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Service Announces Addition of Wetlands Specialist

Posted Tue, 2010-01-26 19:31 by Blog Administrator
LAKE CHAMPLAIN FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES OFFICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Smith
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist
802-872-0629 Ext. 20
January 26, 2010                                                                                              

SERVICE ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF WETLANDS SPECIALIST

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources Office today announced the hiring of Ryan Crehan to serve as fish and wildlife biologist focused on the technical delivery of wetlands habitat improvement projects in the Lake Champlain Basin.

“Ryan’s knowledge of wetland ecology, on-the-ground experience with all aspects of wetlands restoration, and his understanding of U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service programs and procedures greatly increases the capacity of cooperative efforts to restore wetlands in the Lake Champlain basin,” said Dave Tilton, Project Leader of the Lake Champlain Office.  “We are excited to add such a high caliber biologist to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team.”  

State and Federal agencies estimate over 35% of Vermont’s historic wetlands have been lost. The State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has worked with conservation partners to identify over 85,000 acres of degraded wetland habitats in the Lake Champlain watershed.  According to Julie Moore, Director of the Agency’s Clean and Clear Program, “The restoration of degraded wetlands improves water quality and provides valuable habitat for fish and wildlife resources.”

Joint Study Improves Water Quality in Missisquoi Bay

Posted Thu, 2010-01-21 17:45 by Blog Administrator
Release Date: 01-21-2010
Author: Lisa Halvorsen


High phosphorus inputs from the Missisquoi Watershed in Vermont and Quebec have made Missisquoi Bay one of the most eutrophic areas of Lake Champlain. Although not the only source of nonpoint source pollution, runoff from agricultural fields contributes to the high phosphorus levels that may cause excessive aquatic vegetation growth and toxic blue-green algae.

2010 Vermont Angler Survey – 2nd Mailing

Posted Thu, 2010-01-21 16:05 by Blog Administrator
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department mailed a survey to randomly selected anglers in early January and is asking those who didn’t respond to please do so.
 
The questionnaire asking anglers about their fishing habits and opinions on a wide range of fisheries management issues was mailed to 4,500 Vermont resident and 900 nonresident anglers.  A second mailing will go out January 27th to those who did not respond earlier.
 
The survey is directed and funded by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and is being carried out by Cornell University’s Human Dimensions Research Unit. 
 
Anglers receiving questionnaires have been randomly selected from 2009 fishing license records.  Anglers’ identities will be kept confidential and answers will not be associated with their names.
 

DEP Tests Show Prescription Drugs Leaching From Landfills

Posted Tue, 2010-01-19 01:00 by Blog Administrator
Please consider reading this article by Susan Sharon at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says it now has enough evidence to prove that unwanted prescription drugs being tossed into local landfills pose a threat to surface and groundwater supplies around the state. New test results of leachate at three Maine landfills show high concentrations of a wide range of pharmaceuticals. And the findings are likely to boost support for a bill to require drug companies to collect and dispose of unused medication.

"Prove it." That's what Mark Hyland of the DEP's Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management says drug makers asked him to do. For a long time they had argued that if unused medication shouldn't be flushed down the toilet because of the risk to ground and surface water, then the best option was to throw it out with the trash until someone could show them evidence that that also posed a threat.

But now Hyland says he can prove that prescription drugs are showing up in water that collects at three Maine landfills: in Augusta, Brunswick and Bath. "And what we found was that the landfill leachate includes things like antidepressants, antibiotics, steroids, hormones, heart and asthma medications and a lot of pain medications, kind of the usual group of pharmaceuticals that you would see anywhere," Hyland says.

Leachate, the rainwater that percolates through the landfill and collects at the bottom, typically flows to a wastewater treatment plant. But unlike human waste that can be treated, pharmaceuticals cannot. And this contaminated water negatively affects aquatic organisms, fish and other wildlife.

Buzz Hoerr: We are the biggest threat to Lake Champlain

Posted Tue, 2010-01-19 00:04 by Blog Administrator
Please consider reading this piece by Buzz Hoerr as published in the Burlington Free Press
A case could be made that after 11,000 years of human habitation around Lake Champlain, our 400 years here -- especially the past 150 -- have been a boon to those who have made a living here.
 
From game and subsistence farming to lumber to grains to wool, and eventually to dairy and a plethora of modern ways to earn one's keep, we have created a life most of us love.

But we also have come to a point in time where the cumulative effect of our activities threatens our most important resource: our waters -- our streams and rivers and lakes.

Most of us didn't see this coming. Our waters seemed inexhaustible, as they were replenished constantly from the skies. The philosophy of manifest destiny told us we could use them as we saw fit, and we did.

But the consequences of that approach have caught up with us now. We have become the biggest of the nonnative nuisance species in our basin, and it is time we recognize it fully and take personal steps to reverse our impact on our waters.

All of us contribute to the problems. We can blame the larger sources of excess nutrients and toxics (farms and factories), but in the end we all participate in a system that depends on those activities. We are all part of the problem.

Rutland Gets Stimulus Funding for Two Water Projects

Posted Tue, 2010-01-12 11:59 by Blog Administrator

Rutland Herald
By STEPHANIE M. PETERS STAFF WRITER - Published: Jan 6, 2010


The city will receive federal stimulus funding for two of five water and sewer projects voters approved in a special election last year, according to city officials.

