The Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition’s mission is to enhance community awareness of and to reduce marine debris presence in Lake Champlain, Lake George, and their tributaries.
Marine debris is any human-made material that ends up in our waterways. It impacts the environment, human health, and the economy. Despite its name, marine debris is not restricted to oceans. It is also found in freshwater bodies like Lake Champlain, Lake George, and their tributaries. Marine debris comes in all shapes and sizes, from sunken boats to microplastics, which are plastic pieces smaller than a pencil eraser. Plastic foam, like Styrofoam, is a type of marine debris commonly found during cleanups in the Lake Champlain Basin. Its abundance reflects our reliance on foam in our daily lives, since foam-based marine debris includes everything from dock floats to packaging material.
Established in fall 2024, the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition is led by Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Rozalia Project, Lake Champlain Committee, Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Boat and Marine Association, and Lake George Association. This effort is made possible by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Coalition will:
- Bring together organizations and communities with a shared commitment to reduce marine debris in the health of our local waters;
- Create and deliver lesson plans to engage youth in marine debris education;
- Support lakeshore businesses and private dock owners in their efforts to prevent plastic foam from entering our lakes and streams;
- Organize cleanup events; and
- Track areas of marine debris accumulation in Lake Champlain Basin.
Get in touch with the Coalition
The Coalition is seeking new partners to join its growing network! Whether you want to have a cleanup in your community, report the location of marine debris along Lake Champlain or Lake George, contribute resources, or be part of a collective voice to help reduce the presence of marine debris in our waterways, please contact the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition at lcbmdc@uvm.edu.
The Coalition is also offering free education outreach and programming. If you know of a community group or youth program that is interested in learning more about marine debris, please contact Nicole Chochrek at Nicole@RozaliaProject.org.
Resources
Field Guide to Foam Marine Debris in the Lake Champlain Basin
Watch “The Flood Safety Act and Foam Flotation in Vermont” below!
In the news
- The fight against marine debris. August 2025. Season 1 Episode 14 of Lake Protectors, a podcast by the Lake George Association, featuring Ashley Sullivan, executive director of the Rozalia Project.
- Researchers Sound the Alarm on Microplastics in Lake Champlain. July 22, 2025. Seven Days.
- What environmental organizations are doing about the pollution in Lake Champlain. July 2025. Burlington Free Press.
- Microplastics are in Lake Champlain and in us. These scientists want to know their source. June 23, 2025. Vermont Public.
- New coalition aims to clean up Lake Champlain. April 2025. WCAX.
- Cleaner Shores, Healthier Waters: Taking on Marine Debris in the Lake Champlain Basin. May 2025. Lake Champlain Committee’s Lake Look Essay.
Events
Saturday, May 2, 2026: International Plastic Pellet Count in Plattsburgh. International Plastic Pellet Count is a global day of action and month-long effort each May, where volunteers around the world search for plastic pellets on riverbanks, lakeshores, and beaches. Participants record what they find to build a clearer picture of pollution that is often invisible, unregulated, and underreported.
Saturday, April 25, 2026: To celebrate Earth Week, led by the Rozalia Project, the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition is hosting a waterfront cleanup in Burlington. The cleanup begins at 10:00 AM. Debris sorting, counting, and identification begins at 11:30 AM. Please register using this link
Saturday, September 27, 2025: Saranac River Clean up, Plattsburgh, NY. Event will be from 10 am to 2 pm. In partnership with Trout Unlimited Northeast Chapter. Registration required here.
Saturday, August 30, 2025: Microplastics Cleanup at Plattsburgh City Beach.