Dana LaDuke of Bomoseen, Vt. holds his 16.77lb. Lake trout. (LCI Derby handout photo by Jack Rowell)

CHARLOTTE, Vt. – June 21, 2010 – Dana LaDuke of Bomoseen, Vt. , currently stands to win  nearly $40,000 cash as the Lakeshore Ace Laker and Cold Water Super Bonus winner after LaDuke brought a 16.7 lb. Lake trout to the weigh station in Charlotte, Vt., during the 29th Annual LCI Father’s Day Fishing Derby Sunday.

Peter Perlee of Bristol, Vt., leads the Smallmouth bass category, as of today, with a 21″, 4.91 lb. fish while the Walleye division is currently led by John H. Silvester of Reading, Vt. ,who hauled in a 29 inch-long fish weighing in at 8.35 lbs. 

Conrad M. Dix of Plainfield, Vt.,  reported his 38″ toothy lunker Northern pike at the South Hero weigh station listed at 13.61lbs to lead that category.

Topping the Atlantic Salmon list, a 6.98lb. fish reaching 24.50 inches was reported at the Plattsburgh weigh station by Patrick H. Colby of Concord, N.H. who is in the lead there.

A 5.97 lb. bucketmouth stretching to 20.75 inches caught by Thomas D Laroche of Sandstone, Va., was reported at the Kill Kare station for the top position in the Largemouth category.

Michael S. Holler of Addison, Vt., hooked up with the heaviest fish of the derby so far netting a Channel catfish tipping the scales at 28.19 lbs. and sporting a length of 35.50 inches.

-Vermont Daily News report

According to the June-July issue of Outdoor Life, “Burlington sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, which, outside of the Northeast, is not widely recognized for its bass fishing. However, it has been a popular stop on the professional bass circuit for years. Holding both smallmouth and largemouth bass, Champlain is 120 miles long, 10 miles wide and 400 feet deep. In other words, you’ll never run out of water to explore in search of lunkers.”

In is this issue, the magazine also recognized Burlington, Vermont as one of the top 200 towns in America for hunters and anglers. The rankings are based on outdoors-related and socio-economic qualities of each town. Deciding factors include the firearms regulations of each town’s state, huntable and fishable species nearby, proximity to public land and waters, and the potential for taking a trophy animal or fish nearby.

Vermont is unique in that it offers spring catch-and-release bass fishing from the second Saturday in April through the Friday before opening day of the regular bass season, which is the second Saturday in June – the 12th this year.

In addition to being your ticket to fishing throughout the state, a Vermont’s fishing license is good for all of Lake Champlain, including the New York side, except for South Bay at the very southern tip of the lake. Licenses are available at www.vtfishandwildlife.com<http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/> or from stores throughout the state. Kids under 15 fish free, so be sure to take a young angler with you.

Lake Champlain’s high ranking among bass fishing destinations will be a major draw, but Vermont also has great fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass in many other lakes and large river sections. In addition to providing the fishing regulations, the state’s 2010 Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping has a list of the fish species found in most lakes. Sections of the Guide are on the website above as printable files, but the book also is given out with a license.

Sources for more information:
Vermont Fish and Wildlife – fwinformation@state.vt.us<mailto:fwinformation@state.vt.us>, 802-241-3700
Planning a trip – www.vermontvacation.com<http://www.vermontvacation.com/>
Guides and more – Vermont Outdoor Guides Association – voga.org, 1-800-425-8747

-Vermont Fish & Wildlife press release

Richard Levesque and his 14.55 lb. walleye, a new state record, which he caught on a tip-up through the ice, Feb. 10, 2010.(Vt. F&W handout photo)

Waterbury, Vt - February 11, 2010 - Vermont arguably has the best walleye fishing in New England, and Richard Levesque’s latest whopper entry in Vermont’s fish record program underscores that point. Levesque shattered the previous state record for walleye on February 10, when he caught a walleye weighing 14.55 lbs. through the ice on Lake Champlain.

The previous Vermont state record walleye weighed 13.44 lbs and was caught in the Clyde River in 1997 by Doug Niles of Newport Center, Vt.

