Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization Act of 2024

The Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization Act of 2024 reauthorizes the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program Foundation, which supports environmental protection and restoration efforts in Lake Champlain and its watershed across parts of New York and Vermont, and potentially Quebec. The bill establishes a Steering Committee with members from New York, Vermont, and Canadian authorities to develop and implement a comprehensive pollution prevention, ecosystem protection, and climate change response plan. This plan will guide funding for projects that protect water quality, fisheries, wetlands, wildlife, and cultural resources in the Lake Champlain Basin. The legislation authorizes $45 million annually for the Foundation through 2034 to support these efforts, with additional funding for grant assistance to state agencies and organizations. The Foundation will coordinate with federal, state, local, and Canadian partners to address environmental challenges in the Lake Champlain region.