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Major Issues
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The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources |
Lake Champlain – Recreational Opportunities
 Lake
Champlain’s 587 miles of scenic shoreline, sandy beaches, secluded bays
and friendly harbors attract boaters, anglers and other visitors from
all over the country. Lake Champlain is home to a 1,400-mile networks
of bike routes ,
including a 350-mile bike trail loop of the lake. The
Lake Champlain Paddler’s Trail links camping and access sites around
the lake. Of course, recreational boating and fishing are two of the
popular ways to spend a day on Lake Champlain. Field and Stream
magazine picked Lake Champlain as one of its top 25 fishing spots in the
United States. The Lake Champlain International hosts fishing derbies
from May to September for anglers of all ages and skill. We need to
protect and promote Lake Champlain’s many recreational opportunities.
Leahy has worked with local groups on both sides of the lake and federal
agencies to develop new recreation resources while also ensuring that
the natural resources are protected.
Improving Boat
Access and Safety
While Lake Champlain
was one a booming commercial shipping center it is no mainly home to
recreational boaters. The challenge to maintain and expand boat access
and safety has to be met by local, state, private and federal partners.
Leahy has brought new federal resources to lake to help meet this
goal. In 2003, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed over $6
million worth of repair work to the Burlington Breakwater that will
ensure the vitality of Burlington Harbor. Leahy is also working with the
Army Corps to remove several oil bollards in the Harbor that pose
navigational hazards. Leahy also secured funding for the U.S. Coast Guard
to build a new station in Burlington Harbor to help ensure the safety of
thousands of boaters that use the lake. The Lake Champlain Basin
Program, which Leahy secures annual funding for, also funds projects
around the lake to enhance boating access.
Restoring Lake
Champlain’s Fisheries
 More
than $200 million was spent on fishing related activities in the basin
in 1997. We need to strengthen the lake’s fisheries and the economy it
generates. Leahy worked to open and expand the Lake Champlain Resources
Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that works with local
partners to maintain healthy fish stocks. He has supported funding
for the Pittsford National Fish Hatchery that rears landlocked Atlantic
salmon and lake trout for Lake Champlain and has secured over $1
million to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of
Vermont fight the spread of sea lampreys in the lake. This invasive
species preys on and threatens many native fish populations. Leahy
is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build its
cormorant control program for Lake Champlain.
For more information on these issues, please
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