Any favorite boating spots, swimming spots, fishing spots, islands, shorelines, or just "hanging out" spots?

We are looking for volunteers to help us in a new Citizen Science program this summer, called "INVADERS WATCH."

We need volunteers to look for and monitor non-native, invasive species along Lake George's shorelines, and to help prevent their spread.

What Will You Do?
Monitor a section of Lake George shoreline of your choice at your convenience, at least once during the summer between mid-July and early-September.

How Will You Do It?
Instructions and training will be available on the LGA website.

Also, two optional and FREE Identification workshops will be offered:
1. Aquatic Invasive Plants, Thurs: 6/21/12 10 am - 2 pm
Darrin Fresh Water Institute
2. Aquatic Invasive Animals, Thurs: 8/2/12 1 - 3 pm
Byron Park Log Cabin in Indian Lake

This program is part of a regional effort coordinated by the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP).

To learn more, sign up to participate, or register for a workshop, please contact the LGA at 518-668-3558 or email us at info@lakegeorgeassociation.org.

This FREE event will be held on Sat., June 2, from 10 am - 2 pm, on the grounds of the Lake George Association.

The event is not just for folks who live on lake fronts! Anyone who would like to know more about ways to live in a green, sustainable way can learn and see a lot at this event.

Do you have a landscaping challenge on your property? Too much water, too little water, high water table, etc.? Wondering how to best clean the outside of your car, house or boat? Wondering what types of environmentally friendly pavement choices exist, and what they cost? Let our experts help!

Several landscaping companies will be on tap to show and teach you about installing environmentally friendly gardens and landscapes. Learn about vegetative buffers, rain gardens, native plant gardens, and permeable pavers.

Curious about geothermal heating and cooling? Howard Rist of Smart-Energy will be on hand to show and teach you all about it. (He installed the LGA's system and it works wonderfully!)

For kids and the young-at-heart we have invited Beth Gilles of the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board with her cool EM river model. This model is a true hands-on way to learn how waterways work and lots of fun!

We'll show you our newly seeded ecolawn, and will have ecolawn for sale.

We'll have green cleaning products for sale, native plants for sale, a raffle and more! Best of all, the entire event is FREE, FREE, FREE.

Mark your calendars today... hope to see you June 2.

In the winter the lake water remains at a fairly consistent temperature from top to bottom. The temperature range is very small, but important. The less dense water freezes on the surface at 0°C (32°F), forming ice. The water actually becomes warmer nearer the lake bottom. In a deep lake like Lake George, the bottom water temperature is 4°C, the densest water.

During spring turnover, several forces are at work, mixing the entire water column. The sun, wind, currents, tributaries and groundwater all join together to mix the huge volume of water. As in fall turnover, nutrients are again mixed throughout the water column. This cycle repeats every year. Without this mixing, a lake can become stagnant, causing water quality to decline.

Thermal layering occurs during the summer months. The warm June sun heats the top layer of water to temperatures of 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F).

Thermal layers, layers of temperature in the Lake, support various animal and plant species and contribute to the ecosystem as a whole. Trout and salmon need cold-water temperatures in order to survive. Bass, perch, and sunfish can live in much warmer waters and need the support of plants and rocky shores for cover and food supply.

Diving into the deeper parts of the Lake during the summer can be a chilling reminder that the warm summer rays of the sun fail to reach the bottom. The cold, dense water remains separated from the warm upper water by a barrier. This barrier, called the thermocline, is where temperatures change rapidly between the warm surface water and the colder deep water. In the summer on Lake George, the thermocline is around 10 meters.

Credits: Text adapted from New Hampshire DES: Interactive Lake Ecology

The biggest way we do this of course, is on the LGA Floating Classroom. We also go out to schools, and offer stream monitoring workshops for students.

One other important way: teach the teachers!

On March 27 the LGA partnered with other members of the Champlain Watershed
Improvement Coalition of New York (CWICNY) to provide a free teacher workshop for 3rd - 5th grade teachers.

The workshop, called Project WET, gave participants a "Treasure Chest" filled with $150 worth of teaching materials for their classrooms. Funding for the workshop and Treasure Chests was provided by International Paper.

Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a nationally syndicated program that helps integrate fun, innovative, hand-on activities into existing science and math curricula.

The program provides a fresh approach for educators, helping them teach water quality concepts, such as:

- the physical and chemical characteristics of water;
- adhesion of water molecules;
- the water cycle;
- how water resources are managed;
- water usage; and
- the effects of water pollution on aquatic plants and animals.

The workshops provide the classroom supplies needed to conduct five of the Project WET activities. Teachers don't need to spend money out of their own budgets.

In-class activities from Project WET can stand alone as lessons, or can be used as pre-field trip lessons before students go out on the LGA Floating Classroom.

If you would like to inquire about an upcoming Project WET teacher training, please contact Beth Gilles, the president of CWICNY, at (518) 668-5773 or bgilles_rpb@verizon.net.

The LGA strongly supports the passage of this bill. Just last week the town of Lake George passed a resolution in support of the bill... we hope other municipalities around the Lake will soon follow suit.

This law would help us prevent the introduction and spread of new invasives. Keeping invasives away to begin with is much less costly than dealing with invasives once they arrive.

