Another successful summer has concluded at Bristol and Monkton Ponds, where the Lewis Creek Association has placed stewards to inspect boats for aquatic invasive species (AIS) for the past seven years.

For yet another summer, volunteers of all ages hopped in kayaks and canoes to remove European frogbit, a non-native invasive plant species that spreads rapidly in bays and wetlands if given the opportunity.

Have you heard about all the non-native invasive species in Lake Champlain? These include 51 species of plants, animals, and pathogens that were introduced to the Lake Champlain Basin.  Some were planted because they had pretty flowers. Others got here through ballast or bilge water from boats.

August 31st, 2025 marked the end of Lewis Creek Association’s (LCA’s) sixth boat launch steward program season at Bristol and Monkton Ponds. The two ponds saw many visitors throughout the summer months, from anglers to recreational boaters to wildlife enthusiasts, making them ideal locations to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS).