The once fragile lake trout population in Lake Champlain is now considered restored by the DEC.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation said the success of lake trout restoration is due to a decades-long collaborative effort with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After this spring, the wild population will no longer be augmented with hatchery-reared fish. The lake trout restoration program was started by NY State in the 1950's and annual stocking has taken place ever since according to the DEC.