CASIN’ THE BASIN VOLUME VIII SUMMER 2000 NUMBER 2 Your Local Watershed by Nicole Ballinger Missisquoi River Basin Association

Lake Champlain Basin Program CONTENTS:

Your Local Watershed 1,4,5

Basin Waves 2

Sea Grant News 3

Champlain 2000 Awards 6

Waterchestnuts 6

Bike Champlain 2000 7

History Washes Ashore 7

Summit 2000 8

Lake Champlain Websites 8 Volunteers cleaning up the Missisquoi River Basin. Local Project Awards 9

Partnership Program Awards 10 2000 LCBP Funding Plan 11 f you receive Casin’ the Basin, you likely Sharing with Lake Ohrid 11 reside within Lake Champlain’s basin or LCBP Resources 12 I watershed. At 8,234 square miles (about the Check out the LCBP size of Massachusetts), the watershed spans from the On-line! Adirondack High Peaks to the Green Mountains. www.lcbp.org This area collects precipitation and, unfortunately, pollutants from the land and carries them to the Lake via hundreds of rivers and streams. Lake

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BULK RATE Champlain’s water quality is affected by the all land

U.S. POSTAGE

PERMIT NO. 179 BURLINGTON, VT and water uses in the Basin. That’s why using a watershed perspective to protect the Lake is critically important. It’s also why many local watershed, river and lake organizations have formed. Their work is vital to the Lake’s future.

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Basin Program

P.O. Box 204 54 West Shore Road Grand Isle Vermont 05458

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Lake Champlain Bateau found - page 7. Waterchestnuts - page 6. Summit 2000 - page 8. 2 CASIN’ THE BASIN

BASIN WAVES... Good news from around the Lake Champlain Basin!

xplore the Basin’s fascinating geology with a Phish’s WaterWheel Foundation has awarded Enew guide produced by SUNY Plattsburgh’s $121,000 to several organizations helping to Geology Department. Outstanding Geologic Sites improve Lake Champlain’s watershed. The Don’t Miss of the Champlain Basin New York describes 16 field grantees are the Lake Champlain Committee, Lecture: “Steam Power: Turning Point locations that are easily accessible. Maps, descrip- the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center, the of Technology.” July 13 at 7:30 PM by tions and directions are included for each site. Nature Conservancy, the Vermont Natural Andre Lepine, Maritime Archeologist Sites include Chazy’s spectacular snail fossils and Resources Council, and the Lake Champlain and Jean Belise, Art Historian. Basin Jay’s anorthosite (moon rock). An LCBP grant Land Trust. Three watershed groups will also Harbor Club Town Hall. Free. Call (802) helped make this guide possible. For your FREE receive operating grants of $2,000 each: the 475-2022 for more information. copy of the guide, contact David Franzi at (518) Missisquoi River Basin Association, Friends of 564-4033. the Winooski River and the Franklin Water- Celebrate the Lake! July 15-23. Cel- shed Committee. WaterWheel grants are sup- Erik Beck ebrate Lake Champlain with many fun, ported by sales of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ice free activities. Locations throughout the cream. Eat up this summer! For more informa- Basin. Call the LCBP for a schedule or tion contact the Waterwheel Foundation at view it at www.lcbp.org/ctl.htm. [email protected] or visit their website at www.phish.com/waterwheel/. Give a Day to Lake Champlain July 17. Support Basin businesses who on this The Towns of Colchester and Williston Ver- day give a percentage of their sales or a mont recently adopted ordinances to protect flat donation to the Lake Champlain stream water quality. In February, the Colchester Committee. For more information or to Select Board adopted regulations to create an 85' sign up your business call the LCC at natural buffer zone on both sides of all streams (802) 658-1414. in Colchester. Within this buffer zone all new One of the river models produced by BRASS. development is restricted. Pollution of Mallett’s LakeFEST July 21-23. Celebrate Bay has been an important and controversial Vermont’s lakes and the work lake The Boquet River Association has produced 13 issue in Colchester for many years. This step will associations and residents do to protect table top models of streams and watersheds, with reduce pollutants reaching the Bay. For more them. Call the Vermont DEC at (802) the help of an LCBP grant. Designed by artist information contact Town Planner, Sheldon 241-3777 for more information. Jane Clark Brown, these original models demon- Laidman at (802) 654-0719. In Williston, the strate aspects of watersheds such as proper and Select Board amended their stream bank buffer Lecture: “Chronicles of Lake improper development patterns, historical uses ordinance to include a 50' natural buffer around Champlain .” July 27 at 7:30 PM by of the Boquet watershed, the importance of good all tributaries. Large streams, rivers and bodies of Russell Bellico. Basin Harbor Club Town habitat, and river sedimentation. The models are water are protected by a 150' buffer. For more Hall. Free. Call (802) 475-2022 for more portable and may be borrowed by other water- information contact Town Planner, Mike information. shed and river groups within the Lake Munson at (802) 878-6704. Creating natural Champlain Basin. For descriptions of the models buffers around streams helps filter out pollutants Adirondack Waterfest 2000! August 4. and more information, contact the LCBP. before they reach streams and eventually Lake Port Henry, New York. Celebrate the Champlain. Adirondack’s waters. Call Art Rich at Colleen Hickey and Nicole Ballinger, LCBP (518) 546-7261 for more information. Education and Outreach staff, recently shared The Sunset Lake Preservation Association in the successful Champlain 2000 partnership with Hinesburg, Vermont was recently awarded a Champ Day! August 5. Port Henry. participants at the national US EPA watershed $1,000 grant from the Vermont Agency of Celebrate the mysterious Lake outreach conference in San Diego. Colleen and Natural Resources for pollution monitoring. Champlain monster. Call Art Rich at Nicole also learned about promising outreach Samples will be collected from at least five sites (518) 546-7261 for more information. efforts used in other regions of the country. For this summer to test for a variety of indicators, Bike Champlain 2000. September 8-10. more information about Champlain 2000, con- including E. coli, phosphorus and biochemical Bicycle the Champlain Bikeway with this tact LCBP or visit our website, www.lcbp.org. oxygen. The Association will use the data to supported tour. Register on-line at direct its long-term Lake habitat preservation. www.champlainbikeways.org or call Girl Scouts can For more information visit the Association’s (518) 597-4646. help clean water website, www.geocities.com/vtsunsetlake or and earn a new contact Martin Peterson at (802) 482-5883 or Celebrate the Winooski! Coming this patch! The Water [email protected]. September. Partake in this fun event Drop Patch Project featuring a parade, river clean-up and encourages girls to The Salmon River in Clinton County, New York storm drain stenciling. Contact the get involved in will be restored with help from the Lake Friends of the Winooski at (802) 223- community-based Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Trout 7329 or on the web watershed projects. Unlimited’s Embrace-A-Stream program, funded www.homepages.together.net/~dbraun/ Activities include: through the One Fly Foundation, awarded FWR for more information. learning about their local watershed, reducing $6,920 to the Lake Champlain Chapter. Volun- pollution, stenciling storm drains, and monitor- teers from Trout Unlimited will restore the ing stream health. The US EPA and the Girl stream bed and correct an erosion problem. Scouts developed a booklet to help scouts earn Partners in this project include the US Fish & the patch. For a copy call the National Service Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conserva- Center for Environmental Publications at (800) tion Service and the landowners. For more 492-9198 or read the on-line version at information contact the Chapter President, Bill www.epa.gov/adopt/patch/. Wellman at (518) 563-1985 or [email protected]. 3 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Phosphorus Reduction – Keeping On Track

