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TFM: January 23, 2004. Press release from Senator Patrick Leahy.

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200401/012304.html

U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242

VERMONT

Record Year For Lake Champlain
. . . Leahy Secures $7.3 M. For Lake Cleanup

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Fri., Jan. 23) – One day after the U.S. Senate completed work on the 2004 budget, Sen. Patrick Leahy came to the shores of Lake Champlain to announce that he had secured a record $7.3 million in federal funds "to help keep Lake Champlain great."

In a news conference at ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Leahy said the $7.3 million in federal funds, a new annual federal-funding record for the lake, will be used to control pollution from several different sources, including stormwater, wastewater and agriculture runoff.  The funds also will help the Lake Champlain Basin Program implement recommendations of “Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin,” which was signed by Governors Douglas and Pataki last April. 

“Lake Champlain's needs are a high priority for all Vermonters, and they certainly are for me," said Leahy, long a champion of the lake, who has used his senior post on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee to secure the funds.  "I am delighted that we have been able to increase federal help for Lake Champlain year after year.  These funds help state agencies, scientists, anglers and others come together to make sure the environmental and economic benefits of our lake will be there in the future.  A healthy Vermont needs a healthy lake.”

Leahy welcomed Governor Jim Douglas’ call to protect Lake Champlain in his budget address.  “It is encouraging to see the Governor bringing new resources to the table, and I look forward to working with him this year to bring more federal dollars back for the lake.”

Since 1991, Leahy has brought home more than $68 million to help protect Lake Champlain.  These funds have been used to control pollution, fight invasive species and highlight the lake’s historic and recreational attractions to visitors. 

Leahy secured the following funds for Lake Champlain in the 2004 spending bills:

•        $1.7 million for the Lake Champlain Basin Program
•        $1.7 million for stormwater runoff reduction in Chittenden County*
•        $1 million to upgrade water and wastewater treatment in Waitsfield*
•        $750,000 for ECHO at the Leahy Center
•        $500,000 for the Army Corps Lake Champlain Watershed Initiative
•        $485,000 for U.S. Geological Survey water monitoring
•       $400,000 to fight invasive plants
•        $400,000 for water and air pollution research activities
•        $290,000 for phosphorus runoff control demonstration projects on farms
•       $100,000 to install sea lamprey barriers in tributaries around the lake and additional funding to support state lamprey control efforts.

*Both Leahy and Sen. Jim Jeffords requested funding for program

In addition to these funds, Leahy has worked to ensure that federal programs bring farmers millions of dollars annually to help control agriculture runoff from reaching the lake.  Last year, a USDA program championed by Leahy brought Vermont’s farmers $5 million to control agriculture runoff. 

On Thursday, the Senate approved a package of seven annual budget bills, called an “omnibus appropriations bill,” which includes many of the funds secured by Leahy.

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Lake Champlain Basin 2004 Federal Projects • $1.7 million - Lake Champlain Basin Program • $1.7 million - Chittenden Co. stormwater runoff * • $1 million - Wallsfield water and wastewater upgrade * • $750,000 - ECHO at the Leahy Center • $500,000 - Army Corps Lake Champlain Watershed Initiative • $485,000 - Water monitoring by US Geological Survey • $400,000 - Invasive plants control • $400,000 - Water and air pollution research • $290,000 - Farm runoff control demo projects • $100,000 - Sea lamprey barriers and control * Joint with Senator Jeffords