Category: The Environment

Hello,

I’m writing to inform you that the Lake George Coliform Monitoring and Bathing Beach Assessment Program has not been funded for the 2011 season. The original sponsor, the FUND for Lake George, while still supporting the efforts of this program, is unable to fund this program due to other committments. The FUND for Lake George has contributed more than $300,000 in cost sharing for this program over the past 25 years. The LGA has also indicated that while they support the goals of the project, have financial committtments which preclude them from underwriting this effort. We continue to believe that this program provides a valuable service to the Lake George community through assurance of water quality at our public bathing beaches and by instigation of corrective actions when septic or sewer leaks are discovered. I have provided a brief description of the value of this project to the residents and visitors to the Lake George region. I would ask that you encourage some level of water quality testing at the public bathing facilities within your towns or villages and encourage regular inspection and testing of septic or sewer systems serving your community. I would be happy to discuss services that the Darrin Fresh Water Institute could provide.

Lake George Coliform Monitoring Program

Bacterial water quality is evaluated at sites with chronically high levels of coliform bacteria, areas with the potential for drainage related problems (e.g. elevated water tables, poor soils, exposed bedrock etc.), or areas with excessive growth of algae or fungi. Excessive bacterial levels serve as indicators of the presence of animal or human waste, and suggest that potentially disease-causing protozoans, bacteria and other microorganisms may be present in the water. In addition to pathogens, wastewaters contain high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, the primary agents responsible for declining water quality. The Lake George Coliform Monitoring Program is designed to be a proactive water quality program. Prompt identification and remediation of wastewaters entering Lake George is one of the most efficient ways to protect water quality. Working with local and regional regulatory agencies on a regular basis insures a good working relationship. With semi-monthly distribution of interim reports, the program also serves as an educational tool to remind local authorities and individuals of the importance of proper septic and sewer maintenance. Evaluation of bathing beach water quality provides a reminder that water quality is not guaranteed and proper maintenance and surveillance is critical.

In the last few seasons, the Lake George Coliform Monitoring Program has provided direct support to regulatory agencies in the correction of 2 sewer leaks in the Town of Bolton, correction of one leaking septic system and ongoing investigation of a second in Dresden, capping of a contaminated drainage pipe in Lake George, and correction of a gray water/stormsewer cross connection in Lake George. In addition to direct action, recurring identification of bacterial contaminants and long-term datasets instigated stormwater runoff management in several sub-watersheds; including Prospect Mountain Brook (Sheriffs? Dock Stormsewer), Lake Avenue Beach drainage (Vortechs Stormsewer System), West Brook, and Foster Brook. An improved small community sewer system was installed in Huletts Landing as a result of identification of chronic sewage spills, with additional districts added annually over the past few years.

Thank you for your consideration.

Larry
Lawrence Eichler
Research Scientist
Darrin Fresh Water Institute
5060 Lakeshore Drive
Bolton Landing, NY 12814
Ph (518) 644-3541
Fax (518) 644-3640

I received this flyer in the mail from the Lake George Land Conservancy announcing their art raffle. For more information you can Helen Barton Benedict, the Conservancy’s Development Manager, at hbartonbenedict@lglc.org or 518-644-9673.

The Lake George Association has released a report for the public with findings from the 2010 Lake Steward program. The Lake George Lake Steward Program is a critical part of protecting the water quality of Lake George and preventing the spread of invasive species between waterbodies by boaters throughout the Lake Champlain Basin and the Northeast. While dozens of different aquatic invasive species reside nearby, only four are currently found in Lake George.

In 2010, Lake Stewards were posted at four launches around Lake George: Norowal Marina, Mossy Point, Hague Town Beach and Rogers Rock. Lake Stewards inspected a total of 2,538 boats at these sites, and educated boaters about the threats of Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, curly-leaf pondweed, and the Lake’s most recent invader, the Asian clam. Thirty-six samples of Eurasian watermilfoil were removed during the season. Nine samples of curly-leaf pondweed were found, three samples of zebra mussels, and five of water chestnut, an invasive that is not currently found in Lake George.

