Champlain Canal Invasive Species Barrier Study

The Lake Champlain Basin is threatened by many non-native aquatic invasive plant and animal species, as well as pathogens, that have become established in nearby waterways. There is a danger that they may find their way into Lake Champlain and become established, displacing native species and severely impacting water quality and the lake ecosystem. Infestations of these non-native invasive organisms cost citizens and governments in New York, Vermont, and Quebec millions of dollars each year to control and manage. Aquatic invasive species infestations reduce the recreational and economic health of communities in the Basin by choking waterways, blocking water intake pipes, outcompeting native species, lowering property values, encrusting historic shipwrecks, and ruining beaches. Additionally, they are known to decrease biodiversity and change the structure and function of ecosystems by displacing native, rare, threatened, and endangered species, transporting pathogens, and threatening fisheries. This project entails studying the existing species composition, species threatening invasion, and possible barriers to dispersion.

The scope of this study included analyzing alternatives for a dispersal barrier on the Champlain Canal to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The study evaluated options to prevent multi-taxa biological traffic in the study area including fish, plants, plankton, invertebrates, and pathogens. The study emphasized physical and mechanical modifications that could accomplish hydrological separation of Lake Champlain from the Hudson River, since the number and diversity of species that could use the canal as a vector is so great. A conceptual level (30%) cost benefit and engineering analysis for selected physical and mechanical barrier options was conducted as a part of this planning study. The technical feasibility of the options reviewed consider impacts to area business and industry, quality of life for area residents, canal boat traffic, and characterize non-target aquatic species effects. Partners worked together to identify and gather representative information from several stakeholders.

Princeton Hydro’s main role was initial administration of the project and development of a species inventory. This species inventory of the Champlain Canal included native and non-native aquatic species and potential aquatic invasive species that are threatening to become invasive to the Canal. Dispersal methods of the species were also evaluated to inform an Alternative Analysis. The overall study includes a Cost Benefit Analysis and Final Recommendations report of the Alternatives.