Category Archives: News

News and events around the Lake Champlain Valley of northern New York and Vermont and southern Quebec

Coast Guard Seeks Help Finding Prank Callers

uscg 1 The Coast Guard is trying to determine the source of calls broadcast over marine emergency channels that proved to be false alarms. Using these channels is like dialing 911 on the water,

The Coast Guard wants to identify the caller or callers to ensure safety on Lake Champlain and other waterways, as well as to ensure the emergency system is not being abused.

During the last two weeks of May Lake Champlain the Coast Guard station in Burlington, Vermont, received radio broadcasts of:

A claim that the caller’s boat was taking on water and that the boater saw a great white shark in Lake Champlain’s fresh waters.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday”

“Mayday, mayday. Iceberg straight ahead… two crazy people on the bow, kissing,”

The Coast Guard said there is a serious punishment to match the crime of misusing emergency channels. A conviction comes with the potential of prison time and hefty fines, plus the cost of the unnecessary search in some cases.

“If we’re responding to a false claim of distress at the southern end of the lake and there’s an actual distress on the northern end, we’d have to divert and call in another crew. And it could cost someone’s life because we’re searching for someone who’s not there or in actual distress.” ~ Coast Guard Machinery Technician Third Class, Michael Knight

Knight pointed out the Coast Guard must handle even suspicious calls as if they are real. “It’s not a joke, it’s a crime,” he said. Knight also suggested parents watch their children playing with radios on boats, reminding them that emergency frequencies are not for fun.

150419 Coast Guard Station Burlington Vermont assist Burlington Fire Dept , rescue injured hikers-S

U. S. Coast Guard crew stationed in Burlington Vermont assist the Burlington Fire Dept , with the rescue injured hikers last month

Anyone who knows more about the calls is asked to call the Coast Guard’s northern New England sector at 207-767-0303.

Other Lake Champlain News:

EPA Focusing on Farm Phosphorus Runoff For Lake Champlain Cleanup

Farm Phosphorus Runoff Targeted in EPA Findings

Last year Vermont proposed a Lake Champlain water quality improvement plan, as required by the Clean Water Act, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But the EPA’s pollution models showed that the plan would not restore the water quality to the state standards in either the South Lake and Missisquoi Bay watersheds.

“Those segments of the lake will require significant reductions,” ~ Dave Deegan, from EPA’s New England Regional Office.

Blue green algae blooms are caused by nutrients dumped into waterways by farm phosphorus runoff

Fertilizer runoff from farms will be targeted in these areas, state officials say. In some areas where agriculture accounts for most of the phosphorus flowing into lake, farmers will have to exceed current legal obligations to reduce runoff and erosion from their farms.

“Our presence is going to be increased. The actions on the part of farmers will be amplified,” ~ Chuck Ross, Vermont Agriculture Secretary

Vermont’s New Water Quality Bill

Vermont’s new Water Quality Bill calls for funding 8 new positions at the Agency of Agriculture, this year. According to Vermont Agriculture Secretary, Chuck Ross the agency will travel to these watersheds this summer to educate farmers about the legally required practices to prevent pollution.

Unprotected farm fields yield topsoil as well as farm phosphorus runoff and other potential pollutants when heavy rains occur.

When those new efforts are not enough, he said the state will ask farmers to implement other measures that could include cover cropping, planting wider buffers between waterways, rotating different crops or taking land out of production. Ross said he expects some might choose to sell their farms instead of making the required changes.

But he added that the practices would be unique to each farm and targeted to those areas where they can improve water quality.

Farmers will have financial support this year for water quality protection projects. Last year the state received more than $60 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants over five years for conservation projects to prevent soil erosion and fertilizer runoff. Ross said there is also state and federal money available to help farmer put land into conservation and transition from one type of farming to another.

Vermont will offer a new plan designed to help curb phosphorus runoff from farms in these most polluted sections of Lake Champlain. The state hopes to provide the EPA with an updated plan in the next two weeks, according to David Mears, Vermont commissioner for the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Will The New Measures Meet the EPA Standards?

The EPA will review that updated plan before it issues a total maximum daily load value (TMDL) for public review and comment. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant a body of water can accept and still meet quality standards. The EPA also intends to work with Vermont and review the newly passed Water Quality Bill before issuing the TMDL value.

The Water Quality Bill sets a timeline for the agency to propose new rules to protect water quality. If signed into law, the agency would:

by July 2016 set standards including mandatory cover cropping, exclusion of livestock from waterways and requirement that manure spreaders be certified.
by July 2017 require that small farms be certified for compliance with water quality laws.

According to the EPA, the new legislation, in addition to other initiatives that state agencies are working on, create additional measures to reduce phosphorus and build a ‘sturdy foundation’ for restoring water quality in Lake Champlain.

More Lake Champlain News:

Great Lakes Scientists Warn of Microbeads Threat

Conference Addresses Microbeads Pollution

Microbead

The 58th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research was held in Burlington, Vermont last week. One of the key concerns addressed at the meeting is the danger posed to lakes by plastic pollution.

Experts claim that about 80% of the human-made debris found in the Great Lakes is plastic, that ranges from tiny microbeads to bottles and plastic wrap (‘Meeting in Vt., Lake Scientists Warn of Plastic Wastes’ – Times~Argus).

Microbeads, which have been used in cosmetics and household goods, can attract toxic chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides, which then find their way into the food chain according to the scientists.

