Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Lake Champlain Basin Research

Active
By New England Water Science Center October 23, 2026

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.

Media
An overhead wide view of a lake with sun reflection.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A view of Lake Champlain from Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont. The Burlington Community Boathouse can be seen in the distance. 

 

The USGS continuous-record streamgages, lake-stage gages, and groundwater well data are used within many watershed-wide studies and assessments from flood forecasting to nutrient loading. Science activities focus on characterizing hydrologic and water-quality conditions, with an emphasis on priority concerns such as invasive species, emerging contaminants, harmful algal blooms, and changing aquatic habitats. This includes quantifying current and historical patterns in cyanobacterial occurrence, refining predictive modeling frameworks for water quality and hydrologic and hydraulic prediction, and conducting environmental health studies to better understand potential human and ecosystem exposure risks. Additional work includes advancing innovative water-quality technologies, hydrodynamic modeling, hydrologic response to changes in climatic conditions, and transportation and infrastructure-related hydrologic studies.

Media
A map of the Lake Champlain watershed with gage sites identified.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A map of the Lake Champlain watershed containing the locations of USGS streamgages, lake gages and reservoirs gages. 

 

Current Monitoring and Research

 

 

Lake Champlain Projects

Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

Lake Champlain Basin Research

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.
By
New England Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center
Lake Champlain Basin Research

Lake Champlain Basin Research

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.
Learn More
Clogged culvert pipe filled with sediment and some water running out of it.

A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

Vermont currently (2025) manages nearly 15,000 culverts, many of which are undersized and classified as being in urgent, critical, or poor condition. After large flooding events, stream crossing structures are frequently replaced in kind with little ability to integrate best available topography and design flows. The USGS, in cooperation with Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), is updating...
By
New England Water Science Center
A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

Vermont currently (2025) manages nearly 15,000 culverts, many of which are undersized and classified as being in urgent, critical, or poor condition. After large flooding events, stream crossing structures are frequently replaced in kind with little ability to integrate best available topography and design flows. The USGS, in cooperation with Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), is updating...
Learn More
Waits River Tributary near West Topham, VT

Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Below normal streamflows can intensify competing water demands and affect water quality, drinking-water supplies, and aquatic habitat. Estimating normal low-flow statistics is critical to support natural resource management. The current methods for estimating low-flow statistics at ungaged streams, particularly on small watersheds, are limited in Vermont. The USGS is computing low-flow statistics...
By
New England Water Science Center
Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Below normal streamflows can intensify competing water demands and affect water quality, drinking-water supplies, and aquatic habitat. Estimating normal low-flow statistics is critical to support natural resource management. The current methods for estimating low-flow statistics at ungaged streams, particularly on small watersheds, are limited in Vermont. The USGS is computing low-flow statistics...
Learn More
Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

USGS, in cooperation with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, is evaluating machine learning models for predicting blooms of potentially harmful cyanobacteria, a damaging blue-green algae, at Lake Champlain beaches in Vermont and New York. Harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms (cyanoHABs) degrade the water quality of Lake Champlain and can threaten environmental and public health because the lake...
By
New England Water Science Center
Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

USGS, in cooperation with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, is evaluating machine learning models for predicting blooms of potentially harmful cyanobacteria, a damaging blue-green algae, at Lake Champlain beaches in Vermont and New York. Harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms (cyanoHABs) degrade the water quality of Lake Champlain and can threaten environmental and public health because the lake...
Learn More
Tilled field with forest in background

Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Possible changes in temperature and precipitation over the next several decades may have implications for New England’s agricultural community, such as changing plant water availability and crop yield variability. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine, is predicting the potential hydrological effects based on these climatic...
By
New England Water Science Center
Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Possible changes in temperature and precipitation over the next several decades may have implications for New England’s agricultural community, such as changing plant water availability and crop yield variability. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine, is predicting the potential hydrological effects based on these climatic...
Learn More
Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
By
New England Water Science Center
IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
Learn More

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.

Media
An overhead wide view of a lake with sun reflection.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A view of Lake Champlain from Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont. The Burlington Community Boathouse can be seen in the distance. 

