On July 1, 2014, the Shoreland Protection Act went into effect. Earlier this month, the Lakes & Ponds Program celebrated the second anniversary of the Act. During that time, over 300 applications have been received and the rate at which new applications are coming in continues to climb. Under the Act, the creation of impervious … Continue reading
Vermont’s lakes and ponds are characterized by a plethora of biota. While boating on the south end of Lake Champlain (heading toward lock 12), my colleagues and I are greeted at the Lake’s Narrows by a juvenile bald eagle standing guard atop a white cedar. Moments later, squawks and screams erupt from a great blue … Continue reading
I have to admit, ice out caught me off guard this year. Every year we solicit ice out records when the first signs of spring appear. With help from observant individuals throughout Vermont, the Department of Environmental Conservation maintains ice out records for several lakes and ponds, some dating back decades. These records help us … Continue reading
If you are a member of an inland lake association or lake watershed association, you may wonder whether any lakes other than Champlain will be affected by the new Vermont Clean Water Act (Act 64). Since much media coverage focuses on the Lake Champlain TMDL Implementation Plan, it’s not surprising that other lake communities are … Continue reading
Hearing the highly anticipated trill of a red-wing blackbird for the first time each year is a harbinger of warmer days to come. However, seeing into the depths of open water after months of ice and snow-covered lakes, ponds, and rivers is a welcome sign that spring has surely arrived. Tracking the exact date, and … Continue reading
Vermont ranks among the highest states in the nation for clear lakes according to research published in February 2015 in the journal Lake and Reservoir Management. Dr. Dana Bigham Stephens at the University of Florida and her colleagues gathered Secchi disk transparency measurements from over 14,000 lakes and reservoirs across the United States to compare … Continue reading
Vermont has over 800 lakes and ponds throughout the state. Some have been mapped and are posted on the Watershed Management Web page. Thus far, 155 depth maps are available, with 149 of those available in pdf format. Map quality varies from hand drawn maps with a single deep hole to GIS created maps with … Continue reading
