News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
Please be advised that a black bear has been spotted in the center of Huletts Landing and on Lands End Road early in the morning foraging for food in garbage cans. The bear has been captured on private video cameras.
Bears can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Please let your family and guests know.
One of the best things about the spring and summer is to awake to the sounds of birds singing. There are lots of swallows around Huletts in the summer and they should always be left alone because all swallows are state and federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
I’ve always wondered exactly where our swallows “winter homes” are? One great thing about the new artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, is that you can get answers to questions you want to learn more about extremely quickly without doing any searching. So here is what ChatGPT gave me when I asked the question.
Question: Where do barn swallows from upstate New York go in the winter?
ChatGPT answer: “Barn swallows from upstate New York migrate to warmer regions for the winter. These migratory birds typically travel to Central and South America. Specifically, barn swallows are known to winter in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and other parts of South America.
Migration is a common behavior among barn swallows and many other bird species to avoid harsh winter conditions and ensure a steady supply of food. They return to their breeding grounds in North America, including upstate New York, during the spring and summer months for nesting and raising their young.
The long-distance migration of barn swallows is an impressive feat, and these birds cover thousands of miles during their annual journeys.”
It seems our small swallows travel the farthest in winter!
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been given a donation of 4.4 acres of undeveloped land in the Town of Lake George. This property borders the LGLC’s 12-acre East Brook Preserve and includes more than three acres of wetlands and 600 feet of forested steam corridor that help to naturally protect water quality.
The “East Brook Addition” donation was gifted to the LGLC by Karen Azer and her late mother Helene Horn.
“I am glad the parcel will remain forever wild,” said Karen Azer, “not only benefitting water quality but also protecting habitat for wildlife.”
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn (no relation to Helene Horn) said, “We are incredibly grateful to Karen and Helene for their generous donation of land for conservation. Their gift creates a legacy that will forever work to protect Lake George.”
In total, the newly expanded East Brook Preserve includes more than 1,100 feet of East Brook, one of the top ten tributaries of Lake George, and is heavily forested with some impressive hemlock, white pine, ash and sugar maples scattered throughout.
The original 12-acre East Brook property was protected in 2018 with a bargain sale from the McPhillips family, who desired to see the land protected. Around the same time, the LGLC helped to protect the 317-acre McPhillips Preserve on neighboring French Mountain, in partnership with the Towns of Lake George and Queensbury. More than 2,000 feet of seasonal streams flow down the steep slopes of the McPhillips Preserve and join with East Brook far below.
Since Lake George flows north, protection of its headwaters in the south, including tributaries like East Brook, is imperative to its overall health. This region of Lake George is also facing intense development pressure, creating all the more urgency for conservation of key areas like streams, shoreline, and sensitive, steep slopes that are susceptible to erosion. For this reason, the LGLC’s South Basin Conservation Initiative focuses on key lands such as the East Brook Addition as important for long-term protection of the lake’s water quality.
To date, the LGLC has protected a total of 2,736 acres within the south basin. In addition to its important water quality protection, these properties provide significant recreational opportunities. The LGLC plans to open a trail on the East Brook Preserve which will include educational signage. Once completed, this trail will link to the Lake George Elementary School’s extensive nature trails. A crosswalk on Bloody Pond Road will ultimately connect the East Brook Preserve to the McPhillips Preserve. The Town of Lake George is working to create a multi-use trail system on the McPhillips Preserve. The finished trail system is expected to include several miles of challenging trails for hiking and mountain biking, and offer a clear view of Lake George’s south basin, including Prospect Mountain on the opposite side.
Jean Cooper poses with a bobcat. February 1963. (Click image for large view.)
View of the Bolton back country from land recently protected by the LGLC.
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has purchased two properties in the Town of Bolton, a total of 48 acres of forest and wetlands, including 3,745 feet of Indian Brook and seasonal streams that feed into it.
In October the LGLC purchased a 10-acre property that adjoins 130 acres previously protected in 2016. Extending the protected boundary with this acquisition enhances the ability of its large wetlands to slow and filter surface waters and to mitigate storm events that deliver sediment to the lake. Larger contiguous areas of conserved lands also provide better wildlife habitat and are more resilient to natural disturbances.
The second property, a 38-acre parcel that includes nearly 3 acres of wetlands, was purchased November 22. This land features a mature hemlock forest and steep slopes.
These projects are part of the LGLC’s Indian Brook and Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative that is focused on protecting the watershed of one of Lake George’s largest tributaries, Indian Brook, which empties into Lake George’s Northwest Bay. Including these two properties, the Initiative has permanently protected more than 2,500 acres of land within this critical region.
“In protecting these properties,” said LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn, “the LGLC is providing permanent protection for the waters flowing into Lake George, as well as expanding the connected landscape for animals that rely on healthy, intact forests.”
Current zoning on these two properties would allow for development that could result in disturbed soils, impervious surfaces, and septic systems that would threaten the water quality of Indian Brook and Lake George itself.
Mature and healthy hemlock stands exist on these lands, which will be monitored by the LGLC for signs of the invasive pest hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). If HWA is identified, the LGLC will manage the infestation to prevent the spread and limit the water quality impacts of the invasive pest.
