You can help bring back the brook trout this week! Vermont’s state fish, the native brook trout, has been in trouble for several decades now, depriving Vermont and visiting anglers of a piece of our heritage and tradition. The TMDL meetings this week, though, give you the chance to help bring back this greatfish.
The TMDL (‘total maximum daily load’ – essentially a phosphorus budget) for Lake Champlain that is being created as you read this focuses on reducing phosphorus in Lake Champlain. The goal is to reduce phosphorus loads to the point where harmful algae blooms in the lake are prevented. Phosphorus ends up in the lake through our rivers and streams from a number of sources, and these sources cause disasters for brook trout:
Phosphorus is often attached to sediments that clog brook trout spawning and feeding habitat
The erosion that causes sediment is often linked to a lack of trees and plants on our river and stream banks
A lack of trees and plants on our river and stream banks also often leads to warmer rivers and streams (no shade) making it too warm for brook trout to survive
Water pollution runoff can increase water temperatures and scour brook trout habitat from the bottom of waterways
The point: your voice at the TMDL meetings this week urging the EPA and the State to prevent phosphorus loading properly in Lake Champlain will do great things for bringing back the brookies. Join us and your neighbors at the remaining three meetings.
December 10, 2013
2:00pm – 4:00pm
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
1 College Street, Burlington
December 10, 2013
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Founders Room, Middlebury Inn
14 Court Square, Middlebury
December 11, 2013
10:30am – 12:30pm
Fox Room, Rutland Free Library
10 Court Street, Rutland
For background on Lake Champlain clean-up efforts and where we stand today, read this article by LCI Executive Director, James Ehlers, in the Burlington Free Press: http://bfpne.ws/IAjBlm
Attend one, two, or all three meetings this week and tell the EPA and the State of Vermont why you think big change needs to happen urgently to prevent phosphorus pollution in your lake.
Thank you for being a part of a better future.