t’s been four years since Opportunities for Action, One factor considered by the Team is that non- ILake Champlain’s long term management plan, point source phosphorus pollution is greater in was signed by the governors of New York and runoff from urban and developed areas than Vermont. The plan identified reducing excess from either agricultural or forested areas (on an phosphorus in the Lake as one of the Basin’s acre by acre basis). As agricultural or forested highest priorities and it set phosphorus concen- lands in many parts of the basin are developed, Lake Champlain tration goals for each of thirteen major Lake there is an associated increase in phosphorus segments. To reach these goals, known as the in- runoff to adjacent streams that offsets some of lake criteria, the annual phosphorus load enter- the progress being made in other areas of the ing the Lake in tributary rivers must be reduced watershed. N E W S by 57 metric tons, something we hope to achieve Sea Grant within 20 years. Vermont, New York and Quebec The report found that the developing economy have been working hard to achieve the first 25% and changing landscape will require some new of this required reduction within the first five approaches to ensure that progress with phos- years, by the fall of 2001. phorus reduction continues towards our estab- lished goals. Better nonpoint source manage- Last year the Lake Champlain Steering Commit- ment to control the more polluted urban runoff, tee decided to find out how we are progressing expanded agricultural BMPs, and new technolo- with this priority. It created a Phosphorus Reduc- gies to improve the effectiveness of wastewater tion Team to evaluate our progress toward the treatment plants are among the many options interim 25% reduction goal (by 2001) and the explored by the Phosphorus Reduction Team. long-term goal (by 2016). The team was also The Team also explored the associated costs of asked to explore the feasibility of accelerating these options. our phosphorus reduction efforts to achieve our goals on a faster schedule. The team recently ew York, Vermont and Quebec have made The trawl net workshop held last Spring by reported its findings. Ngreat strides and are well ahead of schedule Sea Grant. in reducing the phosphorus load entering the The Team, chaired by Dr. Mary Watzin of UVM, Lake. However, new approaches will be consid- ith the two new Sea Grant Specialists on found that by 2001, Vermont, New York and ered by the Lake Champlain Basin Program in Wboard, the new Lake Champlain Sea Grant Quebec will have reduced the 1995 point and order to reach our goals in twenty years or program is well underway. We’ll be devoting nonpoint source phosphorus inputs to Lake sooner. The Phosphorus Reduction Team Report space in this and upcoming issues of Casin’ the Champlain by about 38.8 metric tons, far exceed- is an important assessment of our progress and Basin for news from Sea Grant. ing the 5-year interim reduction goal of 15.8 key options to explore to get this important job metric tons per year for Lake Champlain! Most of done. Last Spring, Mark Malchoff, the Specialist with these reductions (22.7 tons) were gained by SUNY Plattsburgh, facilitated a trawl net building upgrading wastewater treatment plants, but Bill Howland workshop at the Rubenstein Lab in Burlington. substantial progress (16.1 tons) results from the Basin Program Manager Twenty participants including Vermont Fish and increased use of agricultural best management Wildlife staff and University of Vermont faculty practices (BMPs) throughout the Basin. and graduate students gained design and hands- on repair skills to more efficiently use fish ooking ahead at the 20-year goal, however, sampling gear in Lake Champlain for both Lthe study projected that relying on currently research and management. Dr. Greg Boyer, from planned wastewater treatment plant upgrades SUNY Syracuse, recently visited the Sea Grant and agricultural BMPs alone would not be office in Plattsburgh to lecture on blue-green sufficient in some segments of the Lake to meet algae issues. Researchers from New York, Ver- our goals. mont and Quebec attended, including those who will be working on Lake Champlain blue-green issues this summer with the LCBP. The Boquet River Association was recently assisted by Lake Champlain Sea Grant as well. Mark and a SUNY Boat Launch Reopens Plattsburgh geologist provided guidance to BRASS on engineering plans for an eroding bluff in Noblewood Park on Lake Champlain.

urij Homziak, the Lake Champlain Sea Grant JSpecialist at the University of Vermont, is Over a half million developing regional watershed programs as part dollars have been of this year’s George D. Aiken Lecture Series, invested in the “Vermont’s Watersheds: Sustaining Ecological Westport Boat launch renovation on Lake and Economic Vitality,” hosted by the University Champlain. Funding of Vermont Division of Agriculture, Natural was provided by the Resources and Extension. The series kicked off NYSDEC from the with a seminar in Burlington on May 1st and Clean Water/ Clean will continue with regional programs in Septem- Air Bond Act and a ber and October. Programs are anticipated in grant from the U.S. Poultney, Manchester and St. Johnsbury and will Department of Hous- focus on issues of importance to local water- ing and Urban Devel- sheds. For more information call the Division of opment (HUD) under Continuing Education at (800) 639-3188 or (802) the Canals Corridor 656-2088 or visit the Aiken Lecture website at Initiative. www.uvm.edu/~dceweb/aiken/. NYS Secretary of State (and former Lake Champlain Management Conference mem- ber) Sandy Treadwell, Assemblywoman Betty Little, Westport Town Supervisor Reg Mero, and NYSDEC Commissioner John P. Cahill at the opening of the renovated Westport, NY boat launch. 4 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Continued from page 1 Missisquoi River Basin Association Your Local Watershed

he Basin’s size, however, makes lake protec- Ttion and restoration efforts at a smaller scale important. The Basin is collectively made up of eight smaller sub-basins (see map next page), each drained by one or more of the Lake’s major tributaries. For example, the Missisquoi Basin is drained by the Missisquoi, Pike, Rock, and Trout Rivers and includes many lakes, such as Lake Carmi. The Poultney-Mettowee Basin, where Lake George predominates, includes the Poultney and Mettowee Rivers.

