Things really heated up in the last half of the twentieth century. By 1992 sightings totaled 180, with approximately 600 people claiming to have seen Champ.

The twenty first century saw a new wave of sightings, counting in the double digits each summer and prompting interest from Japanese television, the Today show, NBC's Unsolved Mysteries, and Fox Network's Sightings.

In 2003, the Discovery Channel did a special on "America's Loch Ness Monster" in the wake of three new sightings by June of that year.

Were lawmakers just playing it safe?

Champy is now protected by law on both sides of Lake Champlain.

• 1981 — Port Henry, NY declares their waters a safe haven for Champ
• 1982 — State of Vermont passes a House Resolution protecting Champ
• 1983 — In New York, both the State Assembly and the State Senate pass resolutions protecting Champ