Vermont

UVM’s state-of-the-art research vessel studies Lake Champlain health after recent flood

Published

4 months ago

July 25, 2024

UVM’s state-of-the-art research vessel studies Lake Champlain health after recent flood

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. 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 July 18.

Lake Champlain Sea Grant, University of Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin Program presented information about the lake’s health, discussing stormwater runoff, microplastics and bacteria and how they affect the basin. The presentations were aboard the Marcelle Melosira, the University of Vermont’s research and teaching vessel.

A new way to study

The Marcelle Melosira, named after donor and former Sen. Patrick Leahy’s wife and the previous research vessel, 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 on 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.

Looking at lake health post-flooding

Matthew Vaughan, chief scientist for the Lake Champlain Basin Program, spoke on the State of the Lake briefly, but refocused to talk about how flooding in the lake’s basin affects the water quality.

With high water flow comes different debris floating down rivers and into the lake. Sea Grant Director Anne Jefferson pointed out that water pollution comes in many forms. Bacteria, microplastics and trash from landfills are all serious concerns when looking at water health. She also said that there are unintentional effects of flooding; for example, someone’s Tupperware − something not intended to be trashed − floating out of their house during flooding.

Bacteria is a large concern when evaluating the lake’s health. 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.

“It’s about six times more phosphorus that we can capture on our floodplains than during those smaller, regularly occurring events,” Rebecca Diehl, research assistant professor in the UVM Department of Geography and Geosciences, said about this most recent flood.

Bacteria blooms could be seen from the Marcelle Melosira where the Winooski River meets the lake. It was impossible to miss the murky haze tinting the water, revealing where sediments and bacteria are flowing. Two UVM fellows performed a Secchi disk test, dropping a black-and-white disk attached to a measuring tape into the water to check the clarity. Once the disk becomes invisible to the naked eye, the measurement is recorded. They dropped the disk in the murky runoff water and in the clearer, more standard water. The difference in clarity was about a meter.

The researchers emphasized that it’s still early to have all the data about the effects of the recent flooding. They will continue to monitor the watershed and keep the public up to date with their findings.

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.

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Vermont

Christmas Lights Vermont: 6 displays to make some holiday memories at in 2024

Published

7 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Christmas Lights Vermont: 6 displays to make some holiday memories at in 2024

Holiday lights, decorations at American Christmas in Mount Vernon NY

American Christmas in Mount Vernon has opened its Holiday Lane Christmas lights display to the public through December 29, 2024.

The weather is getting colder and the days are getting shorter, but the dark days of winter bring with them a beloved holiday tradition sure to brighten up anyone’s day – Christmas lights.

And no where does Christmas like Vermont, just ask the Hallmark Channel.

To experience the dazzling lights of the holiday season, you don’t have to go far. Whether you want to stroll through a park, watch a parade or take in the lights from your car, Vermont is sure to have the holiday light display for you.

Here are six in-state Christmas light displays to check out this holiday season.

Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum

On nights during the holiday season, Shelburne Museum turns into a winter wonderland full of colorful light displays. Each building and garden of the museum’s campus is uniquely decorated, from cascading twinkling lights at Beach Woods to the 220-foot illuminated steamboat “Ticonderoga.”

New this year, Shelburne will feature a circus display filled with whimsical figures under an illuminated Big Top tent. The museum will also have two gift shops and a café with hot chocolate open until 8 p.m. each night of the light display.

Online tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-17 or $30 for VIP. Shelburne recommends purchasing online, as tickets at the door are more expensive and not guaranteed. For those who want to experience the dazzling lights from their car, drive around nights are available on select days for $65 per car.

When: Winter Lights is open on select days from Nov. 21, 2024 through Jan. 1, 2025. The event starts at 4:30 p.m., and the last admission is at 7 p.m. Sensory-friendly nights will be Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, and drive through nights are Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10-11, Dec. 17-18 and Jan. 2-5.

Where: Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT

A Forest of Lights

Nature lovers can experience the beautiful Vermont outdoors lit up for the holiday season at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) Nature Center in Quechee. A Forest of Lights, the nature center’s holiday light special, is an outdoor walkthrough experience with thousands of lights in exciting displays, including the Snow Shower Tower, Snow Globe, Whimsical Woodland and Mandala Trees.

When you finish walking through the illuminated forest, hot chocolate and light snacks are available for purchase to enjoy by the campfire.

Tickets cost $13 for adults or $8 for children over three.

When: This nature-filled light display is open from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on weekends and other select days from Nov. 22, 2024 through Jan. 4, 2025.

Where: VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT

Christmas Lights at the Joseph Smith Birthplace

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates Christmas with an outdoor light display at the birthplace of the church’s founder, Joseph Smith. Over 200,000 colorful lights decorate the grounds of the South Royalton monument.

Visitors can walk or drive along the decorated path for free.

When: After an official lighting on Nov. 29, this light show will be open daily through Jan. 1, 2025. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m.

Where: Joseph Smith Birthplace, 357 Lds Lane, S. Royalton, VT

Winter Lights in the Park

This free, family-friendly light display allows guests to walk through lit trees and tunnels in Maple Street Park while holiday music floats through the air. Winter Lights in the Park also doubles as a scavenger hunt for hidden ornaments throughout the decorated trees.

