No Other Lake

>> I'M ERIC FORD FOR MADE HERE.

DIRECTOR DWAYNE PETERSON FROM COLCHESTER, VERMONT, AND JORDAN ROWELL TEAMED UP TO CREATE NO OTHER LAKE.

JORDAN EMBARKS ON A KAYAKING TRIP ALONG THE 120-MILE LENGTH OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN STOPPING ALONG WAIT TO TALK TO A RANGE OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEIR BASIN.

YOU CAN WATCH NO OTHER LAKE AND OTHER GREAT MADE HERE FILMS STREAMING ON VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> THE AUGUST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN THIS PIECE OF WATER IS FIVE DEGREES WARMER THAN IN 1970.

FIVE DEGREES CELSIUS.

THIS IS THE OLDEST FORM OF LIFE ON EARTH.

SIN OBACTERIA IS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES BUT UNDER SOME CONDITIONS OF HIGH NUTRIENTS, CALM WATER, HEAT, SUN, THEY LOVE IT.

>> FELT LIKE 100 DEGREES OUT THERE.

PADDLING THROUGH GREEN AND BLUE SLUDGE.

IT'S THE WORST CONDITIONS OF THE WHOLE TRIP, FOR SURE.

PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE ANCESTORS BEING THE ORIGINAL STOORTS OF THL PLACE.

BEGINNING ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO TWHITE COLONISTS BROUGHT WITH THEM AN ETHOS OF DOMINION AND CONTROL WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO WIDESPREAD DEFORCE TAKES, HABITAT LOSS AND THE POLLUTION OF OUR LAKES AND RIVERS.

IN 1972, CONGRESS PASSED THE CLEAN WATER ACT IN ONE OF SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE DEVASTATION OF OUR NATION'S WATERWAYS.

WHILE WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE LAST 50 YEARS WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF TODAY LIKE NUTRIENT POLLUTION AND INVASIVE SPECIES ALONG WITH THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOKING LIKE IN THIS PLACE?

WHAT'S MY ROLE?

I SPENT 18 YEARS OF MY LIFE LIVING LESS THAN FIVE MILES FROM LAKE CHAMPLAIN, AND I FEEL LIKE I BARELY GOT TO KNOW IT.

THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS.

EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE SO TO IMMERSE MYSELF OR TRY TO AND LEARN FROM THEM I NEED TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES NOT JUST BY TALKING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT GOING TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

I'M JORDAN ROWELL.

TOMORROW I AM GOING TO START MY TRIP OF PADDLING THE LENGTH OF LAKE CHAMPAGNE.

I PUT MY KAYAK IN WHITE HALL, NEW YORK, PADDLE 10 MILES A DAY AND SET UP CAMP IN A DIFFERENT PLACE EACH WAY.

I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW WE CAN DO BETTER AND WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THIS PLACE.

WHEN I DECIDED TO PADDLE THE LENGTH OF THE LAKE THE BIG QUESTION IS WHERE DO YOU START?

ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WATER STARTS ITS JOURNEY.

I WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY THAT COULD GIVE ME A BIG PICTURE VIEW OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND WHERE ELSE TO DO THAT BUT AT THE TOP OF MOUNT MANSFIELD.

>> I KAYAKED ACROSS IT BUT I HAVE NEVER KAYAKED UP AND DOWN IT.

IT'S A LONG WAYS.

>> RIGHT.

HONESTLY, I THINK I PADDLED ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN ONCE BEFORE.

MY PADDLING RESUME IS, WELL LET'S SAY THIS IS GOING TO BEEF IT UP QUITE A BIT.

>> YOU GOT BEAUTIFUL SHORE TO HUG.

EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL LAKE THAT IT IS IT ALSO IS THE KIND OF COLLECTION OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON EITHER SIDE.

>> I GUESS PART OF THE REASON I WANT TO DO THIS TRIP IS BECAUSE I THINK BIG IDEAS GET LOST IN TRANSLATION SOMETIMES.

>> WE DON'T GET MANY OPPORTUNITIES ANY MORE IN THIS WORLD TO HAVE LONG, DEEP, REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON AND YOU'RE PRESSED FOR TIME.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT WALKING OR PADDLING LONG DISTANCES IS THERE'S NO HURRY.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING THERE ANY TIME SOON.

