More than 200 volunteers are going to be monitoring Lake Champlain this summer for signs of blue-green algae blooms. Heat and low winds encourage growth of the toxic blooms. Peak season for them is in August. Authorities said boaters, swimmers, water-skiers, waders, and pet-owners should avoid contact with the algae. Children are at higher risk because they are more likely to drink the water. The volunteers have been trained by the Lake Champlain Committee, which, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation, assists with surveillance and sample collections.
BURLINGTON, VT.