For information about the Lake George Waterkeeper.

News and Updates

New report: Waterkeeper publishes new report on the 2010 Smelt Migration and Population in the Lake George Watershed. See press release. See the 2009 Smelt Report. See cool video of 2010 smelt run in various streams around Lake George. See press reports from the Post Star and Lake George Mirror.

Ticonderoga Marina Promotes Green Boating Products: Waterkeeper endorses this effort. See Post Star article.

See new Lake George Fact Sheet series on Low Impact Development (LID): Fact Sheet 50 LID Concepts, Fact Sheet 51 LID Conservation of Natural Resources, and Fact Sheet 52 LID Minimizing Impacts. See press release.

See new Lake George Fact Sheet 49 that details new Town of Lake George law banning phosphorus fertilizers.

New 2009 Stream Assessment Report released. See press release. Report finds many streams significantly impacted from various land use activities. Download a full copy of the report here. See a very informative article on the report in the Sunday Post Star.

Waterkeeper calls upon Warren County to restore program for collection and disposal of Household Hazardous Wastes. So far the Towns of Bolton, Lake George and Hague, and the Village of Lake George, have all passed a special resolution proposed by Waterkeeper regarding disposal of Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW). Waterkeeper continues to seek local municipal support for Warren County to schedule collection for HHW. See Post Star article. See story on YNN Capitol News 9. See BRAVO by from Post Star editorial for this campaign.

Waterkeeper featured in Times Union article about kayaking safely on Lake George.

Lake George Waterkeeper submits lawsuit against Town of Bolton for failing to adhere to local laws and codes in approval of subdivision that involves Pinnacle ridge in uplands overlooking Lake George. See press release and a copy of the Waterkeeper's petition. See visual simulation of the road design to access the Pinnacle. See article in the Post Star and Lake George Mirror. See post in the Adirondack Almanack.

See excellent interview with Chris Navitsky in the new issue of the Adirondack Explorer. See Waterkeeper featured in Times Union blog post on the right way to develop.

Major step forward for the watershed. Waterkeeper and FUND applaud action by the Town of Lake George to ban fertilizers that contain phosphorus. On June 14th, the Town Board voted unanimously to approve a new law. See press release. See reports in the Adirondack Almanack and Lake George Mirror leading up to the vote. See comment letter from the Lake George Waterkeeper. See draft Town law here. Listen to an interview with Kathy Bozony on WAMC radio about this important local law. See new Lake George Fact Sheet 49 that details new Town of Lake George law banning phosphorus fertilizers,

See new presentation Lake George Water Quality is Changing by Kathy Bozony, based on monitoring algal blooms at many locations around Lake George in 2008 and 2009. This presentation is scheduled for August 26th at the Bolton Free Library at 7:00 PM. All presentations are free and open to the public. Copies of Do-It-Yourself Water Quality will also be available.

Lake George Town Board adopts a resolution for a 6 month moratorium on connections to the Caldwell Sewer District. See press report in Post Star. The Lake George Waterkeeper submitted comment letter and provided public comment at the public hearing.

Town of Bolton proposes to build a road into Lake George. The Town of Bolton has an application to dredge the delta sediment on Finkle Brook in Lake George. The Lake George Waterkeepr has significant concerns about environmental impacts, as documented in April 2010 comment letter to Adirondack Park Agency. See Lake George Waterkeeper initial comment letter to the Adirondack Park Agency in February 2010.

Adirondack Almanack puts the spotlight on upland development in the Town of Bolton.

Waterkeeper and FUND release new Lake George FACT SHEETs on the importance of septic system design and management for water quality health of Lake George. See FACT SHEETS about septic system design issues and on local and state regulations for septic systems, on the need for regular septic system maintenance, a list of local area haulers for septic system pump-outs, and information on enhanced design septic systems that remove nutrients.

New educational video released about the Lake George Stream Assessment Project. See new video posted on YouTube about the Lake George Stream Assessment Project. Read a press report about the terrific work of the Waterkeeper Stream Assessment Project as it completes its third field season; 48 streams studied at 65 locations!

If you suspect an Algae Bloom in Lake George this summer, contact the Waterkeeper to investigate the site. Photographs and algae samples will be taken and identifiied. In the summer of 2008, Lake George experienced higher than usual algae blooms. In 2010, it appears that this trend continues.

The Waterkeeper monitors proposed development projects throughout the Lake George watershed. View our interactive map to access each municipality’s proposed projects that may impact Lake George and its water quality, or click on the "application submissions" below for each town.

