Tag Archives: Champlain Islands

John Guilmette Fishing Access Area Closed for Improvements

John Guilmette Fishing Access Area Closed for Improvements

John Guilmette Fishing Access Area Closed for Improvements

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is making improvements to the John Guilmette Fishing Access area on Lake Champlain in South Hero and will close the area for at least two months while the planned improvements are being made.

When the area reopens, it will feature an expanded two-lane concrete boat ramp and a 70-foot dock. A redesigned parking lot will better accommodate persons with disabilities. The closure will begin immediately and may last through the winter, depending on fall weather conditions.

“We purchased this land nearly two years ago from private landowners who were operating the site as a boat ramp. This is a great location for people to access the Inland Sea, and acquisition was a critical step in maintaining this access for boaters and anglers, but the site was in serious need of upgrades. We think anglers and boaters will be very happy to see these improvements made.” ~ Mike Wichrowski, lands and facilities coordinator, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

John Guilmette Fishing Access Area Closed for Improvements - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration Program

The construction project at John Guilmette Fishing Access area is being funded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration Program. These funds are generated as part of an excise tax on fishing equipment, boats and motors, and marine fuel taxes.

To purchase a Vermont fishing license or to find out more about fishing opportunities in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

 

 

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Lake Champlain sunset from Alburgh, Vermont

Lake Champlain sunset from Alburgh

 

 

Lake Champlain sunset from Alburgh, VT
photo by Mary Fortin

We think that the sunsets from Alburgh, Vermont have got to be among the most beautiful anywhere. Sometimes we almost take them for granted… almost.

Then along comes a sunset like this one captured by our friend Mary. It is absolutely indescribable. Thanks for sharing Mary!

 

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Lake Champlain Morning at the Sandbar

Photo of Lake Champlain morning at the Sandbar

Lake Champlain morning at the Sandbar
Photo by Betsy Dall

The Causeway at the Sandbar is busiest access to the Lake Champlain Islands from the Vermont ‘mainland’. It connects Milton and Colchester, Vermont with the southernmost of the Island towns, South Hero, Vermont.

 

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Ed Weed Fish Culture Station Improvement to Improve Health of Lake Champlain Salmon

Ed Weed Fish Culture Station Improvement to Benefit Lake Champlain’s Salmon

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department expects that an upgrade at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle, Vermont will improve the health of the salmon population in Lake Champlain.

 

 

fish trap at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle.
Fish Culture Operations Chief Adam Miller with a landlocked Atlantic salmon
from the newly-installed fish trap at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle.

 

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department hatchery staff, fisheries biologists and other officials recently joined forces to construct a fish trap on the station’s discharge stream, Hatchery Brook. The trap will help to improve the collection process for adult salmon when they return to the brook to spawn.

After collection, the adult salmon will be used to reproduce and provide fertilized eggs at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle, where the eggs will be hatched and the young salmon raised before their return to Lake Champlain.

“Being able to collect fish in a safe, efficient and effective way for both staff and salmon is key to our overall fisheries management plan. The improvements we’ve completed at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station allow us to meet these objectives more effectively and ultimately produce healthy salmon for our Lake Champlain restoration efforts.” ~ Adam Miller, fish culture operations chief with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

Former collection methods required more handling, put more stress on the fish, and were less efficient for hatchery staff and biologists.

“The new fish trap decreases the risk of injuries to adult salmon from handling and increases the health and condition of parent fish used to provide fertilized eggs to our hatchery system”. It should also decrease the stress on eggs taken from parent fish, which may improve egg survival rates in the hatchery.” ~ Chet MacKenzie, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.

The fish trap will also help fisheries biologists more efficiently collect data  from large numbers of returning salmon. The data collected will feature lamprey wounding rates, fish size, abundance and age structure – aiding the department’s assessment of salmon restoration efforts.

Ed Weed Fish Culture Station Improvement to benefit Lake Champlain Salmon

Landlocked Salmon, Salmo salar

The fish trap will also serve as an education tool. The public will be able to see fish when the trap is in operation, learn about salmon restoration efforts at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station and in Lake Champlain, and learn about fish culture and the impacts of invasive species.

