Beaches in Missisquoi Bay and St. Albans Bay have been occasionally closed due to toxic blooms of blue-green algae. It is thought that these blooms may be due to an excess of nutrients in Lake Champlain, particularly phosphorus.
Beaches are also closed when high levels of Eschercheria coli are detected in the water. E. coli bacteria can come from untreated sewage or feces from animals such as wildlife, waterfowl, domestic pets and farm livestock. One well known cause in the Burlington area is dog poop. A catchment basin was installed on Englesby Brook in Burlington in 2005 to catch and clean the water before it enters the lake, which allowed this beach to reopen. For more information about water sampling and links to beach closure data visit:
- Swimming in Lake Champlain (LCBP website)
Lake Champlain Questions 