Monitoring and Evaluation of Cyanobacteria in Lake Champlain Reports Released

Lake Champlain is one of the largest lakes in the United States and is often called the “Sixth Great Lake.” Although primarily a recreational lake, it also serves as a source of drinking water and a site for the disposal of municipal wastes in communities throughout the basin.

In response to a dog-poisoning attributed to cyanobacteria toxins in 1999, the LCBP initiated a study to investigate the occurrence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria and their toxins in Lake Champlain in 2000. Over the following years, this monitoring program has evolved to document the presence and extent of toxic cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain, and the levels of cyanotoxins that have occurred.

Collections of net and whole water plankton began in June in most locations, and continued into mid- October. Sample sites encompassed all of Lake Champlain, but a special effort was made in Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, and the north lake, areas known to have problems with toxic blooms in the past. Citizen monitors living around the lake near 18 specific sites were recruited to collect samples from shoreline locations where algae accumulated.

Read the full 2011 report
Read the full 2010 report

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