When: Maple Street Park’s lights will be on from 5 to 8 p.m. daily from Nov. 28, 2024 through Jan. 1, 2025.

Where: Maple Street Park, 75 Maple St., Essex Junction, VT

Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade

Manchester’s holiday tractor parade is back for its 14th year, offering a unique mobile light show. As part of the town’s holiday celebration Manchester Merriment, the parade brings tractors and floats decked out in lights and holiday decorations to the heart of downtown Manchester.

Attendance to the town’s holiday parade is free.

When: This year’s tractor parade is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: The parade takes place in downtown Manchester on Main and Bonnet St.

Spruce Peak Lights Festival

Held for one night only at The Village at Spruce Peak, the Spruce Peak Lights Festival illuminates the ski village and surrounding evergreen trees with thousands of holiday lights.

Other attractions at this event include ice dancing performances, photos with Santa and a firework show.

When: Spruce Peak’s 2024 lights festival will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. The annual lighting will be at 7 p.m.

Where: Spruce Peak Village, 559 Spruce Peak Road, Stowe, VT

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Vermont

Copley Hospital support staff unionize – VTDigger

Published

15 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Copley Hospital support staff unionize – VTDigger

Copley Hospital in Morrisville on Oct. 19, 2023. File photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public

Support staff at Morrisville’s Copley Hospital voted to unionize last Thursday. The formation, which came through a decisive 68-44 vote, joins together the hospital’s nearly 150 staff with its almost 100 nurses in the regional United Nurses and Allied Professionals union.

“I wanted to form a union to be able to have a voice at the table,” Leta Karasinksi, an emergency department technician, said in a press release.

“Up until a few years ago, we had the same healthcare plan as the nurses. Now the union nurses have a better health plan than us,” she said. “I want to see equality with benefits. I want to see safe staffing patterns to be able to deliver the quality of care our patients deserve.”

The yes vote comes on the heels of a similar unionization drive by support staff at Central Vermont Medical Center in early September. They chose to unionize as a chapter of AFT-Vermont, joining support staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Porter Medical Center.

Sarah Bray, a patient engagement specialist at Copley who voted in favor of the union, said in a press release that she thinks the staff should be taken seriously. “I think this union will unite the nurses and support staff for years to come and benefit the community at large.”

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Vermont

Vermont Conversation: Rhodes Scholar and Vermonter Lena Ashooh on working 'towards a brighter future' – VTDigger

Published

23 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Photo courtesy of Lena Ashooh

The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues with politicians, activists, artists, changemakers and citizens who are making a difference. Listen below, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify to hear more.

It has been nearly two decades since a Vermonter won a coveted Rhodes Scholarship, widely considered the most prestigious scholarship in the world. The Rhodes Scholarship pays for international students to pursue postgraduate studies for up to three years at Oxford University in England.

This week, Lena Ashooh of Shelburne was named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar. She is one of 32 Rhodes Scholars chosen from the U.S. from over 3,000 students who applied. According to the Rhodes Trust, Vermont has had 43 Rhodes Scholars since the first cohort in 1903. The last Rhodes Scholar from Vermont was named in 2006.

“It’s so special to be named a Rhodes Scholar as a Vermonter,” said Ashooh. “People have such a special attachment to Vermont, even if they’re not from there, it occupies this really beautiful place in their mind. It’s a place of respite and joy and progressivism.”

Lena Ashooh graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 2021. At CVU, Ashooh was active with 4-H and she founded Mi Vida, MiVoz (“my life, my voice”), a group that brought together the children of migrant farmworkers in Vermont with other youth to share stories and discuss how to make change. In 2020, she was named one of Vermont’s top youth volunteers and was recognized with a national Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Ashooh is now a senior at Harvard. She is pursuing Harvard’s first major in animal studies, an interdisciplinary program that she designed that combines philosophy, psychology, biology, and political science. She explained that animal studies is a way to study social injustice.

“Looking at the ways that animals were mistreated or their freedom was being restricted also allowed us to attend to ways that people, and specifically vulnerable people, are also being mistreated, being subjected to exploitation or to disease and illness and pollution from farms,” said Ashooh.

While in college, Ashooh has lobbied legislators on environmental justice, worked as an intern for Vermont Rep. Becca Balint, and has done research in Puerto Rico on macaque monkeys. She is co-president of Harvard College Animal Advocates and she also plays the classical harp. At Oxford, Ashooh plans to study animal ethics, and address the question: “What does it mean to respect an animal as an individual?”

“My hope is that working on this question seriously as it pertains to animals might give us better philosophical concepts to be applied with humans as well. That can enable us to ensure that each person’s individual value and the valuing of their contributions can be protected.”

Ashooh will pursue a postgraduate degree in philosophy at Oxford and is considering attending law school. She leaves open the possibility of returning to Vermont.

“I’ve always found Vermont to be a front runner in spearheading progressive ideas that might change the way the country is thinking … I think Vermont would be a very exciting place to return to to try out some progressive policies that might help us head down that path towards a brighter future.”

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