Governor Peter Shumlin, House Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell will attend a water quality forum on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at the State House. The “Lake Day” forum was arranged by a coalition of stakeholders to emphasize the critical importance of addressing the state’s water quality issues, including those experienced in Lake Champlain.
“We all agree that we need to make cleaning up Lake Champlain and other Vermont waterways a priority in order to protect and promote Vermont’s economy and special way of life,” Shumlin said, who will speak at the event. “Cleaning up those waterways is going to take all of us working together to make real progress to preserve and protect Vermont’s natural beauty for future generations.”
Spring flooding sent Lake Champlain to a record high in May 2011. VBM photo at the Burlington waterfront.
Speaker Shap Smith, who is scheduled to speak at the event, affirmed the importance of passing a comprehensive water quality bill: “Lake Champlain and other bodies of water are of vital importance to Vermont’s economic future and quality of life. The House is committed to passing a water quality bill this year that addresses the need to clean up our rivers and lakes.”
“We cannot underestimate how important it is to have the entire state involved in the effort to clean our lakes, rivers, and streams,” noted Senator Campbell. “Water pollutants know no boundary and it is imperative that we take action this year. The water quality forum is a great opportunity to hear from a wide range of parties and a step in the right direction.”
VBM poll: The EPA is bearing down on the state to improve the health of Lake Champlain, what should the state do?
The forum will be held in the House Chamber from 9 am – 11 am
Other scheduled speakers include:
John Little, Chair of the Missisquoi River Basin Association
Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
Bill Stenger, President and Co-founder of Jay Peak Resort
Monique Oxender, Keurig Green Mountain
Matt Crawford, Director of Pale Morning Media
Liz Royer, Source Protection specialist at the Vermont Rural Water Association
Leon Berthiaume, President of the St. Albans Cooperative
Chris Robinson, President of the Green Mountain Water Environment Association
Julie Moore, Water Resources Specialist at Stone Environmental
Ron Rhodes, River Steward at the Connecticut River Watershed Council
Denise Smith, Executive Director of Friends of Northern Lake Champlain
VERY TOP PHOTO: Caleb Smith shows off his small mouth bass. Courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife.