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LAKE CHAMPLAIN
BASIN PROGRAM AWARDS $135,778 TO LOCAL PROJECTS
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 Twenty-two local
organizations and towns were recently awarded a total of $135,778 in
grants for projects that will benefit the Lake Champlain watershed.
Over $550,000 in funds were requested, demonstrating that there is a
strong need and interest for local projects. Grants were awarded in
four categories: aquatic invasive species/pollution prevention,
organizational support, education, and pollution reduction on small
farms in the Missisquoi and St. Albans Bay basins.
Among
the many projects funded through this year's grants are the following:
a river steward for New York's tri-lakes region, a storm water retrofit
at the Essex County fairgrounds, storm drain markers in the Lake George
and Southern Lake Champlain region, a youth environmental
stewardship project, and riparian corridor enhancement for Allen Brook
in Williston. The small farm pollution reduction grant was awarded to
the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts (VACD). VACD will
work with eight farms in the Missisquoi and St. Albans Bay basins that
have agreed to install pollution prevention measures such as roof
drains, laneways and manure pit repairs. View the news release for a list
of the new grants awarded. Since 1992, the LCBP has awarded nearly
$3.75 million. Visit our grants database to learn
about previously awarded grants.
Image: An LCBP
grant will help the Lake Champlain-Lake George RPB mark storm
drains in the Lake George and Southern Lake Champlain
region.
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LOVE THE LAKE! ONE MORE
SPEAKER THIS MONTH!
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On Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., you
are invited to join us and this speaker for homemade desserts, tea,
coffee and lively conversations about Lake Champlain. The LCBP office is
in the stone house at 54 West Shore Road in Grand Isle, VT--just a short
walk from the LCT ferry. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE.
Thursday, March 25 ,
2010 at 6:30 p.m.
William H. Miner
and the Making of Heart's Delight Farm
Dr. Joseph Burke, Chairman of Miner Institute and former President of
SUNY Plattsburgh, Sr. Fellow Rockefeller Institute of Government.
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LCBP
SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR TWO RESEARCH PROJECTS
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The LCBP is seeking research proposals for two new projects
that will support the goal of reducing phosphorus pollution in Lake
Champlain, described in the Lake Champlain management plan, Opportunities for Action.
Detailed RFPs for both of these projects are posted at www.lcbp.org/research.htm or
contact the LCBP at (802) 372-3213.
- Road drainage network impacts to
Lake Champlain water quality [posted 3/3/10]
The LCBP seeks proposals for a study to quantify the loadings from
priority pollutants to Lake Champlain, including phosphorus and
sediments. Output generated from this project will allow the award
recipient to quantify the total phosphorus and sediment load that is
contributed by a roadside drainage network in a targeted
sub-watershed within the Lake Champlain Basin. The award recipient
will use these findings to qualitatively assess the impact of Best
Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce sedimentation and nutrients
entering roadside waterways. Funding for this RFP is from the US
EPA. Up to $100,000 is available for this project. Proposals are due on May 3,
2010.
- Climate change projections and
impact on the hydrologic regime of Lake Champlain tributaries [posted
3/9/10]
The LCBP is seeking proposals for an expert review of established
climate change projections and anticipated consequent changes in the
hydrologic regimes (timing and amount of water flow) of major
tributaries that flow to Lake Champlain. Because tributary
phosphorus load is closely related to the hydrologic regime of
tributaries, this project will support the goal of reducing
phosphorus pollution. Outcomes of the project must anticipate likely
changes to the hydrologic regime within the Lake Champlain basin and
relate these changes to stormwater designs. Up to $64,000 is
available for this study. Funding for this RFP is from the US
Environmental Protection Agency. Proposals
are due on May 7, 2010.
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REGISTER NOW FOR
2010 LAKE RESEARCH CONFERENCE: JUNE 7-8, 2010
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 Registration is now open for the "Our Lake, Our
Future" conference on June 7-8, 2010. Sponsored by the Lake
Champlain Research Consortium (LCRC) and LCBP, the conference will be
held at UVM's Davis Center. Sessions will focus on nutrients, toxins and
pathogens, fish communities, plankton, social sciences, watershed and
land use, and the physical and chemical attributes of the Lake. The goal
of this conference is to bring the research community together to share
knowledge, identify needs, and enhance communication and collaboration
among disciplines. Keynote presentations will focus on the economic value
of natural resources and the effects of climate change on fisheries in
the Lake Champlain Basin and will be open to the public. Early-bird
registration by May 1st is $50.00/person. Visit
academics.smcvt.edu/lcrc to register. Contact Doug
Facey at LCRC@smcvt.edu for
more information
Image: Vermont DEC
staff taking sediment samples from Lake Champlain. LCBP Photo.
