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Coleman, S., Hurley, S., Koliba, C., & Zia, A. (2017, June 10). Crowdsourced delphis: Designing solutions to complex environmental problems with BROAD Stakeholder participation. Global Environmental Change. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378016306288.

Department of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). Lake Champlain WATERSHED. Lake Champlain Watershed - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/48369.html.

Kart, J. (2021). International Lake CHAMPLAIN-RICHELIEU RIVER Study Board. International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board | International Joint Commission. https://ijc.org/en/lcrr.

Lake Champlain Basin Atlas. (2018, January 6). Political boundaries. Lake Champlain Basin Atlas. https://atlas.lcbp.org/people-economy/political-boundaries/.

Lake Champlain Basin Program. (2020, December 28). Flooding. Lake Champlain Basin Program. https://www.lcbp.org/our-goals/thriving-communities/flooding/.

Sea Grant. (2018). About the Lake CHAMPLAIN WATERSHED. About the Lake Champlain Watershed | Lake Champlain Sea Grant. https://www.uvm.edu/seagrant/about/lake-champlain-watershed.

Stager, C., & Thill, M. (2010). Climate Change in the Champlain Basin. The Nature Conservancy.

Svagzdys, A., & Haney, A. (2010, May 7). The value of food. Lake Champlain Ecosystem Assessment. https://lakechamplainea.wordpress.com/provisioning-service-p3/analysis-of-specific-service-the-value-of-food/.

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According to the Global Environmental Change document, within the Lake Champlain Watershed “the land uses that contribute to phosphorus pollution across the basin include development (stormwater and wastewater), agricultural, forested, floodplain, and riparian land; their settings involve interwoven physical processes, management practices, and governance systems.” With so many contributing sources, the responsibility for cleanup is not under one specific domain. However, cleanup and management is within the jurisdiction of federal, state, and local governments. The potential solutions include new and enhanced regulation, funding and financial incentives, and technical assistance.

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Within the Lake Champlain Watershed, 53 forum participants proposed and commented on adaptive solutions to address water quality in the context of climate change. The interventions suggested by stakeholders within the crowdsourcing forum have contributed to the current policy dialogue in Vermont including legislation to address phosphorus loading to Lake Champlain. This stakeholder approach strengthens traditional modeling scenario development to include solutions and priorities that have been collectively refined and vetted. These were the following domains stakeholders thought needed increased management in order to improve water quality within the LCW: agriculture, stormwater, wastewater, forestry, transportation, energy, river management, land use and development, emergency management, and fish/wildlife. Through each of these channels short term interventions should be initiated, and depending on their impact, long term management and restructuring.

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Over the next century or so, precipitation levels are projected to drastically increase. In the photo above you can see two projected scenarios, both of which reflect an increase in precipitation, though one is worse than the other. These projections have been made by NECIA, and they have also predicted that “under most emissions scenarios, the frequency of two-day periods with heavy downpours will increase by 8% by mid-century and 12–13% by 2100 AD.” In addition to an increase in storm frequency it is also projected that average annual precipitation will see an increase as well. Especially in the LCW where flooding is common, the effects of increased precipitation could be detrimental.

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The photo above and the following information is from the Lake Champlain Basin Project’s Ecological Indicators document. The photo shows a feedback loop that is based on the notion that human activity exerts pressure on the environment around them, and in turn these environmental changes trigger a societal response (i.e. changing policies or implementing management actions). According to the LCBP “the societal response creates a feedback loop to the environmental pressures by promoting changes in the human activities that caused the environmental degradation in the first place.”

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In the past 20 years or so scientists have identified several “new” pollutants within the Lake Champlain Watershed. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Atlas “a 2006 study by the U.S. Geological Survey found 70 different ‘new generation contaminants’ present in low levels in Lake Champlain Basin waterways. These products include fire retardants, plasticizers, pesticides, fragrances, stimulants, medications, detergents, and anti-microbial additives associated with potential human health and ecosystem quality risks.” Because of human impact these pollutants are more present than ever before, and preventative measures are highly encouraged by each impacted jurisdiction within the watershed.

