Category Archives: News

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

Burlington Waterfront Park Power Lines Coming Down

Power lines coming down from Burlington Waterfront Park

The view at Burlington’s Waterfront Park will soon be improved!

After 56 years of service on the waterfroint, power lines and utility poles are being removed offering an unobstructed view of New York’s Adirondack Mountains across Lake Champlain.

Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell says the lines are being removed from Waterfront Park due to upgrades to the transmission system throughout Chittenden County. These upgrades have made it possible to reliably operate without the lines marring the scenic waterfront.

City of Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger says the work will enhance the beauty of Waterfront Park and the northern waterfront for the enjoyment of the community and visitors.

EPA Head in VT to Discuss Lake Champlain Clean-up Plans

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in Vermont

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is in Vermont today to talk about plans for cleaning up Lake Champlain.

McCarthy, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is meeting Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and other officials to begin a ‘Call To Action’ meeting with representatives of other federal agencies. The group will develop action plans to reduce pollution and harmful algae blooms in Lake Champlain.

EPA Assistance for Lake Champlain Clean-up

McCarthy is expected to offer technical assistance from the EPA to help the city of Burlington take a more “integrated approach to stormwater and wastewater” projects.

“EPA is committed to helping communities meet their requirements and goals for water projects that benefit public health, the environment, and the local economy, Integrated planning provides the important flexibility that cities and towns need to address water challenges in an efficient and effective manner.” ~ Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator

Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator

Integrated planning lets communities sequence projects so they can begin the highest priority ones first. EPA technical assistance will help recipients meet Clean Water Act requirements for water management in a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial way. In the past, EPA, states and municipalities focused on meeting each Clean Water Act requirement separately, an approach that might have kept communities from addressing the most serious water issues first.

Burlington, Vermont Selected for EPA Program

Burlington was one of five communities selected from around the country to participate in the project. The award to Burlington was based on its proposal to evaluate the financial capability to fund an integrated stormwater and wastewater program; to develop criteria for prioritizing community wastewater and stormwater needs based on social, economic and environmental factors; to develop a list of example projects that rank highly based on these criteria; and to evaluate innovative methods for pollutant reduction.

After a meeting at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington, McCarthy is going to visit St. Albans Bay, which was particularly hard-struck by blue-green algae this past summer.

Read more info about the EPA technical assistance program.

Burlington Bike Path Upgrades Begin

Burlington Bike Path Expansion & Enhancements Break Ground

Governor Peter Shumlin, other State and City of Burlington officials, and bike path stakeholders broke ground in Waterfront Park on the first phase of a multi-year effort to completely rebuild, expand, and Burlington’s eight mile Bike Path. State tax increment financing (TIF) funds are funding the first phase of Burlington’s recreational crown jewel’s rebuilding project: improving user safety, and continuing the annual economic impact benefit for the city.

“The Burlington Bike Path is a jewel in this great City and a treasure for our whole state. The State of Vermont was glad to make TIF funding – a true economic generator – available for the Burlington Bike Path expansion and enhancements to make sure it continues to be a top destination for recreation and a community resource for years to come.” ~ Governor Peter Shumlin

Burlington Bike Path

Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith praised Mayor Miro Weinberger and other municipal leaders for making smart investments in Burlington’s future, calling the project “… an excellent example of what municipalities can accomplish when working in partnership with the State. I look forward to engaging with our partners to find more opportunities to improve our downtown destinations.”

“Creation of the bike path nearly 30 years ago was an act of leadership, foresight, struggle, and innovation, and a big step towards making Burlington a great City. It’s now our responsibility to ensure proper, long-term stewardship of this remarkable public resource by improving it to meet the 21st century infrastructure expectations of the people of Burlington and the thousands of visitors who use the path every year.” ~ Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

The newly-widened path will consist of asphalt (11 feet wide) and two-foot gravel shoulders on either side, will be built to much higher engineering standards than the original bike path, and will yield higher capacity and more varied user types. Jesse Bridges, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director said that he is “excited by these ambitious plans. User surveys we have conducted have told us that lake views, the bike path, and beaches are the most important assets we manage. To meet growing demand for these healthy pursuits, we must enhance the quality of our design and continue to increase opportunities.”