IN A DEEPER SENSE, A JOURNEY LIKE THIS ONE IS A TRIP THROUGH SPACE, OBVIOUSLY, COVERING PHYSICAL GROUND, BUT IT'S ALSO DEEPLY A TRIP THROUGH TIME.

WHEN YOU TALK WITH PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING INTO THE PAST AND FIGURING OUT WHERE THINGS CAME FROM AND HOW THEY GOT WHERE THEY ARE.

YOU'RE GOING INTO THE FUTURE AND THAT'S WHAT OUR IMAGINATIONS ARE, A SENSE OF WHAT THINGS MIGHT BECOME AND WHERE THEY MIGHT GO.

I WAS DEFINITELY READY TO START PADDLING.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT LONG ENOUGH.

IT'S TIME TO GET IN THE BOAT AND GO NORTH.

GOT IT?

>> YEP.

>> I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS, EXCITED.

BUT I WAS ALSO HONESTLY PRETTY SCARED.

SO WHEN WE SHOWED UP AT THE PUT-IN I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A CROWD OF PEOPLE THAT HAD COME TOGETHER TO HELP SEE ME OFF.

I'M JOHN ROWELL ON ANOTHER ADVENTURE WITH MY SON JORDAN.

AS A DAD IT ALWAYS CONCERNS YOU.

YOUR KID IS GOING AWAY ON A LAKE FOR TWO WEEKS BUT JORDY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KID TO TAKE ON BIG ADVENTURES AND PULLS THEM OFF WELL.

KNOWING THAT I'M NOT THAT WORRIED ABOUT IT.

>> IT WAS VERY NICE TO HAVE ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY JOIN ME FOR THE FIRST DAY.

BUT IT WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF TO BE HONEST WHEN THEY ALL TURNED AROUND TO HEAD BACK TO THE PUT-IN AND I CONTINUED NORTH.

FINALLY GET TO LIKE BREATHE AND BE LIKE WOW, THIS IS IT.

I'M ON THE TRIP.

>> THAT FIRST MORNING ON THE LAKE WAS REALLY FOGGY AND EERIE AND I WASN'T PLANNING ON TALKING TO ANYBODY THAT DAY.

I WAS JUST PLANNING ON STARTING THERE IN BENSON LANDING AND PADDLING UP TOWARDS FORTY CON DERHO A GOOD AND TAKING IN THE SIGHTS AS I WENT.

BUT I REALIZED THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE A VAN HAD PULLED UP WITH A VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS TRAILER ON THE BACK.

I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THESE FOLKS THAT WERE ABOUT TO GO OUT ON THEIR KAYAKS AND PUM INVASIVE SPECIES SO I ASKED IF I COULD JOIN THEM.

>> WE ARE PULLING OUT WATER CHESTNUTS.

THEY ARE INVASIVE TO VERMONT.

THEY WILL TAKE UP SPACE ON TOP BECAUSE THEY KIND OF SPREAD OUT.

THEY WILL BLOCK OUT SUNLIGHT FOR ANY PLANTS GROWING DOWN BELOW THAT NEED SUNLIGHT AS WELL AS OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES.

>> ONE PLANT CAN HAVE UP TO 12 SEEDS.

THOSE CAN ROOTER AND BE IN THE SENTIMENT 12 TO 14 YEARS.

IF YOU TAKE ONE PLANT OUT YOU COULD BE HELPING A TON.

>> IT'S THIS BIG PARADIGM SHIFT TO RECOGNIZE THAT HUMANS CAN DO GOOD IN THIS LANDSCAPE.

WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY TO HELP HEAL SOME OF THE WOUNDS THAT WE HAVE DEALT THE LAKE IN THE PAST AND HELEN AND DEM ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE.

>> THIS MORNING AT BENSON LANDING WAS SUPER FOGGY.

EVENTUALLY IT BURNED OUT OF AND ENDED UP BEING A SCORCHER.

IT WAS LIKE 90 DEGREES OR AT LEAST FELT LIKE IT.

BUT TODAY I JUST MET A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE WHOA FELT OWNERSHIP OVER THIS PLACE AND WAS INSPIRED TO FIND MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD THAT SENSE OF OWNERSHIP.

