Clean
Water

Water in the Lake Champlain Basin’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams will sustain diverse ecosystems, support vibrant communities and working landscapes, and provide safe recreation opportunities.
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Healthy
Ecosystems

Ecosystems that provide clean water for drinking and recreating, and intact habitat that is resilient to extreme events and free of aquatic invasive species where diverse fish and wildlife populations will flourish.
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Thriving
Communities

Communities have an appreciation of natural and cultural resources, and the capacity to implement actions that will result in sound stewardship of these resources while maintaining strong local economies.
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Informed & Involved
Public

Basin residents and visitors will understand and appreciate Lake Champlain Basin resources, and will possess a sense of personal responsibility that results in behavioral changes and actions to reduce pollution.
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One Lake out of Many

It is often said that Lake Champlain is not one lake, but several water bodies joined together. The main segment of the Lake is deep and cold, the northeast areas are shallower and warmer, and the southern end of the Lake resembles a river flowing northward. These differences make it challenging to easily summarize the state of the Lake. Five distinct segments have been used by scientists since the 1970s to describe the major regions of the Lake: Main Lake, Missisquoi Bay, Northeast Arm, South Lake, and Malletts Bay.

The State of the Lake Summary highlights key issues related to the LCBP’s four management goals for each of the five major lake segments. The Ecosystem Indicators Scorecard provides information on the current status and trends for nine indicators of lake health for each of these five segments. Click below to learn more.

State of the Lake Summary