In addition, the program collects data on the body of water most recently visited prior to Lake George within the past 2 weeks, and whether spread prevention steps were taken prior to launch. In 2010, 65 boaters stated that the body of water they visited prior to Lake George was Lake Champlain, a lake with 49 documented invasive species. Thirty-three boaters had most recently visited the Hudson River, a waterbody with 91 invasives. Ninety-five percent of the boaters reported that they had taken spread prevention measures prior to their launch. Stewards also inspected bait buckets and educated boaters about New York State’s new baitfish and firewood regulations.

The 2010 Lake Steward Program was funded by the Bolton Local Development Corporation, the town of Hague, the town of Ticonderoga, the Lake George Park Commission, the Helen V. Froehlich Foundation, and the NYS Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. The program was originally conceived by the Invasive Species Task Force of the Lake George Watershed Coalition and is currently coordinated by the LGA.

The entire report can be viewed at: http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/documents/2010LakeStewardReport.pdf

Construction work continues on the south parcel of the West Brook Conservation Initiative project in Lake George. Culverts and rough grading are underway on the site where Charley’s Saloon once stood. The new stormwater treatment complex and environmental park will treat millions of gallons of stormwater each year.

J. Buckley Bryan Jr., recent past president of the Lake George Association, has given a gift of $45,000 to the West Brook Conservation Initiative (WBCI) in Lake George. This gift brings Bryan’s investment in the project to $107,000, making him the second largest individual donor.

Currently under construction on the south parcel of the former Gaslight Village property, WBCI is the largest environmental project in the Lake’s history. The stormwater treatment complex and environmental park will redirect stormwater from Route 9 into settling ponds, marshlands, and a gravel wetland.

“After all our hard work it was gratifying to see physical work begin on the project this past December,” said the LGA’s Buck Bryan. “The demolition of Charley’s Saloon on the south side is complete, and now rough grading is underway,” he said.

“The inlet and outlet culverts have been installed by Kubricky Construction (working for the NYS Department of Transportation), and the land is being graded to the proper elevations for the park’s various components,” said Walt Lender, LGA executive director. “Stormwater from Route 9 will enter the first settling pond via the inlet culvert,” he said. “From there it will travel through shallow marsh wetlands where pollutants in the runoff will be naturally treated through uptake by the plants. Finally, the water will be diverted into either a deep water marsh a gravel wetland, where dense root mats, crushed stones and a microbe rich environment will improve the quality of the water before it returns to West Brook via the outlet culvert.”

Three environmental groups – the Lake George Association (LGA), the Fund for Lake George, and the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) – have worked together to develop the project under the terms of a conservation easement they jointly hold with the village of Lake George and Warren County. Jointly, the groups need to raise an additional $1.56 million to secure ownership of the easement.

The LGLC needs to raise $2.3 million toward the purchase of the 1,436-acre Berry Pond tract, to protect West Brook’s headwaters. The final payment on principal for Berry Pond is due January 17, 2012. “This winter, snowmobilers are already enjoying the wide trails on the Berry Pond tract, that we have approved for use,” said Nancy Williams, director of the Lake George Land Conservancy.

“This project will cleanse millions of gallons of stormwater every year and provide a much needed environmental boost to Lake George, which we all know is our region’s most important environmental as well as economic asset. We salute those who have generously given back to the lake,” said Peter Bauer, executive director of the Fund for Lake George.

The NYS Department of State awarded $152,000 in grants from the Environmental Projection Fund to design the project and $1.2 million for project construction. The West Brook Conservation Initiative partners, including the LGA, the Fund for Lake George, the Lake George Land Conservancy, the village of Lake George, the NYS Department of State and the NYS Department of Transportation are members of the Lake George Watershed Coalition. Formed in 2001 under the direction of the NY Secretary of State, the coalition provides a forum for members to coordinate the complex issues affecting Lake George’s water quality. The nine municipalities and three counties around the Lake, as well as five state agencies and nine nonprofit organizations are members of the coalition.