I'M GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO FIND THAT IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

>> THE CROWN POINT BRIDGE IS LIKE THIS GEA WAY INTO THE MAIN PART OF THE LAKE.

AS SOON AS YOU CROSS UNDERNEATH THAT BRIDGE, THE LAKE CHANGES CHARACTER.

YOU'RE IN IT NOW.

>> GOT A LITTLE BIT OF CHOP THIS MORNING.

JUST A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS NEW.

THE LAKE IS STARTING TO PICK UP SOME PLANKS AT THIS POINT.

ANY WINDS COMING FROM THE SOUTH NOW HAS 30 MILES OR SO TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE.

I'M MAKING MY FIRST CROSSING OF THE LAKE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE.

DEFINITELY THE BIGGEST EXPANSE OF WATER I FOUND MYSELF IN ON THIS TRIP.

WATER IS ALMOST 300 FEET DEEP BELOW ME.

HOPE I DON'T DROP ANYTHING.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO GO TO SPLIT ROCK.

THE CLIFFS THERE ARE 200 FEET HIGH ABOVE THE WATER.

AND THE LAKE PLUNGE 400 FEET DEEP BELOW THEM.

I WAS TRACING MY JOURNEY ON THE MAP AND IT WAS KIND OF COOL TO LOOK BACK ON IT AND SAY, YEAH, I HAVE DONE THIS PART ALREADY.

I HAVE COME THIS FAR.

ONE-THIRD DOWN, TWO-THIRDS TO GO.

INVASIVE SPECIES WORK IS ALL ABOUT CORRECTING THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

>> I'M JOHN DAVIS, ADVOCATE FOR THE ADIRONDACK COUNCIL AND WE ARE HERE IN THE HEART OF SPLIT ROCK WHICH IS MY BACKYARD WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO HELP PROTECT.

>> I'M AGRICULTURE LEAD AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT PLACE TO BE LOOKING AT AS A POTENTIAL MODEL FOR OTHER AREAS.

THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL FARMS CENTERED TO STICK WITH THE WILDERNESS.

>> FINDING WAYS TO MAKE FARMING WILDLIFE FRIENDLY.

THIS IS A VITAL CONNECTION BETWEEN LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND THE HIGH PEAKS TO THE WEST, ONE OF THE BOTANICLY WEALTHIEST PARTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

I LOVE IT HERE.

>> WHAT IS PROTECTING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS MEAN FOR HUMAN NEEDS?

I HOPE ULTIMATELY WE VALUE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR THEIR OWN SAKES, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO JUSTIFY SAVING THE FOREST OR ANY OTHER PLACE IN HUMAN TERMS.

THERE ARE DEFINITE HUMAN BENEFITS.

BIG WILD FORESTS SEQUESTER ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF CARBON AND HELP COOL THE WATERS SO AQUATIC SPECIES WHY CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

EVEN IF WE DON'T FISH OR SWIM WE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE DO ON LAND BECAUSE IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER WE'RE ALL DEPENDING ON THAT WATER.

>> IF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND LAKE SHAM CHAMPIONSHIP MANY PLAIN AND THE TRIBUTARIES LEADING INTO IT COULD HAVE FARMS THAT ARE SMALLER, MORE DIVERSIFIED, SUPERINTENDENT PORTED BY COMMUNITY MIB'S I THINK WE WOULD HAVE A HEALTHIER WATERSHED.

>> PRETTY ROCK WILD WAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HUMAN EFFORTS TO PROTECT IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

THERE CAME THAT REALIZATION THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP THAT HUMANS HAVE WITH OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IS SORT OF THE BUILDING BLOCK ON WHICH EVERYTHING ELSE IS BUILT.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN HOW OUR CULTURE SEES PLACES LIKE LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND THE VALUE OF CLEAN, HEALTHY WATER.

A LOT OF US I THINK HAVE REACHED A MOMENT OF A DAWNING REALIZATION THAT THE GROWNUPS HAVE NOT FIGURED IT ALL OUT.

THEY MEAN WELL.

THEY ARE BLOWING IT.

YEAH, THEY HAVE RAISED ME OKAY.

I'M THANKFUL FOR IT ALL BUT I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THE WORLD AS IT IS.

