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Champlain
General Information
| Description |
The Lake Champlain basin extends from the peaks of the Adirondack Mountains in New York west towards the Green Mountains in Vermont and north into Quebec, Canada. From north to south, the lake spans 193 km, yet it is surprisingly narrow--only 19 km at its widest point. Its long length and narrow width in addition to many bays and over 70 islands contributes to the lake being divided into 13 hydrologically distinct segments. More than 600,000 people live in the Lake Champlain basin and millions visit each year to enjoy its waters and other natural and historic features. Not only recognized as the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States, Lake Champlain’s watershed has been designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve. |
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| Country |
Canada
United States of America
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| Latitude |
44° 30' 0"
(44.5000) |
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| Longitude |
-73° 15'
0" (-73.2500) |
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| State |
New York
Vermont
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| River Basin |
Saint Lawrence
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Maps
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Champlain global index map (LakeNet Explorer)
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Champlain locator map |
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Champlain bathymetry map (Lake Champlain Basin Atlas)
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Lakes of Vermont (LakeNet Explorer 2004)
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Champlain shoreline map
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Lake Basin Management Initiative (LakeNet Explorer)
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Champlain phosporous levels assessment 1996-2000 (Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation)
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Champlain watershed map (1) (Lake Champlain Basin Program)
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Champlain Basin sites of concern (Lake Champlain Basin Program)
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Physical Characteristics
| Description |
The lake drains a watershed encompassing 21 326 km2, 56% of which is in Vermont, 37% in New York, and 7% in Quebec. Nearly half of the state of Vermont lies within the basin compared to less than 10% of either New York or Quebec (Lake Champlain Basin Program 1996). The lake’s drainage area to surface area ratio is remarkably high, 19:1. Land cover in the watershed is generally dominated by forested land (62%), agricultural land (28%), urban land (3%), and water (7%) (Budd and Meals 1994), although recent data shows that urban land has expanded to 5% (Hegman et al. 1999). |
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| Volume |
25.80 km3 |
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| Surface Area |
1,127.00 km2 |
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| Depth |
Mean depth: 19.5 m
Maximum depth: 122.0 m
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| Residence Time |
3.3 years |
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| Age |
0 - 10,000 years before present
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| Origin |
Glacial
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| Trophic State |
Mesotrophic |
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| Type |
Fresh
Permanent
Natural
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| Catchment |
Catchment size: 21,326.00
km2
Catchment/surface area ratio: 19:1 |
Socio-Political
| Economic Value |
The lake’s healthy natural resources sustain a thriving economy. Agricultural goods produced in the basin generate roughly $415 million each year. People fishing in Lake Champlain spend about $32 million in the basin per year. Bird and other wildlife viewing contribute $50 million per year. Tourism overall brings in more than $2.2 billion annually (Lake Champlain Management Conference 1996). Cultural heritage resources also factor heavily in the strong economy. Heritage tourism, which joins natural and cultural resources through bicycle loops or kayak paddling trails, has made the basin a world-class bicycle and kayak touring destination (LCBP 1999). |
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| Major Cities |
Burlington, VT; Plattsburgh, NY |
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| Population |
600,000 (1995) |
Watershed Management
| Description |
Opportunities for Action, a comprehensive plan for the watershed, was renewed in 2003, after its first adoption in 1996. The comprehensive watershed plan deals with water quality, fish and wildlife resources, recreation management and cultural heritage protection. |
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| Watershed Action Plan |
Yes |
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| Sub-basin Action Plan |
Developed |
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| Issues |
Although Lake Champlain remains a vital and attractive lake with many assets, there are several serious environmental problems that demand action. These include: high phosphorus concentrations, toxic substances, invasive species, water quality degradation, and habitat degradation. |
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| Other Issues |
Health Advisories - Fish
Invasive Species
Nutrient pollution
Polluted runoff
Sediment contamination
Toxics
Watershed habitat alteration
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| Specific Contaminants |
Mercury
Pathogens
POPs/PCPs/Endocrine Disrupters
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| Monitoring |
Lake-wide monitoring program is in place as well as a long-term citizen monitoring program. |
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| Monitoring Programs |
In-Lake
Water Quality
Biological Resources and Habitats
Lake Use
Tributaries/Watershed
Water Quality
Biological Resources and Habitats
Land Use
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Biodiversity Conservation
| Description |
Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains form a biosphere reserve (designated in 1989). In 1990, the federal Lake Champlain Special Designation Act was signed into law. 20,000 to 40,000 migratory birds use the Lake Champlain Valley during spring and fall migrations. The lake is home to more than 90 species of fish. |
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| Designations |
Biosphere Reserve
National Designation
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| Species of Concern |
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Organizations
LakeNet Programs
Documents
Resources
News
Additional Data Sources
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Birkett, C., and I. Mason. 1995. A new global lakes database for remote sensing programme studying climatically sensitive large lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 21 (3) 307-318. |
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| • |
International Lake Environment Committee, the United Nations Environment Program and Environment Agency, Government of Japan. 1997. World Lakes Database. |
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US EPA (2004) National Listing of Fish Advisories Database |
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