LGA Floating Classroom Back Out on the Water

Fall 2009
Summer Events
in Review
Floating
Classroom
Lake Stewards
New Educator
LGA Floating Classroom Back Out on the Water !
After a long winter of hard work, we were rewarded by the arrival
of the new boat this spring on May 5th. The boat arrived at Norowal
Marina from Corinthian Catamaran in Tarpon Springs, Florida to be
rigged and readied for her maiden voyage, and our crew of volunteers
didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits as they attached the roof and other
various parts.
On May 20th, the boat was ready to go and arrived at its dock in
Lake George Village on the north end of Shepard Park. Our first cruise
with passengers was May 27th, as we took some area school teachers and
principals out for a ride to demonstrate the safety and stability of the new Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, the boat was
craft. Spring field trips began on May 28th and went into the beginning
ready to go in just a few short weeks!
of June. We had 261 students out on the boat this spring, including
students from South Glens Falls Middle School, Glens Falls Middle
School, and Stuart M. Townsend Middle School (Lake Luzerne).
After spring field trips were over, we began running programs for
other groups. Around 472 people of all ages participated in the program
during the summer. We worked with the Lodges at Cresthaven this
summer and offered 6 Floating Classroom programs to their guests. We
also took out community groups such as Ticonderoga Kiwanis and the
Black Point Road Civic Association and Municipal Board members
from the Towns of Bolton and Hague and Lake George Village. We
took a variety of youth and school programs out, including day campers at the Northern Lake George Yacht Club and
summer school students from Warrensburg, Glens Falls and the Southern Adirondack Education Center.
This fall was also very busy with school field trips in September and October. Students from Queensbury, Lake
George, Whitehall, Bolton, Ticonderoga, Minerva, and the Southern Adirondack Education Center all participated in the
program aboard the new boat.
We have received many accolades for
the program from many of the groups that have
participated, and are very happy to have had such
a successful first season on the new boat. It is so
exciting to be able to offer this unique educational
opportunity to area school students and also to area
residents and summer visitors. Already, we are
booking programs for next summer and looking for
ways to continue to expand our programming. If
you know of an organization or community group
who would like to schedule a Floating Classroom
Above: A group from the Family Nature
Program for next year, please have them give us a
Summit held at Silver Bay YMCA
call at 518-668-3558.
joined us for a Floating Classroom trip
at the end of July.
Left: Officials from the Village of Lake George joined
us to learn about the lake that they serve. To all who made this possible,
Thank You!
Our generous supporters for the
purchase of the Rosalia Anna Ashby
Bruce and Mary Ashby
Joe and Kathy Miller
Corinthian Catamaran
Helen V. Froehlich
Holly and Bob de Buys
Foundation
Matt and Denise Finley
Francis J. Kain Memorial
David C. Lawrence Memorial The Family of Kenneth E.
Rick and Lynn Kudlack
Robbins
Claneil Foundation
Ruth P. Allen Memorial
Peter and Gretchen Menzies
Town of Bolton Landing
Additional funds are anticipated from NYS Dept. of State.
On July 10th the boat was officially named the Rosalia Anna
Ashby, after board member Bruce Ashby’s mother, at a ceremony
held at the Lake George Village dock. Bruce was instrumental in
getting the program back out on the water, generously donating
his time and energy along with significant funding that made the
purchase of the boat possible. Members of Bruce’s family joined us
for the naming ceremony, as well as other supporters who generously
gave to the cause of purchasing the new boat. After brief remarks
by Buck Bryan, LGA President, Lake George Village Mayor Bob
Blais, and LGA Board member Bruce Ashby, Executive Director
Walt Lender read aloud a naming tradition, officially naming the
boat. Mary Ashby placed an evergreen branch on the bow of the
boat for safe return to land, and the guests took a cruise aboard the
new boat.
There are
still naming
opportunities
available to
help support the
program.
Thank you to the Village of Lake George
and the Village Trustees for supporting the program
and helping make it all possible by donating
valuable village dock space for the Rosalia Anna
Ashby to be docked in Lake George Village.
Our generous donors of equipment
for the Floating Classroom Program
The International Paper Foundation
funded the purchase of a classroom set of water
samplers to be used by students to learn about
temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen in the lake.
