WhatsNewLCIWHAT'S NEW WITH LCI                   BACK TO TOP
April 12, 2014 -- March 31, 2015
50 weeks of fishing -- 15 species -- $25,000 cash prizes
 
Fish on any legal, public body of water within the U.S. boundaries of the Lake Champlain Basin. 
The Pollution of Lake Champlain
 CHAMPLAIN VALLEY, VT -- Ever wonder how we wound up with toxic bacterial outbreaks in the waters of Lake Champlain and other lakes in the watershed -- here is a short video history:
LakeChamplainBasinLAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN          BACK TO TOP
Ice Fishing Safety
Safety should always be of concern when you head out ice fishing.  Early season ice is particularly dangerous, so be careful as you head out fishing this winter.  Learn what safe ice thickness is.

State Rejects Petition for New Agricultural Regulations
MONTPELIER, VT -- The Vermont Agency of Agriculture will not require certain farms in the Missisquoi Bay basin to implement agricultural practices designed to improve water quality in Lake Champlain.

Chuck Ross, the secretary of the agency, rejected a petition from an environmental law firm calling on the state to enforce new best management practices to curb manure runoff from farms in the region.

The Conservation Law Foundation petitioned the state to enforce agricultural best management practices, or BMPs, that require farmers to plant cover crops and buffer areas, keep livestock away from waterways and contain manure on farms.

Ross said the state does not have the resources to help farmers comply with the new BMPs. State law requires the agency to provide farmers with financial assistance. Read article and ruling
Franklin County Farm Pays $40,000 in Water Pollution Fines
ENOSBURGH FALLS, VT -- Illegal manure practices will cost a Franklin County farm tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

The Vermont Attorney General, Bill Sorrell, says a video shot by a concerned citizen shows the illegal discharges. Leach Farms in Enosburgh, VT is accused of filling its manure spreaders with water from Bogue Brook, then driving downstream and dumping the dirty, manure laden water back into the waterway.

The AG says that the owners of the farm admitted to the water pollution violation and have agreed to pay $40,000 in fines.  View video
Administration Suggests Fees to Fund Lake Champlain Cleanup
MONTPELIER, VT -- The Shumlin administration has recommended two sources of revenue to pay for plans to improve Lake Champlain's water quality, including a per parcel fee on impervious development and a 1 percent increase in the state's fertilizer tax.

The proposal said the total cost of implementing the state's near-term water quality priorities is unknown. 

In order to raise $1 million annually, per-parcel development fees would range from $100 to $400 per equivalent residential unit, the report states. A 1 percent increase in the state excise tax on fertilizers would raise approximately $450,000 annually, it said. Read article
Corrigendum to "Use of flow-normalization to evaluate nutrient concentration and flux changes in Lake Champlain tributaries, 1990-2009"
The authors regret that because of some unfortunate errors associated with the organization of the data sets used in the analysis, it is necessary to point out several corrections to the article referenced above. Revisions to the data described in this corrigendum do not impact the main conclusion of the original paper that a large number of downward trends in N and P concentration and yield suggest that P control efforts across much of the Lake Champlain basin may be producing measurable improvements in both nutrients. Read more

Vermont EPSCoR Native American and First Generation Student Scholarship program

To apply for a VT EPSCoR CWDD Student Scholarship, an applicant must be either:

1. A Vermont resident and United States citizen

2. A graduating senior at a Vermont high school planning to attend a Vermont college during the next academic year, OR a current undergraduate enrolled in a degree program at a Vermont college or university, with a GPA of 3.0 or above

3. Enrolling or enrolled in a STEM major in college

4. Of Native American ancestry OR a first generation college student

Application deadline: April 1st. More information

Phone: 802.654.3272
The 2015 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Calendar is Available
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Vermont Life Magazine are announcing the release of the colorful 2015 Fish & Wildlife Department calendar.

This year's edition of the calendar maintains the popular large format and includes inset images, matching the format of Vermont Life's other popular calendars. Read more


PartnerNewsLCI PARTNER NEWS                BACK TO TOP
Lund Engineers New Standard in Big Water Fishing Boats
NEW YORK MILLS, MN --  New for the 2015 fishing season, Lund Boats unveils the new 2275 Baron-the legendary boat company's ultimate big water ride just got even better. Among a line-up of eight newly engineered Lund models, the well-appointed 2275 Baron measures precisely 22 feet, 9 inches in length, and boasts an expansive 102-inch beam-literally enough legroom to comfortably carry a starting football line-up, plus the coach.  Learn more
KidsOutsideANGLING HERITAGE               BACK TO TOP
Vermont Anglers Enjoy Year-Round Open Water 
Fishing Opportunities
MONTPELIER, VT - The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding anglers of the new year-round fishing opportunities now available to anglers on various waterways throughout the state.

