Category: Lake George

The state recently prepared an action plan for Lake George in regard to Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB’s).

Lake George was recently one of twelve New York lakes that was included in a study of harmful algae blooms. The 12 selected lakes represent a wide range of conditions, the goal was to identify factors that lead to Harmful Alage Blooms (HAB’s) in specific water bodies, and apply the information learned to other lakes facing similar threats. Each lake studied had an action plan prepared for that lake.

The good news from the report on Lake George:

“There have been no reported HABs in Lake George to date. Analyses conducted in this Action Plan provide insight into the processes that may potentially influence the formation of HABs in Lake George, and their possible spatial extents, durations, and intensities. Implementation of the mitigation actions recommended in this HABs Action Plan are expected to prevent the likelihood of blooms in Lake George.”

Additionally:

“Lake George is oligotrophic, rarely exhibits shoreline algal blooms, and there is no record of any HABs being observed or reported on the lake. Screening samples analyzed for algae, cyanobacteria, and algal toxin levels, including phycocyanin, and microcystin, by the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) since 2012 found low overall algae levels and low cyanobacteria levels at each of the sampling sites (NYSDEC 2015). Cyanobacteria have been measured in benthic samples associated with Cladophora and other filamentous algae, but they have not comprised the major taxa in the phytoplankton community in these samples.”

However there is always room for more testing and vigilance:

“In summary, Lake George tends to have very low chlorophyll-a concentrations. However, there are some locations that tend to have consistently higher (though still low) chlorophyll-a concentrations relative to the rest of the lake (Figure 16). These locations include: Sandy Bay, Cotton Island, Basin Bay, Huletts Landing, Heart Bay, Weeds Bay, Asas Island, Lenni-Lenape Island, Arcady Country Cub, and the north end of the Lake around Prison Island. In these shallow areas the remote sensing might be picking other interferences as opposed to chlorophyll-a concentrations. Additional analysis may be of interest to investigate these locations further.”

The entire report for Lake George can be read here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/georgehabplan.pdf

The ice is starting to break up on Lake George.

Extremely high winds caused all types of havoc in Warren county and Washington county yesterday. Trees and power lines were down and ice is being pushed around the lake as it breaks up.

Large chunks of ice in many bays, as it is pushed toward shore by the high winds.

East Brook, one of Lake George’s ten largest tributaries, flows through a property recently protected by the LGLC in the Town of Lake George. Photo Credit: LGLC (Click to see full-scale.)

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has protected sensitive property in the Town of Lake George along the main branch of East Brook, one of the top ten tributaries of Lake George. The 12-acre property contains over 500 feet of stream corridor and riparian area as well as several acres of wetlands that help to naturally protect water quality.

Located on the west side of Bloody Pond Rd, the heavily wooded property abuts Lake George Elementary School land. Some of the land was zoned as High Density Residential and the topography would have allowed up to five homes right on East Brook. Although the LGLC is not anti-development, the protection of this sensitive land for the benefit of water quality made it a high conservation priority.

There is clear evidence of soil erosion from storm water coming off of I-87 and neighboring roadways. The LGLC is partnering with Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to assess the property and define steps that can be taken to improve the condition of the stream and reduce further erosion.

“The 12 acre property the that the Lake George Land Conservancy recently purchased is an interesting piece,” explained Jim Lieberum, district manager of the Warren County SWCD, “as it has both the main stem and a tributary located on it. The property is heavily forested and has some impressive hemlock, white pine, ash and sugar maples scattered throughout. Walking the site reveals that there have been impacts to the streams and their channels as eroding banks and collapsed trees are found in various sections of the streams. I believe that some maintenance of the site is plausible to stabilize the affected sections, but a review upstream of the areas is warranted to ensure what is done will be lasting and compliments the conservation efforts on this parcel.”

The property was owned by the McPhillips family, who desired to see the land protected. They generously agreed to sell the land to the LGLC below the property’s appraised value through what’s called a bargain sale.

“We are so grateful to the McPhillips family,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, “both for their generosity in selling the land to us through a bargain sale as well as their conservation ethic and wonderful stewardship of this land over the years. This is a model conservation project—we had a generous and willing landowner, an important conservation property, enthusiastic and excited supporters, and a really exciting game plan as to what we will be doing with the property in the future, which is bringing people onto the land to understand why it was important to protect, the role that it plays in protecting the lake, and just to get them out and see a beautiful spot.”

Dome Island as seen from Bolton Landing.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has received a grant of $10,000 from The Nature Conservancy via its Dome Island Endowment, in support of the stewardship of Dome Island and other lands in the Lake George watershed.

The Nature Conservancy’s Dome Island Committee meets several times a year to review projects funded by past grants and advise future spending. Funds are sourced from an endowment that was created before John Apperson donated the 16-acre Dome Island in Bolton to The Nature Conservancy in 1956. John Apperson challenged The Nature Conservancy and the Lake George community to raise a $20,000 endowment to support stewardship of the property, which was to be protected in perpetuity.

The people of Lake George responded to this challenge and the endowment has grown over the years to allow for the distribution of generous grants each year for research, stewardship and conservation initiatives on Dome Island and within the watershed. To date, the Committee has granted more than $100,000 to the LGLC, for stewardship of the land that protects the lake, and for specific conservation projects that have significant impact on the water quality.

“We are once again honored to have the support of the Dome Island Committee members and The Nature Conservancy, which oversees the endowment,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown. “John Apperson would be proud to know his donation of Dome Island has resulted in a huge impact on the health of Lake George, for Dome Island and beyond. We thank the Committee for their continued partnership in our efforts to protect the land that protects the lake.”