THIS FEELS WRONG.

IT COULD BE BETTER.

REACHING THAT CRITICAL, VULNERABLE MOMENT OF BEING KIND OF APPALLED AND DISMAYED BY WHAT'S COMING OF THINGS, THIS FEELING OF IT ALL COMING UNDONE, RIGHT THERE FEELS LIKE THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE A PERSON EITHER BECOMES BURNED OUT QUICK CYNIC OR OSOMEHOW, NO, NO, NO, YOU GET IT NOW.

THE LIGHT IS ON.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT?

WE NEED YOU.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO NEED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CARE AND ARE ACTIVATED.

COME ON.

JOIN!

JOIN!

WHY WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO REALLY HEAL OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS LAND AND WITH THIS WATERSHED AND THIS BASIN AND THIS LAKE?

I THINK ONE PART OF REBUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIP, IT'S STARTING WITH THE SELF.

CAN YOU SPEND MORE TIME OBSERVING AND WITNESSESING AND FEELING LIKE A PARTICIPANT OF THIS PLACE.

YOU START WITH WHERE YOU ARE.

IF YOU'RE HERE NOW THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE.

LET ALL OF THE OTHER PLACES GO FOR A LITTLE BIT AND JUST START HERE.

>> WE ARE A PLACE BASED PEOPLE.

WE ARE OF A PLACE.

MIKE MOHEGAN BAND, THAT'S WHAT THE ENGLISH VERSION IS.

PEOPLE WOULD KNOW US AS PEOPLE OF THE WOODEN TRAPS WHO LIVE IN THE PINES WHO SEE THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAY.

WE ARE A PART OF THAT LAND AND THE LAND IS PART OF US.

SO WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE WATER INSIDE YOU HAS BEEN THROUGH ANCESTORS OF OURS, HAS BEEN THROUGH ANIMALS AND BEEN THROUGH TREES AND NOW IT'S IN YOUR BODY.

IT LEAVES AN IMPRINT OF WHO THAT ENTITY OR THAT LIFE FORM IS ON THE THING THAT IT TOUCHES.

SO THAT WATER IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS ALL OF US TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU MAKE THE WATER SICK THEN YOU MAKE OTHER THINGS SICK.

IT DISRUPTS THE WHOLE CYCLE OF LIFE.

WE DON'T OWN THE LAKE.

WE WERE STEWART LEDBETTER OF THE LAKE.

WE USED THE LAKE FOR OUR RESOURCES AND MANAGED THOSE RESOURCES OTOSURVIVE.

SO FOR US IT IS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, NOT SO MUCH OWNERSHIP.

BUT THE WAY THE EUROPEAN CULTURE HAS SET UP THIS STRUCTURE IS THAT IT'S A ONE-DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF I OWN THIS SO I OWN EVERYTHING ON IT AND ALL THE RESOURCES AND WHEN I USE UP MY RESOURCES I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET YOUR RESOURCES.

>> WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS.

BUT FOR TOMORROW AND THE DAY AFTER AND MOVING FORWARD HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT IDEA OF BEING STEWART LEDBETTER AND NOT OWNERS AND APPLY IT TO SOLVING THESE REAL CHALLENGES?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THING YOU'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE.

IF YOU'RE INVESTED IN WHAT YOU DO OR CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE THEN YOU MAY CARE MORE.

THEN IF YOU CARE MORE YOU'RE GOING TO PROTECT IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE STOCK IN IT.

>> I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A COUPLE OF STEPS IN TERMS OF REALLY DOING THE WORK TO PROTECT A PLACE AND STEP ONE IS YOU GOT TO GO OUT THERE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GO ON THE LAKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE.

>> RIGHT.

>> ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE, I MEAN -- >> HOPEFULLY YOU WANT TO PRESERVE IT.

>> WE GOT SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD HERE.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK SO.

IT SERVED OUR PEOPLE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

I WOULD HATE TO SEE US MESS IT UP IN 400, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AFTER PADDLING FOR A WEEK TO GET TO BURLINGTON EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN A FAMILIAR REGION, I HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SENSE OF PLACE.

IT WAS A BIG MILESTONE.

I KNEW THAT GETTING TO BURLINGTON WAS LIKE THE HALFWAY POINT.

