We're getting a bit of mixed precipitation as I write this, but most folks' lawns around the Lake are bare... so just in case you're thinking of getting an extra early start on your spring yard work, I thought I'd remind you of the new NYS lawn fertilizer law. It went into effect on Jan. 1 of this year.

This new law:

• Prohibits the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer unless establishing a new lawn or a soil test shows that the lawn does not have enough phosphorus.


• Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer on impervious surfaces and requires pick up of fertilizer applied or spilled onto impervious surfaces.


• Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer within 20 feet of any surface water except: where there is a vegetative buffer of at least 10 feet; or where the fertilizer is applied by a device with a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader at least three feet from surface water


• Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer between December 1st and April 1st


• Require retailers to display phosphorus containing fertilizers separately from non-phosphorus fertilizers and to post an educational sign where the phosphorus-containing fertilizers are displayed.

This provision DOES NOT impact agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens.

Remember ....when buying fertilizer -- look for the "0" as your middle number. That means it is phosphorus free.

More on what you CAN do in your yard this spring coming up in future posts!

Ever walk along Beach Road at the south end of the Lake after a rain storm? Yikes, if a car is coming your way you better run for it or you'll get soaked. If you're in the car, you'll be bounced around by the pot holes. Now this well traveled route in Lake George is is about to become FAMOUS... famous perhaps across the entire nation! And famous for the right reasons -- because it will be VERY lake-friendly. Imagine that!

This spring, one of the MOST IMPORTANT Lake Saving Projects ever in Lake George will begin.

Beach Road is about to become the first heavily traveled roadway in all of New York State (and one of the only roads in all of the Northeast) to be paved with porous asphalt. This exciting technology allows stormwater and melting snow to drain right through it and be filtered naturally by the earth below. The silt, salt and pollutants the stormwater carries will be filtered out naturally and will not go into the Lake. The Beach Road project will provide a true demonstration for permeable pavement, and many people around the state and nation will be watching it to see how it works.

The $6 million-plus reconstruction project is scheduled to begin in mid-April, and will be completed in about 18 months. The pavement will be installed between Canada Street and Fort George Road.

Research studies and previous projects have shown that porous pavement is highly effective in draining stormwater, and as a result, it increases traction, reduces the build up of ice, and requires much less de-icing material in the winter. (See the Albany parking lot at right -- with porous asphalt in the foreground and traditional asphalt in the background.) This is all very good news for the Lake, as the amount of salt detected in the south end of the lake has doubled in just over 20 years. Check out the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center website -- they've conducted numerous studies showing how effective and beneficial this new technology can be -- it's pretty cool stuff in a lot of ways.

In 2010, Warren County was planning to use traditional asphalt on Beach Road. After attending the North County Stormwater Conference & Trade Show, and seeing several presentations on porous asphalt applications, Randy Rath, project manager at the

 LGA, and Dave Wick, director of Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District, encouraged the county to consider porous asphalt as an alternative to traditional asphalt.

Together, Randy and Dave quickly conducted research on the possibilities and made a presentation. (You can view it from the LGA website.) They knew there had been many significant improvements in the strength, durability, and production cost of porous asphalt, and thought Beach Road was a perfect fit for the new technology.

In 2011, the LGA provided just over $8,000 in funding for a feasibility study with project engineer Tom Baird (Barton & Loguidice), to provide the information the county and state needed to move forward. At the same time, Dave Wick helped draft an application for additional monies to offset any higher cost from using porous asphalt. The pieces of the puzzle came together at the right time.

The LGA congratulates Warren County Director of Public Works, Jeff Tennyson, and the state Department of Transportation, for moving forward on this revolutionary project, one we believe will get national recognition, and will set a precedent for many like it to follow in other lakeside communities.

The LGA also thanks project engineer Tom Baird for his passion and expertise, and for the many hours he gave to the project.

Many people still don't realize that when it comes to harming Lake George, stormwater runoff, the very stuff that flows off Beach Road, is the number one source of pollutants entering the Lake. The dense development at the south end of the Lake, and the many impervious surfaces created by it, increases the volume and rate of flow of stormwater. Along with the stormwater, many contaminants, such as silt, salt and harmful nutrients, are carried directly into the Lake.