More information about the LGLC’s Indian Brook and Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative and how to support this project can be found at LGLC.org/projects
I was forwarded this picture of a northern pike caught off of Huletts this past week. The fisherman who caught it threw it back, so it’s now a little ‘wiser’ and will be harder to catch again. As readers of the site know, I always enjoy and try to post pictures of fish caught in Lake George.
Happy #ValentinesDay! Did you know Common loons are believed to mate for life- here’s to love! ?? https://t.co/1toeWMpncj pic.twitter.com/zy1APo4lbN
— NYSDEC (@NYSDEC) February 14, 2021
It’s #SaveTheEaglesDay! Since the bald eagle restoration program ended in ’89, their population continues to grow. Winter is one of the best times to view eagles in NYS—they start arriving in Dec., with concentrations peaking in Jan. & Feb. https://t.co/A0yKlwT3bY
? Maria Mahar pic.twitter.com/ia2diwyFjC— NYSDEC (@NYSDEC) January 10, 2021
In 1976 there was only one pair of bald eagles nesting in New York. Conservation efforts have increased that number to 389 territories in 2015.
Bald eagles mate for life – which can be over 30 years.
Nests are reused and added to each year, growing to over six feet across, eight feet deep, and weighing hundreds of pounds.
An eagle’s 2-inch-long talons can exert 1,000 pounds of pressure per square inch.
The New York State DEC has confirmed and the Lake George Association has reported: An isolated harmful algal bloom appeared Saturday, Nov. 7, on Lake George on the northeast side (Harris Bay side) of Assembly Point. (In the southern end.) The bloom quickly dissipated, but reappeared on Monday, Nov. 9. LGA staff returned to the bay on Monday to sample the water, and saw that the bloom had reappeared and was no longer isolated.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when algae — simple photosynthetic organisms that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, marine life and birds. There are many kinds of HABs, caused by a variety of algal groups with different toxins. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. States have rigorous monitoring programs to ensure that commercially harvested fish are safe to eat. HABs have been reported in every U.S. coastal state, and their occurrence may be on the rise. HABs are a national concern because they affect not only the health of people and marine ecosystems, but also the “health” of local and regional economies.
People and animals should avoid contact with water that is discolored or has algal scums on the surface.
Lake George is not immune to HABs. The Lake George Association is seeking the extent of the problem by asking for two things:
1.) If you took a photo of the Lake surface, no matter where it was taken, anytime after October 20th, the LGA would like to see it. Please send the photo, the date it was taken and the photo location to Director of Education Kristen Wilde at kwilde@lakegeorgeassociation.org
2.) In addition, if you are at the Lake this upcoming week, please take a photo of the water along your shoreline or dock and send it to Ms. Wilde, as well.
The New York State DEC has confirmed and the LGA reports that the initial identification of the cyanobacteria that caused the Harmful Algal Bloom is a type of Dolichospermum.
Dolichospermumis planktonic – a single cell cyanobacteria that floats and moves on its own in the water like plankton. When it blooms, Dolichospermum can produce toxins that can affect nerves, liver, and irritate skin. Late on Friday afternoon, November 13th, the LGA reported the state Department of Environmental Conservation had determined the toxin levels in the water sample that LGA staff took from the Harmful Algal Bloom in Harris Bay on Monday, November 9th, were below the EPA Advisory level. The sample confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria and it was determined that the toxin level of the sample was below EPA’s 10-day drinking water health advisory level of 0.30 micrograms per liter for sensitive populations.
However, please be extra vigilant in preventing any types of pollutants from reaching the waters of Lake George.
A view from Prospect Mountain, looking down into Lake George Village, at the southern end of Lake George.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway will close for the 2020 season at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11th.
Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway climbs 5.5-miles from the entry gate to a parking lot just below the summit. There are three separate overlooks along the parkway – the Narrows, Lake George, and Eagle’s Eye – from which to enjoy the scenery of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George. More adventurous visitors can hike to the summit on a 1.5-mile trail, which climbs 1,630 feet from its trailhead on Smith Street in the village of Lake George.
Prior to the seasonal closure, DEC helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at this site by implementing several precautions, including closing the roadway to the summit of Prospect Mountain to public vehicle traffic and not operating the shuttle from the parking lot to the summit. Visitors can park in the parking lot 155 feet below the summit and walk the 0.2-mile paved path to the top. Picnicking is prohibited and the public restrooms remain closed. View scopes at the pull-offs and on the summit have been temporarily removed.
Use of the parkway has been free this year as DEC encourages New Yorkers to Play Smart, Play Safe, Play Local and enjoy the outdoors responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, use of the parkway costs $10 for a car, $5 for a motorcycle, and $50 for a commercial bus.
If you’ve never been up Prospect Mountain, it offers beautiful views of Lake George, and is worth the trip.
The dot on top of the tallest tree in the center of the above picture is a bald eagle.
The picture here was taken on Monday, November 9th, from a boat passing by the Chapel Islands. The bird perched on the top branch was a bald eagle, which seemed to be on the lookout for its next meal. (Click image to see larger picture.)