Funding this award is to help the new england interstate water pollution control commission's (neiwpcc's) lake champlain basin program (lcbp) staff to accomplish the following activities and…

Award Details: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $12,068,260 to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) under the Geographic Programs – Lake Champlain Basin Program (CFDA 66.481) on October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2030. This award funds NEIWPCC's Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) staff to coordinate and implement comprehensive water quality and ecosystem restoration activities across the Lake Champlain Basin, serving New York and Vermont in accordance with Section 120 of the Clean Water Act.

Products and Services Delivered: The award supports nine primary activity areas: coordination of state, federal, and local perspectives on basin programs; progress reporting to the Steering Committee and EPA; phosphorus reduction initiatives to promote ecosystem health; toxic contamination reduction to protect public health; regional coordination on water quality issues; management of invasive species; minimization of water-related health hazards; protection and restoration of wetlands, streams, and riparian habitats; and public education on program implementation and water quality goals. NEIWPCC implements these activities through 13 sub-awards to partners including academic institutions (University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, Paul Smith's College), conservation districts, non-profit organizations (National Audubon Society, Lake Champlain Committee, Boquet River Association), local government entities, and educational programs. Sub-awardee deliverables encompass watercraft inspection stewardship, riparian buffer expansion, floodplain restoration, stormwater infrastructure improvements, invasive species management, mercury and phosphorus research, invasive plant control, cyanobacteria monitoring, environmental education programs, and watershed stewardship initiatives designed to benefit all residents of the Lake Champlain Basin through improved water quality, healthy ecosystems, and informed public engagement.

Funding this award is to help the new england interstate water pollution control commission's (neiwpcc's) lake champlain basin program (lcbp) staff to accomplish the following activities and deliverables as authorized by section 120 of the clean water act: 1) coordinate the continued exchange of state, federal and local perspectives and concerns on lake champlain basin program's programs and activities; 2) advise the steering committee, states of vermont and new york, and the environmental protection agency of progress toward achieving objectives of lake champlain basin program's work plans and other activities; 3) reduce phosphorus inputs to lake champlain to promote a healthy ecosystem and provide for human use and enjoyment of the lake; 4) reduce toxic contamination to protect public health and the lake champlain ecosystem; 5) promote a basin-wide perspective on water quality issues of regional and national importance; 6) coordinate efforts of water pollution control experts to assist in evaluating the spread of invasive species in the lake and to develop an appropriate management plan to minimize their impact; 7) minimize the risks to humans from water-related health hazards in the lake champlain basin; 8) protect, conserve and restore lake champlain basin wetlands, streams and riparian habitats and the functions and values they provide; 9) inform citizens of activities and progress related to program implementation and towards achieving water quality goals. The outcomes from these projects will help improve and/or evaluate the water quality and ecological health of the lake champlain basin, and benefit all residents of the lake champlain basin. Subrecipient deliverables, which will also benefit all residents of the lake champlain basin, will support program outcomes of clean water, healthy ecosystems, and an informed and involved public.activities:activities to be performed include: coordinate meetings of all lake champlain steering and executive committees and the lake champlain federal partners workgroup; conduct interagency coordination and reporting; provide project management and oversight for subaward programs; review progress towards goals in the lake champlain management plan, opportunities for action; manage water quality partnerships; conduct cyanobacteria monitoring; implement the long-term water quality and biological monitoring program; provide for the new york state lake champlain coordinator to new york state department of environmental conservation; support clean water research tasks; provide and oversee lcbp small and large clean water implementation grants and planning grants; provide technical agronomy support to farmers in new york; provide and oversee lake champlain basin program small and large healthy ecosystems implementation grants; coordinate united states army corps of engineers water resources development act 542 program for lake champlain; provide and oversee aquatic nuisance species spread prevention grants; implement a 2025 boat launch steward program; provide champlain canal AIS specialist; provide and oversee organizational support and workforce development grant programs for lake champlain watershed groups and communities; provide and manage education and outreach coordination; coordination of the new york and vermont citizen advisory committees; develop written educational material on the lake champlain basin; implement regional environmental education and outreach programs; maintain the lcbp website as an informational clearinghouse and provide informational videos; provide watershed classroom support; provide education and outreach stewardship; support vermont watershed educators; provide staff to the resource room at the echo center/leahy center for lake champlain; provide and oversee professional development mini-grants; communications and publications coordination; video production to interpret science and management issues in the basin; provide and oversee lake champlai