Photo courtesy
A staff member at the Seymour Lake Greeting Station inspects a boat for invasive species, part of ongoing efforts to protect Vermont’s waterways from the spread of non-native plants and animals
Cross-border efforts to protect Lake Memphremagog
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Lake Memphremagog, an international waterway spanning the Canada-U.S. border, faces a growing battle with invasive species, spurring collaborative efforts from both sides. Vermont’s Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA), which recently completed another successful year of funding for aquatic nuisance control, continues to coordinate closely with Canadian groups and authorities in its fight to protect the lake’s delicate ecosystem.
For five years, MWA has overseen the Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid program in Vermont, distributing funds to municipalities and lake associations to manage invasive species. According to Jennifer Hopkins, Treasurer of MWA and coordinator of the program, “This funding goes directly to efforts like the greeter programs, which play a critical role in protecting our lakes from invasive species.”
Hopkins described in a recent interview the U.S. and Canadian collaboration as essential but challenging. Invasive species like zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil have infiltrated both sides of the lake, creating a need for bi-national coordination. “The Canadian side has been ahead of us in trying to keep invasive species out of the lake,” Hopkins admitted, highlighting Canada’s proactive measures to regulate ballast water and inspect boats, helping to minimize the spread of invasive species.
One of the most significant challenges in protecting the lake comes from the nature of Lake Memphremagog itself. The lake flows northward from Vermont into Quebec, effectively carrying any species introduced in Vermont upstream into Canadian waters. This dynamic makes preventing infestations particularly difficult for both Canadian and American conservationists. “We’re seeing the migration of zebra mussels coming down from Magog towards Georgeville,” Hopkins noted. “Because of the lake’s flow, these creatures are coming our way. And with wake boats holding ballast water that can carry zebra mussel larvae, or ‘veligers,’ it’s a serious concern for both sides.”
Wake boats, which use ballast water to create large waves, have been a hotly debated issue in the fight against invasive species in the lake. While Vermont implemented regulations for wake boats, Lake Memphremagog was left out of these new restrictions. “Unfortunately, our state’s regulation applies only to inland lakes, exempting Memphremagog,” Hopkins explained. “There’s a major concern about this issue because the ballast water can pick up invasive larvae and deposit them elsewhere.” While she acknowledges the regulatory challenges, Hopkins sees potential for future rules that include larger lakes like Memphremagog.
MWA’s press release issued on Oct. 28 highlighted their work distributing over $175,000 this year to fund local efforts against invasive species across various lakes, including Lake Memphremagog. Greeter programs are a central part of these efforts, with staff stationed to inspect boats and educate the public on the importance of keeping vessels clean, drained, and dry before moving them between water bodies. “Humans are the main carriers for invasive species,” Hopkins stated. “The greeter programs we support through the grant funding are vital because they help prevent people from unknowingly transferring plants and animals from one lake to another.”
On the Canadian side, Memphremagog Conservation Inc. (MCI) has been actively involved in similar programs and collaborates with MWA. A few years ago, the two organizations coordinated on a bilingual “Clean, Drain, Dry” campaign, promoting awareness on both sides of the border. “They got some funding for the campaign, which helped us reach boaters on both sides of the lake,” said Hopkins. She noted that the bilingual element was crucial for reaching the French-speaking communities in Quebec, broadening the initiative’s impact.
Despite the successes, obstacles remain, particularly in achieving more formal cross-border regulatory alignment. “There’s no single body formally coordinating everything,” Hopkins remarked, reflecting on the challenges of harmonizing regulatory measures between Vermont and Quebec. Both countries participate in the International Joint Commission (IJC), which oversees the lake’s water levels. However, when it comes to invasive species, there’s less formal integration. “On something as nebulous as invasive species, it’s tough,” she noted. “We’re still trying to get both governmental entities to agree on the best approach for the lake.”
Both organizations have also sought to raise public awareness about the impact of invasive species on the lake’s ecosystem. Non-native plants and animals can choke out native species, creating dense underwater forests of vegetation that hinder native fish populations and complicate recreational activities. In addition to public education, MWA has worked with Canadian partners to monitor the spread of zebra mussels, a particularly troublesome invasive species. “We did a joint zebra mussel monitoring project with the Canadians,” Hopkins mentioned, although she added that Canadian efforts have since shifted after detecting zebra mussels in their waters. “They stopped their monitoring because they already know they have zebra mussels, whereas we’re still in the early stages on our side.”
The challenges posed by invasive species extend beyond biological impacts, affecting recreational activities and local economies on both sides of the border. Lake Memphremagog’s status as a vector lake—one containing various invasive species—means that without stricter regulations and heightened public awareness, other nearby “pristine” lakes risk contamination as well. Hopkins shared that the MWA and Vermont authorities are discussing “Vector Lake” regulations, which would impose stricter controls on boats moving between infested and non-infested lakes. “We’re still in the beginning stages of coordinating these regulations, trying to get the municipal and provincial entities on the same page,” she explained.
In the meantime, MWA has taken proactive steps, such as establishing boat wash stations in areas like Newport Center to reduce the spread of invasive species. However, as Hopkins pointed out, challenges persist due to logistical constraints. “We don’t have the resources to place a decontamination unit at every access point,” she said, stressing that the lake’s size and accessibility make consistent monitoring difficult.
As Lake Memphremagog’s ecological and recreational health hangs in the balance, the MWA and Canadian partners remain committed to protecting the lake’s future. “Our aim is to ensure the lake remains a place that everyone can enjoy without invasive species compromising its ecosystem,” Hopkins affirmed. While formal cross-border agreements remain a work in progress, both sides recognize the importance of their shared responsibility in safeguarding this iconic lake.