The Beach Road project will be a great complement to the West Brook Conservation Initiative. We can't wait to show both projects off in our own backyard!

In the meantime, if you're eager to see what porous asphalt is like, come on up to our office. Here's a picture I took yesterday of a demonstration patch we have right in front of our door. You can see a big difference between the gravel parking lot in the foreground -- which is currently covered with ice -- and the permeable pavement -- which offers a nice safe surface for walking.

Last time we talked about: new de-icing products that are better alternatives to sand and traditional rock salt; ways to increase traction, like birdseed; a way to decrease drifting snow, tree fences; and ways to reduce your use of de-icing material, like shoveling quickly!

Here are some more lake-friendly snow removal strategies.

Permeable Pavers and Asphalt
By now you may have already read on this blog about the many benefits of installing permeable pavers and permeable asphalt. But one aspect of permeable pavement I find particularly intriguing is that reliable sources (see this pdf document from the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center ) report that these surfaces require 75% LESS de-icing material than traditional surfaces. Because permeable asphalt quickly absorbs any surface water, black ice does not form as readily. In addition, the warmth from the soil in the ground can rise to the surface. And plowing can be much more effective on porous asphalt -- as seen in these photos from the University of New Hampshire. The top photo is traditional pavement on the UNH stormwater center testing lot, one hour after plowing. The bottom photo is porous asphalt one hour after plowing.

Radiant Heat
In searching around the web, I uncovered a company called Radiant Design in Stone Ridge, NY that installs radiant heat systems underneath driveways, pathways, stairs and landings. (See one of their projects at right.) While I can't personally vouch for the company, their projects certainly look intriguing. I do know that the sidewalks outside Schenectady's Proctors Theater have radiant heating installed underneath to melt the snow and ice in the winter - and I admire the theater for taking a novel, proactive and "green" approach.

Commercial Snow Melting
Another intriguing alternative for Lake George area businesses and municipalities is the commercial snow melter.

According to a snow management service in Minnesota:

- Snow piles can act as atmospheric filters, collecting chemicals and contaminants.
- When water exits the snow melter, it is in a cleaner state than when it enters.
- All the silt and garbage are filtered out and disposed of properly, and a single snow melter releases far fewer emissions than the typical trucking snow-hauling project.
- Melting the snow is cheaper than hauling it away, and quieter than hauling it away.

Again I can't personally vouch for any of these claims but I do know that when our large piles of snow melt in the spring, the resulting runoff, and the contaminants it carries, can flow into the Lake. So it seems like these snow melters could have some serious lake-friendly benefits to consider!

Did this blog give you any new ideas or food for thought? Hope so!
Have you tried other ways to remove snow and ice in a lake-friendly way? Make sure to email us so we can share them!

Are you interested in learning more about permeable pavement applications in Lake George? Give us a call (518-668-3558), shoot us an email, or visit http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org. 

So snow has arrived, a little at least. (And we know more will come.) In the last post, we explored why the snow is beneficial to the Lake. But what about the way we humans remove snow from walkways, roads and parking lots?

Snow removal is a fact of life for all of us here in Lake George. How can we remove snow AND continue to protect our water quality? How can we keep our drinking water clean and crystal clear? In this blog post, and my next one, I'll discuss lake-friendly ways to deal with snow and ice.

Minimizing Road Salt - Using Alternatives

Did you know that the salt levels in the south end of Lake George have more than doubled in the past 20 years alone? Almost all the chloride in road salt eventually finds it was into waterways, either by direct run-off or through the soil and groundwater, threatening freshwater plants, fish and other animals, as well as our clean drinking water supply. So we certainly need to do what ever we can to minimize and/or eliminate our use of road salt (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and ferrocyanide salt).

As an alternative to traditional salt products, you could consider using a product such as Magic Salt. (It's used commercially but also available in small quantities for residential use. The picture here, from the Magic Salt website, shows how much better Magic Salt can be for roadside plants.) Products like Safe Pet Ice Melter, Safe Step's "Sure Paws" and Safe Paw, are marketed primarily as pet-friendly products, but are also better for the environment. (The LGA doesn't endorse any of these products... I'm just letting you know they exist!)

