Lake Champlain straddles an international border, a state border and is the focus of scores of government agencies, scientific researchers and nonprofit organizations.

It’s a big lake with a lot happening, but there’s a government plan for that. 

The Lake Champlain Basin Program – a federal program established to guide and fund research, restoration and protection of the lake – on Friday released the latest 5-year update to its guiding plan.

The plan outlined continued threats like high phosphorus levels, harmful algae blooms (HABs), toxic substances and pathogens, and aquatic invasive species. It championed the more than $20 million in grants to more than 600 groups and individuals the program has made to reduce pollution, educate the public, and research the lake and its health.

The new iteration will increase the focus on climate change impacts in the basin and seek to engage a more diverse group of stakeholders.

There’s plenty more happening on the water beat this time of year.

I’m going to a court hearing Wednesday morning in the Lake George Association’s effort to block the Lake George Park Commission’s planned use of an aquatic herbicide to combat invasive Eurasian watermilfoil on Lake George. The association’s and state’s lawyers will argue about whether the judge should prevent the herbicide use until the case moves forward, effectively blocking the plan to apply the herbicide this year.

Adirondack groups are recognizing Invasive Species Awareness Week, hoping to continue to raise attention to the many invaders that harm native species and degrade important habitat throughout the Adirondacks. Keep an eye out for new boat wash stations around the park and a new law attempting to ensure boaters actually comply with the mantra of those who fight the spread of aquatic invasive species: Clean. Drain. Dry. (Your boat.)

The new law goes into effect Wednesday and requires boaters to obtain certification that they have cleaned, drained and dried their boat before launching in waters in or near the Adirondack Park.

On Friday, I met my first Adirondack brookie, joining a group of anglers collecting brook trout DNA samples as part of a weekend “mission” with Trout Power. The small group of devoted anglers is looking to identify heritage strains of brook trout, those that haven’t been impacted by years of mixing with stocked fish. They aimed to collect 50 samples around Great Camp Sagamore over the weekend by clipping small parts of fish fins before releasing the fish back into their cool stream homes. More to come on their work.

ALSO:

• I wrote about a new petition filed with the Public Service Commission that calls for increased incentives to bolster small hydropower facilities.

• Someone is buying up lakefront property on Big Tupper Lake.

• Add this St. Lawrence County waterfalls road trip to your list of things to do in the park.

Explorer file photo by Mike Lynch

Editor’s note: This first appeared in Zach’s weekly “Water Line” newsletter. Click here to sign up.