LCI Initiative Draws Major Support for Lake Champlain Protection

I want to acknowledge Lake Champlain International for their extraordinary hard work. This partnership, this announcement the Secretary (Salazar) is about to make would not be possible without your (LCI's) extraordinary commitment. Thank you so much for your good work.

While both the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife and the New York Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources have been successful in controlling and reducing lamprey populations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue the recent success with lamprey control in the lake.

Joined by Senator Leahy and Governor Shumlin, Salazar stated that we can expect to create 2.1-3.3 million jobs in the U.S. just by promoting tourism and conservation assets. "It's important...that we understand the connection between outdoor recreation and conservation and job creation," Salazar Said. "We know that tourism and outdoor recreation are a pillar of the economy."  Senator Leahy agreed, saying that we must "take care of things for today, giving something to our children and grandchildren, at the same time we create jobs, we bring money to the state of Vermont. It's a win-win."

During their visit to the Colchester Bibens Ace hardware, Salazar, Leahy, and Shumlin announced that $3 million of federal funding has been appropriated for Lake Champlain restoration and conservation projects.  Of this $3 million, $700,000 will be used for lamprey control.  Vermont will save approximately $200,000 per year as a result of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service taking over the lamprey control program, which will likely be used to research lamprey control methods.

 Thank you to People Making Good for sharing the video above.