Agency Details:

Lake Champlain Committee

The Lake Champlain Committee is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization working to protect and restore Lake Champlain's health through advocacy, education,and research. A clean lake, an accessible lake, sustainable land uses and an ecosystem approach to lake management make our mission.

Description:
For over forty years we have worked across state and national boundaries for drinkable water, swimmable beaches, edible fish and appropriate public access.

During the last year alone, the Lake Champlain Committee:

Provided leadership on efforts to accelerate phosphorus reduction and reclaim the health of Missisquoi and St. Albans Bays and the South Lake. LCC's State of the Lake Report Card, blue green algae monitoring program, and phosphorus reduction campaign all were key in putting the spotlight on these unaddressed regions of the lake and prompting policy leaders to act.

Maintained and expanded the Lake Champlain Paddlers' Trail. LCC opened the Trail in 1996 to provide a safe recreational corridor for human-powered craft. Today the Trail has 30 locations and more than 250 campsites available to paddlers. LCC publishes an annual guidebook and has an active stewardship program to maintain Trail sites. Our long-term goal is to provide Trail locations every eight to ten miles along the lakeshore.

Engaged citizens in lake clean up through projects like our Lake Protection Program. Over 500 people have taken the pledge to date promising to use non-phosphate dishwasher detergent, get a soil test before fertilizing their lawns, scoop up after their pets and take individual action towards improving water quality. You can take the pledge too by signing up online at www.LakeChamplainPledge.org.

Raised awareness of lake issues. LCC's Lake Look column is currently carried in 26 local and regional newspapers, reaching an audience of over 180,000. The columns have covered a wide range of topics from blue green algae blooms to cormorants. They help make the science of how the lake functions accessible to lay citizens so they can make well-informed decisions.

Continued our Blue Green Algae Monitoring Program. With the help of volunteers and the University of Vermont's Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, LCC is compiling important data that will add to understanding of why and how toxic blooms happen.

Contact people:

Jeanne Stark, Office Manager, (802) 658-1414, (email) Lori Fisher, Executive Director, (802) 658-1414, (email)

Office fax number: (802) 658-1405

Address:

106 Main St., Suite 200 Burlington, VT 05401-8434 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org

Miscellaneous Information

1. What target populations does your agency serve?
	Residents of and visitors to the Lake Champlain Basin.
3. How many paid staff (FTE) do you have?
	3
4. Please indicate your organization type:
	Independent 501 (c)3
How many clients do you serve annually?
	Over 2,500
Volunteers for this agency can serve in these county(s):
	Chittenden County

Last updated on March 31, 2009