Water was a hot topic of the 2018 Vermont legislative session, with many bills that touched on clean water challenges. We made some progress, but we’re still too far behind when it comes to the long-term funding we need to make true progress on cleaning up Lake Champlain and other ailing waters across the state.
Jun 1
2018
2018
Apr 18
2018
2018
Conservation Matters Spring 2018: Year in Review
In this special issue of Conservation Matters, we want to take you behind the scenes of our work, to give you a glimpse into how we break down challenges and take advantage of opportunities to create a healthy, thriving New England – not just for today, but for generations to come.
Apr 12
2018
2018
Help for Cape Cod’s Pollution Problem
No one would consider swimming, sailing, or fishing in a sewer, but that, in effect, is the choice facing people seeking to use polluted bays around Cape Cod. The Cape’s septic systems cause 85 percent of the nitrogen pollution plaguing our waterways. Every time a toilet flushes into a septic tank, our clean bays, our…
Feb 23
2018
2018
Pruitt on the Clean Water Attack
Once again, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and the Trump administration are taking aim at one of our most vital and effective environmental laws. On February 20, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a public notice asking for comments on the Clean Water Act’s coverage of pollution that enters our nation’s lakes, rivers, and oceans via groundwater.
Nov 2
2017
2017
CLF Sues Vermont Agency for Letting Towns Dump More Pollution into Lake Champlain
Vermonters see firsthand the disastrous impacts of too much phosphorus pouring into Lake Champlain when favorite swimming beaches close and toxic blue-green algae coats portions of the lake in a stinky slime. So why does the state Agency of Natural Resources want to let towns dump more phosphorus pollution into the lake?
Jun 2
2017
2017
Vermont Legislative Recap: Wins for Clean Water, But Lost Opportunities, Too
CLF’s primary goals in Vermont this legislative session were to secure clean water funding and fight against attempts to weaken our water protections. Here is a list of our wins and losses for this year.
Jul 12
2016
2016
Warning – Our Lake is Toxic
“Mixed condition. Watch and avoid cyanobacteria blooms.” This is the warning posted on the Vermont Department of Health’s website for Lake Champlain. When I read about beach closures, such as the one last Thursday at one of Burlington’s most popular beaches, I feel outraged, dumbfounded, horrified. How could we have let it get so far…
Jun 28
2016
2016
Great Bay–Piscataqua Waterkeeper Vessel Launched for 2016!
The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper vessel is back on the water for its third season. Following our launch earlier this month, the weather did not cooperate until last week. Interest is keen from folks who want to climb aboard and explore Great Bay and the Piscataqua River to identify and discuss the challenges facing our local…
Jun 23
2016
2016
The Path to a Clean Lake Champlain is Still Unclear
While there’s still a long road ahead, CLF is cautiously optimistic about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new pollution limits for Lake Champlain. These new limits – also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load or TMDL – dramatically reduce the amount of pollution allowed to enter the lake. The limits focus specifically on phosphorus…
Jun 9
2016
2016
Vermont’s Water is Still Really Gross…
We’re working on it. Last year, Vermont passed a clean water law to help cut down on the pollution and erosion that harms our rivers and lakes. Its enactment is none too soon as the changing climate is only heightening our water woes with increased rainfall and rising temperatures. This new law – Act 64…