The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program, in partnership with Peregrine Productions and NEIWPCC, launched a new video series, “Summit to Shore,” celebrating the beauty of the basin and highlighting the efforts in several communities to protect and restore their shared waters.

Using the web-based StoryMap as a guide, viewers can digitally explore the landscape around Lake Champlain, from distant mountain peaks in the headwaters to wetlands on the lake’s shoreline. The videos include imagery from drones and panoramic 360-degree views, providing unique aerial and on-the-ground perspectives of the waterways.

A map and videos feature three of the major rivers flowing to Lake Champlain:

  • The Winooski River, the largest tributary, flows through the biggest population center in the basin before emptying into the lake in Burlington, Vermont.
  • The Ausable River, which begins in New York’s Adirondack High Peaks, is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in the United States.
  • The binational Missisquoi River, which ties Quebec’s rich French heritage with English tradition, includes the only federally designated Wild and Scenic River in the basin.

“We are fortunate to live in an extraordinarily beautiful place,” said Ryan Mitchell, NEIWPCC information officer and LCBP communications and publications coordinator. “We want to share that beauty and also the stories of communities that are working to protect and restore these lands and waters. Our hope is to inspire others to get involved.”

Vince Franke, founder of Peregrine Productions said, “As a videographer, it was a joy to capture the beauty of our local rivers and our connections to them. From the stunning but often inaccessible headwaters, I was struck by the expansive views of the rivers as they flow through such a variety of rich habitats and communities on their way to Lake Champlain.”

The videos also show how local organizations, as sources of knowledge and information, provide numerous opportunities for individuals to get involved as stewards of the area’s natural and cultural heritage. There is an artist-in-residence program, which connects students to their watershed; a collaboration between private landowners and their local watershed organization to remove a dam; an improvement of public river access points; and a partnership between researchers and town officials to reduce the amount of road salt entering a local lake.

For more information on how to get involved, go to the “Learn More” page of project’s website for a list of organizations.