BUT I ALSO KNEW THAT THE LAKE NORTH OF BURLINGTON WAS REALLY KIND OF A HARD PART.

IF THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIP WAS TOO SUNNY AND TOO HOT, THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIP WAS THE OPPOSITE.

WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN IT DIDN'T STOP FOR THREE DAYS.

ALSO THE WINDS WERE REALLY CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE.

I HAD WAVES CRASHING OVER THE BOW OF MY BOAT.

IT WAS TOUGH.

>> YOU KNOW, ON ONE HAND I'M VERY HAPPY -- NO, ON BOTH HANDS I'M VERY HAPPY WITH HOW THE TRIP HAS GONE SO FAR.

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

BUT I ALSO DIDN'T REALLY ANTICIPATE HOW HARD IT WOULD BE.

THIS IS THE KIND OF RAIN THAT'S GOING TO STIR UP ALL THE PHOSPHORUS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE AND WASH MORE IN.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BLOOMS THIS WEEKEND.

WE'RE GOING TO GROUND ZERO.

MOST HEAVILY AFFECTED AREAS OF THE LAKE BY CYANOBACTERIA.

>> IN ORDER TO GET PORE PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH PROTECTING LAKE CHAMPLAIN WE JUST NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT ON THE LAKE.

>> I'M ANDREW ROMANO, A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT.

I STUDY PARKS AND RECREATIONAL TOURISM.

GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO BE THE SPOKESPERSON OF ONE OF MY CLUBS, PEOPLE OF COLOR OUTDOORS, A SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUB FOR BIPOC INDIVIDUALS ON CAMPUS.

JUST SUPER STOKED THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO JORDAN AND HIS FANTASTIC ADVENTURE ON CHAMPLAIN.

>> TELL ME AGAIN WHAT POCO IS AND THEN WHY IT HAS TO EXIST.

>> WE MOSTLY SEEK TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS BUT WE WANT TO REALLY INSTILL A SENSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY AND PERSONAL INCLUSION INSIDE THAT GREATER COMMUNITY.

ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS WHO IS BLACK AND I TOOK HIM SKIING ON THE CHAIRLIFT.

HE'S LIKE I'M DOING WHITE PEOPLE THINGS.

TO ME I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

ANOTHER SPORT THAT YOU COULD BE OUTSIDE BUT TO SOME IT'S LIKE A RACIAL BARRIER TO BE -- IF YOU'RE DOING OUTDOOR THINGS YOU'RE WHITE AND PEOPLE MAY NOT WANT TO LOSE THAT SENSE OF IDENTITY.

WHEN YOUTH ARE NOT EXPOSED TO THE OUTDOORS THEY CAN'T FOSTER THAT APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS.

WHEN THEY COME HERE THEY ARE LIKE, OH, MOUNTAINS?

SO WHAT?

THEN THEY ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT TAKING CARE OF THEM IS QUITE THE IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

>> THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DAIRY FARMERS.

WE SOLD THE COW IS IN 2018 SO WE'RE NOT DOING ANY MORE DAIRYINGING.

WE BUILT THE SUGAR HOUSE IN 1999 NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TRANSITIONING INTO APPLES.

LOTS OF GOOD RECIPES TOO WITH THAT STUFF.

THIS IS A REALLY NOT A DAIRY BARN ANY MORE.

WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE PIPELINE DOWN AND THE STANTIONS.

IT WILL EVENTUALLY PROBABLY BE A CIDERY.

WE HAVE A BUILDING SO I THINK WE CAN REPURPOSE IT SOMEHOW.

WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF NEWS REPORTING ABOUT THAT THE FARMERS WERE THE ONES WHO WERE DIRTYING THE LAKE, THE KIDS WOULD COME HOME AND SAY WHY DO PEOPLE HATE US?

I THINK IT'S EASY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FARMS OR YOU TALK ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM IN GENERAL TERMS, IT'S'S WHY I TO DEMONIZE PEOPLE.

WHEN PEOPLE NEED US, REALIZE WE'RE A MOM, A DAD, SISTERS, BROTHERS.

