Amid concerns over bacteria, a shifting landscape and more rain, Vermont officials are advising people to be alert when taking a dip or going out for a boat ride.
“It’s tough because Vermont has some really terrific places to swim,” said Ben Truman, a spokesperson for the Vermont Department of Health. “But things are different now and we have to be really cautious.”
State officials have issued general guidance on which municipal beaches and swimming spots are safe for use, and more detailed information can be found on a case-by-case basis.
Officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation also recommend that people examine areas beforehand and use their best judgment to avoid debris or contaminants that floated into every watershed in the state as a result of last month’s flooding.
As for less regulated and monitored swimming holes, it is best to check for reports on bacteria levels and scope out the scene before plunging into the water. In rivers, shifting rocks and debris hidden beneath the surface could put people into potentially dangerous situations.
Oliver Pierson, the state’s lakes and ponds program manager, said swimmers should use their best judgment in areas that are not regularly monitored by the state.
“It’s summer and getting in the water is very much part of everybody’s life in Vermont, but we want people to use their judgment and be very careful about recreating and proceed with caution,” he said.
Pierson also said “extremely high” amounts of phosphorus entered Lake Champlain because of stormwater runoff, and it will cause eutrophication — a process that increases algae blooms and lowers dissolved oxygen levels. That mix will likely bring even more cyanobacteria, the notorious summertime party pooper, to Vermont’s largest body of water.
Combining all those factors, “we’re on trend here to have one of the greatest closure years we’ve ever had,” lamented Erin Moreau, Burlington waterfront superintendent and harbormaster, noting that the number of algae-induced closures was high even before the flooding.
“We know it’s not popular,” they said of beach closures, “but we will continue to do it. We want to keep people safe.”
Potential Champlain swimmers can view VTAlerts and the Burlington water quality website to find more information about what is open and closed.
The state is also urging boaters to be cautious. High water levels and murky conditions can cover potentially harmful debris and may also lead to shoreline erosion in places that can’t take the beating wrought by vessel-induced waves.
Pierson said Lake Champlain, which had record water levels for July, and Lake Dunmore in Addison County — a 985-acre lake in Salisbury and Leicester — are two places where mariners should be particularly cautious.
“That’s part of our general reminder to boaters that water levels are high right now,” Pierson said. “The water is still a bit turbid, or not so clear, and there’s new debris and hazards out there that probably weren’t there before the storm.”
