The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) has developed a series of animations and videos that describe in simple terms the Lake Champlain phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and the work being done to achieve the goals of this pollution diet for the lake.
The full collection of media is available at www.cleanwaterwork.com. The series presents short, easily understood messages that explain complex pollution management efforts and provides spotlights of people and organizations that are doing their part to reduce pollution.
TMDLs—or pollution budgets—for phosphorus have been developed for both the Vermont and New York portions of the Lake Champlain Basin. The TMDLs are technical documents that identify pollution targets and the reductions required to meet these targets.
The states of Vermont and New York each have implementation plans that outline work across all land use types that will be necessary to achieve TMDL goals for different areas of the watershed.
Three animations describe why too much phosphorus in the lake is a problem, what the TMDL is, and what citizens can do to help achieve its goals. Eleven videos document the work being done by farmers, road crews, municipalities, and others to reduce the amount of phosphorus that reaches the lake.
Visitors to www.cleanwaterwork.com also will find additional information about the TMDLs, including resources from the LCBP and its partners and links to the full documents.
The media series was produced in partnership with Peregrine Productions and Devin Renca Design. Support for the project was provided with funds awarded to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.