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The following article is from an archived newsletter. See our Shared Waters newsletter.

Excess Nutrients and Algal Blooms Focus of Study in Lakes Champlain and Memphremagog

IJC staff
IJC
Blue-green algae along the shores of Lake Memphremagog

The waters of Lake Champlain and Missisquoi Bay, as well as Lake Memphremagog, are a source of pride for the people of Quebec, Vermont and New York. They are home to diverse ecosystems—rich with fish and wildlife, and enjoyed by thousands of visitors. Unfortunately, they also are suffering from the effects of excess nutrients.

When nutrients—such as phosphorus and nitrogen—enter a lake or one of its bays in excessive amounts, the impacts are visually displeasing and distressing for humans and wildlife. An overabundance of nutrients from rural and urban sources, as well as warmer surface water trends, can result in a proliferation of blue-green algae. Short-term exposure to blooms of cyanobacteria, known as harmful algal blooms, or HABs, can lead to minor skin irritation and stomach problems for humans, pets and wildlife. In some cases, HABs can have serious health consequences, including death.

Understanding the impacts of nutrients on water quality in lakes Champlain and Memphremagog is the focus of a two-year project by the International Joint Commission (IJC). At the request of the Canadian and US governments in the fall of 2017, the IJC is reviewing what is known about how nutrients enter the lakes, as well as current and past measures to address the issues. Based on the information that it has gathered, the IJC will provide recommendations to governments to strengthen these efforts.

Blue-green algae along the shores of Lake Memphremagog. Credit: MCI, 2013
Blue-green algae along the shores of Lake Memphremagog. Credit: MCI, 2013

In addition to consulting with provincial and state agencies and academics, the IJC will draw on the expertise of basin organizations in the watersheds to provide much of the research data. In the Lake Champlain-Missisquoi Bay system, these include the Organisme de bassin versant de la baie Missisquoi (OBVBM) in Quebec and the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) in Vermont. In Memphremagog, the IJC is partnering with Memphremagog Conservation Inc. (MCI) in Quebec and Memphremagog Watersheds Association (MWA) in Vermont.

“The OBVBM provides a solid foundation for this study,” says Project Manager Frédéric Chouinard. “Our organization has been working to improve water management in Missisquoi Bay since 1999, and has a comprehensive understanding of the basin and its issues.”

Eric Howe, program director for the Lake Champlain Basin Program, adds: “The LCBP is pleased to collaborate with the OBVBM toward a sustainable, binational strategy to reduce the impacts of nutrient loading and address the causes of HABs in Lake Champlain and Missisquoi Bay.” 

The Memphremagog Watersheds Association (MWA) began its advocacy work in 2007 and boasts an active network of lake associations. According to President Mary Pat Goulding, “We’re looking forward to continuing our close ties with MCI to protect and preserve the quality and natural beauty of the watershed region.”

MCI General Manager Ariane Orjikh added: “Hosting a binational science workshop in 2019 with MWA and Quebec’s Conseil de gouvernance de l’eau des bassins versants de la rivière Saint-François (COGESAF) is one of the ways we plan to strengthen collaborative efforts between federal, provincial and state agencies and work toward integrated approaches to managing watershed resources.”

The public will have an opportunity to participate in the study process before the IJC submits its final reports to governments in 2019. To learn more about the role of the IJC, visit us online.

IJC staff
IJC

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