Read online in English or French. / Lisez sur internet en anglais ou français.

Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Lake Champlain Basin (the Plan) is a pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan. It was first endorsed in October of 1996 by the governors of New York and Vermont and the regional administrators of the USEPA. The 1996 Plan called for periodic updates and a new version of the plan was signed in April 2003.

The updated Plan was based on information from several public input meetings and comments from researchers, not-for-profits, local state, and federal agencies, and other groups interested in Lake Champlain's management. The April 2003 version of Opportunities for Action is now in effect. It can be read online in English, and in a French translation prepared by the Quebec Ministry of Environment.

In October 1996 Opportunities for Action was first approved by the governors of New York and Vermont, and the regional administrators of the EPA. The updated version was signed in April 2003 by the Governors of New York and Vermont. A letter of endorsement was provided by the Premier of Quebec.

Opportunities for Action evolved from:

• public input meetings
• citizen perception surveys
• focus group discussions
• technical workshops
• research, monitoring, and demonstration projects

Resource Issues Facing Lake Champlain

Although Lake Champlain is a vital lake with many assests, there are several serious environmental problems that demand action. Issues addressed in the Plan include:

• High phosphorus levels and algal blooms in parts of the Lake
• Toxic substances, such as PCB's and mercury, which have resulted in fish consumption advisories for some fish
• Impacts to fish and wildife from nuisance nonative aquatic species
• Wetland loss
• Habitat fragmentation
• Public access issues
• Recreational use conflicts
• Loss of cultural and archeological resources

Priorities for Action

Four priorities are identified to protect and restore ecological and cultural resources of the Basin while maintaining a vital economy for the region:

1. Reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake Champlain to promote a healthy and diverse ecosystem and provide for sustainable human use and enjoyment of the Lake.
2. Reduce toxic contamination to protect public health and the Lake Champlain ecosystem.
3. Minimize the risks to humans from water-related health hazards in the Lake Champlain Basin.
4. Control the introduction, spread, and impact of nonnative nuisance species in order to preservethe integrity of the Lake Champlain ecosystem.

Plan Themes

Several themes emerged from the public involvement process in the development of the Plan. These themes include:

• a partnership approach that relies on existing agencies, organizations and individuals to implement the Plan while forming innovative partnerships;
• an ecosystem approach that stresses management decisions which recognize the inter-relationships among the physical, biological and chemical components of the Lake Champlain Basin;
• a watershed approach that recognizes that Lake Champlain is affected by activities throughout its Basin. Water quality protection and ecosystem restoration efforts should be focused along watershed boundaries;
• integration of environmental and economic goals in the decision-making process and in selecting the most cost-effective actions to protect and enhance the resources of the Basin;
• pollution prevention as a cost-effective means to protect the environment by eliminating pollution before it is generated;
• a consensus-based, collaborative approach that strengthens the outcomes of decisions by facilitating a dialogue among multiple interested parties; and
• flexibility built into programs and organizations so that they can adapt according to emerging issues, resources and technology.

Local-Level Implementation

Local involvement in planning and implementation is a cornerstone of the LCBP. From 1993-2003, the LCBP awarded more than $2.6 million projects in New York and Vermont through several competitive grant programs. The LCBP also relies citizen public meetings, written comments, and through the Citizen Advisory Committees.