Lake Champlain Matters                                            September 2010


Greetings!

As you will see in this month's issue of "Lake Champlain Matters," it has been a busy and productive summer for us at Lake Champlain International, Inc.  We are continuing to ensure Lake Champlain is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable through our education and outreach efforts, be they formal lectures, children's programs, pollution prevention programs, restoration coalitions, or events.  In addition, we honor the outdoor heritage of our home through the celebration of family, friends, and fishing. 
 
This month, I ask for your help.  Please tell us if there is an issue of concern to you that you believe deserves our attention or provide us with feedback on our events or programs.  The lake and the many rivers and streams that feed it belong to all of us, and I personally want to ensure our energy and your support are directed best.  Your opinion matters. Lake Champlain matters.  I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter.
 
Thank you for continued support.
 
Respectfully, Your Executive Director,
James Ehlers
 
James Ehlers
 
Editor's Note-You can reach James at [email protected] or by phone or by mail.  The number and address are at the end of this newsletter.

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NLCAC Awards James Ehlers, Executive Director Of LCI, Clean and Clear Award 
NLCAC Award Photo
Pictured from left:Pictured above from left: David Borthwick-Leslie, Vice Chair, NLCAC; James Ehlers, Executive Director, LCI;  Gov. Jim Douglas; Don Weaver, Chair, NLCAC; and Larry Dupont, Vice Chair, NLCAC.


The Northern Lake Champlain Advisory Committee (NLCAC) couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to host the 9th International Northern Lake Coalition "Future of the Lake" event Saturday, August 14th, 2010. This year, Governor Jim Douglas was on hand as the NLCAC awarded Lake Champlain International's Executive Director, James Ehlers, the prestigious Northern Lake Champlain Clean and Clear Award. 
Read more
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11th Annual LCI Bass Open
Bass BoatsThis all-day event is open to anglers of any ability. Experience bass fishing at its best and the reason why Outdoor Life Magazine lists Lake Champlain as "one of the best bass fishing destinations in the country...it's a beautiful lake that all anglers must visit once in their lives." So hook up with a partner and head out to the Malletts Bay Boat Launch on September 5th to try your luck.

Two-person teams are encouraged to register online soon and prepare to head out to Malletts Bay to angle for your six best bass.  This is an exciting one-day event with a guaranteed cash prize of $3,000.00  for first place!  There are additional cash prizes for the first 15 places, including both small and largemouth bass categories, based on at least 90 pre-registered teams participating.

Go to LCI's website to register and learn more
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LCBP releases $840,00 in Local Grants

LCBP Logo
This week LCBP released several requests for proposals, seeking to award up to $840,000 in local pollution prevention, aquatic invasive species spread prevention, and education grants.
 
Funding for the grants comes through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. The amount of the grant awards for pollution prevention and aquatic invasive species grants has increased to $25,000 this year and education grants will be capped at $7,500.  

Read More  or go to: www.lcbp.org/grants.htm for more information 
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RBFF Annual Report
RBFF Logo
 
 
 
 
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is proud to present their 2010 Stakeholder Annual Report. 

RBFF 2010 Stakeholder Annual Report is committed to increasing participation in boating and fishing, and their annual report provides stakeholders with information about the important work they do to inspire action among newcomers, as well as lapsed, occasional and avid participants. The 2010 report covers; an overview of the year's top achievements for Take Me  Fishing™ and Anglers' Legacy™ outreach, programs and products; information about NEW projects on the horizon; and a review of financials.

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LCI Sponsor AFTCO and Guy Harvey Raise
$500,000 to Help Gulf Fisheries
Aftco Logo AFTCO Bluewater, an official sponsor of LCI's Father's Day Fishing Derby, the official licensee and manufacturer of Guy Harvey fishing clothing, fishing t-shirts, and coastal
lifestyle apparel, and Guy Harvey, known as the world's premier marine wildlife artist and renown marine biologist and conservationist, today announced that in just one month they sold out of 50,000 special edition
Guy Harvey "Save Our Gulf"fishing T-shirts. $10 of each shirt sold was donated to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), for a total of $500,000 that will be used to support needed marine life research in the Gulf of Mexico. Read More
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Larry Greene Dedication Ceremony
Larry Greene Sign
The late Larry Greene, a former president of the Lake Champlain Walleye Association, was honored on August 19 when a Lake Champlain fishing access area in West Swanton at the east end of the Route 78 bridge was renamed in recognition of his contributions to walleye fishing in Lake Champlain.  

