Lake Champlain States and Watershed

Lake Champlain is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States. The 120-mile long lake is located between New York and Vermont and extends into Canada. Pollution problems were first documented in the 1970s, when dense plant mats and harmful algal blooms (which were linked to excess phosphorus) interfered with recreational uses of the lake. In 1988, the governors of New York and Vermont, as well as the Premier of Quebec, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address the nutrient problem. The Lake Champlain Basin Program was established in 1990 and has been receiving federal funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several other federal agencies since 1991. In addition to funding water quality monitoring, federal grants have also supported wastewater treatment plant upgrades that have reduced phosphorus loading to the lake. From 1991 to 2007, phosphorus inputs from a total of 60 wastewater treatment plants in Vermont decreased from over 264,600 pounds per year to approximately 44,100 pounds. During the same time period, phosphorus from 29 wastewater treatment plants in New York decreased from approximately 132,300 pounds per year to nearly 66,150 pounds. Current efforts are focused on reducing nonpoint source pollution from land runoff, including nutrient management plans, setbacks from streams, buffers, and public outreach efforts. EPA has developed a series of outreach materials on the importance of natural shorelines for lake front properties following the 2010 release of the National Lakes Assessment.

The following links exit the site Exit

Top of Page