Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain in Vermont remains at risk despite the state's pledge to speed cleanup on land to meet pollution reduction goals for the lake by 2009. There is a growing belief among experts that Vermont's $103 million cleanup plan won't be enough to insure clean water, especially in Lake Champlain's northeastern sections.
Lake advocates offer a few answers to the problems facing the lake. They include better use of government dollars to target the worst pollution problems first, and stricter regulation of development, particularly near riverbanks.
Changes in approach will not come without challenges. The obstacles include government red tape; Vermont's reluctance to impose more regulation on farmers and developers; and individual skepticism about the costs and benefits of changing personal behavior to reduce pollution.
September 25, 2006 6:46 AM | Category: Beaches, Cleanup, Lake, Politics