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In many communities that rely on the Lake Champlain Watershed there are volunteer driven programs that assist the Long-Term Monitoring Program (which tests water quality). For over 40 years the Vermont Lay Monitoring Program has accepted volunteers from the local community to be trained and properly equipped to collect water quality samples within the LCW. These community efforts are in effect in over 80 lakes within the watershed, as well as streams and rivers.

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Phosphorus is a naturally occurring nutrient that is essential for plant growth, and within the LCW it comes from both point sources, such as municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges, and nonpoint sources, such as runoff. Phosphorus pollution is a significant threat to water quality in Lake Champlain. When too much phosphorus gets into a body of water it can cause excessive growth of aquatic plants as well as surges of algae growth. These plants, and the water quality problems that occur when they decompose, can harm fish and other wildlife and limit human uses of the Lake. High levels of phosphorus are a concern in nearly all areas of the Lake. Until phosphorus concentrations in the Lake are closer to the established targets, algae blooms will continue to form when weather conditions are favorable for intense growth.

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Aquatic invasive species are non-native species that cause harm to the environment, the economy, or human health. These plants and animals can threaten the Lake Champlain Watershed’s native fish, wildlife and plants, and cultural services. There are over 50 aquatic invasive species in Lake Champlain, most of which are assumed to have arrived in the watershed within the last 3 decades. Since the waterways are interconnected to other watershed there are endless potential invasive species that can arrive at some point.

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Within the Lake Champlain Watershed people can be exposed to a number of contaminants and toxic chemicals while swimming, drinking water, or eating certain fish. Pathogens infect people when ingested, causing illness or disease. These substances can enter the Lake, and in turn the entire watershed, in runoff and from wastewater treatment facilities. Some contaminants have been a long-time concern, and others have become an issue more recently. One common bacteria that can impact human health is cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which is the primary cause of beach closures within the Lake Champlain Watershed. Cyanobacteria can produce two toxins: anatoxin and microcystin. These toxins can cause skin irritation and gastro-intestinal illness, and can affect the liver, digestive system, and nervous system. These toxins are more likely to occur in the summer months, and are more common in certain parts of the Lake, such as Missisquoi Bay.

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Clean Water Commitment: Floodplain Restoration

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In the Lake Champlain Watershed there are several programs that heavily focus on biological monitoring of the watersheds water quality. The data collected from these programs is critical for researching and maintaining a balanced ecosystem, as well as for making important decisions for long-term environmental upkeep in the midst of the climate crisis. Throughout the watershed, and primarily within Lake Champlain itself, there are Lake Sampling Stations that measure water temperature, clarity, and the amount of dissolved oxygen in the sample. According to the LCBP “Scientists and managers use the data to determine the status of water quality in the Lake and rivers, document environmental change from human activities, track effectiveness of management programs, and guide the development of new management actions.”

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As floods continue to happen more frequently in the Lake Champlain Watershed, scientists are looking into the potential contributing forces. Climate change and the overall warming of the planet are undoubtedly part of the problem. When you combine the effects of the climate crisis and the increased industrialization and overall population within the watershed, you are left with many more people that are impacted by previously easily regulated flooding. Since we can’t stop the flooding from happening, the groups in charge of maintaining the LCW’s wellbeing have begun focusing their efforts on minimizing and mitigating flood damage. Actions like moving people out of flood prone areas and restoring shorelines have been crucial for maintaining balance between the watershed and the surrounding communities.

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While flooding is a natural process that plays an important role in balanced ecosystems, human impact can drastically alter the effects and overall impact of flooding. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program “Excess sedimentation on river and lake bottoms can smother critical habitat for certain species. Sediments and nutrients are washed off unvegetated landscapes, impacting water quality and increasing the eutrophication rate (aging) of lakes and ponds. Healthy wetlands and vegetated shorelines can reduce the negative impacts from these events.” In recent years flooding has been more common and has been increasingly damaging to the communities within the Lake Champlain Watershed.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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The Lake Champlain Watershed falls within multiple states and countries, meaning there are multiple political jurisdictions involved. The Basin spans the international border between Canada and the United States, and includes portions of the States of New York and Vermont and the Province of Québec. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Atlas “all or part of nine counties in Vermont and five counties in New York are contained within the Basin… [and] 239 municipalities are located within the Basin: 37 municipalities in Québec, 57 in New York, and 145 in Vermont.” As with most watersheds, the political boundaries of the LCW do noy coincide with watershed boundaries. Because of this, communication and coordination among the states, provinces, local municipalities, and federal agencies is essential to protecting and enhancing Lake Champlain. The LCW is also contributed to through numerous individuals, not-for-profit organizations and private businesses.

