. Nearly 300 feet of shoreline will be stabilized, halting further erosion, protecting the pedestrian walkway and enhancing public access to the river for fishing.

Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative
Otter Creek Audubon Society
$2,000
Project Description: The Otter Creek Audubon will utilize funds to support the first year of operations of the Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative. Nine organizations are currently testing water quality within the Otter Creek watershed. The newly formed collaborative will expand the corps of volunteers, and work jointly on publicity, reporting and other educational activities to increase public awareness about river resources and water quality within Addison County

Missisquoi River Dynamics/Canoe Course
Arvin A. Brown Public Library
$500
Project Description: The Arvin A. Brown Library will utilize Partnership Program funds to share the costs of canoe rentals which will be used to introduce area youth to canoeing on the Missisquoi River. In cooperation with the Missisquoi River Basin Association, the summer program will also educate students about the river's ecology and get them involved in streambank plantings of willow trees.

Field Barn Stabilization
The Nature Conservancy
$5,000
Project Description: The Vermont Field Office of the Nature Conservancy will stabilize an early 19th century field barn located on the Buckner Preserve in West Haven, VT, the centerpiece of a Southern Lake Champlain Valley Preserve which borders Vermont and New York. The Nature Conservancy is currently exploring options for keeping the farmstead in sustainable agricultural use. Ecological research has been conducted on the site for about 10 years and both elementary school students and university students utilize the site for field trips.

Youth Corps State Park Improvements
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
$2,500
Project Description: The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps will utilize funds to help reclaim trails and picnic areas, repair historic structures and provide safe recreational facilities and educational programs at state parks within the Lake Champlain Basin.

The Winooski Mills: Economic, Social & Ecological Impact
Heritage Winooski
$4,500
Project Description: Heritage Winooski will present a teachers' workshop, develop curriculum materials for middle and high school teachers, create museum exhibits and design school tours based on Winooski's early twentieth century textile mill industry. This project will integrate economic and social history with science and technology by highlighting the impact of the mills on the community and the environment.

The Northern Lake Champlain Endangered and Threatened Species Project
Green Mountain Audubon Society
$4,200
Project Description: The Green Mountain Audubon Society's Northern Lake Champlain Endangered and Threatened Species Project creates partnerships with the VT Nongame and Natural Heritage Program and Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge to monitor and protect some of Lake Champlain's waterbirds including the Osprey, the Common Tern and the Black Tern. By developing conservation internships, recruiting community volunteers and promoting endangered species, conservation efforts throughout the Basin, the Green Mountain Audubon Society will expand ongoing efforts to protect these unique yet threatened species on Lake Champlain.

Mentors in the Champlain Basin
VT Museum & Gallery Alliance
$3,000
Project Description: The Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance will utilize funds to provide a mentoring program that reaches museums, galleries and historical societies in the Lake Champlain Basin. Mentors from both New York and Vermont will conduct one-day, on-site teaching visits to institutions whose needs have been matched with available expertise. The result is an improved network between cultural institutions in Vermont and New York, as well as improvement in practices and visitor services at each site.

Boat-building/Sailing Program for Youth at Risk
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
$2,500
Project Description: The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, in cooperation with the Counseling Service of Addison County and Addison County district schools, will offer eight at-risk youths an opportunity to learn boat building and sailing skills. By building self-confidence and practical hands-on skills, students will be should be able to experience better success in school or at work

Preserving our Agricultural Heritage - The Historic Monitor Barns Project
Richmond Land Trust
$3,000
Project Description: The Monitor Barns Project involves the preservation of three historic farmsteads, including two monitor barns and 1000 surrounding acres, and efforts to attract sustainable agriculture and forestry enterprises to these resources. The Richmond Land Trust will document the Monitor Barns Project through various mediums including a written history, a brochure, table top models and videography. (Please note: Because the Monitor Barn Project will continue for more than one year, the final video will not be available as a final product for the Partnership Program award. Instead, Partnership Program funding will be used to begin the videotaping and provide funds to rent video equipment. The Partnership Program will receive a credit line in the final video as well as a final copy of the video when the project is finished.)

Burlington Guidelines for Stormwater Pollutant Reduction
Burlington Conservation Board
$4,000
Project Description: The Burlington Conservation Board will utilize funds to develop guidelines for best management practices designed to minimize pollutant loads for stormwater runoff. One major goal of the project is to include a comprehensive source mitigation plan emphasizing long-term strategies and community involvement.

Gilleland History/Nature Foot & Canoe Trail
Boquet River Association
$2,000
Project Description: The Boquet River Association will work with the Town of Willsboro, NY to improve canoe and small boat access for the public at the proposed Willsboro Falls Park, upstream from the Noblewood Park on Lake Champlain.

Otter Creek Heritage Corridor
UVM
$3,000
Project Description: Graduate students from the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College will utilize funds to produce a heritage guide booklet and map of the Otter Creek watershed. The guide will be designed to encompass the history, architecture, engineering and natural resources within the Otter Creek watershed. Partners include the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce

Coon Mountain Preserve/Split Rock Link
Adirondack Nature Conservancy & Adirondack Land Trust
$5,000
Project Description: The Adirondack Land Trust is working to establish a wildlife corridor and hiking trail between two public preserves in the Champlain Valley. By providing a land link between the Coon Mountain preserve and Split Rock Mountain Forest Preserve, Lake Champlain could be linked to an inland hiking destination and 4,993 contiguous acres of habitat. This project fits with the Champlain Valley Heritage Network's goal of promoting ecotourism and will help safeguard the rich diversity of two biologically significant sites.

