Lake Fairlee Association Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Since 2008, the LFA has worked with lake management contractors on a comprehensive Eurasian watermilfoil management program for Lake Fairlee. In May 2025, LFA hired SOLitude Lake Management to conduct an early season qualitative survey of the entire littoral zone of Lake Fairlee. This survey was intended to identify target areas for a planned herbicide application and Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting later in the 2025 season. In June, LFA contracted with SOLitude Lake Management to apply herbicide to the identified dense beds of Eurasian watermilfoil. Later in the summer non-chemical diver assisted suction harvesting took place. In September, Arrowwood Environmental performed an Aquatic Vegetative Species Survey on Lake Fairlee. A highlight of the report is the significant reduction in Eurasian watermilfoil due to the targeted herbicide treatment and diver assisted suction harvesting conducted on the Lake. In 2025, the LFA continued to focus on awareness and avoidance of existing milfoil beds by lake users. Milfoil buoys deployed in 2024 were found to be too small to be readily seen by lake users. A new, larger, "Milfoil Hazard" buoy was designed, built, and deployed to highlight the presence of dense beds of Eurasian watermilfoil. These new buoys were intended to advise lake users to avoid these areas to reduce the risk of milfoil plant breakage and re-implantation in nearby areas. The LFA also deployed signage and educational materials to greeters at the Lake Fairlee boat launch, who explained the purpose of the buoys and how to report additional observations of milfoil. The LFA has participated in the LaRosa Partnership tributary monitoring program since 2019. Results from tributary sampling have helped identify areas of potential concern for increased nutrient loading into Lake Fairlee. The LFA has partnered with the Lake Champlain Committee to conduct weekly Cyanobacteria monitoring through warm weather months. Cyanobacteria continues to be a concern given rising lake temperatures, increased phosphorus loading and increased news coverage of Cyanobacteria blooms on other Vermont lakes.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.4%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 81%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $117.37 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 25.6%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.18; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.2% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings