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Pollution that has an identifiable source, like a factory
or an overloaded wastewater treatment plant. |
Pollution that comes
from dispersed sources, mainly runoff from agricultural
fields, developed land, and roads. (
9% from forested land,
37% from developed land,
55% from agricultural land
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A
section of trees or shrubs growing between developed or agricultural
land and the lake. The roots of the plants help
keep soil from washing into the water as well as filtering
much of the water that does wash in of any pollutants including
phosphorus.
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Many
thanks to the and
the for
much of the research and information
supplied on these pages. Their web
sites are
listed and linked below.
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Phosphorus and Lake
Champlain |
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The Lake Champlain Land Trust considers
the Lake’s increased phosphorous levels as a major
threat to our environment. We believe that land conservation
is one of the best solutions to this problem because undeveloped
forested land contributes 40 times
less phosphorus
to the Lake than developed land and about 3.5 times less
phosphorus than agricultural land.
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| If you have any questions about
phosphorus and its effect on Lake Champlain that were
not answered here, please feel free to
email your question
to us at: I
have a Phosphorus question. (info@lclt.org). We will be happy
to try to answer your question or direct you to a resource. |
Kayaking amidst an algae bloom
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If
phosphorus is essential for all plants and animals why is it
bad for the Lake? Phosphorus is
an essential nutrient in a plant or animal’s growth.
It is therefore needed by the plants and organisms that live
in Lake Champlain. The problem occurs
when
more phosphorus than those plants and organisms need ends up
in the Lake, disturbing the
delicate
nutrient balance that exists.
Phosphorus stimulates growth, so when too much
of it ends up in the lake some plants and algae grow too quickly
and
thickly.
In turn the overabundance of these plants then absorb much
of the oxygen and sunlight needed by fish and plants below
the
surface waters. Additionally the ultimate decomposition or these
plants creates a toxic environment for other organism. As a
result the
Lake's normal ecosystem is dramatically altered.
In addition,
algal blooms
are also
a major deterrent to human enjoyment of the Lake as the
murky green, sometimes smelly water
is less
than
inviting
for
swimming, fishing and boating.
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| How
does phosphorus get into the Lake? Phosphorus
comes from what is called point and non point source pollution.
Wastewater treatment or industrial discharges are examples
of point source
pollution. In point source pollution the source of the problem
is localized and easily identifiable. This type of pollution
produces about 20%
of the
excess phosphorus
in the Lake. Non point source pollution contributes the rest
of
the
Lake's
excess phosphorus. Non point source pollution is more dispersed,
coming from runoff from roads, farm fields, septic system
effluent, and residential lawns that have been fertilized with
a high
phosphorus fertilizer. Because it is widely dispersed,
this type of phosphorus pollution is more difficult to control.
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What
parts of the Lake are most vulnerable to heightened phosphorus
levels? The shallower parts of
Lake Champlain are the most vulnerable to heightened phosphorus
levels and thus the excessive growth of nuisance algal conditions.
Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, and the South Lake have the
highest incidence of heightened phosphorus levels.
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| What is being done to lower phosphorus
levels in Lake Champlain? Numerous
actions have been taken to reduce phosphorus pollution in
the Lake. Many farmers have instituted best management practices
(BMP’s).These include nutrient and waste management.
Manure is stored in pits until it is ready to be spread as
fertilizer for the fields. Manure is no longer spread on
the fields during the winter. Spreading manure must wait
until after the snow melts and the ground thaws in
the spring so that raw manure used by the farmer as fertilizer
will not wash off and flow directly into the streams, rivers
and finally Lake Champlain. Another BMP is to plant a buffer
of riparian plants between farm fields and the stream or
river banks that abut them so that the plants can help filter
out the excess phosphorus from the fields before it enters
the water. Other programs address the problem of reducing
phosphorus runoff from lawns and roads in developed areas.
On an acre per acre basis, developed land contributes about
3.5 times as much phosphorus to the Lake as agricultural
land.
Many other exciting programs are
working to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Champlain.
On August
26th, 2002 Vermont and Quebec signed the Missisquoi Bay Phosphorus
Reduction Agreement pledging to reduce approximately 98 metric
tons of phosphorus per year, 60% in Vermont and 40% in Quebec.
This will be done through such measures as upgrading our
wastewater treatment plants, best management practices, stabilization
of stream banks and channels, improving storm water management,
and controlling erosion. Prior to the agreement, the Lake
Champlain Basin Program succeeded in reducing phosphorus
loads by about 38.8 metric tons per year in 2001, exceeding
their goal.
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What is the Land Trust doing to
reduce phosphorus in the Lake? The
work of the Lake Champlain Land Trust plays an important
role in helping to reduce
lake phosphorus levels. Over the past 26 years, we have conserved
over 4,000 acres and 16 miles of shoreline. This undeveloped
land is an important barrier and non-contributor of phosphorous.
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What
can I do to lower Lake phosphorus levels? There
are many things individuals can do to reducing phosphorus
in the lake.
- Reduce or discontinue use of pesticides.
- Use
phosphate free dishwashing and laundry detergents.
- Clean
up after your pets so that the waste does not run off
directly into the lake untreated.
- Wash your
car
on grass rather than pavement so the detergent
can be filtered through the grass instead of running
directly into
the storm
water system and into the lake untreated.
- If
you have a lawn, cut back on the amount of fertilizer
you use. Cut only a third of the length of the grass with
a sharp blade, leaving the cuttings to naturally
fertilize the grass. If you must fertilize use
a low phosphate fertilizer.
- If you live near or on the
Lake,
landscape
your property
with native plants that will provide a
buffer between your lawn, garden, or road so as to filter
out
any
pollutants including phosphorus before they reach
the Lake. Roots
are
great filters. They also keep
soil (which phosphorus likes to cling onto) in place.
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Where can I buy phosphate free detergents? Seventh
Generation makes both laundry and dish washing detergents
that are phosphate free. In Chittenden County, Vermont these
products can be purchased at Hannaford's Super Market on
Dorset Street (South Burlington), Healthy Living ( South
Burlington) and Onion River Coop( Burlington). They can also
be purchased on line from Seventh
Generation.
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Other Lake Phosphorus Resources on the Internet:
Lake
Champlain Basin Program - Printable Fact Sheets
Non
point Source Pollution
The Basin
Wetlands
Lake Champlain Committee
Lake Champlain Project
Vermont
Agency of Natural Resources
State
of Vermont - Clean and Clear
- Clean and Clear Action Plan Website
Vermont Water Quality
Seventh
Generation Products - Phosphate Free Cleaning products
Gardeners Supply - Low phoshorus fertilizer
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Saving Our Lakeshore and Natural Areas
Lake Champlain Land Trust One Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 802.862.4150 or info@LCLT.org |
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