WE CARE ABOUT THE FARM AND WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU KNOW, IN FIVE GENERATIONS FROM NOW IF THE LAKE IS STILL NASTY AND WE HAVEN'T CLEANED IT UP THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY JOHN DOE AND LAURA LOU DIRTIED THE LAKE IN 2021, THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE ALL OF US.

>> DAY 13.

WE ARE ON THE EDGE OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN SWANTON, VERMONT.

WE'RE ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER.

I CAN SEE CANADA.

SO THE BAY WAS ALWAYS THE PLACE THAT IF WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO SEE A CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THERE.

YOU HAVE REALLY SHALLOW WATERS.

YOU HAVE A BAY THAT IS CLOSED OFF FROM THE REST OF THE LAKE SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MIXING.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIVER DRAINING INTO THE BAY WHICH IS PICKING UP A LOT OF PHOSPHORUS FROM THE AGRICULTURE ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING UP THE WATERSHED.

SO AS SOON AS I STARTED TO GET CLOSE TO THE BAY I WAS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WATER AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

AT FIRST IT WAS JUST LIKE THE WATER WAS KIND OF SPECKLED GREEN AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD LOOK LIKE CYANOBACTERIA BLOOMS.

AS THE DAY WORE ON SPOTS OF GREEN HERE AND THERE TURNED INTO A FILM THAT COVERED THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

>> ALL THE WATER AROUND ME IS JUST PEA SOUP GREEN.

IT'S THIS GREEN FILM ON TOP OF IT.

IT'S GROSS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ON THIS TRIP THAT YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO JUMP IN THIS WATER RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T EVEN FEEL GOING PADDLING THROUGH IT.

THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF STUFF THAT MAKES PEOPLE NOT BE PROUD OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

IT WAS WAY WORSE THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

OVER THE COURSE OF MY TIME ON THE LAKE I STARTED TO FEEL AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS PLACE, A SENSE OF PRIDE OVER IT.

AND THE LAST DAY OF THE TRIP THAT ALL KIND OF FELL APART.

IT MADE ME WANT TO TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO LIVED THERE AND KIND OF GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOUR PRECIOUS LAKE IS TURNED TO SLUDGE.

>> GREAT.

>> THIS IS MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE RIGHT THERE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY LITTLE AND I HAVE SEEN THE SITUATION EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS AND DEGRADE UNDER YESTERDAY MORNING IT WAS JUST GREAT.

WE WERE STILL SWIMMING IN THE LAKE, BUT STARTING NOON YESTERDAY WITH WIND CHANGES AND IT BECAME JUST LIKE YOU SEE THERE.

IT'S BEEN PART OF OUR LIFE AT THE END OF THE SUMMER FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I WOULD SAY.

>> 80% OF THE NUTRIENTS LOAD COMING TO THE BAY IS IN 20 DAYS DURING THE YEAR.

>> WOW.

>> THE BIG WEATHER EVENTS CREATES A LOT OF EROSION IN OUR WATERWAYS AND THE BUFFER ZONES ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WATER BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH WATER AND IT WASHES THE DIRT AND WITH IT BRINGS NUTRIENTS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS LIKE WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

>> WELL, THIS HERE IS LOCAL.

THIS HERE IS WHERE I CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.

OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IF WE ALL JOIN IN WE'LL REVERSE THE SITUATION BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS.

PEOPLE THINK, OH, I'LL GO SOME OTHER LAKE, BUT LONG TERM THERE WON'T BE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO IF WE DON'T LEARN HOW TO FIX THE ONE THAT'S NEXT TO US.

THERE WON'T BE ANY OTHER LAKE.

IT REALLY WAS A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT LIKE ON ONE HAND SOURED THE END OF THE TRIP, BUT IT ALSO REMINDED ME OF WHY I WAS OUT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BECAUSE THINGS WEREN'T OKAY.

FINDING A WAY TO TAKE ACTION AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE WAS IMPORTANT TO ME AFTER MY TRIP, AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THIS WATERSHED.

SHARING WHAT I HAD LEARNED ON MY TRIP WITH STUDENTS AT UVM WAS A CHANCE FOR ME TO KIND OF COME FULL CIRCLE.

WELCOME TO POT ASHBROOK HERE IN EAST WOODS.

IT'S A 40 ACRE PARCEL THAT UVM OWNS AND WE GET TO BE PART OF COLLECTING DATA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ASSESSMENT OF THIS.