Within Lake Champlain’s sub-basins, more than 25 diverse organizations carry out watershed, river and lake protection activities. They include organizations such as the Missisquoi River Basin Association, which works in the 750,000+ acre Missisquoi River watershed, and the Potash Brook Project, which monitors a small tributary in the City of Burlington, Vermont. Other groups focus more on lakes, such as the Shore Owners’ Association of Lake Placid and the Lincoln Pond Association. Although each organization’s focus Stabilizing a streambank in the Missisquoi Basin. differs, their collective accomplishments are critical steps toward protecting and restoring the AuSable River with the cooperation of the both local lakes and rivers, and Lake Champlain. Freddie Cousins of Friends of the Winooski. “Community members are invited to clean-up landowner, the USDA Natural Resources Conser- vation Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, “Although the Lake Champlain Basin Program the river, stencil storm drains and watch a parade and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.” and state agencies are able to carry out many through Montpelier.” Basin-wide activities, local watershed protection efforts are also critically important to our suc- Getting students involved is another tool used Challenges and Opportunities cess,” said Bill Howland, Basin Program Manager. by local river and lake organizations. Taking kids out to streams and rivers fosters a new genera- “These local organizations have strong commu- hen one considers the diversity and tion of caretakers and teaches science in fun and nity connections, volunteer networks and an magnitude of these local watershed, river realistic settings. W intimate knowledge of the unique ecological and and lake organization’s accomplishments, it is cultural dynamics of their watersheds.” hard to believe how heavily they rely on volun- “We took students from Dave La Point’s class at teer labor. Only a few have a full or part-time Fred Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington The Lake Champlain Committee, an established staff to coordinate activities, seek grant money, out to the brook to collect data on E. coli,” said not-for-profit organization, is the largest water- increase membership, and recruit volunteers. shed association and works throughout the Lake Carl Engvall of the Potash Brook Project. “It gave kids a chance to do real science and we provided Champlain Basin. LCC has accomplished many Last winter, the Lake Champlain Basin Program the lab test results to the City of South projects through more than three decades, spearheaded an effort to strengthen these groups. Burlington.” Similarly, the Mt. Mansfield River including watershed clean-ups, stream restora- While the LCBP has provided grants for specific Watch has worked with local high school stu- tions, recreation access enhancements, and projects since 1992, it is now providing a new dents on a stream inventory of macro-inverte- pollution prevention activities. forum for information sharing and training. The brates (insects that indicate water quality). In the LCBP recently held two meetings for watershed Lewis Creek Association AuSable River Watershed, middle school students groups, provided a newsletter, created a portable have studied stream insects. watershed exhibit, and started an email list- serve. In the months ahead, the LCBP will be ollaborating with local and state agencies increasing the visibility of local groups by adding accomplishes many projects which require C more pages about watershed organizations to its technical expertise and training. For example, website. By networking this way, the LCBP hopes the Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) to strengthen these groups, while supporting worked with the Vermont DEC and other agen- their unique identities within their watersheds. cies to stabilize a one-mile stretch of the Trout River near Montgomery Center. MRBA volun- “Sharing our successes and difficulties helps teers planted over 25,000 willow whips, which watershed groups feel like they are not alone in help hold up the stream banks, and the Vermont their efforts and are instead part of a greater DEC provided technical oversight. Testing Lewis Creek’s water quality. movement to protect rivers and lakes,” said Robin Ulmer of the Boquet River Association. Local watershed and river groups are often able “Together watershed groups can benefit from to work most efficiently with local landowners sharing project techniques and work towards Many Players, Similar Goals whose land uses are damaging water quality. sustaining themselves over the long-term.” While state agencies may be perceived as regula- lthough each local organization is unique, tors, local groups are often made up of trusted This year, the LCBP is helping to fund the they all have similar goals which include friends and neighbors. Local organizations can A formation of the Little Chazy River Watershed clean water, habitat protection and public access. help landowners plan and implement better land Partnership, which will inventory the Progress is made in many ways, from stream management practices and may even increase watershed’s natural and cultural resources, bank restoration to river clean-ups to educational landowner compliance with regulations. Local compile GIS mapping data, and hold public efforts. Some groups, like the Friends of organizations also provide a link to funding and meetings. The LCBP has also provided funding Winooski, hold annual celebrations to spread the technical expertise from state and federal agen- towards the formation of other relatively new word about protecting clean water. cies. groups such as the AuSable River Association and the Poultney-Mettowee Watershed Partnership. “This September, Celebrate the Winooski will “We’ve helped partner local landowners with Total LCBP funding to watershed groups since partner with local business and arts organiza- state agencies several times,” said Janet 1992 has been nearly $636,000. tions to draw people’s attention to the river and Swentusky of the AuSable River Association. raise awareness about water quality issues,” said “Recently we fenced horses out of wetlands near 5 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Continued from page 4 Mirror Lake Watershed Association Local Watershed Contacts Allissa Schoenlank PO Box 1300 Lake Placid, NY 12946 New funding sources such as the WaterWheel (518) 891-0490 Foundation, which distributes royalties from Ben Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative Marty Illick 442 Lewis Creek Rd. Charlotte, VT 05445 Missisquoi River Basin Association and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream to Lake (802) 425-2002 [email protected] Cynthia Scott 12 Canada St. Suite 3 Swanton, VT 05488 Champlain watershed protection projects, are Ausable River Association (802) 868-5304 [email protected] also offering grants, and training opportunities Janet Swentusky PO Box 217 Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Missisquoi River Keepers are growing. Last May a stream restoration (518) 873-3752 Homer St. Francis, Jr. Abenaki Self Help Association PO Box 276 Swanton, VT 05488 training session was held by the Vermont DEC, Boquet River Association Robin Ulmer Essex County Gov’t Complex (802) 868-2559 the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Associa- Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Mt. Mansfield River Watch tion of State Wetland Managers. The LCBP (518) 873-3688 [email protected] Bill Butler PO Box 31 Jericho, VT 05465 makes funds available to watershed groups to www.boquetriver.org (802) 899-2088 attend training and other professional develop- Browns River Watershed Council New Haven River Anglers Association / New Haven ment. Mark Fasching PO Box 334 Jericho, VT 05465 River Watch Pete Diminico 305 Meehan Rd. Bristol, VT (802) 899-4000 [email protected] 05443 Franklin County Network of Shoreline Owners (802) 453-3899 [email protected] You Can Help Association Otter Creek River Watch Project John Quenell Paul Smith’s College PO Box 255 Paul Heidi Willis PO Box 433 E. Middlebury, VT 05740 Smiths, NY 12970 (802) 388-9207 (518) 327-3259 [email protected] Opportunities abound for local residents to get Potash Brook Project involved. To get wet in your watershed, meet Friends of the Mad River Carl Engvall PO Box 8541 Burlington, VT 05402-8541 new people and help your lakes and rivers — Kinny Connell Box 76A Warren, VT 05674 [email protected] (802) 496-9127 (802) 496-3437 [email protected] volunteer! Activities include tree planting, river www.friendsofthemadriver.com Poultney - Mettowee Watershed Partnership clean-ups, water quality monitoring, office help, Marli Rupe PO Box 209 Poultney, VT 05764 Friends of the Winooski River (802) 287-5841 [email protected] and animal tracking. For contacts and more Freddie Cousins 147 North St. Montpelier, VT 05602 Poultney River Watch information, see the sidebar, visit our website (802) 223-7329 [email protected] www.homepages.together.net~dbraun/FWR 82 River Street Poultney, VT 05764 (www.lcbp.org) or call us at (800) 468-LCBP. (802) 287-4284 [email protected] Lake Champlain Committee www.gwriters.com/prw.html Lori Fisher 106 Main Street Suite 200 Burlington, VT 05401 Saranac Lake River Corridor Commission (802) 658-1414 [email protected] Deborah A. McDonnell - Office of Community Develop- Missisquoi River Basin Association ment Power and Light Building 2 Main St. - Third Floor Lake George Association Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Melissa Vito PO Box 408 Lake George, NY 12845 (518) 891-0490 (518) 668-3558 fax: (518) 668-4702 [email protected] www.capital.net/com/lga/index.html Shore Owners’ Association of Lake Placid Linda Friedlander PO Box 1235 Lake Placid, NY 12946 Lamoille County NRCD (518) 523-3749 Nancy Koenig 109 Professional Bldg, Suite 2 Morrisville, VT 05661 Sunset Lake Preservation Association (802) 888-9218 [email protected] Martin Peterson 109 Jourdan St. Hinesburg, VT 05461 (802) 482-5883 [email protected] Lamoille River Anglers Association www.geocities.com/vtsunsetlake Summer Stowe The Fly Rod Shop PO Box 960 Stowe, VT 05672 Trout Unlimited (802) 253-7346 [email protected] Donald Lee 16 Ilene Dr. Morrisonville, NY 12962 www.flyrodshop.com/lraa.htm Upper Saranac Lake Association Lewis Creek Association Molly Sheren, Treasurer PO Box 274 Lake Clear, NY Marty Illick 442 Lewis Creek Rd. Charlotte, VT 05445 12945 [email protected] Preparing willow waddles for a streambank (802) 425-2002 [email protected] www.paulsmiths/AAI/us/pics.html planting. Lincoln Pond The Watershed Center John Deming PO Box 37 New Russia, NY 12964 Jackie Tuxill PO Box 96 Bristol, VT 05443 (518) 873-2178 [email protected] (802) 453-6346 Map LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN WATERSHED & LAKE ASSOCIATIONS BY SUB-BASIN

LCMM 6 CASIN’ THE BASIN

New York Waterchestnut Champlain 2000 Wins from the television news industry. It was honored with an EMMY nomination by the Control Funding Environmental and Boston/New England chapter of the National VT DEC Media Awards Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for service reporting. In March, Champlain 2000 ongratulations to Champlain 2000! The earned two regional Edward R. Murrow CChamplain 2000 partners, WPTZ Awards from the Radio and Television News NewsChannel 5, the Lake Champlain Basin Directors Association for Outstanding News Program and KeyBank, recently received Series and Outstanding Documentary. Environmental Quality Awards from the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 For more information about the Champlain (New York). WPTZ was also recently recog- 2000 series, visit the following websites: nized by the New York State Department of www.wptz.com and www.lcbp.org or contact Environmental Conservation. Champlain 2000 the Lake Champlain Basin Program. is the weekly series which has aired on WPTZ’s Monday evening news since May 1999.