 

The USGS continuous-record streamgages, lake-stage gages, and groundwater well data are used within many watershed-wide studies and assessments from flood forecasting to nutrient loading. Science activities focus on characterizing hydrologic and water-quality conditions, with an emphasis on priority concerns such as invasive species, emerging contaminants, harmful algal blooms, and changing aquatic habitats. This includes quantifying current and historical patterns in cyanobacterial occurrence, refining predictive modeling frameworks for water quality and hydrologic and hydraulic prediction, and conducting environmental health studies to better understand potential human and ecosystem exposure risks. Additional work includes advancing innovative water-quality technologies, hydrodynamic modeling, hydrologic response to changes in climatic conditions, and transportation and infrastructure-related hydrologic studies.

Media
A map of the Lake Champlain watershed with gage sites identified.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A map of the Lake Champlain watershed containing the locations of USGS streamgages, lake gages and reservoirs gages. 

 

Current Monitoring and Research

 

 

Lake Champlain Projects

Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

Lake Champlain Basin Research

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.
By
New England Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center
Lake Champlain Basin Research

Lake Champlain Basin Research

The USGS work in collaboration with Federal, tribal, state, university, Canadian Provincial, and non-government organizations on research and monitoring efforts in the Lake Champlain Basin. For many years, the USGS has produced water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data and science to support the management of the lake and watershed through increased scientific understanding.
Learn More
Clogged culvert pipe filled with sediment and some water running out of it.

A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

Vermont currently (2025) manages nearly 15,000 culverts, many of which are undersized and classified as being in urgent, critical, or poor condition. After large flooding events, stream crossing structures are frequently replaced in kind with little ability to integrate best available topography and design flows. The USGS, in cooperation with Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), is updating...
By
New England Water Science Center
A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

A Culvert Sizing Tool for Vermont StreamStats

Vermont currently (2025) manages nearly 15,000 culverts, many of which are undersized and classified as being in urgent, critical, or poor condition. After large flooding events, stream crossing structures are frequently replaced in kind with little ability to integrate best available topography and design flows. The USGS, in cooperation with Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), is updating...
Learn More
Waits River Tributary near West Topham, VT

Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Below normal streamflows can intensify competing water demands and affect water quality, drinking-water supplies, and aquatic habitat. Estimating normal low-flow statistics is critical to support natural resource management. The current methods for estimating low-flow statistics at ungaged streams, particularly on small watersheds, are limited in Vermont. The USGS is computing low-flow statistics...
By
New England Water Science Center
Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Low-Streamflow Statistics for Unregulated Streams in Vermont

Below normal streamflows can intensify competing water demands and affect water quality, drinking-water supplies, and aquatic habitat. Estimating normal low-flow statistics is critical to support natural resource management. The current methods for estimating low-flow statistics at ungaged streams, particularly on small watersheds, are limited in Vermont. The USGS is computing low-flow statistics...
Learn More
Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

USGS, in cooperation with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, is evaluating machine learning models for predicting blooms of potentially harmful cyanobacteria, a damaging blue-green algae, at Lake Champlain beaches in Vermont and New York. Harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms (cyanoHABs) degrade the water quality of Lake Champlain and can threaten environmental and public health because the lake...
By
New England Water Science Center
Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

Predicting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms at Lake Champlain Beaches

USGS, in cooperation with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, is evaluating machine learning models for predicting blooms of potentially harmful cyanobacteria, a damaging blue-green algae, at Lake Champlain beaches in Vermont and New York. Harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms (cyanoHABs) degrade the water quality of Lake Champlain and can threaten environmental and public health because the lake...
Learn More
Tilled field with forest in background

Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Possible changes in temperature and precipitation over the next several decades may have implications for New England’s agricultural community, such as changing plant water availability and crop yield variability. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine, is predicting the potential hydrological effects based on these climatic...
By
New England Water Science Center
Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Determining How New England’s Water Resources Respond to Various Climate Scenarios

Possible changes in temperature and precipitation over the next several decades may have implications for New England’s agricultural community, such as changing plant water availability and crop yield variability. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine, is predicting the potential hydrological effects based on these climatic...
Learn More
Randy Orndorff examines limestone on Lake Champlain, VT

IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
By
New England Water Science Center
IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
Learn More
Was this page helpful?