Douglas and Pataki Sign Lake Champlain Protection Agreement

Author: Elizabeth Braunstein

On Tuesday, April 22, Gov. Jim Douglas '72 of Vermont and Gov. George Pataki of New York signed a joint agreement updating a protection plan for Lake Champlain, the sixth largest lake in the United States.
The agreement, entitled "The Lake Champlain Management Plan, Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin," along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), were originally signed in October 1996 to plan for the restoration of the lake as well as for pollution prevention and control.
Both states reaffirmed their commitment to cleaning up Lake Champlain and coordinating with the province of Quebec, whose premier-elect is expected to sign the agreement shortly. Pataki also promised an additional $1 million to upgrade the sewage treatment facilities in New York communities located along the lake.
Looking out upon the shores of Lake Champlain on Earth Day, Gov. Pataki pledged, "The goal here is not to have a plan but to take action. We've taken action in the past, and on this Earth Day let us commit to take additional action to make sure that this lake is cleaner, the recreational resources are greater and our communities are stronger in the Champlain basin and the Champlain Valley."
The original plan was intended to reduce phosphorus pollution and toxic chemicals in the lake and to control invasive species such as water chestnuts and zebra mussels. Canute Dalmasse, a member of the lake protection steering committee and deputy commissioner of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, told The Burlington Free Press that the region has already surpassed its goals for phosphorus reduction. While point source polluters have been restricted considerably, runoff from farms and development continues to be a problem.
Peter Espenshade of the Lake Champlain Land Trust said, "One thing that we want to see continued in emphasis is the fact that developed lakeshore land has a higher phosphorous content that even agricultural land. One of the best ways to keep the Lake healthy is to limit careless development."
Gov. Douglas commented, "There's no question that although we've made these agreements over the last few years, we haven't made a strong enough commitment to preserve the ecology of this lake, and we will."
On a whole, Espenshade commended the plan, remarking, "It represents cumulative steps taken by the congressional delegations, governor's offices, the provincial office in Quebec, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Lake Champlain Land Trust and many other organizations concerned about the health of the Lake."
The updated long-term plan has made public health protection a priority, in addition to the original goal of lake protection identified in 1996. The plan uniquely controls the entire ecosystem of the Lake Champlain Basin, which is populated by 600,000 people and visited by millions each year. As a result, officials are committed to monitoring the lake itself and its drainage basin as one interconnected system. The updated Lake Champlain Management plan will be forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency for final approval.
In a Vermont State press release, Gov. Douglas vowed, "I believe that our environment is not an inheritance from our ancestors to be spent down. It's a loan from our children and we ought to be prepared to pay it back with interest. That's why we are signing this agreement today: to guarantee that future generations can enjoy the same benefits from this lake we have all been able to enjoy, and more."
Espenshade concluded, "Gov. Douglas is off to a good start. He realizes the role that conservation and open space plays, not only for our environment, but for economic growth by attracting tourists, birders, hikers, business relocation, etc."