Lake Champlain Basin Program After a busy fall, we have enjoyed settling into the relative quiet of winter in the Lake Champlain Basin. When the warm weather field season for research and outreach comes to a close, many of us appreciate the opportunity to work with data, assess our reach, and begin planning for the upcoming season. It’s also a busy time with grant reviews and awards and preparation for the next field season.
Not all field work and research comes to a stop in the winter, however. As you’ll learn in this newsletter, winter poses a different set of challenges and opportunities to lake scientists and outreach staff working to reach residents and visitors to our watershed.
Our feature story explores new research on winter phosphorus delivery to Lake Champlain. And many of the events highlighted in this newsletter take advantage of our “off season” to engage important members of our community, from educators to construction contractors and beyond.
From all of us at the LCBP, we wish you a Happy New Year and wonderful start to the winter!
Eric Howe
NEIWPCC Program Director, Lake Champlain Basin Program &
Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership
Basin News
Warmer Winters Bringing More Phosphorus to Lake Champlain Than Previously Thought, New Research Shows
Newly winterized sensors allow for year-round water quality sampling. Photo: Sonya Vogel
New research supported by the LCBP is shedding light on an important yet understudied topic: winter nutrient loading to Lake Champlain. In decades past, lake scientists thought of winter as a period of minimal nutrient loading from rivers and streams. We now understand that with a changing climate, this assumption no longer holds. In 2020 a research group at the University of Vermont, led by Dr. Carol Adair, was awarded funding by the LCBP to investigate the consequences of warming winters on nutrient loading to Lake Champlain.
First Invasive Golden Clam Discovered in Lake Champlain
Golden clam was found in Lake Champlain for the first time by a volunteer monitor this fall. Photo: LCBP
When a Lake Champlain Committee volunteer pulled a suspicious clam from the lakebed in Whitehall, New York, as part of a routine monitoring program in October, they immediately reported the finding to lake scientists. Further analysis confirmed the first known occurrence of invasive golden clam (Corbicula fluminea) in Lake Champlain.
VTCAC Releases 2025 Lake Champlain Action Plan
The latest Lake Champlain Action Plan focuses on clean water, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Photo: LCBP
The Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee (VTCAC) on Lake Champlain’s Future unveiled their 2025 Lake Champlain Action Plan at its December 9th meeting. The committee introduced its 2025 clean water priorities and recommendations that highlight the need for actions that maximize co-benefits to clean water, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The meeting also featured an informational presentation about the State of the Lake & Ecosystem Indicators Report by LCBP staff.
The VTCAC is a governor-appointed advisory committee charged with making an annual report of recommendations to the Governor and Vermont Legislature. The committee welcomes the public to attend its meetings.
Read the 2025 Lake Champlain Action Plan →
View a recording of the meeting →
Thank You Education & Outreach Stewards!
E&O Stewards brought creativity and enthusiasm to their roles this summer. Photo: LCBP
Each summer, the LCBP hires Education & Outreach Stewards to assist staff in public outreach and engagement initiatives. This season, we were joined by Viv Shields (UVM ’24) and Emma Dannenberg (Champlain College ’24), along with Madeline Reilly (UVM '23), who joined the team in summer 2023. From June to November, Viv, Emma, and Madeline traveled far and wide to attend field days, farmers markets, summer camps, teacher trainings, and more. When not in the field, Viv brought new life to our plankton exhibit in the Resource Room and Emma created a portfolio of illustrations for social media and a variety of other uses. Madeline created innovative environmental soundscape curriculum and programming for local educators and students. The entire team at LCBP sends our heartfelt thanks to Viv, Emma, and Madeline for their many contributions!
Event Highlight: Reconnecting Waterways Workshop
Dam removal experts from around the Basin gathered in December to learn from one another. Photo: LCBP
Over 100 project managers, engineers, and excavation contractors gathered on December 5 in Burlington, Vermont, for the Reconnecting Waterways workshop. Organized by the LCBP, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), and Watersheds United Vermont, the event provided a platform for professionals working on dam removals and culvert right-sizing to exchange knowledge and experiences. Laura Wildman, an internationally recognized expert from Save the Sound, opened with a keynote address that spoke to the challenges and opportunities of removing dams. Sixteen breakout sessions allowed participants to delve into specific topics, while a closing panel brought everyone together to share their perspectives and restoration project experiences. Vermont Dam Task Force Chair Karina Dailey of VNRC said, “I left feeling more enthused than ever for river restoration work and excited to have hopefully expanded the community of practice in Vermont and beyond.”
