Music: Abigail Washburn
The urban reserve provides over 900 meters of Lake Champlain waterfront. This highly augmented transitional ecosystem was transformed in the mid 1800s from a sandy lake bluff into a filled, manufactured shoreline made of cement, boulders, metal sheeting, sand, soil, sawdust and other unknown fill materials. Much of the substrate immediate to the shore is angular cobble bordered by stretches of sand and silt. Aggregates of various sized cobble and bolder covered in zebra mussels, algae and silt are scattered throughout the shoreline and are especially dense near the retaining wall and throughout "Texaco beach". This substrate may provide habitat for a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Aquatic habitat restoration along the shoreline may become a valuable educational asset to the Urban Reserve and will improve the quality of the lake water.
The deep water port area is occasionally used to access large vessels. A water depth of roughly 3m limits the size of the vessel but vertical metal sheeting provides crane and large vehicle access. The need and frequency of use of this area should be investigated. There may be alternate areas within the city's waterfront to fit needs.
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| Retaining walls provide close access to boats |
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| Vertical view of vessel access area |
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| The mirror-like surface or Lake Champlain immediately adjacent to the Urban Reserve conceals an ecosystem below. |