Levesque, who lives nearby in West Swanton, caught the big fish at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, using a tip-up baited with a golden shiner. The walleye measured 32 ½ inches long and had a 20-inch girth.

- Vermont Daily News report and Vt. Fish &Wildlife press information

A participant leaps with enthusiasm into Lake Champlain at the Burlington Waterfront during the 15th annual Penguin Plunge 2010 polar swim event, February 6, 2010.(Vermont Daily News photo/Alden Pellett)

 Burlington, Vt. – February 6, 2010 – Over 80 teams participated in the 15th annual Penguin Plunge at the Burlington Waterfront, Saturday, to raise money for Vermont Special Olympics.  Groups such as Browns River Middle School, Team Harrison, Burlington Rugby Club, and Merchants bank raised the most money in donations said event coordinator Kim Bookless.

-Vermont Daily News report

The company said that relocating the vessels at this time allows them to restore the Grand Isle crossing back to its normal operating schedule, and ensures that there is duplication of service at Crown Point during heavy ice conditions.

The last day of service at the Charlotte, VT –Essex, NY crossing is  Wednesday evening, Feb.3, 2010, with the last departure from Vermont at 5:00pm and from Essex, NY at 5:30pm.

-Vermont Daily News report and LCT press release

The Charlotte/Essex Ferry was forced to reduce operations briefly Sunday morning, Dec. 20, due to heavy wind-related swells on the open lake which also caused ice buildup on the boat decks.

For the latest information, people should check the Ferry Company’s website for the latest information. The website is http://www.middlebury.net/tiferry/

-Vermont Daily News staff report and VT. Dept. of Transportation press information

Lake Champlain protection was among Vermont concerns included in appropriations funding amounting to $37 Million passed Sunday by Congress. (Vermont Daily News file photo)

Washington, D.C. – Economic development, crime prevention, and Lake Champlain protection were among the top Vermont concerns which fared well Sunday, Dec. 13, during a rare weekend session, as Congress gave final approval to a package of six annual appropriations bills.

The budget package is expected to help fund much of the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),  helped secure more than $25 million for Vermont projects that will create jobs, prevent crime, and continue efforts to improve the condition of Lake Champlain.

Vermont economic development projects included in the appropriations bills approved by Congress include: $974,000 for the Burlington International Airport taxiway improvements, $1,500,000 for the Burlington Technology Center’s aviation program, $500,000 for Advanced Computing and Complex Systems at the University of Vermont, $584,000 for Deerfield Valley Transit Association for buses and facilities, $250,000 for the Small Business Development Center to provide technical assistance to high-tech businesses.

 
Also included are $300,000 for the Lyndon State College Center for Rural Students, $1,461,000 for Marble Valley Regional Transit to purchase new buses and expand service, $974,000 to renovate and reconstruct the Rutland Center Street Marketplace, $438,300 for pedestrian improvements in Thetford Village, $700,000 for the Vermont State Colleges to equip nursing programs, $2,000,000 for the Vermont Healthcare and Information Technology Education Center (HITEC) for workforce training, $750,000 for Vermont Technical College to complete a green jobs workforce development initiative, $750,000 for a medical simulation lab and program at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and $3,896,000 for projects to enhance affordable housing and economic development in conjunction with Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.

 
Vermont crime prevention will be assisted by $500,000 in funds for Champlain College’s Center for Digital Investigation $750,000 for a juvenile justice program in St. Albans $500,000 for Mobius, Inc. to expand and strengthen mentoring programs $500,000 for Prevent Child Abuse to expand the SAFE-T program $200,000 for Return House’s transitional living program $1,000,000 for the Vermont Drug Task Force to combat drug activity $1,000,000 for the Vermont Judiciary to implement a case management and electronic filing system.

Funds which are aimed at helping protect Lake Champlain equal $6,500,000 through the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission for habitat and water quality improvements.

“Vermont once again does well in this budget bill,” Leahy said in a statement. “Matching Vermont’s priorities to the need to create jobs to help us emerge strong after this recession must continue to be our focus. From expanding workforce development and higher education initiatives, to reducing crime and improving the water quality of the lake, these projects will improve job growth in Vermont.”
In addition to the outlined projects, Senator Leahy worked with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) in securing an additional $12 million for Vermont projects included in the legislation.

