For the last two years, the Lake George Park Commission has been running a pilot version of an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program designed to catch harmful invaders before they enter the lake. After determining that the boat inspection and decontamination measures were a resounding success, commissioners are taking the next steps toward making the pilot program permanent.
The Post Star reports that at the end of January, “commissioners voted to begin the state environmental review, which is necessary for getting the regulations in place.” Once the regulations are authorized, they will be released for public comment.
A public hearing on the matter is set to take place in Bolton Town Hall on March 28 at 4:00pm.
In the draft version of the regulations, the inspection requirement would be extended to all waters of the Lake George Park, not just Lake George, which means that boaters on Trout Lake would be subject to inspection. The draft also specifies that inspection and decontamination stations would be open from May to November, although they were open for longer spans of time during the pilot program.
According to The Post Star, 10,247 uninspected boats arrived at stations in 2015 and 16% of those required decontamination.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program as it moves toward becoming permanent!
Source:
- The Post Star – Permanent inspection and decontamination program moves forward