Great Lakes Scientists Warn of Microbeads Threat Vermont recently banned the sale of products containing microbeads (see: ‘VT Legislators Looking to Ban Microbeads in Vermont‘ ), and New York State’s Attorney General has called for a ban in that state as well.

More Lake Champlain News:

‘Reel Fun’ from Vermont State Parks and Vermont Fish and Wildlife

‘Reel Fun’ at Vermont State Parks

'Reel Fun' at Vermont State Parks Vermont State Parks and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are joining forces to promote fishing opportunities for campers and visitors at Vermont’s state parks with their new ‘Reel Fun’ program.

‘Reel Fun’ encourages park visitors to take advantage of easily accessible, family-friendly fishing opportunities available at most Vermont State Parks.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Vermont Fish & Wildlife to help make fishing more accessible to anglers at Vermont State Parks. There’s a strong history of recreational angling at our state parks and we want to continue to bolster that tradition through the ‘Reel Fun’ program. Whether you want to fish from shore or take out one of our canoes, kayaks or paddleboats, we hope that you will make fishing at a state park a must-do activity this summer.” ~ Craig Whipple, director of state parks, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation.

Along with the ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ clinics featuring trained instructors, 10 state parks will now provide loaner fishing equipment to visitors. Included in the equipment are rods, reels, fishing line and an assortment of lures or baits that can be signed out by park visitors to help provide instant access to some great fishing opportunities.

Park visitors will also have access to a fishing guide publication developed by Vermont Fish & Wildlife for the body of water at that park. The guide will include information about the waterbody, a lake or river map, a list of present fish species, applicable fishing tips and techniques for that waterway, and information about obtaining a Vermont fishing license.

‘Reel Fun’ Participating Vermont State Parks

'Reel Fun' at Vermont State Parks In addition to Grand Isle State Park on Lake Champlain, the following state parks will be participating in ‘Reel Fun’ in 2015: Lake Carmi State Park, Stillwater State Park on Groton Lake, Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore, Silver Lake State Park, Wilgus State Park on the Connecticut River, Half Moon State Park on Half Moon Pond, Lake St. Catherine State Park, Woodford State Park on Adams Reservoir and Brighton State Park on Spectacle Pond.

“From my personal experience camping and fishing with my family, I can attest that Vermont’s state parks and fishing are a natural combination, The ‘Reel Fun’ program will help to make fishing in our state parks an easy option to anyone who might want to try it out.” ~ Eric Palmer, director of fisheries with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

‘Reel Fun VT’ Photo Contest

The program also includes a ‘Reel Fun VT’ photo contest where visitors can submit photos of themselves fishing at state parks. Three winners will be chosen at the end of the summer. The first place winner will receive two starter fishing kits as well as a weekend of free camping in a Vermont State Park. The second place winner will receive one starter fishing kit and a 2016 season vehicle pass for Vermont State Parks. Lastly, the third place winner will also receive a starter fishing kit and a punch card good for 10 visits to any Vermont State Park.

Visitors can submit ‘Reel Fun VT’ photos via email to fwinformation@state.vt.us or parks@state.vt.us, or can use #ReelFunVT to tag photos on Twitter.

Vermont Days are ‘Reel Fun’

Vermont Days, the weekend of June 13 and 14, is a great opportunity for park guests to experience fishing in Vermont State Parks. To find out more about Vermont Days, visit https://vermontvacation.com/vermont-days. June 13 is also Free Fishing Day in Vermont where any resident or non-resident can fish without a license.

To find out more about Vermont State Parks, make a camping reservation or learn about day use, visit http://www.vtstateparks.com/index.htm. To learn more about fishing in Vermont or to purchase a fishing license, visit http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

2015 Mayor’s Cup Festival And Sailing Regatta On Lake Champlain

Mayor’s Cup Festival And Sailing Regatta 2015

The 38th annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta and Festival will be held July 9th – 12th. The Plattsburgh event is the one of the largest festivals in the North Country and is the largest sailing race on Lake Champlain. Mayor’s Cup events in downtown Plattsburgh and on Lake Champlain will feature a boat parade and sailboat regatta.

For the past 23 years the Mayor’s Cup sailing events have been coordinated by Sunrise Rotary. Sunrise Rotary formed partnerships with the city and various organizations to streamline events after funding declined due to the recession. While the Sunrise Rotary coordinates water activities, the city handles with events on land. This year those plans include a movie night, soccer challenge, fun run, fireworks and concerts headlined by the Grammy-nominated Gibson Brothers.

“This has been a long-standing partnership between the city and Sunrise Rotary. We’re committed to maintaining that partnership. We really think that our creation of the Events Coordinator position is critical to really take things to the next level. We think over time the model that has been represented here is going to spread to other weekends and other events throughout the year. So it’s a great partnership between a service club and the city and we’re really, really proud of how all that works.” ~ Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon

The sailboat racing part of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta and Festival has taken on a smaller role in the event. At one time the sailing regatta attracted more than 100 racing boats. But now there are far fewer participants. Now there are more pleasure sailors on Lake Champlain and fewer racers.

2015 Mayor’s Cup Festival And Sailing Regatta On Lake Champlain 3

Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon said the Mayor’s Cup is one of the city’s signature events and it is important to partner with numerous groups to revitalize it. For more info visit Mayor’s Cup Regatta and Festival.

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Category Archives: News