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| Here are some aerial photographs of Echo Lake thanks to Dorrie and Karen, family of Lee Mills - Click on the picture to view a larger version. Thanks for the pictures! | ||||||||||||||||||
Moulton Farm on Echo Lake is now permanently conserved with Vermont Land Trust. Click here to see a map of the new area conserved. Click here to see a map of all the land around Echo that is conserved with the Vermont Land Trust. |
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Echo Lake's Secchi Depth reading is 8 meters!! As part of the Lay Monitoring Program, Eric and Pete measure our Secchi Depth every two weeks during the summer. The Secchi disk transparency is a measurement used as a basic measure of water clarity. The Secchi disk is a 20 centimeter (8 inch) diameter metal disk with black and white quadrants. Attached to the center is a line measured and marked in meters. The weighted disk is lowered slowly straight down into the water and the exact depth just before the disk disappears from view is observed and measured onthe marked line. This depth is known as the “Secchi disk transparency.” VT ANR Website |
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| National Lake Survey and the Vermont Lake Survey - 2007 |
Click chart for larger picture! Echo Lake information is in red |
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| Here are some initial results from the National Lake Survey and the Vermont Lake Survey. Our lay monitors worked with Federal and State water quality officials to compare Echo Lake with other lakes in the region. The data has not been completely interpreted, but they have reported back on the nutrient tests. To the right (click on the chart for a larger version), you will find three bar charts showing the results of total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi transparency in Echo Lake, relative to the other lakes in the survey. Echo Lake is of exceptionally high quality based on this assessment. We measured total phosphorus at 9 ppb, below the national threshold for oligotrophic (low-nutrient) lakes, and in the bottom 1/2 of all VT lakes tested. On a national scale, this would be in the bottom 5%! We measured chlorophyll-a at <1 ppb, which is extremely low. In the figure, you'll see that many lakes in VT were very low last year, which reflected weather conditions to a degree. As far as Secchi transparency is concerned, we measured >7 m at Echo Lake on the survey date, the 3rd best of the survey!!! |
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| Loons in Echo Lake |  |
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| Of the four species of loons found in North America, the common loon is the only breeding species in Vermont. Loons are sensitive to disturbances, especially during the breeding season. People are encouraged to remain at least 300 feet from nesting and nursery areas during this period. The Loon Recovery Project is interested in restoring loons to Vermont lakes. In the mid-1980's, the number of paired loons in Vermont dipped to 7 pairs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Click here to see pictures of some healthy aquatic plants that live in Echo Lake! | ||||||||||||||||||
| Plant images are courtesy of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation | ||||||||||||||||||
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Vermont Lay Monitoring Program (Eric Stevens and Peter Engels) Echo Lake is Oligotrophic - Very low nutrient concentrations. Such a lake is usually deep and supports a cold water fishery. An oligotrophic lake is characterized by a small algae population and very clear water all summer. Typically these lakes have mostly rocky or sandy bottoms and little plant growth. -taken from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Website. |
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New Regulations for baitfish In 2005, a new fish disease known as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) was discovered in Lake Ontario, after a fish kill involving thousands of freshwater drum, round goby, and muskies. In two years between the spring of 2005 and the fall of 2007, the VHS virus spread rapidly to the St. Lawrence River, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. It has also spread to several inland waters (waters without any direct connection to the Great Lakes) in Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York. Dozens of fish mortality events have now occurred in these areas resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of fish. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination or cure for the disease, thus it cannot be controlled - only contained. Containing the spread of this deadly fish virus and preventing it from entering Vermont will require restrictions on the movement of live fish and water, and fish testing and surveillance programs. |
The following fish species are the only approved species of fish for use as bait in VT
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-Press release regarding revised permanent baitfish rule. Click here for more information. |
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Local Commercial Bait Dealers |
Protect the Loons What threats do loons face and what caused their decline?• Disturbance to nest sites |
Vermont Online Boating Safety Course and Exam - get your Vermont boating safety education certificate online!!
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SEYMOUR LAKE MARKET THE MORGAN COUNTRY STORE NANCY'S LIVE BAIT WRIGHT'S SPORTS SHOP PEANUTS BAIT |
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