After more than 50 years of living near or on the shores of Lake Champlain, Judy Kaplan says the sparkling waters are “part of my soul.” She’s not alone. Millions of people visit annually to walk its shores, cool off on hot days, sail across its waters, or even search for “Champ,” the legendary local answer to the Loch Ness Monster. Kaplan says, “I use the word magical … I feel fortunate to be able to experience this in my life.”
But recent changes to the lake have her worried. Stormwater runoff, pesticides, litter, climate change – New England’s beloved Lake Champlain faces a lot of threats. Pollution contaminates the waters that millions of annual visitors love to swim, sail, and fish in. After decades of championing this beloved landmark, CLF is continuing to fight for the lake on multiple fronts.
We believe that all waterbodies should be free of pollution, whether we’re fighting to reduce polluted runoff from commercial businesses to protect Mashapaug Pond in Rhode Island, suing to improve waste management on an aquaculture factory farm in Maine, or campaigning to reduce nitrogen contamination from septic tanks on Cape Cod. Lake Champlain also deserves better than becoming a dumping ground for the area’s toxic trash and pollution.
“Healthy waters are essential for a healthy ecosystem,” says Elena Mihaly, CLF’s vice president for Vermont. “If we want clean drinking water, abundant fish and wildlife, and beaches that are safe for families, then we need to fight for stronger protections.”
Here’s how we’re working to protect Lake Champlain’s irreplaceable waters.
Preventing Poisonous Blue-Green Algae Outbreaks
“I love to bring my family to swim in the lake, but I’ve definitely grown cautious over the years,” says Mihaly. Toxic blue-green algae outbreaks – the technical term is cyanobacteria – are increasingly common on the water’s surface. Polluted runoff fuels the outbreaks, which will only get worse as climate change warms the lake’s waters. Rain and snowmelt pick up harmful chemicals from farms, roads, parking lots, and fertilized yards before it drains into the water, throwing off the lake’s delicate ecosystem.
Kaplan, the Lake Champlain resident, says that neighbors warn each other when they see pets near the blue-green algae. The poisonous outbreaks have killed dogs and sickened swimmers. Julie Silverman, CLF’s Lake Champlain Senior Lakekeeper, monitors a public beach and reports sightings of the dangerous bacteria to state officials so they can close the shore as needed.
It’s now common for Lake Champlain beaches to temporarily close each summer due to the contamination. CLF has successfully advocated for stronger laws and permitting policies to reduce contaminated runoff from farms, yards, parking lots, and more, especially cracking down on the phosphorus that the outbreaks thrive on.
Requiring Permits for Pesticides
Mihaly also worries about the pollution she can’t spot, like pesticides. That’s why she’s leading CLF’s lawsuit against Vorsteveld, LLC, a major agricultural operation that’s unlawfully dumping pesticides directly into a Lake Champlain tributary.
Our lawsuit would require the Vorsteveld operation to reduce and manage its pollution with a permit, as required under the Clean Water Act. “No one should have to worry that the waters that we drink, fish, and swim in are poisoned,” says Mihaly. More than 160,000 people get their drinking water from Lake Champlain. Unchecked pollution puts the whole lake and everyone who relies on it at risk.
Keeping Garbage Off Lake Champlain’s Shores
As CLF’s Lake Champlain Senior Lakekeeper, Julie Silverman calls herself “the Lorax for the lake. I’m the eyes and ears for the lake.” When she isn’t scanning for algal outbreaks or photographing pipes dumping pesticides into the water, she’s also checking on marine debris “hotspots” around the lake. She’s found an increasing amount of garbage in recent years. A year and a half ago, she helped found the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition to tackle the problem head-on.
Along with partner nonprofits, Silverman has hosted litter clean-ups that have cleared away everything from bowling balls to shopping carts. Microplastics are particularly common and dangerous to animals, who sometimes snack on the toxic debris.
In addition to cleaning up debris that’s already found its way into Lake Champlain’s waters, Silverman and her coalition partners are trying to stop the tide of trash at its source. She has gathered data on the volume, composition, and location of marine debris to guide future advocacy. She’s also hosted programs to educate people about the importance of managing their garbage responsibly.
Perhaps most impactfully, CLF has advocated for legislation that targets marine debris. Silverman and CLF attorneys recently collaborated to pass a Vermont state law that bans docks built with “unencapsulated” foam. This unprotected foam, which helps keep docks afloat, tends to crumble into tiny bits of loose plastic. Silverman has found bits of blue dock foam scattered across the lake’s shores. The new law, which was strengthened with data from coalition partners, will prevent people from using this major source of microplastics in the future.
Managing the Impact of Warming Waters
Inevitably, climate change is threatening the health of Lake Champlain from many angles. Increasing global temperatures lead to more extreme weather, upping the severity and frequency of both droughts and floods. From her cottage on the water, Judy Kaplan has seen droughts bring water levels down so drastically that boats can’t navigate formerly passable waterways and islands become accessible on foot. She has also watched rushing water from a nearby river deposit sediment, erode the river’s banks, and carry debris into the lake. More flooding means more trash swept into the water and more toxic runoff from roads, parking lots, and fertilized lawns and fields.
New England is warming faster than the global average, disrupting the delicate balance among Lake Champlain’s fish, birds, insects, plants, and other life.
Higher temps endanger lake-goers and their pets by creating larger, more frequent blue-green algae outbreaks. The lake also freezes over less frequently, often leaving residents unable to enjoy their annual pond hockey and ice fishing tournaments – traditions that have endured for decades until now. CLF is committed to fighting climate change by blocking new oil and gas infrastructure and supporting laws that encourage renewable energy, such
as solar, geothermal, and offshore wind.
Preserving the Vibrant Beauty of Lake Champlain
The lake is struggling, but it’s not a lost cause. It can recover, and in many ways, CLF’s advocacy has already improved conditions on the water by reducing stormwater runoff, organizing litter clean-ups, and more. But we need to continue fighting to keep Lake Champlain on the right track.
CLF has dedicated decades to protecting Lake Champlain for residents like Kaplan and the many others who love this place. Kaplan says her whole community treasures the lake, sharing that “at sunset, people just appear on the beach… to watch the magic happen.” We’re not giving up, because whether we are fighting in court, testifying at the Vermont State House, establishing and building the Lakekeeper program, or picking up litter by hand on the lake’s shores, Lake Champlain’s magic is worth protecting.