Protecting Lake Champlain
 Stretching nearly 120
miles from Whitehall, NY to the Richelieu River in Quebec, Lake
Champlain is one of Vermont�s greatest natural treasures. Nestled
between the dramatic peaks of the Adirondacks and Vermont�s picturesque
Green Mountains, the lake is valued all over the Northeast for its
recreational, ecological and scenic values. Lake Champlain supports a
regional economy of more than $9 billion and a watershed of more than
8200 square miles. Vermonters sometimes affectionately refer to it
as the �Sixth Great Lake,� and Leahy has many fond memories of spending
time with his family on Lake
Champlain. As a boy, Senator Leahy spent time fishing and boating in its waters, and
when he was courting his wife Marcelle, he would take her on
ferry rides across the lake. More recently, Leahy has become an avid scuba
diver, and his own explorations of shipwreck sites in the lake have
inspired him to secure funding for the preservation of Lake Champlain�s
historical heritage.
Leahy has made the lake one of his top priorities.
He has secured over $70 million in
federal funding to clean-up and protect Lake Champlain. Leahy has
spearheaded federal efforts to study the lake and to learn the most
effective ways preserve its natural beauty and protect it for future
generations. Leahy is honored to have his name, and Marcelle's, attached to the
ECHO
Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington, a campus that is home to
several programs dedicated to studying and preserving the lake.
Although much progress has been made to protect the lake, there is still
a lot of work to be done. Leahy will continue to work hard for the future
of the Lake Champlain so that Vermonters can continue to enjoy this
great lake.
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On October 24, 2008, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
joined a small group in Burlington for the taping of a documentary on
the history of Lake Champlain, as well as the Leahy Center, which
celebrates it's fifth anniversary this year. From left to right,
Ray Liavigne, Lois McClure, George Little, Marcelle Leahy, Sen. Leahy,
and Phelan Fretz, Executive Director of the Leahy Center. Click
here for more information on the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science
Center at the Leahy Center. |
Sen. Leahy is shown here with Newt, the
mascot for the ECHO center
and Champ,
the Vermont Lake Monster's mascot.
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