Lead sinker and monofilament collection tube.
A new way to help keep loons healthy! Volunteer Access Greeter Keith Gee is showing off Echo Lake’s new collection tube for disposing of lead sinkers and monofilament fishing lines. The Vermont Center for Eco-Studies provided the tube, and Keith installed it on the kiosk at the access. How does lead poisoning affect loons? It only takes one lead sinker or jig to kill a loon. Once swallowed, lead weights dissolve in the loon’s gizzard and absorb into their bloodstream, causing lead poisoning. Affected loons can’t fly, may swim in uneven circles, and experience tremors. Loons that experience these symptoms cannot be cured and typically die in about two weeks. How do loons ingest lead tackle? Loons need to consume small stones to grind food in their gizzards. Loons mistake small lead sinkers for stones. Loons can also catch slower-moving fish that have been impaired by lead tackle and fishing line, and eat the fish that have lead tackle in them. Loons might also chase tackle when anglers are fishing nearby, swallow the lead tackle and hook, and become entangled in the monofilament line. For more information visit Vermont Center for Eco-Studies Lead Page: https://vtecostudies.org/projects/lakes-ponds/common-loon-conservation/vermont-loon-conservation-project/loons-and-lead-tackle/ ...
THE STATE OF VERMONT PROPOSES RULES FOR THE OPERATION OF WAKE BOATS AND WAKE BOAT ACTIVITIES
The Department of Environmental Conservation has announced its proposed rules for wake boats on Vermont Lakes. The regulations will require the operation of wake boats and wake sport activities to stay 500’ from shore, in waters 20’ or deeper, and on lakes with 60 contiguous acres. There will also be a “home lake” rule that will require wake boats to stay on one lake for the entire summer unless they have been decontaminated at a state-approved site. For those that feel these proposed rules do not go far enough to protect Vermont inland lakes, please consider advocating for 1,000’ from shore. There is a public hearing scheduled for August 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm at the Richmond Free Library. There will also be an opportunity to attend a virtual hearing on August 3, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Sign up at: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/rulemaking Written comments are being accepted until August 10, 2023, by 4:30 pm and should be sent to: anr.wsmdlakes@vermont.gov (please put “wake boats” in the subject line). *****************PLEASE NOTE ****************** IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING COMMENTS AT THE UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THE FOLLOWING! Whether making verbal or written comments: First, introduce yourself with your name, ...
A Guide to Healthy Lakes
A guide to healthy lakes using lakeshore landscaping design templates and easy-to-use planting plans. https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/wsm/lakes/Lakewise/docs/lp_VTlakescape.pdf ...
Stabilization Measures for an Eroding Lakeshore
Vermont Lake Protection Series #3BVT Agency of Natural Resources ...
The Vermont Shoreland Protection Act A Handbook for Shoreland Development
The Vermont Shoreland Protection ActA Handbook for Shoreland DevelopmentVersion 1.2, April 2015 https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/wsm/lakes/docs/Shoreland/lp_ShorelandHandbook.pdf ...
Fish Mercury Levels
Fish Low in Mercury http://www.echolakeassociation.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/poster_cb_lowres.pdf ...
Ecosystem Restoration Program
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) Clean Water Initiative Program’s (CWIP) administers the Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program (ERP). https://marcvt.org/ecosystem-restoration-program/ ...
Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds
The Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) is a group of local lake and pond associations, individuals, and others interested in promoting and maintaining the quality of the environment, and the pleasure of living near and using, Vermont’s lakes and ponds ...