TOWN OF BOLTON - Review See overview of applications and submissions to Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, including Waterkeeper response and recommendations.

CALL TO ACTION: Make your voice heard as the Town of Bolton revises is zoning ordinance. Get more information on this issue and see a Call to Action on this issue from the Waterkeeper.

Lake George Waterkeeper submits comment letter to Town of Bolton Planning Board regarding Vetri.

Upland Development Problems - MJ Real Estate Holdings' New Vermont Road subdivision receives comments from NYSDEC regarding proposed stormwater plan. Waterkeeper submits comments to APA regarding proposed development.

TOWN OF LAKE GEORGE - Review See overview of applications and submissions to Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, including Waterkeeper response and recommendations.

Waterkeeper submits comments to the Town of Lake George Planning Board regarding Brookside Estates Townhouses.

Waterkeeper submits comment to Adirondack Park Agency regarding Brookside Estates Townhouses Development for 19 unit townhouses.

VILLAGE OF LAKE GEORGE - Review See overview of applications and submissions to Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, including Waterkeeper response and recommendations.

LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT:
The Waterkeeper launches anew project on Low Impact Development to improve control and management of stormwater around Lake George. Stormwater is considered the greatest long-term threat to the environmental health of Lake George.

DONATE NOW
Help Us Save Lake George

Become our fan

The FUND for Lake George and Lake George Waterkeeper have published Do-It-Yourself Water Quality: A Landowner's Guide to Property Management that Protects Lake George. This new guide provides extensive information about how a variety of land use practices and management techniques that will help to protect the water quality of Lake George. There are many things that families, individuals and property owners all through the Lake George watershed can do to improve the lake's water quality.

Contact the FUND-Waterkeeper office to obtain a copy.

Many public workshops will be held around Lake George July - October. Copies of Do-It-Yourself Water Quality will be distributed and information provided. Upcoming workshops will be held on:

August 18: Wiawaka, 7PM
August 25: Lake George Town Hall, 7PM
August 30: Bolton Town Hall, 7PM
Sept 2: Queensbury Community Ctr 7:30PM
Sept 20: Hague Town Hall, 7PM
Sept 28: Camp Chingachgook, 7PM

Do-It-Yourself Water Quality guide is a large format color publication that contains over 25 specially developed educational illustrations. This publication is beautiful and informative, easy to read, and details the most important actions a landowner can undertake to improve property management to protect the water quality of Lake George.

See new Do-It-Yourself Water Quality ad series in the Lake George Mirror. Throughout 2010, the FUND and Waterkeeper are running ads on the back page of the Mirror that detail important information for landowners about property management that helps to protect Lake George. See new ads about What is a Watershed? The importance of fully vegetated shoreline buffers. How stormwater flows across the landscape and picks up pollutants ands nutrients that are carried to Lake George. How development changes land and often increases stormwater runoff. The importance of rain gardens to capture and treat stormwater.

See Do-It-Yourself Water Quality Fact Sheets on the threat of stormwater to Lake George, the importance of shoreline buffers, the importance of stream buffers, how to build a rain garden to treat stormwater on your property, the hazards of fertilizer use and pesticide/herbicide use, and vital issues about designing a septic system, maintaining a septic system, a list of local haulers for septic waste, the rules and regulations for building or upgrading a septic system, and the availability of enhanced septic systems to remove nutrients.

See the entire series of
LAKE GEORGE FACT SHEETS

See FACT SHEETS on the Fish of Lake George, including the status of Atlantic landlocked salmon, lake trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow smelt.

See FACT SHEETS on Lake George Water Quality Issues, including salt pollution and the decline in water clarity, algal blooms, the continuous problems with stormwater as well as about the DEAD ZONE that forms each year in the south basin.

See FACT SHEETS on Invasive Species that Threaten Lake George, including aquatic species Eurasian Watermilfoil, Zebra Mussels, Didymo, Alewife, Spiny Water Flea, Northern Snakehead and Hydrilla. See FACT SHEETS on terrestrial invasive species, such as Purple Loosestrife, Phragmites, Japanese Knotweed and Garlic Mustard.

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West Brook
Conservation Initiative

Major New Contributions!

Two Major Gifts Made to the West Brook Conservation Initiative. Lewis and Colleen Golub and J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., each donate $100,000 to this vital effort. FUND for Lake George, Lake George Association, and Lake George Land Conservancy all applaud these gifts and express our gratitude! See BRAVO! from the Post Star.