NYSDEC

NYSDEC media Hand-pulling waterchestnuts. awards ceremony. From left to right: reat news from New York! Governor Pataki Commissioner John Ghas requested funding for waterchestnut P. Cahill, Jeff Meyers control on Lake Champlain in the 2000 budget. (Press Republican), The NYSDEC is currently working with the VT Jack LaDuke (WCAX), DEC to match the US Army Corps of Engineers’ North Country $400,000 appropriation for aquatic nuisance Public Radio’s Adirondack News control in the Lake Champlain Basin. Since Bureau’s Brian 1982, the majority of waterchestnut control Mann and Martha funding has come from Vermont, the LCBP and Foley, Andy the Army Corps of Engineers. Wormser (WPTZ), Paul Sands (WPTZ), “We are thrilled that New York has finally come Dennis Aprill (Press up to bat on this effort,” said Ron Ofner, chair of Republican) and the New York Citizens Advisory Committee. Region 5 Director Stuart Buchanan. “Our CAC has worked hard to impress the urgency of this funding on NYSDEC Commis- sioner Cahill and Senator Stafford.” Last summer, the New York, Vermont and Quebec CACs held a The US EPA’s Environmental Quality Award is field trip on the South Lake to view the the highest recognition presented to the waterchestnut’s devastation first hand. public for protecting and enhancing environ- mental quality. It was awarded to all three Waterchestnuts were introduced to New York in partners for Champlain 2000. Bill Howland, the 19th century for their ornamental appear- Basin Program Manager, Buzz Hoerr, Educa- ance. By the 1940’s they had spread to Lake tion and Outreach Committee Chairman, and Champlain. To combat this spread, the VT DEC Thom Hallock, WPTZ NewsChannel 5 anchor/ mechanically harvested 7,512 cubic yards of Champlain 2000 correspondent, attended the waterchestnuts in 1999. (One cubic yard is award ceremony at EPA Region 2 headquarters roughly equal to the bed of a pick-up truck). In in New York City on April 28th. addition, contracted workers and Nature Conser- vancy volunteers spent a total of 5200 hours “The success of Champlain 2000 goes beyond hand-pulling 77 tons of the plant. The Nature personal and professional recognition,” said Conservancy’s efforts were funded in part by a Thom Hallock. “Champlain 2000 puts the grant from the LCBP. successes and challenges facing up-state New York, Vermont - our entire region - in the Lake’s Citizen Advisory “Funding for harvesting machines and hand spotlight, at the highest levels of govern- Committees Win EPA pulling is critical to stop the plant’s northward ment.” spread on Lake Champlain,” said Ann Bove, Awards “We are very proud of Champlain 2000,” said Aquatic Biologist for VT DEC. “Our assessments ake Champlain’s three Citizen Advisory WPTZ/WNNE President and General Manager, have shown that as funding increases for these Committees (CAC’s) received Environ- Paul A. Sands. “The community partnership L activities, the waterchestnut’s northward ad- mental Merit Awards from EPA New England among WPTZ NewsChannel 5, the Lake vance is halted.” in recognition of their exceptional work and Champlain Basin Program and our sponsor, commitment to the environment during Key Bank, is serving as a national model of lso, for the first time in four years, no new 1999. Awards were presented to the New public, governmental and corporate coopera- infestations were found on Lake Champlain. York, Vermont and Quebec CACs during an A tion. Champlain 2000 is a perfect fit with our Unfortunately, however, a new infestation has Earth Day ceremony in Boston last April. television station’s mission to be aware of and been documented on Quebec’s South River, a The 2000 ceremony was the 30th anniver- responsive to the needs of the communities tributary of the Richelieu. The South River is sary celebration of environmental achieve- we reach.” only a few miles overland from Missisquoi Bay, ment in New England. The EPA New En- whose shallow waters would be prime gland Environmental Merit Award is an lso last April, Paul A. Sands and WPTZ waterchestnut habitat. The Quebec Ministry of annual award that recognizes outstanding News Director, Andy Wormser attended Environment and the Vermont DEC are working A environmental advocates who have made with several other agencies to quickly address the New York DEC’s Earth Day Partnership Forum to accept an award for Champlain significant contributions toward preserving this issue, and avoid the entrance of and protecting our natural resources. For waterchestnut from the north 2000. The awards were specifically for the television, newspaper and radio media in more information about the Merit Awards and other award winners, visit the EPA New For more information about volunteering to Region 5. DEC Commissioner John P. Cahill gave opening remarks. England website at www.epa.gov/region01/ hand-pull chestnuts, contact Ann Bove, VT DEC busind/ema.html. (802) 241-3782 or Sherry Crawford, The Nature Champlain 2000 has also received top honors Conservancy, (802) 265-8645. 7 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Bike Champlain 2000! History Washes Ashore Alden Pellet ometimes history is right under our feet! volunteers completed on-site documenta- SLast summer, the remains of a bateau, tion of the fragile wood planks which were which is a lightweight, flat-bottomed boat, fastened with hand wrought iron nails. washed up along Cumberland Bay’s north Afterwards, the remains were moved to an shore. The bateau, which is indoor tank filled with believed to date from the BOPA filtered lake water. BOPA is War of 1812, was likely also working with the uncovered by wave action Maritime Museum on the and last summer’s low bateau’s display in the waters. forthcoming Battle of Plattsburgh Interpretive To conserve the boat, the Center. Cycling along the Lake’s shore. Battle of Plattsburgh Association (BOPA) will second vessel was ide the Bike Champlain 2000 bicycle tour! create a conservation plan A found later last RLake Champlain Bikeways, Inc. with support with assistance from the summer. It was relocated from several area organizations, including the Lake Champlain Maritime in deep water to guard Lake Champlain Basin Program, is hosting the Museum’s conservation against vandalism and tour in September. The tour will follow the staff. A $1,000 grant was The bateau found last summer. deterioration from air “Champlain Bikeway” on quiet back roads provided by the Lake exposure and to preserve through breathtaking scenery, history and Champlain Basin Program’s Technical it for future potential study. For more culture in Vermont and New York. Options for Assistance Program. information visit www.nysm.nysed.gov/ route extensions into Quebec will also be offered. history/batteau/index.html. The terrain is generally flat-to-gently rolling and Artifact recovery required a New York State interspersed with occasional hills. archeological permit. Archaeologists and

