Friends of Northern Lake Champlain |
Welcome to the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain (FNLC), an organization formed so that local citizens and businesses could be more active in efforts to clean up Missisquoi Bay and northern Lake Champlain. We came together as a hard-working, all-volunteer organization in 2004. Learn more About Us and please consider Joining Us Today.
Our Mission
To clean and protect the waters of Northern Lake Champlain, we work collaboratively with citizens and government to reduce polluted land-use runoff into Lake Champlain.
Water, Life, Health
Water is necessary for all forms of life on Earth, and clean water is a fundamental need for humans. Here, we are fortunate to live near one of the largest, cleanest bodies of water in the world. Lake Champlain is magnificent and irreplaceable-- and yet too neglected. It has never been as polluted as it is today. Truly, water quality is an indicator of the health of the society, of us--- and Lake Champlain is not healthy.
Who is going to clean it up? Do we wait for somebody else to do it?
What We Do
Friends of Northern Lake Champlain has three principal areas of focus- Projects, Advocacy, and Public Engagement
Projects: Our major projects to date have been with farmers on a broad variety of improved field practices and production area practices. In 2012 we will increase our work with municipalities, especially with regard to stormwater.
Advocacy: We work with the leadership and the staff of the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture. We work with legislative leaders and with local legislators. And we work with local municipal governments. In all cases we seek to keep water quality high on the agenda, and we seek to guide the agencies and town administrators into taking an active, cost-effective approach to improving water quality.
Public Engagement: We have eight public events per year, which serve a varying mixture of educational, fundraising and social purposes. In 2011 our two largest events had 225 people and 100 people in attendance. Examples of other events are our “Run for the Lake,” our “Bike for the Lake,” a community pig roast on the lake shore, a farm walk, etc. We also have a variety of media efforts, and we work with other water quality groups in Vermont and Quebec. The purpose is to increase the number of people taking action and advocating for clean water.
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Our Accomplishments
* FNLC has successfully contributed to the reduction of sediment and phosphorus pollution from agricultural land through promotion of covercrops, low-tillage planting, critical area seeding, manure injection, manure incorporation, soil aeration, buffers, improved ditch practices, gully stabilization, sub-soiling and other improved ag field practices.
* FNLC is also engaged in experimental practices to reduce agricultural water pollution with “water and sediment control basins,” which capture sediment, reduce heavy water flows and reduce erosion. If these prove to be successful, they will be expanded to other parts of Vermont.
* FLNC built an experimental wetland to reduce water pollution coming from milkhouse wastewater.
* FNLC actively works to increase public engagement with issues related to water quality and the health of northern Lake Champlain.
* FNLC advocates with agencies and legislators, demanding more implementation projects, better project prioritization, and greater enforcement of regulations.
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Our Priorities
* Continue work on the numerous agricultural implementation projects listed in Our Accomplishments.
* Work with six Franklin County municipalities to create stormwater plans.
* Roads and Bridges: FNLC will work with municipalities to adopt the new Standards that will lead to better water quality.
* Work on improved silage leachate treatment systems, a new project to reduce water pollution created by the high nutrient leachate that comes from feed bunkers.
* Work to reduce water in manure pits, a new project to reduce water pollution by using improved manure management methods.
* Increase our multi-media effort to provide better information to the public. Working with our partners at the St. Albans Messenger and with other media allies we will expand use of our internet, print media and social networking tools (Facebook, YouTube). Greater public engagement is key to success in improving water quality in Lake Champlain.
Misty Sunrise in the Champlain Islands
Champlain Haiku
Our Lake is threatened
Everyone must do something
Stop! pointing fingers
- Megan Moir, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain Member
2012 Run for the Lake will be on Sept. 9, 2012-- mark your calendars !!
Run for the Lake Corporate & Individual Sponsors
 | What’s that Mess? |
Contact your legislators and town officials to let them know that Lake Champlain is magnificent and valuable. Ask them to support clean-up of Lake Champlain. Learn more about How You Can Help |