We work with others in Vermont and New York to protect and restore fish and wildlife, and their habitats throughout the Lake Champlain, Connecticut River, and Hudson River watersheds.

What We Do

Our goals are to improve the health of our lakes and rivers, and to increase the distribution and abundance of ecologically and economically important fish and wildlife.

  • We restore the health of our rivers, wetlands, and upland areas for fish and wildlife.
  • We help local farmers improve their lands for wildlife, water quality, and sustainable agriculture.
  • We help restore aquatic connectivity to our rivers and their tributaries. And we help build roads that are resilient to flooding.
  • We assess parasitic sea lamprey populations and strategically control the spread of the invasive species invasive species
    An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

    Learn more about invasive species
    to prevent its devastating effect on native fish.
  • We assess fish populations, conduct research, and work with hatcheries to evaluate the effectiveness of stocking and other conservation actions to restore land-locked Atlantic salmon and other priority fish species.

Sea Lamprey Control in Lake Champlain Basin

Fisheries Restoration in Lake Champlain Basin

Habitat Restoration

Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative

Other LCFWCO Partnerships

Our Organization

Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
A half dozen large silver fish jumping out of the water to a height of six feet.
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and...

Projects and Research

Across the landscape, undersized, aging and improperly placed road-stream crossings create barriers in our rivers, streams, and tidal wetlands. These structures fragment aquatic habitat and prevent or greatly reduce the ability of aquatic species to move freely to migrate, feed, and reproduce. These poorly designed structures are also more prone to clogging, causing flooding, and washing out...

Location and Contact Information