The tour will be held in conjunction with the Triangle of Excellence, an annual meeting orga- Water Quality Connections nized by the Mayors of Burlington, Vermont, Plattsburgh, New York and St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, wimming, boating, fishing, bicycling, visiting added 3,500 feet of publicly accessible beach and Quebec. This year, Mayor Peter Clavelle (who is historic sites along the shore - it’s how many protected acres of wetlands which clean and also a member of the Lake Champlain Steering S residents and visitors enjoy and value Lake purify runoff into Lake Champlain. Committee) will host the Triangle of Excellence Champlain. If the water quality deteriorates it meeting in Burlington on September 8th. This will conflict with enjoying the Lake, and these To support the development of lake-shore visitor annual gathering brings together public officials, same people simply won’t visit. Beyond the centers, the LCBP awarded the Town of the business community and interested citizens potential loss of tourism dollars at stake - an Willsboro $1,000 for architectural plans to to look at how the three cities can work in estimated $2.2 billion annually in 1990 - losing convert an unused schoolhouse into a visitor partnership. The theme for this year’s meeting recreational users would also mean fewer poten- center. Good planning paid off when the town will be tourism, with a special focus on bicycle tial Lake stewards. These are important reasons was awarded funds from the State of New York to tourism and Lake Champlain Bikeways. why the Lake Champlain Basin Program sup- build the center, which will provide information ports recreation and cultural heritage projects. By about cultural and recreational opportunities on For more information contact Lake Champlain cultivating connections through play and and around the Lake. Bikeways at: Lake Champlain Visitors Center, RR appreciation, the LCBP reaches a broader group 1, Box 220, Crown Point, NY, 12928, (518) 597- of potential Lake stewards which ultimately quatic nuisance species management also 4646, [email protected], improves the Lake’s health. has connections to recreation and cultural www.champlainbikeways.org. A heritage. Zebra mussels are encrusting Lake The first 150 lucky ones go...so register early! Lake Champlain Bikeways, which the LCBP has Champlain’s shipwrecks and hampering re- funded, enhances recreation while promoting an searchers’ efforts to identify and study these alternative to automobiles, a known source of underwater cultural resources. Since 1996, the polluted runoff. On Northwest Public Transit’s LCBP has helped fund an underwater survey of Richford to St. Albans and Champlain Islands the Lake’s cultural resources before zebra mussels bus routes, an LCBP grant helped install bus bike obscure them. The LCBP has also funded feasibil- Bike Champlain 2000 racks, providing more incentives and opportuni- ity studies of wrecks for inclusion in the Lake at a Glance ties to pedal rather than drive. Promoting bicy- Champlain Underwater Historic Preserve System cling also helps lake-shore towns preserve their and funded the opening of the first preserve site When: September 8-10, 2000 rural character by lessening the impacts of traffic in New York. Distance: 150 miles congestion. The LCBP has also fostered connections with Where: Begins in Burlington, Vermont n the water, the LCBP has supported the recreational anglers. The LCBP helped fund a with overnight stay in Plattsburgh, New OLake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail, managed local Trout Unlimited chapter to bring the U.S. York, return to Burlington through the by the Lake Champlain Committee (LCC). By Fish & Wildlife Service’s Adopt-a-Salmon fish Champlain Islands including material about Lake ecology and rearing program to several New York schools. Cost: Early Registration by August 15, stewardship in the trail guide, another audience Many angler groups have also restored fish 2000 - $125.00, Late Registration - of potential Lake stewards is reached. Motor habitat in the Lake’s tributaries, which not only $150.00. Price includes a sunset dinner boaters are also reached through LCC’s Bilingual protects fish, but also reduces sediment transport cruise, support vans and many extras, but Boating Guide. Published last year with LCBP to the Lake. not lodging. support, this free French/English guide explains how to prevent the spread of nuisance species Boating, fishing, paddling, swimming, bicycling, Special Events: 8th Annual South-End and provides tips for lake-friendly boating hiking, visiting historic sites, or simply viewing Art Hop (5-11 PM in Burlington) and cleaning, fueling and maintenance. the Lake from a favorite spot, is how most people Battle of Plattsburgh activities on Septem- “get close to it.” By fostering more opportunities ber 9th (a multi-day celebration, Septem- Enhancing Lake and river access is essential to to experience the Lake, the LCBP encourages ber 6-10) recreation and the creation of a water quality more people to value it and be supportive of Register: On-line at connection. Through several grants, the LCBP water quality protection. Not including recre- www.champlainbikeways.org awarded $11,300 towards the planning and ation and cultural heritage issues in the compre- or call (518) 597-4646 creation of Noblewood Park, located near the hensive Plan for a healthier Lake Champlain Boquet River’s outlet to Lake Champlain. Owned would literally be “missing the boat.” by the Town of Willsboro, New York, the Park 8 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Over 80 Educators Attend Summit 2000!

tormy weather didn’t stop educators from SNew York and Vermont from gaining hands-on skills to teach about the Lake Champlain Basin! On May 18th the Champlain Basin Education Initiative (CBEI) hosted Summit 2000: This Land and Water - Linking Students to Their Watershed at the Basin Harbor Club. The workshops sponsored by LCBP featured current events and issues, cultural heritage and history, and ecosystem monitoring and research. 1 2 A few highlights (see photos):

1 Discussing how to authenticate Abenaki 3 heritage with Abenaki Elder Nanatasis Bluto-Delvental and Cher Feitelberg of Charlotte Central School. 2 John Elder of Middlebury College making the keynote address. 3 Creative canoeing with Matt Chandler of Edmunds Middle School. 4 Exploring soil communities with Janet Mihuc of Plattsburgh State University. 5 Running a water flow model with a mem- ber of Missisquoi Valley Union Middle School’s “Xtream Team.” 6 Learning about 19th century Lake com- merce with Erick Tichonuk of the Lake 4 Champlain Maritime Museum.

CBEI thanks all the presenters and the resource fair exhibitors who helped make this day a success. CBEI especially appreciates the energy and enthusiasm about Lake Champlain that 5 the educators bring to all the CBEI workshops 6 and their classrooms! Surfing the Web for Lake Champlain Data

any facts and figures about Lake • Northeast River Forecast Center including air quality data in a user-friendly MChamplain are readily available on the Address: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/er/nerfc/ format. internet and more will be coming soon. Several This site shows an interesting graphic of Lake sites with useful data are listed below. So grab Champlain tributary flow and it loads quickly. • Englesby Brook - Burlington, Vermont this article, your mouse and catch a web of To navigate, click on “Current River Conditions” Address: http://bowdnhbow.er.usgs.gov/ information about the Lake. If you have any to see a Northeast map. On that map, click on CurrentProjects/Englesby/Englesby.htm favorite Lake Champlain sites, send an email to any circle near Lake Champlain for an “Hourly This site provides real-time stream flow data and [email protected]. For more links to Stage Plot of the Lake Champlain Basin.” historical nutrient data for Englesby Brook in sites about Lake Champlain visit the LCBP Burlington, Vermont, which is the most polluted website at www.lcbp.org. Water Quality urban stream in the Basin. The Englesby Brook watershed is being cleaned up over the next 5 Lake and River Levels • Long-Term Water Quality and Biological years as part of the Pine Street Barge Canal Monitoring Project for Lake Champlain Superfund agreement. • Lake Champlain Data Address: http://www.lcbp.org/ltmp2.htm Address: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/er/btv/html/ This site presents data from 12 Lake monitoring Weather lake2.html stations representing major Lake segments. This site provides real-time access to current lake Stations are sampled regularly from late April • Lake Champlain Open Waters Forecast level and temperature data from three gauges. It to early November each year for both physical Address: http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/ also graphs historical lake levels and tempera- and chemical tests such as total phosphorus, VT/001.html tures back to 1972. phytoplankton and zooplankton. Find the daily forecast of Lake Champlain weather from the National Weather Service on • Real-Time Stream Flow Data • Vermont Rivers Project this site. Address: http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html Address: http://dauntless.smcvt.edu/vt_rivers/ This site provides real-time stream flow and splash.html • Daily Snowfall Map of the Northeast flood stage data. Navigate the site by clicking on This site provides a searchable database of water Address: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/er/nerfc/ a station on the map near Lake Champlain to quality information collected by high school graphics/snowmaps/sf1_today.jpg bring up a regional list of streams. Lake students and teachers from rivers in the Lake Save this site for winter. It provides a nice graphic Champlain tributaries are categorized under “St. Champlain and Connecticut River Basins. It presentation of daily snow fall and tends to load Lawrence Watershed.” includes a good explanation of water quality quickly. terminology. • New York Current Surface Water Conditions Please note: Websites can change daily and some sites may Address: http://wwwdnyalb.er.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/ • Burlington Eco-Info not work or may load slowly. The Lake Champlain Basin gen_tbl_pg Address: http://moose.uvm.edu/~empact/ Program cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data This site provides access to real-time stream flow index.html presented on the above sites. and flood stage data for Lake Champlain’s As part of Burlington’s EMPACT grant from the tributaries which are listed under “St. Lawrence US EPA, this website presents real-time Lake data River Basin.” and other environmental quality indicators 9 CASIN’ THE BASIN