Invasives - VERY COSTLY!
In 2010 and 2011, Lake George spent over $600,000 to combat a new invasive we believe has been in the Lake only three years - the Asian clam. In 2012, costs to fight this invasive species are estimated at over $400,000. (See the picture of the Asian clam infestation in Lake Tahoe.)

Other reports indicate that Lake George spent approximately $3.6 million to control Eurasian milfoil from 1985 - 2010.

As a nation we spend $167 billion each year to address only the economic impact of invasive species. In addition to significant ecological and health impacts, invasive species can prevent access to waterways important for the fishing industry, and can invade forests and farms, resulting in the loss of timber and crops.

Many of our neighboring states throughout New England have already established laws similar to the New York bill just introduced, including Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. It behooves New York State to do the same so that we can work together regionally to help prevent the spread and introduction of invasive species.

The Lake George Association urges you to support this important legislation that will help protect Lake George, New York's premier waterbody and the Queen of American Lakes. Contact your New York State representatives and voice your support!

THINK AGAIN... and start planning for something more colorful and creative this spring! (Like the wild blue lupine pictured at left!)

Lots of different plants can help your septic drain field function at its best. (Like the smooth aster, pictured at right) And well functioning septic systems make for lake-friendly living! (Visit the LGA website to download your own copy of the LGA's two-sided flyer on septic drainfield landscaping -- visit http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/publications/flyers.asp)

A septic drain field is a series of relatively shallow underground perforated pipes set in gravel trenches that allow septic tank effluent to drain over a large area. As the effluent seeps into the ground, it is purified by the soil.

Plant roots help to remove excess moisture and nutrients, making the purification of the remaining effluent more efficient. Plants also reduce soil erosion.

The key is to use shallow-rooted herbaceous plants that are not water-loving. (Like the wild columbine pictured at left) Roots can cause serious damage to drain fields by clogging or breaking pipes. The plants you select should provide coverage over your drainfield throughout the entire year.

Which Plants Are Best for Your Drainfield?

A wildflower meadow created from grasses mixed with perennials is a great choice. A meadow will provide attractive year-round coverage, won't require regular mowing, and will benefit local wildlife, such as birds, bees, and butterflies.

A few low growing woody ornamentals are safe to plant as well.

Here are a few additional guidelines to remember:

• Because of their high evapo-transpiration rate, grasses and lawns are a traditional choice for septic drainfields. If you do choose to put in a lawn, we encourage the use of low maintenance lawn grasses, such as fine fescues. These can make a dense cover and only need to be mowed once or twice a year. Fescues can tolerate dry soils and shady sites.
• Do not place trees and shrubs on the drainfield; they may be planted around it at a minimum of 20 feet from the edge.
• Trees known for being thirsty; such as poplar, maple, willow, elm, beech, and birch, are not good choices for landscaping around a drain field. If you really want them for some reason, they should be planted at least 50 feet away.
• Avoid irrigation and fertilization on a drain field; in fact, never plan to irrigate this area. Use plants that can withstand dry conditions.
• Do not plant edible plants, such as vegetables and herbs on a mound or drainfield.

Here are some species that will work well around Lake George:
Wildflowers
Alumroot (Heuchera americana)
Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)
Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Big Leaf Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) *
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort (Eupatorium hyssopifolium)
Labrador Violet (Viola labradorica) *
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)
Oxeye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) Pictured at right
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) *
Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa)
Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
Tall White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Three-toothed Cinquefoil (Sibbaldiopsis tridentata)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) *
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) *
White Wood Aster (Eurybia dicaricata) *
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Grasses
Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Poverty Oat Grass (Danthonia spicata)
Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)

Woodies
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) *

Plants with an * will work on shadier sites.

The steward program seeks to protect the Lake from the introduction and spread of invasive species.

These invasives can negatively affect our ecosystem, our property values, and our tourism-driven economy. You can download the free report from the LGA website: www.lakegeorgeassociation.org.

Since 2006, lake stewards have inspected boats at high traffic launches and have educated boaters on how to prevent the spread of invasives.

In 2011, LGA stewards were posted at six launches: Norowal Marina, Mossy Point, Hague Town Beach, Rogers Rock, Dunham's Bay, and Million Dollar Beach.

Over the 2011 season, the stewards interacted with 8,593 boats:

- Within two weeks of their launch in Lake George, boaters had visited 193 unique waterbodies located in 15 different states.

- Other than Lake George itself, the next most frequently visited waterbody was the Hudson River, a waterbody with 91 different invasive species; 100 boats inspected had been in the Hudson within two weeks prior to launch in Lake George.

- 171 aquatic organism samples were collected from 125 boats and trailers; 87 samples were identified as invasive species.

- Four different species were found: Eurasian watermilfoil (pictured at right), curly-leaf pondweed, water chestnut and zebra mussels.

- 75% of boaters reported taking spread prevention methods before launching in the Lake.

We find that most boaters are quite willing to have their boat inspected and are quite appreciative of the stewards' efforts to keep Lake George free of invasive species.

The 2011 Lake Steward Program was funded by the Lake George Park Commission ($35,000) and the Lake Champlain Basin Program ($25,000), with additional funding coming from the LGA's Helen V. Froehlich Foundation grant awards.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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!