"Dedicating the Larry Greene Fishing Access is an honor in memory a man who contributed greatly to the restoration of walleye fishing in Lake Champlain," said Governor Jim Douglas.  "Larry Greene had a real vision for the long term, and today we are seeing the results with tremendous progress on the walleye restoration project due to his planning and effort.  Let's keep Larry Greene in mind as we think about the future of Lake Champlain and our state."

Read more
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Work Begins at Pine Street Canal,
Burlington, VT

Repairs on the underwater cap at the Pine Street Canal Superfund Site are scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 16 and run through the end of November. The initial cleanup, performed in 2003 and 2004, has been largely effective in preventing contamination that exists beneath the canal from moving into the canal, but oily sheens and globules of coal tar have been observed periodically in a 450-foot long portion of the canal since 2005.
 Read more

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Google gives LCI Grant;
 $120,00 in Advertising
 
 

On August 11th, 2010, Lake Champlain International, Inc. was awarded a grant of $1000 worth of Google Ad space each month for a year.That $120, 000 in ad space!
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Sponsored By:North Hero House logoVisit them at www.northherohouse.com
or call toll free
1-888-525-3644


In This Issue
NLCAC Awards Ehlers with Clean and Clear Award
11th Annual LCI Bass Open
LCBP releases $840,00 in Local Grants
RBFF Annual Report
LCI Sponsor raises $.5 million for Gulf Fisheries
Larry Greene Dedication Ceremony
Pine Street Canal
LCI Awarded $120,000 in Grants by Google
Just_BLUE_it!
Bass Mortality in Small Tournaments
Photo of the Month
LCI In the News
EPA Releases Draft Strategy for Clean Water
Become an LCI Member
Sign Lamprey and Missisquoi Petitions
About LCI


Join our Mailing list
New Auction Item
Bidding Starts
September 1st, 2010

Waterfront Painting
Kathleen Berry Bergeron, a local watercolor artist, has donated this beautiful water color painting entitled "Waterfront" for LCI's online Auction.

The painting is limited edition signed and numbered Giclee Print . Artist proof #1/950 matted and shrink wrapped. Dimensions:  11"x14".

Kathleen is Champlain Valley Fair's 2010 Artist in Highlight, and well known for her beautiful watercolor landscapes of Vermont.
Go to Auction
Quick Links
Bass Open Ad 1

Poll
Question:
Should agriculture be held to the same water pollution regulations and standards as other industries and businesses?  
 
Click here to vote
 
(poll is in the bottom left of the page)

 
Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion.


VOW Doe Camp Abenaki

VOW Logo

Due to low registrations, we have reduced our programs to two full day classes on
September 11, 2010.


There will be a day of shooting at the Alburgh Rod and Gun Club, and a kayak nature tour at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge trip.
 

Good Search
Good Search

Help raise money for Lake Champlain International, Inc. just by searching and shopping online!

Just add Good Search to your browser, its that easy!

Just_BLUE_it! 
BLUE Logo
The summer of 2010 marks an exciting time for Colchester, VT and Malletts Bay. Lake Champlain International (LCI) and Tethys Corporation are working with homeowners to help protect the health and safety of our families through a few simple steps around the house and lawn.This pilot program initiates an innovative method towards managing water pollution runoff, starting at the source. Malletts Bay and its surrounding residents will greatly benefit from the ongoing positive results of BLUESM.

LCI, the recipient of a Clean and Clear grant, chose Tethys BLUESM as a framework to expand residential stewardship and help homeowners protect our oceans, bays, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. For more information about Tethys and BLUESM

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Bass Mortality at Small Tournaments
Bass in Tank
Anglers recently voiced concerns to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife after they found several 4 to 7-pound bass floating dead following a recent bass tournament at Ken Lake Marina on Kentucky Lake.

