Report Indicates Some Progress and Some Challenges for Lake Champlain Ecosystem

The Lake Champlain Basin Program issued its State of the Lake report Wednesday afternoon. Its general assessment of ecosystem indicators is that there has been progress but threats still face the lake.

The 2012 State of the Lake Report assessed phosphorus loading, mercury levels in fish and wildlife, the impact of invasive species and algae bloom impact on human use of Lake Champlain. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz.

EPA Region 1 representative Steven Perkins says the report helps the regional office aggregate data regarding phosphorus loading and the Total Maximum Daily Load limits into Lake Champlain.

The report is compiled by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.  Director Bill Howland presented a summary of the report.

The report found that severe flooding in 2011 increased phosphorus loads into the lake. Lake Champlain International Executive Director James Ehlers is disappointed with the report.