Spring is the season when boaters return to the lake. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lake George Park Commission delayed the implementation of their mandatory boat inspection program to June 1, 2020. However, there are still requirements you must adhere to before you launch.
Lake George Boaters Take Note
The Lake George Park Commission’s annual boat inspection program typically begins on May 1 and requires boaters to bring their trailered boat to a regional inspection facility before launching on Lake George. At the facility, your boat must be inspected for invasive species and “sealed” by one of the Vessel Inspection Technicians.
However, to protect the health and safety of boaters and the boat inspection staff during this public health crisis, Lake George Park Commission Chairman Bruce Young announced in a recent press release that the agency will delay the start of this program until June 1
What does this mean for you? Although the region’s boat inspection/decontamination facilities won’t be open until that date, Lake George boaters must still abide by the following:
- Boaters must have a 2020 Lake George boat registration sticker.
- All boats must arrive at the lake clean, drained, and dry.
- Note: The Lake George Park Commission will visit boat launch sites regularly to ensure boaters are complying with these laws.
According to Young, “An analysis of launch data from the past six years of the mandatory inspection program shows a lower risk for invasives introductions in the month of May compared with the summer months. Only 4% of annual decontaminations occur in May, and most boats are being launched for the first time of the season.”
We’re all counting on you to help keep Lake George clean.
For questions on the status of NY State boat launches, please contact the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation at 518-623-1200.
You can also contact the Lake George Park Commission for questions about boat registrations at 518-668-9347. Or, visit their website to learn more and register your boat online.
Resource:
Lake George Park Commission – Boat Inspection Program – June 1 Opening
