How We Work

Our Vision

Lake Champlain Sea Grant envisions a future in which Basin communities anticipate and enable change for long-term ecosystem health and sustainable economic development. 

Our Mission

Lake Champlain Sea Grant develops and shares science-based knowledge to benefit the environment and economies of the Lake Champlain basin. Our audience is business, state, and local leaders and the communities they serve.

Program Advisory Committee

A Program Advisory Committee (PAC) provides public input to Lake Champlain Sea Grant and helps to ensure that research, extension, and education programs address the needs and priorities of communities, businesses, and policymakers in the Lake Champlain basin. 

The PAC represents an array of collaborators, community members, and intended audience groups in the Lake Champlain Basin of New York and Vermont.

• PAC Member List
• PAC Guidelines for Member Selection (PDF)

PAC Meeting Minutes

• 9/6/2023 Agenda and Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• 1/23/2023 Agenda & Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• 2/10/2022 Meeting Minutes (PDF) | 2/10/2022 Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• 5/12/2021 Meeting Minutes (PDF) | 5/12/2021 Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• 8/26/2020 Meeting Minutes (PDF) | 8/26/2020 Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• 1/15/2020 Meeting Minutes (PDF) | 1/15/2020 Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• 8/5/2019 Meeting Minutes (PDF)

Steering Committee

The Lake Champlain Steering Committee provides overall, high-level guidance and approval of the programmatic directions of the LCSG, promotes the mission, vision, and value of the LCSG whenever they deem it appropriate to do so, and identifies new opportunities and resources that could help to grow the capacity the LSCG.

Current LCSG Steering Committee:

• Dr. Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research, UVM
• Dr. Peter Newman, Dean Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, UVM
• Dr. Leslie Parise, Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, UVM
• Michael Simpson, Director SUNY Research Foundation

Governance Documents

• Strategic Plans identify areas for research, outreach, and education.
• Data Management and Sharing Plans: These plans describe the responsibilities for sharing environmental data produced with support from Lake Champlain Sea Grant.
  • Data Management and Sharing Plan 2018-2023 (PDF)
  • Data Management and Sharing Plan 2024-2028 (PDF)
• Research Competition Policy (PDF): This policy describes the types of research competitions we support and the principles that guide the competitions.
• Memorandum of Understanding (PDF): This memorandum describes the framework and core functions of Lake Champlain Sea Grant and the strategic partnerships essential to its success.

About the National Sea Grant Program

Lake Champlain Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs. The National Sea Grant College Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1966 and works to create and maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy. The Sea Grant network consists of a federal/university partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and university-based programs in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Puerto Rico, and Guam.