In effect since the beginning of this year, revised state regulations have opened up 11 new river sections to catch-and-release trout fishing with artificial flies or lures outside of the normal trout season.

The change in regulation has resulted in over 70 additional miles of river now being open to year-round trout fishing.

"The regulations were intended to provide expanded fishing opportunities for trout while limiting the potential impact to populations," said Rich Kirn, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "The changes will give interested anglers the opportunity to take advantage of any mild days in late fall and early spring."  Read more
Cormorant Control Continued on Lake Champlain -- 2014
USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services reportly removed 1,495 double-crested cormorants from Lake Champlain during 2014 and harassed 20,230 others to encourage them to move on.  Egg oiling continued on The Four Brothers Islands.
2013-2014 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Extend Through March 31, 2015
NEW YORK -- The current (2013-14) freshwater fishing regulations will extend through March 31, 2015, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens recently announced.  New freshwater fishing regulations will take effect April 1, 2015 and a new regulation guide will be available from all license sale vendors at that time.  Read more 
 
Take A Kid Ice Fishing
Ice Fishing Today guest Rory Larson returns with his buddy Nate this season to show us how great kids can be at the sport of Ice Fishing. Armed with Vexilars and the proper tackle, these guys catch 'em one right after the other. They even have time for an on-the-ice fish fry and show us how to clean the fish and cook them up. View video

 

NationWorldNATION & WORLD                     BACK TO TOP
Anglers, Take Note: Wild Atlantic Salmon Breeding Discovered in St. Mary's River
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - A Lake Superior State University graduate from West Michigan has published the first documented evidence that Atlantic salmon are reproducing naturally in the upper Great Lakes.

Stefan Tucker, a Belmont native who graduated in 2012 with a degree in fisheries and wildlife management, found wild Atlantic salmon fry in the St. Mary's River while doing research on lake sturgeon for his undergraduate senior thesis.

Tucker published his findings in October's Journal of Great Lakes Research.
You Won't Believe the Source of the World's Most Sustainable Salmon
Hint: it's not the open sea or a Norwegian fjord.

When you hear the term "sustainable seafood," you might envision a fisherman pulling catch from a pristine sea.

The Atlantic salmon deemed "Best Choice" by Seafood Watch were neither caught, nor from the sea. They spent their lives indoors in warehouses as far inland as Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

In the past, Seafood Watch has almost always advised consumers to avoid farmed salmon. But three indoor farms around the world have succeeded in eliminating the usual concerns about fish farming.  Read article
Size of Atlantic Salmon has Shrunk, New Report Shows
ASTURIUS, SPAIN -- When it comes to the size of our salmon and trout, fins really aren't what they used to be.

Scientists at Swansea University have found that the size of today's fish has shrunk compared to those caught by our ancestors thousands of years ago.

The study also says the shrinkage is not due to modern day fishing methods.

Scientists compared the backbones of 30 Atlantic salmon and brown trout specimens unearthed in Spain, with those of modern day fish. Read article
The U.S. is Spending $4.5-Million to Save the Rarest Fish on Earth
The fish in question is the Devils Hole pupfish. One of the first species to be protected by the Endangered Species Preservation Act (now known as the Endangered Species Act), the unassuming, inch-long pupfish turned out to be a real rabble-rouser back in '60s and '70s, when defending the species and its hot, briny habitat - a 500-foot-deep aquifer in the Mojave Desert - led to water rights litigation that extended all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Today, close to 40 years later, there are fewer than 100 Devils Hole pupfish still alive, and the U.S. Government is spending millions to see that they (or at least their offspring) stay that way. In a recent piece for onEarth, the magazine of the Natural Resources Defense Council, journalist Jason Bittel presents a compelling case in favor of the conservation of this, he concedes, "useless" species. Read article
Walter Medwid: Time for Change in Managing Vemont's Wildlife
True to Vermont's values, a board made up of citizens from around the state decides how to manage the state's fish and wildlife. But, contrary to those values, the people serving on the Fish and Wildlife Board are chosen by the governor from a limited pool of citizens who take part in trapping hunting and fishing. This may seem to make sense, but wildlife is a public resource and not just important to people who are "consumers" of it.