$320,097 Awarded to Local Projects

wenty-two new projects were recently protection, recreation access and nonpoint Relocation of Phosphorus Injection Point Tawarded a total of $320,097 through the source pollution control projects. Village of Champlain, NY $13,000 Lake Champlain Basin Program to support the The Village will correct a design problem in the local implementation of Opportunities for Action. Lake Champlain Birding Trail Enhancements wastewater treatment plant’s phosphorus re- Funded projects include preventing toxic sub- in New York moval system. stance pollution, protecting human health and George D. Aiken RC&D Council, Inc. $15,000 reducing polluted runoff. This year the LCBP The Birding Trail partners will create route Sediment Trap Installation received an unprecedented number of proposals, finding signs at numerous sites and two informa- Essex County, New York Soil & Water Conservation requesting a total of $587,453. All projects tion kiosks. District $7,767 require a 25% non-federal match. The District will partner with and train town Lamoille County Community Vegetation and highway departments to install 12 pre-cast Au Sable Watershed Nonpoint Source Reduc- Biomonitoring concrete sediment traps in road ditches in Essex tion Projects Lamoille County Conservation District $7,770 and Washington Counties. Au Sable River Association, Inc. $15,180 The District will buy a hydroseeder to share with ASA will restore eroded stream banks on Palmer Lamoille County towns for construction re- Shelburne Bay Watershed Data Collection and Brook that threaten a nearby septic system and vegetation and training, and recruit volunteers Evaluation provide town boards with an inventory of junk for stream macroinvertebrate monitoring. Lintilhac Foundation and Heindel and Noyes cars in river floodplains to promote better $16,000 floodplain management. Lewis Creek Long Range Riparian Restoration Working with planners and citizens, the project Plan will create a public website for Shelburne Bay Bartlett Brook Stormwater Treatment System Lewis Creek Watershed Association $16,650 watershed data to be used for planning and City of South Burlington $20,000 In addition to monitoring water quality, con- management, and assess water quality in the Bay The City will repair stream bank erosion and ducting outreach and restoring stream banks, the and major tributaries. construct a wetland/wet pond stormwater Association will evaluate and plan for future treatment system near Bartlett Brook which programs in the watershed. Watershed Restoration Program drains US Route 7 and adjacent commercial land. Vermont Youth Conservation Corps $20,000 The system will treat runoff that has been found Lincoln Pond Evaluation of Acentria Nine VYCC crews will assist local communities to carry toxic substances. ephemerella with streambank, wetland and habitat restora- Cornell Cooperative Extension $3,900 tion projects, and participate in educational Colchester Pond Phosphorus and E. coli The Extension will continue monitoring Eur- activities. Inventory and Education asian watermilfoil populations and evaluate the Winooski Valley Park District $7,400 biological control of moth larvae (Acentria VYCC WVPD will hire a water quality coordinator to ephemerella). Education and outreach activities initiate a phosphorus and E. coli monitoring will be included. program for Colchester Pond and its tributaries. Information about septic system maintenance, Little Chazy River Watershed Partnership proper pet waste disposal, and other pollution Town of Chazy, Water & Sewer Committee $18,000 issues will also be provided to homeowners and The Town will establish a new watershed part- park visitors. nership for the Little Chazy River. Projects will include inventorying natural and cultural Enhancing Stormwater Management in the resources in the watershed, compiling GIS data, Growing Towns and holding public meetings. National Wildlife Federation $19,035 NWF’s Northeast Natural Resource Center will Mercury Manometer Replacement Program for work with the Vermont Agency of Natural Dairy Farms Resources, a consulting firm, and local watershed Northwest Vermont Solid Waste Management groups to expand its storm water management District $20,200 workshops for local decision makers. This project will inform farmers about mercury pollution hazards and replace 84 mercury Farmland Protection and Agricultural Devel- manometers currently in use with non-mercury opment Plan digital versions at no cost to farmers. Clinton County Cornell Cooperative Ext. $10,000 The Extension will work with the Clinton Mirror Lake Stormwater Management County, New York community to help keep Town of North Elba/Village of Lake Placid $7,500 prime farmland in agricultural use, develop local An engineering consultant will be hired to farm product markets, and assess the long-term inventory and map existing storm drains and viability of the County’s agriculture. discharge points into Mirror Lake as part of a recently completed Water Management Plan. A Vermont Youth Corps member working on Farmland/Streambank Erosion and Runoff a streambank stabilization project. Control Missisquoi Basin Streambank Restoration Boquet River Association $17,970 Missisquoi River Basin Association $20,525 Winter Manure Storage Facility This funding will support two major streambank Working with landowners, the Vermont YCC Lake Carmi Camper’s Association $21,000 erosion control projects on the Boquet River and and state and federal agencies, MRBA will restore Cooperating with the VT Department of Agricul- will build upon BRASS’s recent experience with stream banks, support farm nutrient manage- ture and Markets, the Association will assist a stream geomorphology assessments. ment, improve canoe access, and provide public farmer with manure storage to help the farm information about Missisquoi basin issues. comply with Vermont’s winter spreading ban Friends of the Mad River Support and prevent manure runoff into Lake Carmi. Friends of the Mad River $15,000 Poultney-Mettowee Watershed Partnership This project will support hiring the staff required Poultney-Mettowee NRCD $20,000 to oversee the group’s water quality monitoring The NRCD will coordinate the Poultney- program, develop outreach materials and coordi- Mettowee Partnership steering committee, nate stream restorations. inventory natural, cultural and economic re- sources, finalize a management plan, assist Huntington River Riparian Inventory farmers with nutrient management, and conduct Vermont River Conservancy $8,200 outreach. Landowners, local, regional and statewide groups, and government agencies will develop inventories to identify and prioritize habitat 10 CASIN’ THE BASIN

