Core Programs:

The Aquatic Macrophyte Monitoring Program collects baseline information on aquatic plant communities in Vermont lakes by conducting descriptive surveys using a pre-established plant cover scale. This program has been active since the late 1970's, and information is available from 164 discrete surveys.

VTDEC conducts numerous Aquatic Invasive Species Searches and Surveys each year to search for new populations and monitor existing populations of invasive aquatic species, primarily Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum),water chestnut (Trapa natans), and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). This includes what is presently the longest ongoing zebra mussel monitoring program in the nation, the Lake Champlain Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program. This program monitors 12 in-lake and 11 shoreline stations in Lake Champlain for larval and settler zebra mussel presence and density on a bi-weekly basis. In addition, adult zebra mussel surveys are performed at selected shoreline locations during late summer. Click here for more information on aquatic nuisance species in Vermont.

Special Studies:

Vermont is participating in the National Lake Survey, a national-scale initiative to measure numerous aspects of the quality of the Nation's lakes.  As part of the Survey, Vermont is also carrying out it's own survey at the Statewide scale, during 2007-2008.  Click here to learn more about the program, and to find out which lakes are being tested as part of the Survey.

The Biodiversity Monitoring Program evaluates the status of selected biological species and communities. Specific activities include: 1) distributional surveys of aquatic plant, fish and macroinvertebrate species listed by the Vermont Endangered Species Committee as rare, threatened or endangered, or of special concern; 2) distributional surveys of other communities not currently listed but having species considered likely candidates for eventual listing (e.g. snails); and 3) monitoring of biological communities or community types whose diversity is threatened (e.g. Lake Champlain mussel and cobble/shale macroinvertebrate communities threatened by zebra mussels). Data are used to: 1) describe species distribution; 2) identify species/communities at risk; and 3) develop management plans for the protection of identified species/communities.

The Lake Bioassessment Project is the principal vehicle by which biological criteria are being developed for Vermont lakes. This monitoring effort was originally launched in 1996 as a cooperative project with the State of NH. The project has developed consistent protocols by which the trophic status, and the phytoplankton, macrophyte, and macroinvertebrate communities in lakes can be measured. The goal of the project is to develop numeric measurements of the communities listed above to assess aquatic life use attainment. At present, trial multimetric criteria have been developed for the phytoplankton community, and are in development for macrophytes and macroinvertebrates.

Available information regarding VTDEC efforts towards developing biological criteria for lakes:

• Background and field methods (pdf, 119 KB)
• Quarterly Report to EPA and Project Collaborators (pdf, 239 KB) describing a refined, probability-based lake classification system and refined, phytoplankton-based criteria.
• Quarterly report to EPA and project collaborators (pdf, 244 KB) describing efforts towards developing trophic state indicator and macrophyte based criteria.
• 2003 Report (pdf 1024 KB) summarizing phytoplankton based criteria and presenting initial macroinvertebrate-based criteria
• 2006 Report (pdf 754 KB) proving refined macroinvertebrate-based criteria

Other Biological Monitoring Projects (ongoing or periodic):

• Monitor macroinvertebrate community compositional changes before and after the mechanical shredding of water chestnut on Lake Champlain. The goal of this small monitoring project is to assess the impact of a potential new water chestnut control technique, mechanical shredding, on the macroinvertebrate community.
• Implement a three year monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of the June 2000 SONAR® chemical treatment on Eurasian watermilfoil and identify any impacts to non-target aquatic biota (aquatic and wetland plants, invertebrates) on two lakes. Pre-treatment monitoring was conducted in June and August of 1999. Post treatment monitoring occurred in June and August of 2000 and will be conducted again during these two months in 2001 for a one-year followup. A final report will be available in February 2002.
• Monitor the effects on both target and non-target organisms of copper sulfate treatments to control the snails partially responsible for swimmer's itch in a pond.

Physical & Chemical Monitoring

The Spring Phosphorus Program collects spring-overturn nutrient and physical and chemical data on Vermont lakes and ponds 20 acres in size or larger. Parameters include total phosphorus and total nitrogen, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, hardness, Secchi disk transparency, and multiprobe profiles (temperature, dissolved oxygen).