This exciting project is the most ambitious environmental effort ever attempted on Lake George! New short video describes the exciting West Brook Conservation Initiative. New educational video on the importance of the West Brook Conservation Initiative.

Commit deliberate acts of lake preservation and charity!

West Brook Conservation Initiative is a cornerstone project for the environmental health and future of Lake George. Project on same scale as past efforts to protect Prospect Mountain, save Dome Island, preserve Shelving Rock, and permanently protect the Dunhams Bay wetlands, among other splendid and vital projects. See Summer Update that focuses on an op-ed written about legacy of deliberate acts of preservation and charity that have made the wonderful Lake George experience that we all know and enjoy today. Read more about the West Brook Conservation Initiative; See Winter Update Announcing Two New Gifts totalling $300,000! Please get involved to day!

See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that highlight the importance of this project for the protection of Lake George and highlight fundraising successes to date. We’re over 1/2 way to raising $15 million needed to transform the Gaslight Village site into an environmental park and stormwater treatment facility and protect critical headwaters and scenic upland forest areas.

See new press reports in the Lake George Mirror here and go here for more information about this vital and necessary capital campaign.

Call us at 668-9700 x300 or email us and we’ll send you a package of information about the West Brook Conservation Initiative -- the most exciting project on Lake George! It’s time for you to join with us and help to restore and protect Lake George.

Get involved in this vital project!

Learn all about how the transformation of the Gaslight Village and protection of vital upland forests will help Lake George. The FUND for Lake George, the Lake George Association and the Lake George Land Conservancy are working in partnership to transform the dilapidated Gaslight Village area into an environmental park and protect vulnerable upland headwater areas. This $15 million project is the biggest environmental project ever attempted on Lake George. Read how you can get involved.

Groups advertise to highlights the environmental restoration plans of the West Brook Conservation Initiative.

For more information about the FUND for Lake George.

News and Updates

See new issue of Lake George eNews with updates on the most pressing issues around the lake. 

The FUND receives a major new grant from the Helen V. Froehlich Foundation. This generous grant will help support the Lake George Waterkeeper program, West Brook Conservation Initiative and Do-It-Yourself Water Quality campaign.

The Adirondack Explorer newsmagazine takes an indepth look at the issue of upland development in its new issue. See more analysis at the Adirondack Almanack.

New Invasive Species Positively Identified in Lake George: It's called Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) and it's trouble. Staff from the RPI Darrin Fresh Water Institute found it in the Lake George Village bay area. This dime-size mollusk grows rapidly and breeds prolifically and can reach populations of 5000 per square meter. See new Asian Clam Fact Sheet. The FUND for Lake George is supplying a dive team to help with a survey of the infested area as part of a comprehensive rapid response effort. Initial infestation may be as large as 2.5 acres. More information will follow. See joint press release from an ad hoc steering committee working on a rapid response. See article in the Lake George Mirror, Albany Times Union and Post Star. Listen to WAMC public radio report.

Crews surveyed Village waters to map Asian clam populations on Thursday. A series of transects were run in order to determine extent of the infestation.

2010 James D. Corbett Award honors John Barber of Silver Bay: Fund honors John Barber of Silver Bay with the annual James D. Corbett Award for the protection of Lake George.

FUND and Waterkeeper oppose NYS Department of Environmental Conservation decision to end trash collection at 387 state campsites on Lake George: See letter outlining the FUND and Waterkeeper's opposition to this short-sighted decision. See press release and press report in the Post Star and articles in the Lake George Mirror and Albany Times Union.

2010 coliform monitoring finds hotspots: 3rd 2010 interim coliform monitoring report finds continuing problems in South Sawmill Bay in Bolton and Cook Bay in Huletts Landing, while Shepard Park in the Village of Lake George is all clear. See full report.

FUND starts Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) program for 2010: The crew is now working in Northwest Bay. So far crew has removed over 20,000 plants from Dunhams Bay where it treated a dense bed and cleaned scattered plants. Significantly less EWM was found in Huddle Bay after a recent treatment this year after an intensive treatment in 2009. See 2009 Annual Report from Lake George Park Commission and report from the FUND for Lake George's control project. In 2009, FUND's EWM control project removed over 250,000 plants and 21 tons of milfoil from Lake George.

NYS releases new 2010 Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies, which includes Lake George. See background on this statewide evaluation, which is required by the federal Clean Water Act. Note that hundreds of waterbodies are listed as impaired across NYS due to stormwater pollution, which refutes the sad refrain of the former Lake George Town Supervisor who for two decades maintained that "no lake ever went bad from stormwater."