LCBP Awards $80,000 in Partnership Program Grants

wenty-one new projects will receive at total Rutland Marsh, a birding trail site. The enhance- River Walk Interpretive Sign Project Tof $80,000 of funding through the Partner- ments will reduce resource impacts and increase Village of Saranac Lake $3,000 ship Program. The Partnership Program offers visitor awareness of species and habitat through The village will install interpretive signs along small awards up to $5,000 to support local improved access. the Saranac River Walk to increase public aware- organizations helping to implement projects ness of the natural environment. relevant to Opportunities for Action. The total Lewis Creek Watershed Citizen Wildlife Track- amount requested was $201,943. All projects ing Program require a 25% in-kind match. Lewis Creek Watershed Association $2,500 The LCA has developed a wildlife tracking Adaptive Watersports Program program for citizen volunteers during the past Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center and few years. Funds will be used toward the devel- Vermont Adaptive Sports $5,000 opment of a report that analyzes the data col- The Program will install two lifts and a “sip and lected to date. puff” system to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. They will also make boat and Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan dock repairs to improve handicapped accessibil- Town of Essex, New York $5,000 ity. The Town will create a shoreline overlay district Macroinvertebrates which indicate good in conjunction with its zoning ordinance revi- water quality (top to bottom): mayfly Adirondack Coast Bicycling Guide - Phase II sion. The overlay district is intended to protect nymph, stonefly nymph and caddis fly larva. PRIDE of Ticonderoga $3,000 the shoreline from unsuitable growth, erosion The Adirondack Coast Bicycling Committee will and run-off, and maintain natural habitats and Saranac River Invertebrate Study print 20,000 copies of an expanded version of view sheds. Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited $3,521 their guide. It will feature twelve loops and an TU will work with SUNY faculty and students on updated directory of services along the loops. Mirror Lake Shoreline Improvements a catalog and reference collection of inverte- Village of Lake Placid $3,000 brates in the lower Saranac River. The baseline AuSable Mini-Park The Village will address erosion and public access data, slide collection and digital images will be Town of Wilmington, NY $4,500 on Mirror Lake along a 300 foot public park. available to other users. Funds will be used for the design of a walkway Plantings will be completed for erosion control and interpretive park through a wetland along and fencing will be installed. Summer Trails Project the West Branch of the AuSable River on town Merck Forest and Farmland Center $5,000 property. The mini-park will be accessible from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Merck Forest will hire an experienced summer Route 86 and adjoins the town library. crew to control erosion and maintain trails at the height of the Mettowee River/Lake Champlain Buffer Zone Inventory for Priority Stream watershed. The trails need large scale improve- Reaches ments, including water bars, boardwalks, bridges, Boquet River Association $4,000 and stabilization. BRASS will inventory and prioritize buffer zone Native mussel species: eastern elliptio and needs along the river and its tributaries. The eastern lampmussel. Summit Linked Interpretation and Downhill results will enable BRASS to engage in dialogue Education with priority landowners, and provide blue- Adirondack Park Institute $3,000 prints for potential cost-sharing buffer zone Native Mussel Survey of the AuSable River This New York - Vermont partnership will allow programs with road departments and landown- AuSable River Association $3,885 the Adirondack VIC and the Lake Champlain ers. The Association will work with the NYSDEC, the Basin Science Center to work with Smugglers US Fish and Wildlife Service and a SUNY intern Notch Resort and Whiteface Mountain on Champlain Valley Clayplain Forest Project to survey native mussels. The study will supple- watershed interpretation signs for the upper Middlebury Area Land Trust $5,000 ment future protection strategies and gather reaches of the Lake Champlain watershed. The Clayplain Forest project is a local collabora- information about the habitat and life history of Naturalists will develop text and a prototype of tive effort to conserve, research and restore one mussels. the potential signs to be placed at the ski areas. of Vermont’s most threatened natural communi- ties. Funds will be used to develop a landowner Nuisance Non-native Species Project Survey of Rainbow Lake for Eurasian brochure, host natural history talks and walks, Winooski Valley Park District $2,500 Watermilfoil and organize an association for local residents to The Park District will partner with Scouts and Rainbow Lake Association $975 participate in conservation planning. others to remove nuisance non-native plants The Association will survey Rainbow Lake during without using chemicals from public parks along the summer of 2000 for Eurasian watermilfoil. Cumberland Head Conservation and Develop- the Winooski River. Local residents will also be Association members will also be trained to ment Plan Update encouraged to remove these species from back- become watermilfoil watchers. Cumberland Head Tomorrow $2,999 yards and neighborhoods. A wetlands forum will The revised plan will address bicycle and pedes- provide walks and training about removing Trees for Streams - 2001 trian trails, open space preservation, historical nuisance species. Lamoille County Conservation District $5,000 and archeological resources, public lake access, Funds will be used to purchase 1,200 trees and and the integration of plan proposals with the Plainfield Village Common 3,000 willow waddles for spring 2001 plantings new “connector highway.” Plainfield Planning and Conservation Commissions on public and private land in Lamoille County. $4,000 The vegetation will stabilize streambanks, build Lady Sherbrooke Initiative By narrowing a roadway and reconfiguring a stream-buffers and provide hands-on education Lake Champlain Maritime Museum $3,500 parking lot, Plainfield will reclaim a site next to opportunities for the community. LCMM will design a two year program about the the Winooski River for pedestrians. A gently Lady Sherbrooke and steam navigation which sloping path will lead to a spectacular view of will focus on the evolution of steam technology the waterfall, a Plainfield landmark. and the parallel growth of regional commerce on Lake Champlain and the Hudson, Richelieu and Poultney River Riparian Restoration St. Lawrence Rivers. Three free evening lectures Poultney-Mettowee NRCD $5,000 and two free teacher workshops will also be held. The NRCD will restore several eroded streambanks and establish a riparian buffer Lake Champlain Birding Trail Viewing Plat- within a one-mile reach of the Poultney River. form The project will demonstrate effective stream George D. Aiken RC&D Council $4,500 corridor management as part of the Poultney The Birding Trail partners will construct a view- Walking Trail. ing blind or platform and boardwalk at the West 11 CASIN’ THE BASIN

Lake Champlain Steering Sharing with Lake Ohrid Committee n April 2000, LCBP Vermont Coordinator, decentralized government. IMichaela Stickney, traveled to Lake Ohrid in Tammy Benjamin Macedonia and Albania to work with local Lakes Ohrid and Champlain became Sister Montpelier, VT - VT Agency of Transportation organizations involved in protecting Lake Lakes in 1996 with the signing of the Sister Stuart Buchanan Ohrid and its basin. Lake Declaration of Michaela Stickney Raybrook, NY - NYS DEC Intent among Patrick Brennan Michaela worked Macedonia, Albania, Albany, NY - NYS Department of Agriculture primarily with the 20 Vermont, New York, and Markets member Lake Ohrid and Quebec. Since Watershed Committee, then, there have been Gregory Caito which is similar to the five exchanges among Plattsburgh, NY - NYS Dept. of Economic LCBP’s former Manage- scientific researchers, Development ment Conference, to heritage protection Peter Clavelle develop a framework experts, and watershed Burlington, VT - Mayor for a watershed ap- protection specialists. proach for Lake Ohrid. Both lakes have much Canute Dalmasse She delivered a five-day St. Jovan Kaneo monastery on the shore to learn from each Waterbury, VT Agency of Natural Resources training on watershed of Lake Ohrid. other. Each has Mario DelVicario management, team international, multi- New York, NY - USEPA Region 2 building, advanced facilitation, and conflict jurisdictional watershed boundaries and Jean Hubert resolution. The World Bank-funded Lake Ohrid significant natural and cultural resources. Longueuil, Quebec - Ministere de L'Environment Conservation Project (LCOP) is using a com- mittee and communication structure modeled ake Champlain’s Macedonian and Alba- Donald Garrant after the LCBP. This concensus-based decision nian counterparts will return to Lake Plattsburgh, NY L making process is a new and exciting arena for Champlain in June as delegates to the interna- Leon Graves countries who have recently changed to a tional LakeNet Conference. Montpelier, VT - VT Department of Agriculture Buzz Hoerr Colchester, VT - VT CAC Chair 2000 LCBP Funding Plan (U.S. Environmental Planning Agency Funding)

Ron Manfredonia On February 16, 2000 the Lake Champlain Steering Committee approved a plan to spend $1.719 million of U.S. EPA Boston, MA - USEPA, New England funds for Lake Champlain Basin projects. The LCBP projects are related to the highest priorities listed in Opportunities for Kenneth Miller Action. All project grant recipients must provide a minimum 25% non-federal match. St. George-de-Clarenceville, Quebec - CAC Chair Ronald Ofner Building Local Level Implementation $384,240 Crown Point, NY - NY CAC, Chair Local Implementation Grants $271,000 New York Circuit Rider $ 45,000 Robert Reinhardt Technical Coordination/Assistance $ 68,240 Albany, NY - NYS OPRHP

Dave Tilton Measuring and Monitoring Success $337,000 Essex Junction, VT - US Fish and Wildlife Lake Wide Monitoring $276,000 John Titchner Lay Monitoring $ 14,000 Winooski, VT - USDA, NRCS Agricultural Best Management Practice Tracking $ 10,000 Urban Best Management Practice Effectiveness Monitoring $ 37,000 Emily Wadhams Montpelier, VT - VT Agency of Commerce Reducing Phosphorus $ 74,200 and Community Development Animal Feed Education Project $ 28,500 Mary Watzin Agricultural Best Management Practice Effectiveness $ 17,200 Burlington, VT - UVM School of Natural Resources Blue Green Algae Study $ 28,500 Pollution Prevention and Toxics Management $ 34,500 Agricultural BMP Demo to Reduce Bacterial Loads $ 34,500