B.A.C.S.T.O.P. Summer '98
Village of Whitehall, NY
$3,000
Project Description: The Village of Whitehall will run a summer youth program, known as BACSTOP, for at-risk youth ages 7 to 17. Students will become involved in Lake Champlain activities such as hand-pulling water chestnuts and documenting graves of individuals from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

East Bay (Poultney River) Watershed Improvement
Whitehall Jr/Sr High School
$1,500
Project Description: The Whitehall High School Senior Class will combine efforts with community to revive the East Bay area of the Poultney River adjacent to the Bald Mountain Preserve and the South Lake. The plan includes clean-up, education, water and soil quality monitoring for educational purposes and natural resource appreciation.

Adopt-a-Salmon Family
Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited
$1,200
Project Description: The Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be expanding its "Adopt-A- Salmon" efforts into two additional school districts located in Clinton and Essex Counties of New York. This national program was developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Trout Unlimited has been working with students and teachers on a pilot project at the Plattsburgh Middle School.

Lake Champlain Bilingual Boating Publication
Lake Champlain Committee
$5,000
Project Description: The Lake Champlain Committee will print about 10,000 copies of the Lake Champlain Bi-lingual Boating Publication which promotes environmentally sound boating practices, boating safety tips and information on invasive species in a usable format for boaters. The publications will be distributed through a wide variety of user networks including New York, Vermont and Quebec marinas, boating associations and access points. In addition, many publications will be targeted for distribution at the Montreal Boat Show in February, 1998.

Lake Champlain Paddler's Trail Outreach Project
Lake Champlain Committee
$2,000
Project Description: The Lake Champlain Committee will work with the Champlain Kayak Club, federal and state agencies and a private tour company to print a guidebook on the 19 sites which will be open or available for designation as a paddlers' site in 1998.

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Spring/Summer 1998 Casin" the Basin hot off the presses! (6/24/98)
The current edition of our newsletter, Casin' the Basin, is now available. This edition's theme is pollution prevention. Other topics include, Lake Champlain's historic underwater preserves, wetlands acquisition, local implementation projects, and bicycling the Adirondack Coast Bicycle Network. To join our mailing list, call us at 1 (800) 468-LCBP (VT & NY only) or 1 (802) 372-3213. Or, send us an email now!

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May 1998

LCBP 1998 Budget Approved (5/7/98)

Grants Available (5/7/98)

New LCBP Office Location (5/7/98)

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LCBP 1998 Budget Approved (5/7/98)
On April 8, 1998, the Lake Champlain Steering Committee approved a plan to spend $1.25 million of U.S. EPA funds for Lake Champlain Projects. The LCBP projects are related to the highest priorities listed in Opportunities for Action. Implementation projects comprise $419,000 of the budget, $341,000 is slated for research and monitoring, and $211,000 is slated for informing and invloving the public. The remaining funds will be used for program coordination and administration. For a more detailed breakdown of the budget contact the LCBP, or check out the next edition of Casin’ the Basin in June.

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Grants Available (5/7/98)
Two grants are now available: Bikeways Enhancement Awards and Technical Assistance Program awards for cultural heritage projects. For more information, stop by our GRANTS page, or contact the LCBP at (800)468-5227.

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New LCBP Office Location (5/7/98)
Due to gutting of the the Gordon-Center House by fire in Grand Isle, we have moved to a new location at the St. Michael’s North Campus.

Our New Location:
St. Michael’s North Campus -- Dupont Hall
29 Ethan Allen Ave.
Colchester, VT

Our New Mailing Address
LCBP
P.O.Box 204
54 West Shore Rd.
Grand Isle, VT 05458
(please be sure to include the PO Box!)

Our New Fax Number
(802) 655-6540

Our Telephone Numbers
(800) 468-5227
(802) 372-3213
(802) 372-3213

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March 1998

New LCBP Vermont Coordinator Hired (3/23/98)

State of the Lake Report Released (3/23/98)

1998 Lake Champlain Action Plan Released (3/23/98)

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New LCBP Vermont Coordinator Hired (3/23/98)
The LCBP is pleased to announce that Dayle Ann Stratton has been hired as the Vermont Coordinator for the LCBP. Dayle Ann brings nearly 20 years of experience in watershed issues both as a concerned citizen and as a professional in the Puguet Sound region of the Pacific Northwest.

The Vermont Coordinator serves many functions, such as the following: provides overall program coordination and administration in cooperation with the EPA project officer, New York Program Coordinator and Quebec; serves as the LCBP team staff leader; and provides staff support to the Steering Committee and Vermont CAC.

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1998 State of the Lake Report Released (3/23/98)

The Lake Champlain Basin Program's 1998 State of the Lake report is now available. The report analyzes how much progress has been made in addressing the actions listed in Opportunities for Action, the pollution prevention, control and restoration plan for Lake Champlain released in October, 1996. The report lists what's been accomplished and what's been missing during this first year of plan implementation.

The report demonstrates that considerable progress has been made on many plan recommendations. Of the 66 Plan reccomendations, five have been fully implemented, 17 have been substanially implemented, 30 actions have been partially implemented, and 14 actions have had neglible implementation.

To obtain a free copy of the report contact the LCBP at 1-800-468-LCBP or send us an email with your name, complete mailing address and phone number.

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1998 Lake Champlain Action Plan Released (3/23/98)

The 1998 Lake Champlain Action Plan is the Annual Report of the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on Lake Champlain's Future. The Action Plan contains the Vermont CACs 1998 recommendations to the Vermont Legislature in four key areas: phosphorus reduction and control, toxic substances, nuisance nonnative aquatics, and recreation, cultural and economic resources.

To obtain a free copy of the Action Plan contact the LCBP at 1-800-468-LCBP or send us an email with your name, complete mailing address and phone number.