The Lake Champlain program earned the designation “by demonstrating excellence in research, education and public service,” NOAA said. While Lake Champlain is no longer considered one of the Great Lakes, the research designation that came with the listing remained. “He took the heat for that, but it allowed us to establish the Lake Champlain Sea Grant program here,” said University of Vermont Professor Breck Bowden, who heads the Lake Champlain program. The Lake Champlain program was founded in 1999 as a “project” of the National Sea Grant College Program, which was established in 1966 to help maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy. The Lake Champlain program is a co-operative effort by the University of Vermont and the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh.

Source: National Post May 05, 2018 13:07 UTC