Photo: LCBP

We hope you’ve been staying warm during this exceptionally cold winter! While many of us have been hunkered down inside, the lake has slowly but steadily been freezing. At the Lake Champlain Research Conference in late January, the majority of attendees thought that the lake’s surface would freeze over completely this year. They were right! The lake froze over this year for the first time since 2019.

We’re pleased to share several upcoming opportunities to gather, including our Love the Lake winter speaker series and World Water Day, as well as more news and opportunities from around the Basin.

Planting native trees and shrubs along waterways helps restore fish and wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and improves resilience to flooding. Growing investment in this natural solution requires many more seedlings than have historically been available through local growers, leading to a supply and demand challenge. Federal infrastructure funding, channeled through the LCBP tree nursery grant program, is helping to boost capacity.

Learn more →

On January 26 and 27, over 200 participants joined us at University of Vermont to participate in the Lake Champlain Research Conference. Despite the snowstorm, the conference brought together lake and watershed stakeholders, practitioners, watershed groups, and the public to share and learn about current research and other important ongoing work related to Lake Champlain and its watershed. This conference was hosted by Lake Champlain Sea Grant, in partnership with the LCBP and NEIWPCC, the University of Vermont Water Resources Institute, and the Lake Champlain Research Consortium.

Our team was excited to join the Banff World Tour festivities during the Burlington stop! Dr. Matthew Vaughan, Chief Scientist with the LCBP/NEIWPCC, took the stage during intermission on Friday night of the film festival to talk to an audience of over 1,000—a record number—about all things Lake Champlain. (Fun fact: both Vermont and New York have laws protecting Champ!)

On Saturday morning, Education & Outreach Information Officer Emma Dannenberg joined the team from Skirack and Patagonia Burlington, and Cassie and Danielle of the National Park After Dark podcast to explore the Burlington waterfront. Thanks to all who braved the cold weather to come out for an inspiring weekend celebrating our landscape and lake!

We're currently accepting applications for A Watershed for Every Classroom, a year-long professional learning program for educators in the Lake Champlain Basin beginning August 2026. Over one year, participants will gain ideas and strategies for teaching about our waters and supporting students' understanding of—and care for—our planet.

Learn more and apply →

Please join us in Grand Isle for Love the Lake, our annual winter speaker series! We’re excited to present four talks on environmental and cultural heritage topics. As always, enjoy free coffee and dessert.

February 19: The Connection Between Trees and the Lake | Teage O'Connor, Crow's Path
* This presentation will be hosted at the Rock Point Center in Burlington, VT in collaboration with the Wild Burlington Society

March 12: Wool and Water: Communicating Science with Fiber Art in the Lake Champlain Basin and Beyond | Michale Glennon, Paul Smith's College Adirondack Watershed Institute

March 19: Vermont's Revolution | Angie Grove, Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

Learn more and register for virtual attendance →

World Water Day is coming to the Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh, New York on March 21! Enjoy a wide range of hands-on activities and learning opportunities from dozens of watershed organizations from around the region. Are you an educator? We’re accepting student work submissions for display at the mall until March 9.

Learn more →

Our team is growing! We are hiring Boat Launch Stewards to support aquatic invasive species spread prevention efforts throughout the summer 2026 season. Applications accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

Learn more and apply →

Expanded Clean Water, Safe Roads Network

The Clean Water, Safe Roads network was first launched in 2022 by AdkAction. The recently expanded effort added seven more municipal members and fostered greater collaboration across the watershed. The program focused on reducing road salt and sand use through technical innovations like brine application and improved calibration.

Riparian Buffer Stewardship

Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District improved riparian habitat at 24 project sites in Franklin County. Stewardship—including tree plantings—improved the health of vegetated buffer zones connecting to 40 acres of waterways in the Missisquoi River, North Lake, and Lamoille River watersheds.

Fish Creek Aquatic Invasive Species Management

The Upper Saranac Foundation built on previous efforts to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the Upper Saranac watershed. The project utilized diver hand harvesting to reduce invasive plant infestations within the Fish Creek Public Campground, minimizing the risk of downstream spread. Extensive public outreach reinforced AIS prevention strategies for campground users and the broader public.

Reconnecting Vermont Rivers through Dam Removal

Vermont Natural Resources Council removed five dams—three in Rutland County, one in Washington County, and one in Addison County—restoring approximately five acres of floodplain and wetland and over 4,000 linear feet of riparian habitat.

The LCBP, in coordination with NEIWPCC, is pleased to announce these new funding opportunities:

Native Tree Nursery Projects

The intent of this funding opportunity is to measurably enhance the native plant supply available to local organizations for habitat conservation projects that benefit Lake Champlain.

Award Amount: Up to $500,000, with approximately $1 million in available funding
Deadline: February 18, 2026

Visit the LCBP website for details about these RFPs and to apply →

Love the Lake Winter Speaker Series

Join us for our Love the Lake winter speaker series, featuring four presentations on environmental and cultural heritage topics. Free coffee and dessert provided.

Grand Isle and Burlington, Vermont. February and March, 2026, 6:30PM-7:30PM
Learn more →

Watershed Forestry Partnership Annual Meeting

The Watershed Forestry Partnership’s annual meeting includes a discussion of best practices, barriers, recent projects, and research relevant to riparian forest restoration and its associated benefits.

Burlington, Vermont. February 19, 2026, 9:00AM-4:00PM
Learn more →

Wintervale

Come say hi to us at Wintervale, a celebration of the season hosted by the Intervale Center. Activities include a winter tracking walk, raptor meet and greet, guided cross country ski, and much more.

Burlington, Vermont. February 22, 2026, 11:00AM-2:00PM
Learn more →

World Water Day

Join dozens of watershed organizations from around the Lake Champlain Basin at the Champlain Centre Mall to celebrate our shared waters! Experience student work, hands-on activities for all ages, and opportunities to get involved as you explore the mall.

Plattsburgh, New York. March 21, 2026, 11:00AM-3:00PM
Learn more →

Northeast Natural History Conference

The Northeast Natural History Conference offers a forum for researchers, natural resource managers, students, and naturalists to present current information on the varied aspects of applied field biology (freshwater, marine, and terrestrial) and natural history for the Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.

Burlington, Vermont. April 17-19, 2026
Learn more →

New England Estuarine Research Society Spring Meeting

The New England Estuarine Research Society Spring Meeting will highlight the rich history and science of the Lake Champlain basin and provide an opportunity for partners to network and share research and projects. The deadline to submit an abstract is February 26.

Plattsburgh, New York. April 23-25, 2026
Learn More →

LCBP Committee Meetings

• Lake Champlain Executive Committee, March 17
• Lake Champlain Steering Committee, April 14-15

Additional meeting dates TBA. For the most up-to-date information please see the LCBP’s full meeting schedule →