The village of Lake George started using Magic Salt in 2009. It works in temperatures as low as -30° and less of it is required for effectiveness. (Its application rate is 30%-50% that of traditional salt.) The village of Lake George reported using 50% less de-icing material in 2009-2010 with Magic Salt. This year the NYS Dept. of Transportation started testing an alternative product on the Warren county state roads closest to the lake. The product contains magnesium chloride and because it activates quicker, less of it is needed.

The Wise Water Use website urges users of de-icing products to always check the label before purchasing a product. Calcium magnesium acetate, potassium acetate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium chloride are better than standard rock salt (sodium chloride.) Here's a chart from the Wise Water Use website that compares these products:

Shovel as soon as possible - and continue shoveling throughout a storm
One way to avoid the need for de-icers altogether is to shovel (or sweep if the snow is light!) as soon as possible, and to continue shoveling during big storms. With less time to get tromped down and hard, and less time to melt and freeze, the snow won't turn into ice, and you won't need products to melt it!

Consider alternative ways to create traction

If all you need to do is increase your traction, (and you don't need to actually melt the ice or snow), consider covering surfaces with these alternatives, each with their own advantages and disadvantages:

- Natural, biodegradable cat litter can provide traction, but some say it can be messy to clean up after in the spring.

- Sand is a better alternative than rock salt, but it still easily washes into waterways, carrying unwanted nutrients, affecting stream life, clogging drains and causing flooding. Also, its abrasive particles, when tracked into a home, can damage wood flooring and carpet.

- Some people also recommend sawdust, shredded corn cobs, peanut hulls, gravel, straw and wood chips.

Have any of you tried alternative methods to increase traction? Which do you think work the best?

Reduce the number of areas that need de-icing

Another strategy to be used, especially by commercial businesses, is to eliminate access to any areas that don't need to be used, and to refrain from removing the snow and ice in those areas. (i.e. If you are a motel owner you may not need to operate all of your rooms during the winter. But you'll want to make sure to check with the fire dept. to ensure they can still access areas they would need to in the event of a fire.) If you are a home owner, maybe during the winter everyone uses just one entrance into the home.

And if there is a large parking lot or open surface somewhere that needs snow removal, and it tends to suffer from lots of drifting snow, trees and bushes can be placed strategically to act as a natural snow fence.

Please make sure to catch our next post to learn about more lake-friendly methods for snow removal! We'll check out some "off-the-beaten" methods you may not have thought of, such as installing permeable pavement or radiant heat and commercial ice melters.

Ok, we finally got some snow! It was the very beautiful type of snow that lined all the trees and bushes. What does that mean for the Lake? Is snow environmentally beneficial? (I'll explore that in today's blog post.) And as the stewards responsible for the Lake's health, what can we do to remove snow and ice in ways that are healthy for the lake? (We'll look at that in the next blog post.)

The kind of weather we've been having recently -- freezing temperatures without snow -- isn't so great for the Lake. The ground gets very hard, and the soil freezes deeper and deeper. This hard ground cannot as effectively absorb or filter any stormwater runoff. As a result, contaminants carried by the stormwater can find their way more easily into the Lake and its tributaries.

Our all-important vegetative buffers, (the trees, bushes and plants that line the watershed and keep the soil from eroding in the spring, summer and fall), depend upon snow cover in the winter to provide necessary insulation. The snow keeps their root systems from freezing. Fresh un-compacted snow is typically 90 to 95 percent trapped air. This air barely moves, and the flow of heat from the warm ground to the cold air above is reduced. A study done at minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit found that the surface temperature of soil under a 9-inch deep snow cover was a relatively balmy 28 degrees!

The Lake's vegetative buffers and forest also depend upon the snow for moisture; the snow prevents the plants from drying out during the cold months. Even dormant plants lose moisture in the winter as water evaporates through their branches. Evergreen plants, which keep their foliage throughout winter, are at even greater risk of injury from lack of moisture.

