How healthy in Lake Champlain? Here’s what the scientists are seeing

Bacteria, microplastics and trash from landfills are all serious concerns when looking at the health of Lake Champlain, especially after the flooding last year and this summer.

With the high water flow after flooding a variety of debris floats down rivers and into the lake. Lake Champlain Sea Grant Director Anne Jefferson says water pollution comes in many forms; for example, someone’s Tupperware − something not intended to be trashed − floating out of their house during flooding.

Early indicators have led local scientists to conclude that recent flooding is not impacting Lake Champlain’s health as much as last year’s storms, although there are still concerns for the watershed’s well-being. They continue to monitor the watershed and keep the public up-to-date with their findings.

That said, the July 10 and 11 storm added large amounts of phosphorus to the lake, which can drive cyanobacteria blooms later in the summer, said researchers aboard the Marcelle Melosira on July 18 as part of a presentation by Lake Champlain Sea Grant, University of Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

Too much of a harmful bacteria can make the water unsafe, leading to closed beaches. While bacterial blooms happen naturally with warm weather and stagnant water, flooding exacerbates it.

A new way to study

The Marcelle Melosira, the University of Vermont’s research and teaching vessel is named after donor and former Sen. Patrick Leahy’s wife and the previous research vessel. It began sailing Lake Champlain July 23, 2023. It’s docked outside the Rubenstein Ecosystems Science Laboratory on the Burlington waterfront.

The “one-of-a-kind” boat hosts cutting-edge technology and research equipment, according to Kris Stepenuck, Lake Champlain Sea Grant associate director.

The Marcelle Melosira runs tests to monitor water clarity, track invasive species and erosion. UVM professors and students, Lake Champlain Basin Program researchers and others use the vessel depending on what they’re monitoring at that time. College interns also help the researchers on the boat.

The hybrid boat can run for up to three hours on electric energy, according to interim Capt. Taylor Resnick. He is aboard the Marcelle Melosira Monday to Friday, collecting data on the lake and how the basin − with waterways from Cabot to Rutland, and from Saranac Lake to Quebec − all play a role in lake health.

The boat is 20 meters long and 6 meters wide, with a capacity of 32 people. It was projected to be a 60% reduction in fossil fuel use from the previous vessel. The boat is equipped with:

• First-of-its-kind winch technology.
• Echo-sounding technology to ID and map underwater species distribution.
• Multi-net plankton and fish larvae sampler.
• Profiler to study large particles and zooplankton.
• Echoview software to process hydroacoustic data.
• Gas analyzer to measure gaseous compounds.
• Corer for sampling lake bottom sediment.

Watershed Alliance offers K-12 programs on the R/V Marcelle Melosira, which give elementary, middle and high school students and teachers the opportunity to learn firsthand about the study of limnology − the study of inland aquatic ecosystems − and to collect their own data on Lake Champlain with the aid of professional educators and lab research staff.

Protecting our waters

On July 23, Sen. Peter Welch, D, Vt., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the bicameral Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization Act − legislation that would reauthorize the Lake Champlain Basin Program for 10 years at $55 million to support interstate conservation and the health of the Lake Champlain Basin.

The bill would establish the Lake Champlain Basin Program to “formally administer the program to promote climate resilience and mitigation through ecosystem restoration,” according to a press release.

Jefferson said that prevention is the best course of action. Removing bacteria or microplastics is extremely challenging, especially at such a large scale. Learning about the watershed and finding the best solutions to preserve it is the work they’re going to focus on.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.