"The fish are stressed before they get caught from the high water temperatures, especially with the hot summer we've had," said Chris Hickey, black bass biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "The ordeal of catching the fish, fighting it, placing it in a livewell for hours, weighing it in and releasing the fish by the marina or ramp into water warmer than where they were is really hard on a bass. They try to make it back home and may not have enough stamina left. Sometimes, they don't ever recover."   Read more
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Photo of the Month
Laurie's Lake Trout
Laurie Lang from St Petersburg, Florida caught this lake trout on the morning of July 30, 2010. The fish weighed 17.95 lbs, and was 34 3/4 inches long.
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Lake Champlain In the News
The news of James Ehlers receiving the NLCAC Clean and Clear Award made everyone in the industry notice:

Burlington Free Press mentioned Jame's award in the article: Movers and Shapers:
Read full article

Fish America LogoFrom twitter Fishing America Foundation wrote;  Congratulations to James Ehlers, ED of @Lake_Champlain for receiving the NLCAC's Clean and Clear Award.
Original Tweet


The Fishing Wire
also ran the article about James' accomplishment of receiving the Clean and Clear award.

The Lake Champlain Islander ran an extensive article highlighting the whole North Hero event
: http://lakechamplainislander.com/index.htm

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EPA Releases Draft Strategy for Clean Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting the public to comment on the agency's draft strategy to protect and restore our nation's lakes, streams and coastal waters. The strategy, "Coming Together for Clean Water: EPA's Strategy for Achieving Clean Water," is designed to chart EPA's path in furthering EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's key priority of protecting America's waters.


The strategy was developed by considering the input and ideas generated at the April "Coming Together for Clean Water" forum as well as comments received through the online discussion forum.  Participants shared their perspectives on how to advance the EPA's clean water agenda focusing on the agency's two priority areas: healthy watersheds and sustainable communities. EPA is now inviting the public to consider and provide their comments on the approaches outlined in the strategy.  

Public comments on the draft strategy should be submitted by September 17. EPA will review all comments and post a final strategy later in the year.

More information go to  http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

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Become an Official LCI Member
 
Lake Champlain International, Inc. logo
In order for Lake Champlain International, Inc. to accomplish its water conservation, fisheries restoration, and advocacy and education objectives, we need your help. By becoming an LCI member, your contribution will help restore the glory of the Champlain fisheries, help raise awareness of the numerous issues facing the lake, assist our youth in  helping to  carry on the heritage of the lake, and be kept up to date with the latest information concerning Lake Champlain's watershed and its communities. You'll also have many opportunities to get involved with LCI during one of its enjoyable fund-raising events, contests, or other membership related events.  
 
Lake Champlain International, Inc. would like to recognize our loyal LCI members who have signed up this month: Michael Goldstein, Larry Dupont, Lisa Lagerquist, and Bruce Cobb
Read more
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Healthy Lake Champlain Ecosystems           
Please Sign Lamprey Petition
lampray2 Please consider signing our petition to continue the progress we are making protecting our salmon fishery from the devastation wreaked by the parasitic sea lamprey.  Tell our elected officials you support a balanced Lake Champlain ecosystem and so should  they. 
 
Sign Lamprey Petition



Please Sign the Missisquoi River Petition
Swanton Dam 2Please consider signing our petition to gain support in restoring the Missisquoi River fisheries. Lake Champlain International, Inc. fully supports exploring the removal of the old dam located in the Village of Swanton, Vermont on the Missisquoi River. We consider removal of this old dam as being necessary to restore fish runs to their historic spawning grounds on the Missisquoi River below Highgate Falls, which will benefit fish and other aquatic species found in the Lake Champlain basin as well as the human community that depends on a healthy lake and river. Read more                        
Sign Missisquoi River Petition


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About Lake Champlain International, Inc.

A community of conservation stewards individually committed to together caring for Champlain's future and traditions ... because a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Lake Champlain is the only option.

a 501(c)(3) organization                          
Lake Champlain International, Inc.
531 Main Street
Colchester, VT 05446
802.879.3466  Fax: 802.879.1746

[email protected]    www.mychamplain.net   LCI on flickr Follow LCI on Twitter   Become a fan on facebook  LCI YouTube Channel




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