(For more on why buffers and trees are so crucial to the wellbeing of the Lake, check out the stories in the following two LGA newsletters: Nov/Dec 2010 and June/July 2010.)

Looking from a more global perspective, we really do want the snow. According to a report from US News and World Report, research from the University of Michigan shows that decreases in the Earth's snow and ice cover over the past 30 years have exacerbated global warming more than models predicted they should have. Snow helps to reflect the sun's light and heat back to space. But when less snow falls, more ground is exposed to the sun and that ground absorbs more heat; this is a main contributor to the planet's warming trend.

Ok, I admit it. I didn't make ANY New Year's resolutions. But maybe its not too late?

Here's a few all of us who love Lake George could make:

1. Clean up lake-side trash wherever and whenever you see it. It can easily blow into the Lake, and the trash cans on the lake walk down in the village have all been closed off for the winter season, making it more likely that people will just leave their trash behind.

2. Once the ice has formed, make sure that everything you take out on the ice goes with you when you leave. You never know when the ice might melt, and the trash could sink through into the Lake's water.

3. Be more vigilant than ever when it comes to run-off. With little snow cover, and warm temperatures, more soil will freeze. When the ground is hard, its ability to absorb water and nutrients decreases, making it more likely that runoff, and all the contaminants the runoff picks up along the way, will run directly into the Lake.

4. Plan a lake-friendly project for the year. Maybe you can create a native plant garden, install permeable pavement, or put in a new septic system. Why not purchase a rain barrel, create a vegetative buffer or rain garden, or reduce the impermeable surfaces around your home or business? We enjoy sharing lake-friendly projects in our newsletter, so when you are finished, be sure to let us know! (And if you need help with ideas or plans, just give the LGA a call.)

5. Always pick up after your pooch. There is a little station next to the Lake George Steamboat Company that is supplied with biodegradable bags. Use it, and if you're not walking your dog there, bring your own baggies, and always pick up the waste.

6. Last but not least... keep your LGA membership current, and invite a friend to join. We are working diligently, every day, to keep the 550 billion gallons of water in Lake George clean... and we can't keep doing it without member support.

As winter approaches, remember these Ice Eater tips. Avoid the headache of a damaged dock.

1. One size doesn't fit all. Use the smallest sized ice eater possible to open the area you need.

2. Limit the time that your ice eater runs by using a timer and a thermostat.

3. Keep it to yourself. Place your ice eater in the water pointing vertically.

4. Do not use an ice eater to impede public access to the lake.

5 . Consider posting a sign that says "Danger: Thin Ice" or "Caution: Open Water" as a general precaution if you are concerned about safety or live close to a public access location.

6. Turn your ice eater off by mid-March to avoid the problem pictured above.

(Download more complete information from our website - see the LGA's De-icing Devices brochure.)

Today - November 23 - is the first day you can start making reservations for island campsites on Lake George for the summer of 2012. Even though there are 387 sites on 44 islands, the sites are VERY popular and they fill up VERY quickly.

It seems ironic to me that there is a such a competitive race to make these reservations, when the camping experience itself is nothing like racing, nothing like competitive. My husband, sons and I have thoroughly enjoyed many relaxing hours camping on Lake George's islands, courtesy of my husband's cousin, who has the boat, and makes the reservations. (Thanks cousin Rhona!)

The pristine water of Lake George, the water protected by the Lake George Association for over 125 years, of course, is one of the primary reason Lake George island camping is so coveted.

So.. how about taking just a couple minutes (before racing to make those reservations) to review how to be a lake-friendly camper, to make sure those islands and their surrounding water, stay beautiful and clean for the centuries to come.

1. Go as far away from the shoreline as possible when cleaning your body or your dishes. 200 feet away from shore is the generally accepted recommendation. A collapsible water bucket and a water carrier are great tools to bring along on your trip. Isn't it great that you can fill them up in the lake, because the water is SO clean? Some people even invest in sun showers.

