Vermonters love Lake Champlain. Many refer to the lake as the region’s crown jewel. We depend on the lake for fishing, swimming, boating, and other recreational pursuits. It provides drinking water. Summer tourism and property values are tied to its health and beauty. The lake attracts businesses with a work force that appreciates the lake’s natural beauty and Vermont’s working landscape.
The challenge is that too much pollution is reaching Lake Champlain from the streams and rivers draining into it. The primary concern is polluted runoff – rainwater or snowmelt that drains off of parking lots, roads and streets, logging roads, farm fields and croplands, and lawns. The runoff carries with it sediment, nutrients such as phosphorus that are naturally present in soils, pet and animal wastes, fertilizers, and other pollutants and deposits these pollutants into streams and rivers or directly into Lake Champlain.
Phosphorus is one of the nutrient pollutants found in runoff and arguably the greatest threat to clean water in Lake Champlain. It also comes from eroding streambanks caused by stream channel instability. Too much phosphorus pollution stimulates excessive growth of algae. It can turn Lake Champlain water green, and even can be toxic to pets and people.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released new phosphorus pollution limits for Lake Champlain by establishing TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load) for twelve Vermont segments of Lake Champlain. The State of Vermont will be seeking public input on the Draft Lake Champlain TMDL Implementation Plan, which provides the framework for how these phosphorus pollution limits will be met. A series of public meetings on the implementation plan will be held this summer (once finalized, dates and times will be posted on the DEC Calendar). Additional details on the full process can be seen in the Lake Champlain Restoration Plan timeline.
Additional Resources
Lake Champlain TMDL Factsheet
Memorandum Of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation on the Management of Lake Champlain
The Vermont Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL being developed by EPA
EPA TMDL Presentation at August 2015 Public Meetings
EPA TMDL Presentation at November 2014 Public Meetings
Factsheets that summarize key actions described in the Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Phase 1 Implementation Plan
- Lake Champlain TMDL Overview
- Agriculture Lands Management
- Stormwater Management
- Road Related Stormwater Management
- River Corridor and Floodplain Management
- Wetlands Management
- Forest Lands Management
DRAFT EPA Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Vermont Phase 1 Plan
DRAFT EPA Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Vermont Phase 1 Appendices
View Submitted Comments on Vermont Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Phase 1 Implementation Plan
Governor's Commitment Letter to EPA
Phase I - Lake Champlain TMDL Implementation Plan
EPA Response Letter
DRAFT EPA Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Vermont Phase 1 Plan
Progress in Establishing and Implementing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan for Lake Champlain
2010 Revised Implementation Plan Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL
Nov. 20, 2013 Draft Proposal:
Draft State of Vermont Proposal for a Clean Lake Champlain
EPA Final Signed Letter to Vermont DEC on the Draft State of Vermont Proposal for a Clean Lake Champlain
EPA Supplemental Letter to Vermont DEC and Vermont AAFM
View submitted comments on the Draft Proposal
Final Summary of Public Comments - Draft Champlain TMDL
"Where Does the Phosphorus Come From?"