The two projects, the replacement of the sewer and storm-sewer systems on Crescent and West streets, were ranked above the cutoff on theRutland will receive federal stimulus funding for two of five water and sewer projects. statewide list of projects competing for the Clean Water Revolving Loan funding, which carries 50 percent loan forgiveness in the form of stimulus money.

On Monday, the aldermen signed off on the loan documents that will allow the city to move ahead with bonding for the $925,000 combined cost of those two projects. With the stimulus funding, the taxpayers will be responsible for only $452,000 of the project cost, plus a 2 percent administration fee that will bring the city's total, 20-year repayment to $565,699, according to Treasurer Wendy Wilton.

That works out to a $28,000 annual payment, which will begin in 2012, she said. 

DEC Announces Changes to Bait Fish Regulations

Posted Wed, 2010-01-06 18:51 by Blog Administrator

For Release: IMMEDIATE
Contact: Maureen Wren (518) 402-8000

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

DEC ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO BAIT FISH REGULATIONS

Anglers Now Have 10 Days to Use Purchased, Certified Bait

Alewife and Rainbow Smelt Allowed in Certain Western New York Waters

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced revised regulations that extend the time period for anglers to legally possess and use certified bait fish from seven to 10 days after purchase, and also allow the use of some bait fish in certain Western New York waters that had previously been prohibited. The new rules become effective today.

The movement of uncertified bait fish can be a principle avenue for the transmission of fish diseases. In an effort to protect New York’s fisheries from the introduction of invasive species and diseases, DEC enacted rules to restrict bait fish use (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/47282.html ) including limiting the use of certified disease-free bait fish to within one week of purchase.  After receiving requests and input from anglers seeking to extend that time period, DEC is providing an additional three days to allow certified bait fish to be used in state waters. With the extension to 10 days, anglers can potentially use the bait fish over consecutive weekends, depending on the date of purchase.  The 10-day period will extend from the date of purchase indicated on the required, dated bait fish receipt.

“This change will enhance the opportunity for anglers to use certified bait fish, but still maintain our efforts to protect fisheries from the potential release of uncertified or diseased bait fish into New York waters,” Commissioner Grannis said.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Funds Available

Posted Tue, 2010-01-05 18:17 by Blog Administrator
FEMA has informed us that there are remaining funds still available under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)  FY 2009 grant program. Up to $20 million is still available nation-wide in federal FMA FY 09 grant funds. Therefore, we are actively encouraging towns and local agencies to apply for FMA grant funds to mitigate flood-impacted properties and structures. The following is a  list of potential projects that could be funded under the FMA program:
  • Property acquisition (buy-out) and structure demolition
  • Property acquisition and structure relocation
  • Structure elevation (in place)
  • Dry Floodproofing of Historic Residential Structures
  • Dry Floodproofing of Non-Residential Structures
  • Minor Localized Flood Reduction Projects
For planning grants: proposed activity must be flood-related and should be included in a FEMA approved plan or plan update.

Lake Champlain Anglers! 2010 Lamprey Control Program: Maintaining A Healthy Lake Champlain Ecosytem Petition

Posted Fri, 2009-12-18 12:15 by Blog Administrator
Lake Champlain Anglers and Other Friends of the Lake,

Please consider signing the petition to the Governor of Vermont, at the link below, to ensure the continuation of the successful Lake Champlain sea lamprey control program in 2010.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Lewis010/petition.html

Your participation in the petitions of the past three years has been effective in reminding officials of the importance of this program to our environment and our economy.  Both the Atlantic salmon and lake trout populations have shown marked improvement in recent years with salmon over 9 pounds being caught, and the largest lake trout in the documented history of Lake Champlain, nearly 16 pounds, being caught during the LCI Father’s Day Derby this past June.  Experts believe 20-pound lake trout and 10-pound salmon are a very real possibility.

January Can Bring Great Ice Fishing Opportunities

Posted Fri, 2009-12-18 12:06 by Blog Administrator

VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: December 16, 2009
Media Contacts: Bernie Pientka or Brian Chipman, 802-878-1564; Eric Palmer, 802-241-3700


WATERBURY, VT – Vermont offers great ice fishing in lakes throughout the state, and the action normally is great beginning in mid-January, depending on the weather.  Vermont Fish & Wildlife recommends at least six inches of solid ice for safe ice fishing.

Vermont’s premier fishing destination, Lake Champlain, offers many ice fishing opportunities.  According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, ice anglers can find quality fishing for many species on this 120-mile long lake, including landlocked salmon, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, white perch, walleye, crappie, and smelt.

“Lake Champlain attracts twice as much fishing activity during the winter as during the summer, particularly in the northern third of the lake,” said State Fisheries Biologist Brian Chipman.  “The plentiful yellow perch is the mainstay of the winter fishery, but many ice anglers also find good fishing for other species.”

Traditional northern pike hotspots include Lake Champlain's Kelley Bay, Missisquoi Bay, Dillenbeck Bay, Carry Bay, Keeler Bay, St. Albans Bay, the shallow flats south of the Sandbar Causeway between Milton and South Hero, and the area south of the Champlain Bridge from Addison to Benson.

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