The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it early this week.

-Vermont Daily News report and Sentor Leahy’s office press release.

Crown Point Bridge over Lake Champlain in Addison, Vt. is shown in this 2007 file photo.(Vermont Daily News photo.)

 Addison, Vt. – During a news conference held today, November 9, transportation officials announced that engineers declared the 80-year old Lake Champlain Bridge at Crown Point too unstable to be renovated and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters.

New York Governor David A. Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas have received the report from their states’ respective transportation agencies which finds that it is not feasible to rehabilitate the span.  Based on the overwhelming safety issues enumerated in the report, work will begin on planning the construction of a new bridge in its place.
We expect the Federal Highway Administration to concur with this recommendation based on their preliminary review of the report.

Reports say that an underwater inspection of the bridge’s concrete piers and underlying foundations found cracks and significant deterioration in the non-reinforced concrete substructures well below the water level that render these supports so fragile that a sudden collapse could occur.

“Safety was our primary concern when we closed the Lake Champlain Bridge last month and it is our chief interest now,” Governor Paterson said. “We must make a decision that protects those who cross the bridge, as well as workers and engineers, and therefore we have no choice but to tear down the dangerously deteriorated bridge. Both states are committed to moving quickly to reestablish the critical link by building a new bridge in this corridor to serve commuters, farms and businesses.”

“Reports indicate that the bridge is highly unstable and our harsh winter will only aggravate its condition. For everyone’s safety, the bridge must be dismantled in a controlled fashion quickly so that a replacement bridge can be erected in its place,” Governor Douglas said. “In the meantime, both states are working to install temporary ferry service as close to the bridge as possible so that motorists can once again begin crossing Lake Champlain between Addison and Crown Point.”

David Dill, Vermont’s Secretary of Transportation, said: “We will begin the process of working on a new bridge immediately. The bridge closure significantly disrupted communities on both sides of the lake, and the fastest way to return families, businesses and farms back to normal is to quickly provide them a new bridge.”

The Governors also announced that a ferry service has been fast-tracked and will be established near the existing bridge. The new service will be in place as quickly as possible, say officials.

Stanley Gee, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), said the states can now work quickly to demolish the bridge and speed the process for building a permanent replacement, “We look forward to restoring vehicle and pedestrian traffic across the lake,” said Gee, “In order to preserve and protect the historically and environmentally sensitive areas on both side of Lake Champlain, we plan to build the replacement bridge as close to the existing location as is possible.”

 Following an initial scheduled inspection on October 16, 2009,  inspectors in consultation with engineers determined that the bridge was unsafe for use and it was closed to protect the public. It was found that the severity of deterioration to the piers would put contractors and engineers working in close proximity to the bridge in great danger and have made the structure too fragile to guarantee worker safety.

According to the report’s Executive Summary, “Moving forward, the existing bridge should be razed in a controlled manner eliminating the risk of sudden, potentially catastrophic, bridge failure.”
Over the past month, in an attempt to provide some relief for commuters, alternatives established include a free ferry service between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont as well as free ferry service at Lake Champlain Transportation’s ferry service at the Essex/Charlotte crossing. Additionally, a free express bus service now brings commuters to three major employers in Vermont, while a pedestrian ferry service was established north of the Lake Champlain Bridge between Westport, New York and Basin Harbor, Vermont.

-Vermont Daily News report

Misha Cetner, left, and Tim Hunt, right, of the Dept. of Environmental Conservation show invasive watermilfoil that was found in Mississquoi Bay, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 on Lake Champlain in Highgate Springs, Vt. (Vermont Daily News photo)

Watermilfoil found in Missisquoi Bay

Highgate Springs, Vt. - Aquatic biologists at the Agency of Natural Resources have confirmed that the invasive plant, variable-leaved watermilfoil, has been found in the southern end of Missisquoi Bay.   Biologists with the Department of Conservation and Lake Champlain Basin Program travelled back to the bay today, Tuesday, Sept. 22, to inspect and document areas in the bay where the invasive plant was discovered in several areas around the bay earlier this spring.