IT'S A BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT.

EVERYONE CAN TRIBUTE THIS AWESOME PROJECT.

>> WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> ANNIE.

WE ARE GOING TO TO FIX ALL THIS GOOD STUFF IN.

>> I'M ANNIE.

I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR.

WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT WATERSHEDS IN CLASS RECENTLY.

BEING IN THE WATER ITSELF I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY REALLY HELPFUL TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOLLING WITH WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT IN CLASS AND HOW IT APPLIES TO THE REAL WORLD ESPECIALLY SO CLOSE BY WHERE YOU'RE LIVING, GOING ABOUT YOUR DAY TODAY.

>> LEARNING ABOUT THE WATERSHED IN A PLACE LIKE POT ASHBROOK IS IMPORTANT.

BUT LEARNING IS ONLY THE FIRLS STEP.

HERE ARE FOUR BASK WOODS.

THAT AS A GROUP ARE GOING TO WANT TO END ON THE UPPER SLOPE.

THAT WILL BE A LITTLE FOREST WE'RE PUTTING IN.

SO OFTEN WE ONLY THINK OF HUMANS TAKING SOMETHING AWAY.

THIS IS ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES THAT TOTALLY FLIPS THAT.

WE'RE HERE NOT TO TAKE SOMETHING OUT BUT TO PUT SOMETHING BACK IN IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT'S TUMBLING DOWN AROUND US WE'RE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND DOING STUFF.

>> THIS USED TO BE A FARM?

>> YEAH.

I'M A SENIOR.

MY FRESHMAN YEAR THIS WAS ALL CORN.

IT WAS CONVENTIONALLY MANAGED, TILLING EVERY YEAR, NOW WE HAVE SEEN BIRDERS COME DOWN HERE, STUDENTS WHO DO RESEARCH HERE.

IT'S BEEN THIS AMAZING CHANGE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF MORE STRUCTURE, MORE COMPLEXITY, MORE BIODIVERSITY, AND LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO LIKE PLANTING TREES WILL HELP ACCELERATE THAT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> SHOULD I BREAK THAT UP?

>> I WOULD BREAK IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

THAT LOOKS AWESOME.

YEAH.

SOMETIMES THERE'S THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DO.

EVEN JUST TAKING LAKE CHAMPLAIN AS AN EXAMPLE HOW DO WE KEEP THOUSANDS OF DONS OF PHOSPHOROUS FROM ENTERING THE LAKE?

BUT THIS IS PRETTY DARN EMPOWERING TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.

AND AS MUCH AS LIKE I DO KIND OF LIKE FEEL DESPAIR SOMETIMES, IT'S BALANCED OUT BY THINGS LIKE THIS.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> I LIKE THAT.

>> WHEN THIS PLACE FLOODS IN THE SPRING LIKE CRAZY, THIS WETLAND WILL HOLD A HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER, SLOW IT DOWN, SINK IT, SPREAD IT OUT.

THE SEDIMENT CAN SETTLE SO IT'S NOT GOING INTO THE LAKE.

THESE TREES WILL FILTER THE WATER AND JUST ALL IN ALL HAVE A BETTER ECOLOGY.

YOU KNOW?

CLASSES COME DOWN HERE TOO SOMETIMES AND THEY CAN DO MORE PLANTINGS HERE OR DO WHATEVER ELSE A WETLAND NEEDS.

EVEN ASK THE QUESTION WHAT DOES THIS PLACE NEED IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T ASK VERY MUCH.

SO THAT'S A HARD QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR STUDENTS TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS BUT EVERYONE WHO GOES HERE.

EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN A WATERSHED, WHICH IS EVERYONE.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M NOT SO NIGH NAIVE TO THINK THESE PROBLEMS HAVE SIMPLE SOLUTIONS OR BY PADDLING THE LENGTH OF THE LAKE I'M SOMEHOW CLEANING IT UP.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND WE ALSO HAVE TO GET OUT THERE.

IF WE LET THESE PLACES SLIP AWAY IF WE LET LAKE CHAMPLAIN CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT IT IS THEN THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE FOR US TO GO.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS NO OTHERLAKE.

>> VERMONT PUBLIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.

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