According to Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner, Louis Porter, “We are always looking for ways to protect and improve the health and number of fish and other wildlife in the most efficient ways possible. These improvements in how we trap fish, so we can collect and fertilize salmon eggs were developed by hatchery staff and fisheries biologists, and their efforts to come together to put in place cost-effective solutions to improve our work will benefit the salmon population for years to come.”

To purchase a Vermont fishing license or to find out more about fishing opportunities in Vermont, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.


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South Hero Stone Castles

Stone Castles in South Hero, Vermont

South Hero Stone Castles 1

The Lake Champlain Islands are well-known for their water sports, fishing and spectacular sunsets but they have something a casual tourist (or local) might not expect… castles. In the town of South Hero stone castles are scattered throughout, but they are very small and are hard to find.

I remember driving along West Shore Road in South Hero about 25 years ago and seeing miniature castles, bird feeders, planters and fountains made of stone. I wondered why there were so many of these works of art in such a small area. Was this a local custom, or were they the work of one person?

Well, here’s the story:

A Change of Plan

Harry Barber was born in Switzerland and always had a strong fondness for the castles found throughout the country. After he was injured in a mining accident, and received a large settlement from the government in the 1920’s, he decided he wanted to travel to Chile in South America. On his way through France he was robbed, and decided he would work his way to the Americas aboard a freighter. The only one that he could find was bound for Montreal – a long way from his dream of Chile.

South Hero Stone Castles

After arriving in Montreal, he began his journey to Chile on foot, and traveled south into Vermont. When he reached Grand Isle he met a young woman selling fruit. She saw that he was hungry, and offered him an orange.

Appreciative of her kindness, Harry decided to stay in the Islands for a while. With the woman’s help, he found work as a farm hand on nearby Providence Island, just off the coast of South Hero. He continued to see the girl, and fell in love with her. They eventually married and bought a home in South Hero.

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Harry Barber’s Passion

Harry worked at a variety of jobs, but his true passion was always the castles that he remembered from his homeland. He created miniature buildings from local Vermont field stone. He was a passionate gardener and groundskeeper, and often loved to enhance the look of his properties by constructing beautiful castles, fountains and stone walls made from local field stone. The South Hero stone castles, of course, were all modeled after the castles of his homeland. He put such craftsmanship and detail into them, that he soon developed a reputation. Soon, he worked for wealthy patrons – building his miniature castles on their lawns or near their gardens. He also built a few fountains.

South Hero Stone Castles

 

Harry became truly inspired by his passion of constructing these castles, and tried unsuccessfully to persuade a local museum to display some of his work. But the museum turned him down, and told him they were not interested. Devastated, he committed suicide in 1966 at the age of 66. Though his motives were unclear, some say it was due to a broken heart. He deemed himself a failure after being rejected.

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The South Hero Stone Castles Today

South Hero Stone Castles

But Harry’s passion lives on. There are still some of these fountains and planters displayed on the lawns of several homes in South Hero. You can see examples of his passionate craftsmanship by touring the south end of South Hero, especially along West Shore Road.

Many of his original  stone castles in South Hero, along with his planters and water fountains can still be seen scattered around many lawns or properties. The exact number of structures he built, and the number of those that survive are unknown. Most are on private property, and trespassing is inappropriate;  others are hidden behind obstructions like plants. They are beautiful and unique reminders of a man with a dream and a fascinating story.

“Five castles, three houses, and several garden structures remain in the Islands. They vary in complexity. Some castles feature glazed windows, interior fireplaces, or dungeons. Others are wired for electricity and have the capability of running water in the moat. … All his creations are privately owned, and public access is not permitted; however four out of the five castles can be seen from the road.”   –  From a brochure issued by the Lake Champlain Bikeways.

South Hero Stone Castles

 

 

Other Articles About Lake Champlain Islands:   List of Lake Champlain's Islands