2. Use hot water and a wash cloth instead of soap to use for cleaning your body or dishes. For your teeth, use baking soda. You can also bring along water-less alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

3. Biodegradable camp soap, while better than regular soap, still requires the bacteria in the soil in order to biodegrade, and the process still takes time. So never use it directly in the water, and use it as sparingly as possible.

4. Dump any soap suds or used washing water as far away from the shoreline as possible and dig a six-inch deep hole to pour the gray water in, to give it more exposure to the soil.

5. Don't ever use a soap or detergent or other product with phosphorus.

6. Place your tent on the designated pad. If you have a second tent, place it where one has been placed before (if possible) and where there is no vegetation growing.

7. Preserve as much vegetation as possible while on the island. Do not cut down living bushes or trees. The native plants on the islands are important for controlling soil erosion, and preserving water quality.

8. Cook using a camp stove when possible... and keep a fire going only when you really are going to be sitting by it to enjoy it, or use it. Build your fire only in the designated spot.

9. Purchase camp wood at a local supply store. Do not bring camp wood from over 50 miles away (this is now a state law)....invasive terrestrial insects like the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Long-horned Beetle like to hitchhike in camp wood and they are devastating to trees.

10. Bring plenty of garbage bags, and make sure to store both your garbage and your food on your boat over-night, to avoid unwanted visits from animals. Make sure to leave your campsite cleaner than you found it, and take ALL garbage with you when you leave. (During your stay, or afterwards, you can take your garbage to three collection centers: Uncas Island, Narrow Island or Long Island.)

11. Don't ever feed the birds -- seagulls or waterfowl -- geese or ducks.

So remember... here's your lake-friendly camping shopping list for next season (maybe Santa could bring a few of these items to you!):

- collapsible bucket
- water carrier
- camp stove
- baking soda (also great to help put out a fire in an emergency)
- camp shovel (for digging the hole for gray water)
- camp wood from a LOCAL supplier.

Now that you're all prepped for camping from the Lake-friendly angle. Better get crackin' on those reservations! Here are the links you need:

Glen Island area sites
Long Island area sites
Narrow Island (Mother Bunch) area sites

Happy camping!

The Asian clam is not a lake-friendly creature.

If you haven't heard yet, Lake George has this nasty new resident -- the Asian clam. It's an invasive species that was first discovered in the Lake in August of 2010. They are now present in five locations in the Lake: off of Lake Avenue and Shepard Park in the village, Boon Bay, Treasure Cove, and Norowal Marina.

Even though there's been quite a lot written about this creature in the local press, I have the feeling that some folks might still be a little fuzzy as to WHY this dime-sized little clam is so BAD. And why we really do need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get rid of it.

The Asian clam poses a threat to the Lake's environment and ecology that is more serious than any aquatic invader we have faced before.

There are 3 main reasons why it is bad:

1. The high concentration of nutrients excreted by the clams drives the growth of algae. Slimy green algae blooms could dominate what are now clear and beautiful bays.

2. The clams quickly form dense mats of sharp shells in shallow sandy areas... not at all friendly to the feet of swimmers.

3. The clams can create localized calcium-rich environments that are more friendly to other invaders, such as quagga and zebra mussels, enabling them to thrive. One reason zebra mussels have been so easily contained on Lake George is because of low calcium levels in the Lake. Zebra mussels are really nasty in terms of what they do to water intake pipes, boats, and lake surfaces -- clogging them up and making surfaces sharp, dangerous and uninviting.

In Lake Tahoe, action was delayed for several years allowing their Asian clam infestation to rapidly grow from just a few acres to over 200 acres, making eradication impossible. (The picture above shows their infestation.) Tahoe has spend $1 million to date just RESEARCHING how to MANAGE the clam.

The LGA and its partners on the Asian Clam Rapid Response Task Force took a lesson from Tahoe, and we didn't wait. The Task Force has been actively participating in an eradication program. We think we can be successful, and in the long run spend much less money to protect our beautiful Lake.

How did the clams get here? No one knows for sure. Could have been through an aquarium dump, a bait bucket dump, or bilge water from a boat. The clam is LEGALLY sold throughout the United States (but can no longer be transported into Warren County, thanks to the new recently-passed law - a first of its kind in New York State.)

