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State of the Lake 2008. For the Currents of Change – Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. The Lake Champlain Basin. The Basin: - 21,326 square kilometers The Lake: - 1,127 square kilometers - Over 122 meters deep - 965+ kilometers of shoreline - 193 kilometers long. Lake Champlain. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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State of the LakeState of the Lake20082008
For the
Currents of Change – Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
The Lake Champlain The Lake Champlain BasinBasin
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
LakeLake ChamplainChamplain
• 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 2000. 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 Where is P coming from?from?
• Point sources = 10%
• Nonpoint sources = 90%
Where is P coming Where is P coming from?from?
Land Use StudyLand 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 #54Troy et al. 2007
Is Blue Green Algae a Is Blue Green Algae a Problem?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
PracticesUrban Best Management
Practices
Wastewater Treatment
Can I eat the Fish?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 Which Aquatic Invasive Species Threaten the Lake?the Lake?