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LCBP
GRANT PROJECT RESULTS ONLINE
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 Since 1992, the LCBP has awarded nearly $3.75 million to
local projects, many of which provide information useful to other
sub-basins. In order to facilitate information exchange among watershed
groups, the LCBP maintains an online database of abstracts and contact
information for all grants at www.lcbp.org/grant_search.aspx.
Two recent grants with final products of basin-wide interest are the
Lewis Creek Association's European frogbit removal project and the South
Burlington Stormwater Services' stormwater disconnection program.
Outside of Lake Champlain only two other Vermont waters are known to have
invasive European frogbit plants. This final report for this project
provides details prevention and harvesting strategies and activities for
all Vermont waters that could be used by other municipalities. Download
the report at www.lcbp.org/grant_detail.aspx?id=968.
Working with property owners to reduce polluted runoff is an important
part of nonpoint source reduction strategies in the watershed. Recently,
the amount of rooftop runoff connected to the drainage system in South
Burlington was determined and educational materials about home
improvements were mailed to all residents. Download the educational
brochure and learn more about the project at www.lcbp.org/grant_detail.aspx?id=972.
Additional information created through this grant is also online at www.lcbp.org/stormwater/index.html.
Image: The European
Frogbit plant in bloom. Photo by Christian Fisher.
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EDUCATORS:
REGISTER NOW FOR A "WATERSHED FOR EVERY CLASSROOM" 2010-2011
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" A Watershed for Every Classroom"
is a year-long professional development experience for educators in the
Lake Champlain Basin (Vermont, New York and Quebec), brought to you by
the Champlain Basin Education Initiative. It offers teachers inspiration,
knowledge and skills to frame exciting place-based curriculum and teach
lake science and stewardship. Workshops will be held in July and October
2010 and February and May 2011.
The course fee is $400, payable during the course. Teachers will receive
$100 for classroom resources and an opportunity to apply for a $200
mini-grant. Five optional graduate credits are available for an
additional $1,000 from St. Michael's College. Visit www.lcbp.org/cbei.htm for
more details or contact Colleen Hickey at chickey@lcbp.org.
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6,729
BOATS RECEIVE VOLUNTARY INSPECTIONS IN 2009!
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 Seven LCBP Lake Stewards were stationed at heavily used
Vermont and New York boat launches from Memorial Day to Labor Day in
2009. They greeted lake users, collected basic survey information and
conducted courtesy invasive species inspections on 6,729 boats. Of the
572 organisms collected during voluntary inspections, 326 were identified
as aquatic invasive species. About 4.8% of the total inspections resulted
in removal of an aquatic invasive species from a boat or trailer. LCBP
Lake Stewards also staffed information tables at fishing derbies and
other events throughout the region. The LCBP plans to hire up to eight
Lake Stewards for the 2010 season. For more information about LCBP
invasive species programs visit www.lcbp.org/nature.htm or
contact Meg Modley at mmodley@lcbp.org.
Image: A Lake Steward
discusses ways to prevent the spread of invasive species with a boater at
Wilcox Dock in Plattsburgh, NY. Photo by LCBP.
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VERMONT
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2010 ACTION PLAN
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 The Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recently
released its 2010 Action Plan. The document, which is available in both
English and French, lists thirteen actions recommended by the CAC
for Lake Champlain management. Top priorities for 2010 are:
- Endorse
the recommended ten "next steps" in the revised 2010 Lake
Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Implementation Plan.
- Support
consistent sea lamprey control measures, including non-chemical
options and research on non-target species of special concern.
- Evaluate a
pilot program that promotes livestock exclusion with the use of
single and double strand electric fencing. If success is uncertain
by 2012, introduce legislation requiring mandatory fencing.
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SPRING
IS COMING... DON'T LET YOUR FRIENDS "P" ON THE LAWN!
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 Do you have friends and family with that "perfect"
lawn? Spread the word about using phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizers to
them. Established lawns rarely need phosphorus and the Lake
definitely does not need more of it! More than 50 stores in the
Lake Champlain watershed now carry phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizers.
Visit www.lawntolake.org for a list and if you don't
see it at your local store, ask your retailer to carry it. The Lawn to
Lake partnership provides free outreach materials for retailers to
help their customers grow beautiful and Lake-friendly lawns.
Image: A
"zero" in the middle indicates phosphorus free. Most lawns in
this region only need nitrogen applied in the fall.
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CONTACT US!
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 Main
Office in Grand Isle:
(802) 372-3213 or
(800) 468-5227 (toll-free in NY & VT)
LCBP
Resource Room: The Resource Room at The Leahy
Center for Lake Champlain (top floor of ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science
Center) is open to the public seven days/week. Call (802)
864-1848 ext. 109 for more information.
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