Waterfront Park

Improvements to The Burlington Bike Path

Wider path: The current path cross-section varies from 8-10 feet, with and without non-formalized shoulders. After rehabilitation, the path will have the 2-11-2 cross section mentioned above, with full-depth reconstruction, wherever conditions permit.
Higher engineering standards: Improved longevity, security, and appearance due to consistent sub-base, uniform top coat, proper slope to better accommodate stormwater flow, formal aggregate shoulders, centerline striping, and delineation paint.
Safety enhancements: Intersection improvements and new path alignments,.
Improved connections: Between the bike path and city parks, the lake, and cultural resources.
Improved Signage: New signage and visual demarcations to enhance the user experience.
Pause places: Special places along the path to create more opportunities for enjoyment. These will include rest stops, information stops, and pocket parks; they will offer varied amenities such as information kiosks, seating, drinking fountains, and artwork.

Burlington Bike Path Phase 1 Plans

Phase 1a construction will start now in Waterfront Park, and crews will work their way south to Perkins Pier, meeting substantial completion next spring. The cost of this work is $644,975.

During 2015, Parks and Recreation expects to complete any remaining Phase 1a construction items and begin/complete Phase 1b construction from the south end of the Urban Reserve (adjacent to the Waterfront Access North site) to North Beach. Phase 1b is anticipated to cost more than Phase 1a because there will be more full-depth reconstruction involved.

Total TIF allocation for path rehabilitation from Perkins Pier through the Urban Reserve is $2.84 million for design and construction.

Future Phases of Rehabilitation

The overall cost of the full bike path rehabilitation is estimated between $12-16 million.
Funding of future phases will require more action. The Administration will be coming forward soon with a plan to fund the next phase of rehabilitation to begin in spring 2016.

Burlington Bike Path Timeline

Burlington Bike Path – repairs 2012-13

1985-1986: The original bike path was constructed .
2004: Burlington and Colchester Trail Bridge over the Winooski River was built and opened.
2010: Bike Path Task Force recommended a $12-16 million expansion and enhancement plan to bring the bike path up to modern standards.
April 2011: Lake Champlain flooding severely damaged five sections of the bike path.
2012: Burlington voters approved up to $2.84 million of TIF investment in the bike path expansion and enhancement from Perkins Pier to the northern boundary of the Urban Reserve. Voters also approved an annual allocation of approximately $173,000 for maintenance and improvement of the bike path.
2012-2013: major bike path and slope stabilization repairs completed, mostly funded through FEMA.
2012-2014: conceptual design for the entire bike path completed; design development and permitting per construction phase remains ongoing.

Canada Geese Visit Lake Champlain

Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are one of the more common birds seen around the Lake Champlain Valley, especially during their spring and fall migrations. Lake Champlain is considered part of the Atlantic Flyway, which is one of the major flight corridors for migratory birds. Canada geese, like these stopping in Alburgh, Vermont, depend on Lake Champlain to provide rest and food on their journey.

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Lake Champlain Transportation to minimize air emissions and pay penalty

Lake Champlain Transportation Co. Clean Air Settlements to Minimize Emissions

Lake Champlain Transportation Co. Ferry Dock

E.P.A.: Boston 15 Sept. 2014 – The Lake Champlain Transportation Company, which operates ship repair and painting facilities in Burlington and Shelburne, Vermont, will act to minimize air emissions and protect air quality additionally L.C.T.C. will pay $100,000 in penalties to resolve EPA claims of both federal and state clean air violations.

The company, which operates ferry boat services for passengers and vehicles between Vermont and New York, performs maintenance on its ferry boats at the facilities, ithat includes coating operations using paint spray guns.

Specifically, EPA alleged that Lake Champlain Transportation Co. violated the federal Clean Air Act “National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants” (NESHAP) for Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Facilities by using paints with hazardous air pollutant contents greater than the allowable limits, failing to keep required records of paint usage, and failing to submit a written notification, implementation plan and semi-annual reports to state and federal officials.

EPA also alleged that the company violated Vermont Air Pollution Control Regulations by failing to comply with volatile organic compound coating limits, and by failing to apply for and obtain permits at the time the company acquired new paint spray guns in 2005 and 2009. In addition, EPA alleged that Lake Champlain Transportation failed to apply for and obtain a Clean Air Act Title V operating permit.

To address the violations identified by EPA, Lake Champlain Transportation Co. will submit an implementation plan to EPA outlining how it will comply with the NESHAP. The company will also apply for permits from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Future compliance with clean air standards will help reduce health risks from the emission of these chemicals.

Many of the chemicals used by Lake Champlain Transportation Co. are both hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. Exposure to hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds can cause a variety of health problems. Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ozone, exposure to which can damage lung tissue and reduce lung function. Children, the elderly, people with lung disease, and people with asthma are most susceptible.

More information on EPA Clean Air Act enforcement: http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/index.html

Lake Champlain Life

Exploring Life on and Around Lake Champlain