Similar to the native whorled watermilfoil, which is a rare plant species in the state, the variable-leaved watermilfoil was confirmed by genetic analysis this week from samples pulled during a routine search last month for water chestnut in the bay. The genetic analysis was conducted by Dr. Ryan Thum of Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

Lake Champlain is the second confirmation of variable-leaved watermilfoil in Vermont. The first was found in Halls Lake in Newbury in 2008. The invasive plant has also been found in waters of New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Quebec.

Based on the preliminary searching done in Missisquoi Bay last month, variable-leaved watermilfoil appears to be widespread in a large wetland complex of the southern portion of the bay and control options may be limited. ANR staff expect to conduct further surveys of the site in the next week or so.

Variable-leaved watermilfoil can be difficult to control once a population is established. Like Eurasian watermilfoil, which was confirmed in Vermont in 1962, variable-leaved watermilfoil is able to grow in a wide variety of environmental conditions, is aggressive and grows rapidly. Dense growth of variable-leaved watermilfoil crowds out beneficial native aquatic plants and can impair recreational uses including boating, fishing and swimming.

Spread of this species occurs by stem pieces, roots and seeds. Plant parts can easily “hitchhike” on recreational equipment if not removed. Variable-leaved watermilfoil is also a popular aquarium trade species, which could be a possible vector for invasive aquatic plant spread.

Under Vermont’s Quarantine Rule, variable-leaved watermilfoil is a prohibited species. ANR staff, in cooperation with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, inspects Vermont aquarium retailers annually. In 2008, officials found two retailers in southern Vermont selling variable-leaved watermilfoil.

-Vermont Daily News report and Vt. Agency of Natural Resources bulletin

The Agency of Natural Resources recommends the following to prevent spread of this nuisance plant:

* Inspect boat, trailer, motor and other equipment for attached plant or animal material.

* Remove all plant and animal material.

* Discard removed material in a trash receptacle or on high, dry ground where there is no danger of them washing into any water body.

* Drain all water from boat, boat engine, and other equipment.

* Rinse all boat and trailer parts with tap water (preferably hot, high pressure).

* Dry boat, trailer and equipment out of water and in sun for at least five days.

* Become a VIP – Vermont Invasive Patroller – and monitor local waterbodies for new introductions of invasive species. Attend a training session and learn how to identify and search for invasive aquatic plant and animals as well as learning about native aquatic plants and animals and their habitats.

* Dispose of unwanted aquarium plants and animals in the trash. Don’t release any aquarium plants or animals into the wild.

Meg Modley of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, left, and Misha Cetner of the Dept. of Environmental Conservation, right, collect samples of watermilfoil in Mississquoi Bay, Tuesday, September 22, 2009. (Vermont Daily News photo)

Matt Fisher of Westerville, Ohio, along with crew Tobi and Dan Moriarty, held on to claim the 2009 World Champion Lightning title, Friday, September 18, 2009. (Vermont Daily News photo/Alden Pellett)

Colchester, Vt. – The final day of racing for the 2009 World Lightning Championship ended today, Friday, Sept. 18, at Mallett’s Bay Boat Club in Colchester, Vt. with Matt Fisher of Ohio taking the cup.

Starting off the final beat of the championship, victory could go to any of the top three boats.  The day’s standings began with Matt Fisher of Ohio in first place with 33 points., David Starck of Amherst, New York,  back 5 points in second place, and Tito Gonzales of Champa, Chile, a four-time World Champion, was in third with 43 points. 

Gonzales started the final leg out front. Fisher was back in seventh, and Starck had worked up to ninth from well back in the fleet. Fisher needed to finish in the top 10, and within 5 points of Starck to win the Championship. Gonzales kept his advantage, taking the race and Starck slipped by Fisher, finishing in the fifth spot.  However, as Fisher finished with a seventh place,  it was enough for him, along with crew Tobi and Dan Moriarty, to win the 2009 World Champion title.

-Vermont Daily News staff report