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Lake Champlain Program to Focus on Health of Biodiversity

Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge
The Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge on Lake Champlain, where the Conservancy has helped protect over 1,500 acres
© Liz Thompson
 

Lake Champlain’s watershed, which covers 8,234 square miles in Vermont, New York and Quebec, is largely comprised of forests, wetlands and open water. Yet human activities such as development and agriculture on just 22% of the land base can have a profound effect on the health and well-being of the entire natural system.

Human health is intimately tied to the overall health of the ecosystem in which we live. Above and beyond the obvious connection to water quality human beings rely on the Lake Champlain watershed to purify air and water, to regulate climate, to renew productive soils, and for recreation and inspiration. By monitoring the health of all the diverse plant and animal communities which make up the rich biodiversity of this region we can better identify threats to the health of the ecosystem and prioritize conservation strategies to address these threats.  

The Conservancy has been active in conserving biodiversity in the Lake Champlain region for many decades, protecting lands and waters throughout the basin in both Vermont and New York, including Lake Champlain’s shorelines, wetlands, and tributaries. Now, as part of an organization-wide focus on freshwater conservation, The Nature Conservancy is adopting conservation strategies to protect Lake Champlain itself – the lake’s diverse aquatic ecosystems and an incredible diversity of native plants, fish, birds, and wildlife.

Read the Report

In collaboration with other conservation organizations the Vermont and New York chapters of the Conservancy spent a year assessing the health of biodiversity in the Lake Champlain watershed. This report (PDF, 372 KB) describes the lake’s major biodiversity components, identifies major threats to these resources, and selects key strategies for conserving biological diversity. 

For more information on our scientific approach to conservation planning.