In early January, over 200 participants convened at the University of Vermont to participate in this year's Lake Champlain Research Conference: Research to Action. Despite the snowstorm, the conference was able to bring together lake and watershed stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and student researchers, natural resource management practitioners, watershed groups and other nonprofit organizations, and the public, to share and learn about the research and other important ongoing work related to Lake Champlain and its watershed.

Attendees from New York, Vermont, Québec, and beyond were present, participating in 24 different tracks, 2 poster sessions, and a screening of Great Lake Fisheries Commission’s film, The Fish Thief. Session topics covered a wide array of topics including flood resilience, emerging contaminants, fisheries, community engagement, and history and culture of the Lake Champlain Basin. This convening provided an excellent opportunity for important discussion, networking, and collaboration across Lake Champlain’s multi-jurisdictional watershed.

A huge thank you to all conference participants, especially those who traveled from afar, and to our keynote speakers, Cynthia Barnett and John Krueger, who offered thought-provoking addresses. Additionally, we'd like to extend our gratitude to the Lake Champlain Research Consortium, the Lintilhac Foundation, the Lake George Association, and Adirondack Research, who allowed this conference to be more accessible, as well as the event staff at the Davis Center, who provided critical support throughout the planning and day-of operations of the conference. The organization of the conference was a collaborative effort between Lake Champlain Sea Grant, UVM’s Water Resources Institute, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program/NEIWPCC.

Conference information including the agenda, presenter’s slides, and photos from the event are available on the conference webpage.