The Federal Clean Water Act required Vermont and New York to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for lakes and rivers that are not meeting water quality goals. A TMDL is an estimate of the amount of pollution that a body of water can receive without impairing vital uses, such as drinking water supply or aquatic life support. Because phosphorus is impairing water quality in many parts of Lake Champlain, a phosphorus TMDL has been prepared for the Lake. The bistate TMDL is based on the phosphorus loading and in-lake concentration targets in the management Plan, Opportunities for Action.

• Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL (VT DEC)
• TMDLS.NET
• Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) - NYSDEC
• TMDL Program - US EPA Office of Water