View the Spring Phosphorus Monitoring Lake Water Quality Data

The Vermont Lay Monitorig Program is the volunteer statewide, lake monitoring program that has sampled more than 80 inland lakes and 30 stations on Lake Champlain since 1979.

To learn more about the program view The Vermont Lay Monitoring Program

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The Lake Assessment Program is designed to rapidly assess the extent to which lakes meet designated uses for 305B reporting purposes and to gather information to focus lake protection efforts. The degree of sampling intensity for assessment lakes varies with the degree to which impairment must be documented. In general, lakes are circumnavigated and detailed assessment observations are made regarding in-lake and shoreline conditions with respect to designated uses and threats to lake water quality. Detailed notes are made regarding the extent and composition of the macrophyte community. Sampling is performed for total phosphorus, alkalinity, Secchi disk transparency, and multiprobe profiling. Additional sampling may be performed as necessary to identify departures from VT Water Quality Standards.

The Water Level Monitoring Program monitors lake surface elevations to establish mean water levels for a variety of purposes, most notably to help determine the jurisdictional boundary of the state's lakes and ponds encroachment permit program.

The Long-Term Water Quality and Biological Monitoring Project for Lake Champlain surveys the quality of Lake Champlain waters on a bi-weekly basis, at 12 (14 after 2001) locations throughout the lake. Eighteen major tributaries are sampled on an event-basis as well. The program's large physico-chemical parameter list includes: species of phosphorus, nitrogen and organic carbon; chlorophyll-a; base cations and alkalinity; TSS; dissolved oxygen; conductivity; and pH. The program also performs biological sampling, which is primarily aimed at assessing phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrate communities.

Diagnostic Studies:

Diagnostic studies are typically aimed at identifying the cause of eutrophication in Vermont lakes. Over the years, Vermont has performed numerous such monitoring studies, and the results of many of these studies have led to concrete remediation steps. Lakes on which notable diagnostic studies have been performed include Harvey's Lake (Barnet), Lake Morey (Fairlee), Lake Iroquois (Hinesburg) and Lake Champlain. Presently, VTDEC has active diagnostic studies on three large recreationally used lakes (Lake Carmi - Franklin, Lake Parker - Glover, and Ticklenaked Pond - Ryegate.)

A wide variety of parameters are sampled in conjunction with diagnostic studies, with the actual tests performed specific to the project. Standard eutrophication parameters (phosphorus, Secchi disk transparency, dissolved oxygen) are always measured. Other parameters from both the sediment and the water column are measured as needed.

Special Studies:

Special studies are those which are performed to gain more information about a particular environmental issue of importance to VTDEC. There are presently two such projects being cooperatively managed by VTDEC.

The EPA-sponsored REMAP Assessment of Mercury (Hg) in Sediments, Waters and Biota of VT and NH Lakes Project is a three-year effort to identify the lake types occurring in VT and NH that have elevated levels of mercury in fish and in upper trophic-level biota. The parameter list for this integrated collaborative monitoring project is large, and includes standard limnological measurements; base cations and aluminum; and Hg in total and methyl phases in sediment, water, and biota. There is also a paleolimnological component to the project which aims to determine the extent to which atmospherically deposited Hg has entered lakes in the study set.

In conjunction with the Paleolimnology of Vermont Lakes Project, VTDEC is collaborating with the University of Vermont to develop a set of indicators of present and historical trophic status based on the paleolimnology of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (d13C and d15N). Using cores from the sediments of several lakes, VTDEC is working to identify the extent to which the present trophic conditions in these lakes deviate from the historic background. Such information will be instrumental in understanding the extent to which phosphorus (and thus productivity) has been elevated since the lake watersheds were first disturbed.

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Analytical Services Partnerships for 2008, provides sample analysis services to groups conducting lake or stream monitoring.

Additional Lake Studies or Projects:

Lake Rescue 2008 Water Quality Monitoring Summary Report

Vt. National Lake Survey Final Report

Final "The Water Quality of Lake Memphremagog, 2005-2006: Results of the Joint Quebec-Vermont Water Quality Initiative" (pdf, 5.5 MB)

Little Lake (Wells) Presentation, 9/5/08 (pdf 6MB)

Lake Carmi Phosphorus TMDL Presentation, 9/11/08 (pdf, 3MB)

Updated: May 2008