Diving In: Anglers Hooked on Helping
Anglers play a key role in Lake Champlain's fisheries. Photo: Peregrine Productions
From collecting genetic samples to helping rear juvenile salmon, volunteer anglers play a significant role in efforts to bolster salmon populations in Lake Champlain. Our latest Diving In video, produced by local filmmaker Vince Franke of Peregrine Productions, features dedicated anglers and partners across the Lake Champlain basin.
Place in the Basin Contest No. 4
Can you guess this Place in the Basin? Photo: LCBP
We’re back with another Place in the Basin! Can you guess the mountain in the photo? Bonus points if you can guess the location of the photographer!
Communications Survey
Please consider taking a few moments to complete a survey on LCBP communications efforts. The data gathered will help us to improve the quality and relevance of our various communications. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
Grants and Research
Grant Highlights
Photos, clockwise from top left: Crandall Public Library, Brendan Wiltse, Michale Glennon, Saint Michael's College
Crandall Public Library: Champlain Canal Stories
The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library recently completed a CVNHP Special Program grant called Champlain Canal Stories. The project generated an original video documentary series made up of 27 short video segments telling stories based on 200 years of activity along the Champlain Canal. The Folklife Center worked with dozens of partners to develop the videos, which are displayed at 12 partnering sites along the canal and on the Crandall Public Library’s website.
AdkAction: Clean Water, Safe Roads
Chloride levels are increasing in Lake Champlain Basin waters due to excess road salt application. AdkAction’s “Clean Water, Safe Roads” campaign is reducing road salt use in partnership with highway departments and communities across New York's portion of the Basin. The effort is fostering innovation and collaboration among regional partners. Explore campaign outreach materials here.
Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute: Wool and Water
Since 2022, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute has led Wool and Water, a project blending fiber art and science to depict scientific information from throughout the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain Basin. The project travels across the region, raising awareness of water resources, threats to water quality, and actions communities can take. Explore an interactive map of locations and view a virtual gallery of creations.
Saint Michael’s College: Your Watershed, Your Lake
Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, has introduced a new interpretive trail on campus. The trail features ten educational signs focusing on reducing runoff and nutrient pollution, as well as addressing invasive species. This initiative will enhance awareness of the college's efforts to improve water quality and habitat on and around campus, benefiting both students and the broader community. View the trail map here.
Open Requests for Proposals
LCBP Grant Recipient Info Session Recording Available
The LCBP recently held an information session for grant recipients that covered the processes needed to move from award notice to signed contract. Watch the recording below.
The LCBP, in coordination with NEIWPCC, is pleased to announce these funding opportunities:
New York Organizational Support and Workforce Development
The intent of this grant category is to assist organizations focused on water quality or watershed ecosystem health working in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain basin to strengthen their organizational capacity.
Award Amount: $25,000 to $150,000
Deadline: January 16, 2025
Québec Artist-in-Residence
The LCBP seeks proposals for an Artist-in-Residence program in Québec that will recruit artists to use scientific data, cultural trends or historical facts to interpret the natural and cultural resources in the Lake Champlain basin.
Award Amount: up to $50,000 CAD
Deadline: February 5, 2025
Native Tree Nursery Projects
The LCBP seeks proposals for projects that enhance the supply of native trees and shrubs for conservation projects in the Lake Champlain Basin.
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Visit the LCBP website for details about these RFPs and to apply →
EPA Environmental Justice Grantmakers Program
To reduce the burden of federal grant applications on under-resourced communities, EPA Regions 1 and 2 have announced regional Grantmakers who will assist selected groups in accessing federal funding for environmental justice initiatives.
Learn more about Region 1 (Vermont) and Region 2 (New York) opportunities.
Events and Activities
Upcoming Events
Save the Date: World Water Day at the Champlain Centre Mall
Join the LCBP and partners for World Water Day! Featuring student art, local films, and engaging activities for the whole family, this is a great opportunity to connect with your watershed.
March 22, 2025
11am-3pm
Champlain Centre Mall, Plattsburgh, NY
LCBP Committee Meetings
- Executive Committee, January 21, 2025
- Executive Committee, February 11, 2025
- Executive Committee, March 18, 2025
Additional meeting dates TBA.
View the LCBP’s full meeting schedule →
January 2025
Issue No. 55
