A new coalition of six environmental groups has begun coordinated cleanups and public education efforts to reduce foam and plastic debris in Lake Champlain and nearby waterways, where flooding has worsened pollution in recent years.
Sydney P. Hakes reports for Burlington Free Press.
In short:
- The Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition formed to combat human-made debris, focusing on foam and plastics that persist for centuries and harm wildlife.
- Flooding in 2023 and 2024 washed large amounts of construction materials and trash into the lake, compounding longstanding water quality problems.
- Member organizations are combining research, advocacy, volunteer cleanups and a debris tracking app to address pollution in Lake Champlain and Lake George.
Why this matters:
Lake Champlain supplies drinking water to more than 200,000 people and supports fishing, boating, and tourism in Vermont and New York. Foam and plastic debris pose direct hazards to wildlife, which ingest or become entangled in it, and introduce toxic chemicals into the food chain. Floods linked to heavier rainfall have intensified the problem, pulling construction waste and household trash into tributaries. Once broken into microplastics, the particles are nearly impossible to remove and can enter human bodies through food and water. The lake’s worsening pollution highlights how aging infrastructure and extreme weather combine to stress freshwater systems already under pressure from nutrient runoff and invasive species.
Related: Plastic fibers are turning up in Lake Champlain’s fish, sand, and drinking water
