The economy of the City of Vergennes was estimated to include approximately a five town area surrounding the City. The City of Vergennes and the Towns of Addison, Ferrisburgh, New Haven, Panton and Waltham comprise the Greater Vergennes Market Area (GVMA). An economic analysis of the value of water based travel, tourism and recreation was prepared using the program IMPLAN.1
The method of calculating the economic value of travel, tourism and recreation in GVMA was specifically chosen so that this community case study could serve as a guide for other communities wishing to determine the economic value of lake related activities. Chapter One presents the step by step process used in the Vergennes Community Case Study. Appendix 1A contains instructions for and recommendations relating to the development of the required data.
Threats from Zebra Mussels
As of this writing, the implications of the newly discovered infestation of Zebra mussels on these structures is not known. While no evidence of Zebra mussels was noted during the 1992 or 1993 surveys, it is predicted that they will soon cover the exposed portions of the historic sites located during the survey. The Museum recommends that efforts be undertaken to study the implications of Zebra mussels to submerged historic properties.
Submerged Site Monitoring
While there is minimal sport diving activity in this part of Lake Champlain, there is considerable surface boating activity including a daily seasonal tour boat operating from Larrabees Point, Vermont to Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. Both the State of Vermont and the State of New York (or their designees) should formally brief boat owners and captains, as well as State marine patrols and the Coast Guard about the importance of the locale’s submerged resources and applicable state laws and policies regarding diver visitation. Such efforts could also assist State agencies to monitor the condition of the Great Bridge by notifying them if additional bridge caisson timbers are observed to have come loose. Monitoring of submerged sites could also take place from Fort Ticonderoga which commands of view of much of the water in the survey area. When the Mount Independence Visitors Center is built and in operation, monitoring of submerged sites could become a regular activity of the Center.
Funding
Obtaining on-going, secure and appropriate funding for preserving, monitoring, documenting, interpreting, and managing the cultural resources of the Champlain Valley will continue to be a challenge. However, heritage tourism development of our uniquely historic Lake Champlain region provides great potential economic benefits. Linking the already existing historic sites and museums from Saratoga to Chambly is a program idea which has not only great economic potential, but also important humanities benefits. The addition of a Visitors Center at Mount Independence will significantly strengthen this network. It is hoped that the Mount Independence/Fort Ticonderoga Survey Project has demonstrated the extraordinary potential for scholarship and public benefit from this type of program.
The Case Study of the Town of Champlain was conducted for the purpose of exploring the relationship between the economy of a Lake Champlain shoreline community and its water resources. Water resources include not only the Lake but the Great Chazy River, wetlands, and groundwater. This exploration forms the basis for a discussion of potential impacts of the Lake Champlain Pollution Prevention, Restoration and Control Plan (LCPPRCP) on the town’s economic well-being, recognizing that the Plan itself is still in its formative stages.
Research for this case study took place between March and June 1993. The research effort included extensive key informant interviews within the Town of Champlain, a telephone survey of business owners, interviews with local government officials, a meeting with the Northern Tier Chamber of Commerce and review of secondary data from regulatory agencies, municipal offices, newspapers, magazines, and historical sources. The case study presents both facts and perspectives held by residents of the Town of Champlain. Interpretations of fact and perspective, as well as policy recommendations, are the sole responsibility of the consultant and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Lake Champlain Management Conference.
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s phase I diver survey of the waters surrounding the northern end of Mount Independence was essentially a continuation of both the initial survey dives made in this area by the Champlain Maritime Society and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation in 1983, and the sonar and magnetometer surveys conducted by the Maritime Museum in May of 1992. The objectives of the phase I diver survey were basic, but necessary to further research and management of the site; simply stated, the plan was to determine the nature and extent of all archaeological materials and features off the northern end of Mount Independence.
Lake Champlain is a treasured resource for recreation, tourism, and drinking water situated in New York, Vermont (U.S.), and Québec (Canada). Because its shores span two states and two countries, management strategies for the lake require strong cross-boundary partnerships and cooperation. In recent decades, increased prevalence of harmful cyanobacteria blooms has impacted public health and recreation. A lake-wide cyanobacteria monitoring program was established in 2001 with an emphasis on water sample collection and analysis to inform management strategies. In 2012, this program transitioned from laboratory-based analyses at a limited number of locations to a visual assessment protocol validated by water samples. This transition opened the door to more effective and widespread monitoring, communication, and inclusion of a greater number of monitoring locations and stakeholders. Today, through a unique partnership of community scientist volunteers, public beach managers, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies, a comprehensive network of trained cyanobacteria monitors generates timely data on water quality conditions to relay critical public health information. The majority of these reports are provided by trained community scientist volunteers, strengthening the geographic coverage of the program and the environmental literacy of lake users. This program now trains hundreds of community scientists, documents thousands of water quality condition reports annually, and communicates cyanobacteria conditions to the public via an online Cyanobacteria Tracker map. In this article, we describe the evolution of this successful program, discuss key findings from analysis of these volunteer-collected data, and suggest how similar programs could be effectively developed in other regions.