The role of the Greeters is to help boaters entering and leaving Lake Bomoseen inspect their boats and remove any aquatic invasive species (AIS). Unfortunately Lake Bomoseen has a number of AIS, fortunately there are many not present in Lake Bomoseen that currently exist in other water bodies throughout Vermont, New York and New England. Lake Bomoseen is in the Lake Champlain basin and many boats travel between the two lakes and many other lakes in our region, New York and New England. One nasty species that we are not plagued by is water chestnut and the greeters are working hard to make sure it, and other AIS, not yet present in Lake Bomoseen, stay out.

They also are working to prevent transport of AIS in Lake Bomoseen to other regional lakes. Lake Bomoseen has the unfortunate distinction of being the only lake in VT with Asian clams and the greeters aim to keep it that way. In Vermont, it is a finable offense of up to a $1000 to transport AIS and so the Greeters are also working to help boaters from being fined. More importantly, transporting AIS is very harmful to our 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.

This year the LBA, with the support of the town of Hubbardton, is expanding the Greeter program. In the past, the greeters have been posted at both launch sites, Kehoe and Float Bridge on weekends from mid June until Labor Day. This year, the Greeters will be again posted at both Launch sites on weekends but coverage will start on the Memorial Day weekend and proceed to mid October. Both launch sites will also be covered on holidays. The week days will also see Greeter coverage at the Kehoe launch site.