While phosphorus and other nutrients are a huge problem in the northern end of the lake, researchers who study the main lake have discovered an increasing amount of plastics getting into Lake Champlain, tiny fragments of microplastics that are showing up in the water, microorganisms and wildlife that live in, and on the lake. Mark Malchoff is an Aquatic Resources Specialist with Lake Champlain Sea Grant, which has funded research by SUNY Plattsburgh reseachers into the problem of plastic pollution in Lake Champlain.