FUND releases new annual report detailing major activities from the past year, thanks supporters, and provides a financial statement.

West Brook Conservation Initiative in the news. Times Union puts the spotlight on efforts to transform the Gaslight Village site into a new stormwater treatment complex and environmental park with support from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation. Project will help protect the environmental health of Lake George. Sponrosing groups release new rendering of stormwater treatment system and the environmental park on the south parcel of the Gaslight Village tract. See press release from the three groups. See coverage on the Adirondack Almanack. See report in the Post Star. See article in the Lake George Mirror.

New Lake George FACT SHEETS released on Native Plants List, Native Shrubs List, and Native Trees List. Landscaping with native species helps to minimize impacts to Lake George. They require no fertilizers or pesticides or watering. They're also classic parts of the beauty of Lake George. See 48 Lake George FACT SHEETS on a variety of issues.

FUND in midst of 31st season of water quality monitoring on Lake George: Program is one of the most thorough the U.S. Program supported through longstandind partnership with the RPI Darrin Fresh Water Institute in Bolton Landing. See new video on YouTube about the FUND-DFWI partnership to monitor Lake George water quality. See press release.

New Lake George Fact Sheets released on Lawn Maintenance for Water Quality and about Limiting Grass Lawns. See press release.

The FUND and Waterkeeper applaud appointment of Dean Cook of Ticonderoga as the newest Commissioner of the Lake George Park Commission. See FUND Letter of Support.

Lake George Failed to Fully Freeze in 2010. This marks the 8th time in the past 20 years the lake has failed to freeze, and just the 11th time since 1908. See Lake George Freeze Chart, 1908-2010. See press report in the Post Star.

New study from the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smiths College and Adk Action finds environmental problems with heavy salt use on roads during winter months throughout the Adirondack Park.

The FUND completes an environmental retrofit of its office complex to treat all stormwater on-site using pervious pavement and a rain garden: Project eliminates stormwater from exiting the site. See how the pervious pavement area and rain garden were built.

FUND Executive Director authors chapter in new book about the Adirondack Park: The Great Experiment in Conservation: Voices from the Adirondack Park. Listen to North Country Public Radio news report about this book.

Save the Streams,
Save the Lake!

Stream Buffer Regulations Delayed: The Lake George Park Commission once again delayed release of final draft stream buffer rules and suporting documents. An anticipated second round of public hearings has not been scheduled. Earlier in the year, the Lake George Park Commission released new draft rules and a new Environmental Impact Statement for these stream buffer rules.

Earlier public hearings were filled with distortions and misconceptions, which the FUND and Waterkeeper attempted to rebut with a Myths & Reality statement.

See new short video about the importance of stream buffer regulations for the Lake George watershed. Or, see this video on YouTube.

The FUND and Waterkeeper released a special report Clear Choice: The Need for Stream Buffers in the Lake George Watershed about this issue. The FUND and the Waterkeeper are committed to strengthening the new draft rules during the public hearing process.

Lake Science

2010 marks 31st year of continuous water quality monitoring on Lake George from the Caldwell Basin to Rogers's Rock through a partnership between the FUND and the RPI Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI). Monitoring work has begun for this season.

See new video on YouTube about the FUND-DFWI partnership to monitor Lake George water quality.

See 2009 reports for coliform monitoring, atmospheric deposition report for 2008 and 2008 report on stormwater monitoring of West Brook.

FUND-DFWI research discovered annual formation of a "DEAD ZONE" hypoxic area in the south basin starting in the mid-1980s. See Press Release about 2009 formation and DEAD ZONE Fact Sheet. See press report in the Albany Times Union.

See FACT SHEETS on Lake George Water Quality Issues, including salt pollution and the decline in water clarity, algal blooms, the continuous problems with stormwater as well as about the DEAD ZONE.

See FACT SHEETS on Invasive Species that Threaten Lake George, including aquatic species Eurasian Watermilfoil, Zebra Mussels, Didymo, Alewife, Spiny Water Flea, Northern Snakehead and Hydrilla. See FACT SHEETS on terrestrial invasive species, such as Purple Loosestrife, Phragmites, Japanese Knotweed and Garlic Mustard.

Excellent new report on the potential impacts to the Champlain Valley from climate change. Written by Curt Stager of Paul Smiths College, it was produced by the Vermont and Adirondack chapters of the Nature Conservancy.

Donate Online

The FUND for Lake George depends on supporters like for you for its success in protecting Lake George. To join or make an online contribution click here.

Trustees

New information is posted here for the Board of Trustees of the FUND for Lake George.