This imbalance in representation came about for two reasons. First, hunting, fishing and trapping have traditionally been considered a mainstream of our Vermont culture. Second, hunting and fishing license fees and federal funds from taxes on certain sporting goods are an important source of income for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and to the governors who have to juggle budgets and appoint citizens to the board. It's clear why governors would want to cater to that special interest group. Read more
 
EventsAllEVENTS & CALENDAR                         BACK TO TOP
Fishing Tournaments
Event
Name: 5th Annual Eli Goss Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament
Organization: Eli Goss Memorial Scholarship Fund
Date: Feb 20, 2015 - Feb 22, 2015
Time: 3:33 PM (Fri) to 3:33 PM (Sun)
Waterbody: Lake Seymour
Check-in Location: public beach fishing access
Town: MORGAN
Fish: Bluegill, Bowfin and/or Gar, Brook Trout, Brown_Bullhead, Brown Trout, Burbot, Carp, Catfish, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Sheepshead, Smallmouth Bass, Smelt, Steelhead, Sucker, Walleye, White Perch, Yellow Perch

Contact
Name: Stephanie Goss
Address: 1465 South Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931
Phone: (802) 673-8931 (day) / (802) 673-8931 (evening)
Event
Name: City/Town Joint Fire Association Perch Derby
Organization: St. Albans City Firefighters Assoc., Inc.
Date: Mar 07, 2015 
Time: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Waterbody: Lake Champlain
Check-in Location: Lazy Lady On Ice (St. Albans Bay Park)
Town: St. Albans Bay
Fish: Yellow Perch

Contact
Name: Harold Cross
Address: 144 Perry Road, Swanton, VT, 05488
Phone: (802) 782-1655 (day) / (802) 527-7352 (evening)
Email: [email protected]
Guide to 2014 Vermont Deer Seasons
Changes have been made to Vermont's Wildlife Management Unit boundaries.  Check out the new boundaries and the hunting details to prepare for 2014 Vermont deer hunting seasons.  Learn more
Vermont Hunting & Fishing Season Schedule
 Dec. 6 - 14:  Muzzleloader & Archery Deer
                     Hunting Season

 Dec. 31:       Raccoon, Gray Squirrel & 
                     Ruffed Grouse Hunting Ends


 MAKE SURE TO CHECK:
Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing and Hunting Hotline
NYS DEC Region 5 -- For hunting & fishing information and news for northeastern New York State.  Click Hotline
 
Did you know there are two Lake Champlain newsletters? 
Looking for science and conservation news? Then check out LCI's other monthly email newsletter, 'The Straight Pipe!'
 
To subscribe to 'The Straight Pipe,' click here and enter your email address. Simply follow the directions to update your subscription!
 

____________________________________________ 

 

kid fishing edited

 

Lake Champlain 

International, Inc.                          

531 Main Street

Colchester, VT 05446

802.879.3466  Fax: 802.879.1746 

  

a 501(c)(3) organization   


www.mychamplain.net

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 LCI Staff

James Ehlers
Executive Director 

Eric LaMontagne
Outreach Director 
 
Liz Ehlers
Business Manager 

Wayne Laroche
Conservation Director

Cathy Pirie Merrill 
Let's Go Fishing Administrator

Meet the LCI Staff! 

 LCI Board of Directors

 
Shawn Bartlett
President    
 
Richard Butz
 
James Ehlers

Jason Galipeau
Treasurer

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Vice President

 

Mary Catherine Jones

 
Bob Qua

Scott Richardson
 
Bob Shannon

Frank Stanley
 

 LCI Advisory Council 

 
Ed Adrian, Esq., M.S.E.L.

Aleksandra Drizo, Ph.D.

Jim Douglas, Governor (2003-2011)

Brian T. Fitzgerald, M.S.

Sally Flis, Ph.D.

Brian Grenon, Ph.D.

Gary Henry, M.S.

Janette Henry, M.S.

Anthony Iarrapino, Esq.

Scott Mapes, P.E., Esq.

Timothy B. Mihuc, Ph.D.

April Moulaert, M.S.
   

Elijah Stommel, M.D., Ph.D.
 

mychamplain.net | facebook.com/LakeChamplain | Donate | Become A Member

Lake Champlain International (LCI) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization actively involved in shaping the future of Lake Champlain's water and fisheries health for the well-being of the people who depend on it today and tomorrow.  To protect, restore, and revitalize Lake Champlain and its communities, LCI educates, advocates, and motivates to ensure that Lake Champlain is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable, understanding that healthy water resources are essential for a healthy economy and a healthy community.
LCI Business Members support your lake and your community.

Click here to learn how you can become an LCI Business Member!

Our primary fundraiser, the LCI Father's Day Derby presented by Yamaha, is one of the key reasons we are able to accomplish so much throughout the year.
This event would not be possible without support from our partners, including our Principal
and Major Sponsors.

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Lake Champlain International, a Top-Rated Nonprofit Award winner, has earned the Guidestar Exchange Seal and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, illustrating the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and effectiveness as set forth by these internationally trusted organizations.