By Kolby R. LaMarche

On July 10, 2025, Burlington closed most of its Lake Champlain beaches—North Beach, Leddy Beach, Texaco Beach, Blanchard Beach, Oakledge Cove, and Blodgett Water Access—due to cyanobacteria blooms and a recent wastewater spill.

Cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae (it isn’t algae!), were detected across multiple sites, prompting high alerts from the Vermont Department of Health. These blooms, driven by warm temperatures and nutrient runoff, such as phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural and urban sources, can produce toxins that cause significant health issues for people exposed.

In humans, exposure to cyanobacteria through swimming or ingestion may lead to skin rashes, eye irritation, gastrointestinal illness, liver damage, or neurological effects. Pets are also at risk, facing severe illness or death if they ingest contaminated water.

On July 14, a leak at Burlington’s main wastewater treatment plant on Lavalley Lane released solids and untreated water into the lake, elevating E. coli levels. Swimming in sewage-contaminated water can result in infections, including gastrointestinal illness, skin infections, respiratory issues, or more severe conditions from pathogens like E. coli or enterococci.

Beaches within a one-mile radius of the facility were closed for at least 24 hours while water quality tests were conducted to ensure safety. As of today, July 16, 2025, most beaches remain closed, awaiting further testing.

In 2024, Burlington’s beaches were closed for a total of 12 days, with several closures attributed to sewage overflows following heavy rainfall and flooding. To address these challenges, Burlington voters approved a $152 million lake bond in March 2025 to fund critical upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater systems. This includes adding a fifth secondary clarifier at the main wastewater treatment plant to enhance maintenance and reduce emergency discharges.

A 2018 Clean Water Resiliency Plan bond also supports these improvements, focusing on reducing nutrient pollution. Federally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took over Lake Champlain’s health management in 2016 after Vermont failed to meet phosphorus reduction targets. The EPA’s Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan aims to reduce phosphorus levels by 50% over 20 years to curb cyanobacteria blooms. Additionally, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, funded with $25 million through the 2023 Appropriations Act, supports phosphorus reduction, cyanobacteria monitoring, and water quality projects.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to Vermont’s Natural Resources Secretary, Julie Moore, stating that Vermont had failed at multiple levels to keep Lake Champlain clean and recommending action steps.

Burlington conducts daily visual inspections for cyanobacteria and tests for E. coli twice weekly during the summer season. If blooms are detected, staff use test strips to measure toxin levels, reopening beaches only when conditions are safe. City officials urge the public to monitor updates on the Vermont Department of Health’s Cyanobacteria Tracker website to see when beaches may reopen.