Researcher warns of spiny water flea
Researchers warn that the invasive spiny water flea is expected to show up in Lake Champlain soon, disrupting the lake's ecosystem and making game fishing more difficult.
The Burlington Free Press reports the flea has invaded a nearby New York lake.
The matter has lent new urgency to talks about how to stop invasive species from traveling through the Champlain Canal between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain.
The threat has mobilized new cooperation between the New York State Canal Corp., the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Canal Corp. Director Carmella Mantello said the partners are pursuing a study of ways to keep the spiny water flea out of a feeder canal, and a bigger project to install a barrier in the main canal.