Projects and Research
Sea lamprey are jawless, parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean that are believed to have entered Lake Champlain through shipping canals. Their preferred prey of cold-water, soft-scaled fish resulted in the decimation of native lake trout and landlocked Atlantic...
Landlocked Atlantic salmon were extirpated from Lake Champlain in the early 1800s. In 2010, we initiated a long‐term adaptive management project focused on increasing river‐runs of salmon to enhance in river fisheries and restore natural populations. Major accomplishments include: Developed new hatchery methods to increase adult returns to rivers 3‐5 fold; Captured wild fry for...
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program restores, enhances, and protects important fish and wildlife habitats on private lands through partnerships. We work with private landowners and other partners to restore and manage wetland, forest and upland habitats to benefit migratory birds and fish, pollinators, and federally listed species. The voluntary cost-share...
The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative (Cooperative) was organized in 1972 by the directors of the fish and wildlife agencies of Vermont and New York and the Northeast Region of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Province of Quebec is not a signatory party, but the Cooperative maintains close communication...
The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office works regularly with over 50 local, state and regional partner organizations to further the cooperative goals of conservation and restoration. Local communities and landowners are the lifeblood of voluntary fish and wildlife conservation. Conservation partnerships are a vital link between local communities and the USFWS and are critical...
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...