Nuisance Aquatic Species Management $ 53,000 Water Chestnut Program Coordination $ 53,000 Managing Fish and Wildlife $ 46,000 Sea Lamprey Assessment - Poultney and Winooski Rivers $ 36,000 LCBP Wetlands Acquisition - Initiate Phase III $ 10,000

Cultural and Recreation Resources $126,000 Cultural Heritage Resource Coordination $ 63,000 Recreation Resource Coordination $ 63,000

Informing and Involving the Public $298,969 Public Outreach, Publications and Media Efforts $ 95,000 Education and Outreach Support Grants $ 67,000 LCBP Resource Rooms, VT & NY $ 10,000 Fisheries Information Project $ 5,752 Education and Outreach Coordination $ 69,930 Communications Specialist $ 51,287

Members of the Lake Champlain Steering Program Coordination and Administration $365,091 Committee met in St. John, Quebec last March. VT-NY Program Coordination and Office Administration $361,874 NEIWPCC Fiscal Management $ 3,217

TOTAL $1,719,000 12 CASIN’ THE BASIN RESOURCES

all the LCBP at (800) 468-5227 or (802) 655- Northern Cartographic (802) 860-2886 or the The Freshwater Mussels of the Lower C6382 to order (unless otherwise noted). Visit LCBP. Missisquoi River: Current Status and the Poten- www.lcbp.org/reports.htm for a complete list of tial for a Refugium from Zebra Mussel Impacts. technical reports and other publications. Stop by Opportunities for Action. The LCBP’s final plan Paul Marangelo, VT Agency of Natural Re- our Colchester offices or our Resource Room at recommends priority management actions for sources. June 1999. LCBP Report #32. $5.50 the Science Center, 1 College Street, Burlington, Lake Champlain. October, 1996. FREE VT to view LCBP resources. Call for hours and Ecological Effects of Sediment - Associated appointments. Progress ’99. Reports on the progress towards Contaminants in Inner Burlington Harbor, Lake implementing Opportunities for Action. June, Champlain. Tetra Tech, Inc.. September 1999. GENERAL INTEREST PUBLICATIONS 1999. FREE LCBP Report #33. $7.50

Drainage Basin Map. This 24" x 32" map RECENT TECHNICAL REPORTS Benthic Phosphorus Cycling in Lake Champlain: highlights town, county, state and international Results of an Integrated Field Sampling/Water boundaries within the Basin. Also includes Evaluation of Soil Factors Controlling Phospho- Quality Modeling Study. Part A: Water Quality principle surface waters and major river basin rus Concentration in Runoff from Agricultural Modeling/ Part B: Field Studies. HydroQual, boundaries. $3.00 Soils in the Lake Champlain Basin. Frederick R. Inc. June 1999. LCBP Report #34A $13.25 & Magdoff, William E. Jokela and Robert P. #34B $8.25 Fact Sheet Series. Free fact sheets on zebra Durieux, University of Vermont, Department of mussels, nonpoint source pollution, the Basin, Plant and Soil Sciences. June 1997. LCBP Report Determination and Quantification of Factors wetlands, Lake Champlain historic sites, and #29. $5.00 Controlling Pollutant Delivery from Agricultural boating to Lake Champlain’s parks and historic Land to Streams in the Lake Champlain Basin. villages. FREE Lower Trophic Level Interactions in the Pelagic J.W. Hughes, W.E. Jokela, D. Wang, C. Borer, Foodweb of Lake Champlain. Dr. Suzanne N. UVM. September 1999. LCBP Report #35 Lake Champlain Basin Atlas. This full-color atlas Levine, Dr. Mark Borchardt, Dr. Moshe Braner, $5.00 contains over 50 maps, photos and graphics Angela Shambaugh, and Susan Spencer, UVM about the nature of the Basin, the socio-econom- School of Natural Resources and Marshfield ics of the Basin and Lake Champlain issues, such Medical Research Foundation. July 1997. LCBP as phosphorus and nuisance species. Includes Report #30. $12.00 SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION the land use map. $25.00 from Northern Carto- The LCBP staff presents free 20-40 minute slide graphic (802) 860-2886. Estimation of Lake Champlain Basinwide shows on issues in the Lake Champlain Basin to Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Export. William schools and community groups. Can be adapted Land Use Map. This 24" x 32" full-color map Hegman, Associates in Rural Development, Inc, to most any audience. Call to schedule. FREE depicts land use and vegetation types in the and Catherine Borer, UVM Water Resources & Basin derived from satellite imagery. $3.00 from Lake Study Center. September 1999. LCBP Report #31. $7.25

Casin’ The Basin is published three times a year by Lake Champlain Basin Program Staff the Lake Champlain Basin Program to inform the public about events and issues which affect the Lake Champlain Nicole Ballinger — Information and Communications Basin. The public is encouraged to respond to information Specialist, (802) 655-6382 presented in this newsletter and can send comments to: Erik Beck — Lake Champlain Coordinator, US EPA- Casin’ the Basin New England, (617) 918-1606 Lake Champlain Basin Program Jim Connolly — New York Lake Champlain Coordinator, PO Box 204 (518) 897-1216 54 West Shore Road Lake Champlain Grand Isle, VT 05458 Rachel Jablonka — EPA Coordinator, Region 2, U.S EPA, (212) 637-3853 Material may be reproduced without permission, as long Basin Program Tricia Foster — Cultural Heritage Coordinator, as credit is given. Casin’ the Basin is produced under an (802) 655-6382 EPA grant # LC991923-01, and distributed free of charge as a public service. The views expressed in this newsletter Barry Gruessner — Technical Coordinator, do not necessarily reflect the position of the Environmental THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN (802) 655-6382 Protection Agency or the New England Interstate Water BASIN PROGRAM Colleen Hickey — Education & Outreach Coordinator, Pollution Control Commission. (802) 655-6382 (NEIWPCC operates the business affairs of the Lake The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) was established to Bill Howland— Basin Program Manager, Champlain Basin Program. NEIWPCC, a non-profit coordinate the activities envisioned by the Lake Champlain (802) 655-6382 interstate agency established by an Act of Congress, Kathy Jarvis — Administrative Assistant serves and assists its member states individually and Special Designation Act of 1990. The LCBP is a government (802) 655-6382 collectively by providing coordination, public education, funded initiative working in partnership with numerous coop- training and leadership in the management and protection Maja Smith — Recreation Coordinator, erating agencies, organizations and individuals to develop of water quality in the New York and New England (802) 655-6382 Region.) and implement the comprehensive pollution prevention, con- Michaela Stickney — Vermont Lake Champlain trol and restoration plan for Lake Champlain. The program is Coordinator, guided by the Steering Committee which represents a broad (802) 655-6382 spectrum of lake-basin interests and organizations from New Editorial Staff York, Vermont, and Quebec including local government and Nicole Ballinger— Co-Editor recycled paper citizen representatives, scientists, and state and federal agen- Colleen Hickey — Co-Editor cies. In addition, many individuals are involved in the plan- Jim Connolly ning process through advisory committees and interested citi- Anita Deming Do you have a question or concern zens participate through public meetings. The ultimate goal of Mike DiNunzio about Lake Champlain? the LCBP is to insure that the Lake and its drainage basin will Buzz Hoerr Bill Howland Call toll-free: be protected, restored and maintained so that future genera- Michaela Stickney 1-800-468 LCBP tions will enjoy its full benefits. Design: Don Hanson, Stowe, VT Printing: Queen City Printers, Burlington, VT