The Lake Champlain Basin Program has released an updated report on the State of the Lake, a document that identifies what's happening in the lake, both good and bad, from an environmental perspective.

The 32-page report is filled with facts and numbers from researchers who have looked at a variety of lake-related issues, but it is written with the general public in mind. It is something in which every resident who has an interest in the greater Lake Champlain basin can find something of value.

The Basin Program is an organization that was created a decade ago following a federally funded study that looked at what kinds of measures were needed to develop a long-term lake-management plan.

Over the years, the program has funneled millions of federal dollars into lake-wide projects, supporting municipalities, non-profit agencies and community groups with efforts to protect the lake in a variety of ways.

The State of the Lake report is the Basin Program's "report card" on how well the region is doing as managers. Some of the grades are pretty good. Others aren't.

One of the key issues the report addresses is the abundance of phosphorus in the lake, a topic that has been on the minds of researchers for decades. Phosphorus is a nutrient that promotes plant growth, including the nasty blue-green algae that have actually caused the death of a few dogs that were unfortunate enough to drink from lake water tainted by the toxic growth.

But even that issue isn't as cut and dried as one would hope. In some areas, the report states, phosphorus levels are not a problem and are being managed properly. But, elsewhere, such as the Missisquoi Bay in northern Vermont, management efforts have not improved the situation, as phosphorus levels remain unfavorably high.

Either way, the report allows officials and residents alike a chance to understand the problem and take measures to move in a future direction that can someday solve the problem.

The report looks at recreation, including whether the lake is safe for swimming and what impact invasive species are having on lake fishing. One chart from the report lists all of the public beaches on both New York and Vermont shores and shows that a majority of the lake's beaches are in good shape. A few were listed as fair, and none received a "poor" grade.

The presence or threat of invasive species continues to attract attention, as well. All regions reported good status in preventing new species from entering the lakes, but a few areas are still having major problems, with such creatures as sea lampreys and water chestnuts. Overall, 48 invasive species now live in the lake, though no new species has arrived within the past three years.

The report tries not to lay any blame or make any predictions on what will happen to the lake. But it does give a thorough account of where we are now and where we may want to head in the future. It's a guide to help understand lake issues and to help become active participants in the lake management.

We recommend it as an important addition to this summer's reading list.