Burlington, Vt.-A commission of U.S. and Canadian officials will meet Dec. 15-16 to begin the search for land sources of phosphorous pollution in Lake Champlain’s Missisquoi Bay. Missisquoi Bay is sometimes plagued with toxic, summer algae blooms allegedly fed by fertilizer runoff into the lake from farm fields, lawns, and streets. Millions of dollars invested by Vermont and Quebec to help farmers prevent pollution have not improved water quality, and Missisquoi Bay has one of the highest phosphorus concentrations of any part of Lake Champlain. The commission in a 2005 report identified the water quality status in Missisquoi Bay as an urgent matter of binational concern and recommended that the two federal governments take the necessary steps, individually and jointly, to assist in reducing phosphorus levels. According to the report, phosphorus loads and ambient levels greatly exceed the target levels established by the provincial and state governments. Written comments may also be submitted by Jan. 5 at either the U.S. section secretary for the International Joint Commission, 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20440; by fax at 202-254-4562; or via email at Commission@washington.ijc.org, or to the Canadian section secretary, 234 Laurier Ave. West 22nd Floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6; by fax at 613-993-5583; or via email at Commission@ottawa.ijc.org.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain