Lake Champlain’s lack of ice shifts wildlife patterns

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – With cold winters fewer and farther in between, ice is harder to come by on Vermont’s lakes.

If you can believe it, Lake Champlain used to freeze over every year.

Now those days are gone, and the seasonal shakeup has some Vermonters and environmental experts worried.

Ice fishing is a winter tradition many Vermonters love, but some anglers say the sport is harder to come by these days – without taking a risk.

“I think a lot of people who fish see stories online of people who fall through every year and try to go out before things are ready,” said Anna Kremer of Burlington.

‘Ready’ looks like at least three or four inches of clear black ice – something that’s less common as winters warm up.

“Just really being cautious about it,” said Kremer.

Many Vermont lakes freeze over less often and for shorter periods of time.

Lake Champlain only froze twice in the last ten years.

“I think this is one of the most visible and tactile impacts of climate change. We look out behind us here, and it’s a very liquid lake. If this were frozen, we’d be able to walk on it. We’d be able to enjoy it, you know, safely,” said Matthew Vaughan of the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

Wonky freezing patterns could do even more harm to lake wildlife. Because lake water is darker than ice, it absorbs more heat, which can set up the lake for warmer summer temps.

That can set up the lake for warmer summer temps.

Vaughan worries about the impact on cold water species like trout or Atlantic salmon, and harmful plants that thrive in the warmth.

“It can also set up for warmer water temperatures that can make things like cyanobacterial blooms worse later in the season,” said Vaughan.

Lake Champlain last froze over completely in 2019.

With fingers crossed for another freeze this winter, Kremer says she’s enjoying ice fishing on Lake Elmore and Colchester Pond.

“It was under freezing for a consistent couple of weeks, so it makes me happy to be able to get out there,” she said.

Experts caution that no ice is safe ice, but if you choose to embark, make sure to check ice status and tell someone where you’re going, and bring proper gear.

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