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According to the Lake Champlain Ecosystem Assessment the LCW has quite fertile soil and long growing periods. With 16% of the watersheds land used for agricultural purposes, about 5,000 farms on over 1,000,000 acres are supported by the LCW.

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According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program "developed land, including urban, exurban, suburban land, and roadways, contributed about 53% of the total phosphorus runoff to
Lake Champlain in 2001." Agricultural land accounts for about 16% of the watershed, and the rest is attributed to forested land use.

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The second largest lake in the watershed is Lake George, which is on state owned land, and is connected to a natural forest reserve. Not only does this provide cultural services, but supporting services as well such as nutrient cycling.

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While the Lake Champlain Watershed has many regulating services, the one that I have found the most about is storm protection and control. The LCW averages 95cm of precipitation per year, and flooding is not uncommon. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program, climate change is increasing the number of high intensity storms that impact the surrounding communities.

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Throughout the Lake Champlain Watershed there are many different cultural services, including views, hikes, spaces to enjoy the local landscape, fish hatcheries, as well as recreational activities. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program, "Five fish hatcheries or fish culture stations operate in the Lake Champlain Basin. These operations help to rehabilitate fish populations and expand the ranges of desirable fish."

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The Missisquio Bay is a large extension in the northern part of Lake Champlain, where it also drains into. The bay is roughly 3 miles in diameter, and hosts many recreational services for the local community year round.

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The Ausable River runs in the U.S. state of New York, from the Adirondack Mountains and past the village of Lake Placid and Au Sable Forks to empty into Lake Champlain. The river forms a partial boundary between Clinton County and Essex County. The Ausable River is known for its gorge, Ausable Chasm. The Ausable River is 94 miles (150 km) long and drains a watershed of 516 square miles.

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Within the Watershed there are 4,883 miles of freshwater rivers and streams, a major lake, and 235 significant freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs (accounting for approximately 159,300 acres). Some key features include the Lake Champlain, Ausable River, and the Missisquoi Bay. In total the LCW is comprised of 11 major sub-basins/watersheds.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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The long, winding Lake Champlain sits primarily between New York and Vermont, and stretches north into Quebec, where it drains into the Richelieu River – and in turn, the St. Lawrence River. The lake is about 278,480 acres, getting water from several tributary rivers and from the Adirondack and Green Mountain ranges around it.

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The Vermont and New York portions of the Lake Champlain basin are home to nearly 500,000 people, with another 100,000 people in the Canadian portions of the watershed. At least 200,000 people rely on the LCW for their water supply. Many of the people that live within this watershed rely on the lake and surrounding landscape for jobs, recreation, and quality of life.

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The Lake Champlain Watershed covers 8,234 square miles throughout parts of the U.S. and Canada. Specifically, the LCW covers most of clinton county, much of Essex county and parts of Franklin, Warren, and Washington County. In total there are 4,883 Miles of freshwater rivers and streams. According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program, "the topography of much of the Basin consists of steep mountains and narrow river valleys. With little flat ground in these valley bottoms for floodplains to absorb overflow from swollen rivers, flash floods threaten homes and transportation corridors located in valleys. Heavy spring rains coupled with mountain snowmelt can cause the water levels to rise on Lake Champlain"

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The Lake Champlain Watershed drains the area between the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York State and the Green Mountains in northwestern Vermont. The long, narrow and deep lake has its outlet at its northern end where it flows through the Richelieu River into Quebec and empties into the Saint Lawrence River.