Naturally, many marina owners and boat sellers are concerned about the implications of the new law for their businesses. Earlier this week, LGA Education Director Emily DeBolt was invited by the members of the Eastern New York Marine Trades Association to speak. The ENYMTA members wanted to learn more about invasive species, and how to better protect New York's waterways. See Emily's presentation here. (This is a large pdf file... it will take a while to download!)

What can you do to help?
1. Make sure you thoroughly clean your boat and fishing gear. Remove all and any dirt, plant, or animal material before launch.
2. When fishing, be sure to follow baitfish regulations.
3. Don't ever dump an aquarium in a water body, and don't support a marketplace for invasives by stocking invasives in your aquarium.
4. Support the efforts of the LGA to fight this invader and others by becoming a member, or sending us a special donation to help fund the fight.
5. Become familiar with what the four invasive species currently in Lake George look like (Asian clam, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed, and Zebra mussel). Notify us if you see anything suspicious.

Want to learn more about the Asian clam and what's happening on Lake George to fight it? Visit the Asian Clam Task Force website.

Before I started working at the LGA I didn't give much thought to storm drains, and whether they were clogged (like the photo below). Or sand and leaves along the roadways. Or sediment building up in streams or ponds. Or stormwater flowing into a stream. Now I actually notice this stuff.

The LGA focuses significant resources on keeping sediment and debris out of the Lake, and encourages others to do the same. There are many reasons why we do this:

1. Sediment degrades the quality of water for drinking, and MANY people depend upon Lake George as a drinking water source. Known as a Class AA-Special lake, some people drink the Lake's water without any filtration or treatment... that's how clean the Lake is!

2. Nutrients and pollutants can be carried by sediment into the Lake. Increased levels of nutrients can encourage the growth of blue-green algae.

3. Water polluted with sediment becomes cloudy, reducing the pleasures of swimming, and making it difficult for animals to see their food, and for natural aquatic plants to grow.

4. Sediment can clog fish gills, reducing resistance to disease, lowering growth rates, and affecting egg and larvae development.

5. Unnatural flooding can occur when storm drains and catch basins are clogged, leading to the potential for unwanted contaminants to enter the Lake.

6. Increased deposits of sediment in the Lake alter the flow of the water and reduce the water's depth, making navigation and recreation more difficult.

7. Leaves and clippings are loaded with phosphorus. Algae blooms can flourish in waterways overloaded with phosphorus and decomposing plant materials lower the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, which can be fatal to fish and other aquatic organisms.

These are a few reasons why we all need to work together to keep sediment and debris out of the lake. Here are some ways to get it done:

The LGA owns a Catch Vac -- a large trailer mounted vacuum unit used to clean out stormwater catchments. We rent the Catch Vac to municipalities, businesses and homeowners, and it makes cleaning clogged basins and drains a snap! (See a clean-out in the photo above.)

We work full-time on a variety of lake-saving infrastructure projects -- like creating enhanced wetlands to naturally filter pollutants (see us here at Indian Brook), installing and cleaning out upstream sediment basins to capture sediment before it enters the lake, stabilizing stream banks to prevent erosion and restoring shorelines to reduce deltas. This past summer we installed a gigantic Aqua-Swirl hydrodynamic separator (pictured here) in the English Brook watershed. This $100,000 system is collecting previously untreated stormwater runoff from both the east and west sides of Rt. 9N, as well as the bridge between the two exits at Exit 22 on Interstate 87. The majority of the runoff in a 48-acre subwatershed is now being treated.

We also help homeowners and businesses find effective ways to reduce the stormwater runoff on their properties - you may have read about some of these strategies on earlier blog posts: planting rain gardens, using permeable pavement and rain barrels, installing vegetative buffers, and more. The LGA's technical staff (that's not me!) are ready to help people find lake-friendly solutions.

Help us keep sediment and leaves and debris out of the lake. Start noticing clogged storm drains, sand building up in the middle of a stream, runoff eroding a stream bank, or contractors ignorantly blowing leaves into the Lake. And call us if you need us - 518-668-3558.