State of the Lake 2008 For the Currents of Change – Narragansett Bay Estuary Program

The Lake Champlain Basin The Basin:  The Basin:  21,326 square kilometers The Lake:  The Lake:  1,127 square kilometers  Over 122 meters deep  965+ kilometers of shoreline  193 kilometers long

Lake Champlain Lake Champlain Lake Segments: The Lake is divided into five distinct areas, each with different physical and chemical characteristics and water quality. Drinking Water Use: 200,000 people or about 35% of the Basin population, depend on Lake Champlain for drinking water. Population in the Basin: 571,000 in About 68% live in Vermont, 27% in New York, and 5% in Quebec. Density is about 61 people per sq. mi.

Missisquoi Bay Greatly exceed P target Seasonal BGA blooms Extensive agriculture South Lake Exceeds P targets Excess weed growth Water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil Much of the watershed is intensively farmed Inland Sea/Northeast Arm Exceeds P targets Seasonal BGA blooms Eurasian watermilfoil Extensive agriculture and urban areas

Where is P coming from? Where is P coming from? Point sources = 10%

Nonpoint sources = 90% Where is P coming from? Where is P coming from?

Land Use Study Land Use in 2001 –66% Forest –14% Agricultural –5% Urban Land Use Change since 1992 –urban land increased by 2% –Agricultural land decreased by 5% Phosphorus loading estimates 2001 –Urban/suburban 46% –Agricultural 38% Previous estimates from 1991 study: –Urban/suburban 37% –Agricultural 56% Updating the Lake Champlain Basin Land Use Data to Improve Prediction of Phosphorus Loading. LCBP Technical Report #54 Troy et al. 2007

Is Blue Green Algae a Problem? Yes, especially in Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, and smaller northeastern bays, but most of Lake has never had a dense bloom Skin irritant at low exposure levels. If ingested in quantity: gastrointestinal problems and serious liver/nervous system damage. Alert System relies on collaborative research funded by LCBP and the Province of Quebec. A Health Risk?

What are our Management Responses? Education/Outreach Farm Best Management Practices Urban Best Management Practices Wastewater Treatment

Can I eat the Fish? Yes, but: Fish consumption advisories are issued due to concentrations of PCBs and Mercury VTANR, NYSDEC and QC MDDEP monitor toxin concentrations in various fish Longer-lived, large predatory fish tend to have higher mercury concentrations PCB-related advisories are the result of high PCB concentrations in Cumberland Bay

Which Aquatic Invasive Species Threaten the Lake?