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Do You Live Near Lake Champlain? Help Seven Days and ProPublica Investigate Algae Blooms.
Lake Champlain has faced decades of phosphorus pollution, which fuels algae blooms that can close beaches and affect the lake’s shorelines. Seven Days and ProPublica are asking people connected to the lake to share their experiences as the outlets investigate why Vermont’s clean-up effort is falling behind and how pollution affects local life.
The state is halfway through a 20-year clean-up effort, following stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements set in 2016 that must be met by 2036. Nearly a billion dollars has been spent, but water quality has not improved dramatically and has worsened in some areas. This past summer, algae blooms closed public swimming beaches in St. Albans Bay; the reporting will examine effects on health, livelihoods, tourism, drinking water and household finances.
In short
- Lake Champlain’s algae blooms are linked to decades of phosphorus pollution.
- Vermont has spent nearly a billion dollars, but progress is lagging.
- Residents and visitors are invited to share how pollution affects them.
Explained simply
Lake Champlain is a large lake bordered by Vermont and New York, with Quebec to the north. Phosphorus from sources such as farms and developed land can enter the water and encourage algae to grow; some blooms can make swimming unsafe and affect nearby communities.
Vermont is working to reduce phosphorus pollution under a 20-year clean-up plan, shaped by stricter federal requirements set in 2016. The effort involves state agencies, local communities and people whose work or daily lives depend on the lake.
The issue matters because water quality can affect public health, beaches, tourism, drinking water and household costs. Changes in the lake may also affect shoreline habitats and local livelihoods.