District Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
ATTN: Planning Division – Jenifer Thalhauser
26 Federal Plaza, 21st floor
New York, NY 10278

Miss Thalhauser:

It has come to our attention that the State of Vermont has recently sought your assistance to remove a portion of the Carry Bay Causeway, which extends between the towns of North Hero and Alburg, Vermont, on Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain International, Inc. supports this initiative and encourages your prompt and enthusiastic consideration of the State’s request.

Understanding that some questions surrounding the impacts to the broader region of northern Lake Champlain still remain, studies thus far demonstrate that removing the Carry Bay Causeway will restore the mixing of main lake waters with water flowing from Missisquoi Bay and the Inland Sea facilitating reductions in phosphorus concentrations. Removal will also restore the currently fragmented littoral zone habitat by reconnecting shallow water areas inside and outside of Carry Bay. Both objectives are consistent with restoring and maintaining a healthy and diverse community of fish and reducing phosphorus pollution, thus earning our support.

Based in Colchester, VT, Lake Champlain International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Given our mission of conservation, restoration and revitalization of Lake Champlain and it communities, and with more than 21,000 citizens participating in our Lake Champlain events, we have significant interest in the success of this project.

Please feel free to contact me should you want further clarification of our interest in this project via phone at 802.879.3466 or through email at james@mychamplain.net. Traditional mail is of course acceptable, as well. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

James Ehlers, Executive Director
Lake Champlain International, Inc.
531 Main Street
Colchester, VT 05446

CC:

• Senator Patrick Leahy
• Senator Bernard Sanders
• Representative Peter Welch
• George Crombie, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
• Bill Howland, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Basin Program
• Wayne Laroche, Commissioner, VT Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Laura Pelosi, Commissioner, VT Department of Environmental Conservation
• Richard Wagner, District Engineer, New York State DEC