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FACT SHEET - Lake Champlain Watershed Environmental Assistance Program (VT & NY)

Watershed, New York & Vermont

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Published Nov. 16, 2023

DESCRIPTION:  The Lake Champlain Watershed is an officially designated resource of national significance that spans the States of New York and Vermont and into Canada. It drains nearly half of Vermont, provides drinking water to approximately 250,000 people, and is a critically important economic and ecological driver for the region. In order to protect and restore this vital resource, Congress and the President established the Lake Champlain Watershed Environmental Assistance Program in December 2000. The program leverages the expertise of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with local, state, and other federal actors, to provide environmental assistance to non-federal interests in the Lake Champlain Watershed.

The goal of the Lake Champlain Watershed Environmental Assistance Program is to provide assistance with planning, designing and implementation of large scale projects that protect and enhance water quality, water supply, ecosystem integrity and other water related issues within the watershed.  The Lake Champlain Basin Program is the administrative partner of the USACE to implement this program under the terms of a General Management Plan. Congress is authorized to appropriate up to $100,000,000 for this program; $14.33M has been received to date of which $250K was in included in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

AUTHORIZATION:  Section 542 of Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 (Public Law #106-541) as amended in Section 3160 of WRDA of 2007 (Public Law #110-114).

STATUS:  The New York District has completed six projects under the Lake Champlain Program and just recently completed on one study in the watershed.  The New York District is working with the Senator Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to identify new projects.

Project Partnership Agreement 2020

Project Partnership Agreement 2019

Project Partnership Agreement 2018

Click here for a Partners in Action Report from November 2017.

 

  • Jewett and Stevens Brooks Phosphorus Management Study, Saint Albans Bay, VT - Partnering with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.  Initiated in May 2019.  The study recommended a plan to reduce the internal phosphorus pollution that has built up within the sediment of the wetlands and bay.  The final report was completed in the fall of 2023.
  • Lake Champlain Canal Feasibility Study of an Invasive Species Barrier, NY- Partnering with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC); initiated in 2017.  The purpose of the study is to recommend a plan to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species through the Lake Champlain Canal.  The Final Report was completed in March 2022.  The next phase of the project, Phase II Study/Design was approved by LCBP Steering Committee on 14 December 2021. The Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for Phase II is expected to be signed by July 2024.
  • Waterbury Dam, VT - Initial Dam Safety Assessment study under Section 542 WRDA 2000 as amended, to review the dam and spillway.  Further study/design/construction would be performed under a separate authority, Section 1177 WRDA 2016.

 

 

       Lake Champlain General Management Plan

                   For additional information on the Lake Champlain Program, see Placemat. 

CONTACT:  

Ms. Jennifer L. Curran

Project Manager

P: (917) 790-6202

Email:  Jennifer.L.Curran@usace.army.mil

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District

 

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS:

Sen. Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Welch (D-VT), Sen. Schumer (NY), Sen. Gillibrand (NY)

Rep. Balint (D/VT-00); Rep. Stefanik (NY-21)