​Our Greeter program was started in 2006 largely under the direction of Artie Curcillo and Gary Durett in an effort to prevent the introduction of Invasive species into the Lake.  The VT Department of Environmental Conservation’s Aquatic Invasive Species Unit oversees the Greeter program.

 

The program falls under the umbrella of the LEA Board of Directors and is supervised by the Greeter Program Manager on a volunteer basis. The Greeters are paid employees and work on site, at the Public Boat & Fishing access, mid-May through mid-October. The program has been funded primarily through a yearly grant from the VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation or the Lake Champlain Basin Program.  The Town of Eden, private donors, and the Lake Association membership dues also provide funding.

 

The Greeters assist boat owners in inspecting boats & trailers at the Boat Access to ensure invasive species (plant and animal) do not enter or exit the lake and find their way to other bodies of water.    In Vermont, it is a finable offense of up to a $1000 to transport Aquatic Invasive species (AIS) and so the Greeters are also working to help boaters from being fined. More importantly, transporting AIS is very harmful to the lake environment as they cause significant damage to native species, can speed up eutrophication of a lake, and can dramatically decrease the recreational uses of the Lake.

 

Additional responsibilities include documenting any invasive species findings, inspecting the shoreline around the boat access and educating boaters on spread & prevention.   It is our hope to one day have funding for a high-powered hot water washing station to prevent further spread of invasive species in and out of Lake Eden.

 

If you have interest in helping us to with the Greeter program in any capacity, please contact the Greeter Manager.