Dock Doctors supplied us with a
classroom set of vest-style life jackets for the
students to wear on the boat this fall. The orange,
around-the-neck style jackets the students wore in
the spring proved to be very difficult to manuever
in when using the sampling equipment, and all
students, regardless of age, wear life jackets. Don Smith
Kristen Rohne
Watershed Educator
Captain
Our Able-bodied Crew
Emily DeBolt
Richard Seeger
First Mate
Director of Education
Don Smith, who has driven boats on Lake George for
over 30 years, was behind the helm for us. When Don wasn’t
available, we had alternate captains that were just as capable,
John Kearney, Jim Young, and Buzz Lamb.
Another Successful Summer of Lake Stewards
For the second consecutive summer, the LGA coordinated a Lake Steward
Program for Lake George. With the success of the 2008 program, which saw nearly
3,000 boats inspected and 113 samples removed before entering Lake George, Lake
Stewards were again called upon to continue educating the public about invasive
species and how to stop their spread for the summer of 2009. This summer we were able to hire 5 Lake Stewards and 1 Assistant Coordinator
thanks to grant funding provided by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the
Helen V. Froelich Foundation, and the NYS Department of State through the
Lake George Watershed Coalition. After invasive species and interpretation training
at Paul Smith’s College and plant identification training at the Darrin Fresh Water
Above: Stewards Lee Peters and John
Institute, the stewards were ready for work in time for Memorial Day Weekend. They Michels provide educational materials
at Rogers Rock while (Below) Tony
inspected boats at several launches around the lake: Norowal Marina, Mossy Point,
Guidetti makes sure to check the
Dunham’s Bay, Hague Town Launch, Rogers Rock Campground, and Gull Bay.
trailer on a boat before it launches at
rd
th
Between May 23 and August 28 the stewards inspected 3,886 vessels at
Dunhams Bay.
launches around the lake. Of the inspected vessels, 162 samples were collected
with 75 of those samples being invasive species. The invasive samples included 48
specimens of Eurasian watermilfoil, 13 of curly-leaf pondweed, 7 of zebra mussels,
and 7 of water chestnut (which is not currently found in Lake George). Eurasian
watermilfoil was removed on 22 occasions from vessels entering at Mossy Point and
21 times from vessels entering at Norowal Marina.
Along with educating boaters and inspecting vessels, Lake Stewards also
collect quantitative data about the vessels entering and exiting the lake. A total
of 158 different water bodies were visited in the
2 weeks prior to their entrance into Lake George. Many of these water bodies
are known to have invasive species. The most common previously visited water
bodies include the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Great Sacandaga Lake, and
Lake Hopatcong (NJ). With 65 visits to the Hudson River and 62 visits to Lake
Champlain, which contain 91 and 49 invasive species respectively, the importance
of having Lake Stewards at our launches is very apparent. The stewards were also involved in other related activities throughout the
Steward Monika LaPlante
watershed
as well. Early in the season when the launches were still a bit slow,
educated visitors during Invasive
stewards assisted in garlic mustard removal efforts at both Battlefield Campground
Species Awareness Week in July.
and Rogers Rock Campground. Stewards also assisted the NYSDEC and
members of the Lake George Fishing Alliance with stocking landlocked salmon in the lake and learned about impacts
of invasives on the Lake George fishery from NYSDEC fisheries biologist Emily Zollweg. Stewards also set up
interpretive displays at the Invasive Species Awareness Week table in Lake George Village as well as at Adirondack
Waterfest in Ticonderoga. Assistant Coordinator Jason Smith worked as a steward
“... Jason did a great talk at our Paradox
Lake Association meeting... It was very
in 2008, and came back to help coordinate the program in 2009.
Jason did a great job overseeing the stewards and worked hard to helpful, because the hand-writing is on
the wall that says we need to set up a
educate the anglers at fishing tournaments about invasive species steward program next summer. Jason
spread prevention. Jason and the steward would arrive as early
told us everything we need to know to
as 4:00 am at the launch to meet with the anglers. After one
make this important decision.”
tournament had launched their boats, Jason walked around the
Gretchen Sunderland
parking lot at Mossy Point and collected all these plants off the
President, Paradox Lake Association
trailers. (see photo to the left) Clearly, more education is needed!
A final report on the 2009 Lake Steward Program with a summary of data from each launch location will be completed
soon and will be available on our website. If you have any questions about the lake steward program, or invasive
species spread prevention, please give us a call at the office.
What a Busy Summer it has Been!
We have had a very exciting summer with activites all around the watershed. From stream clean ups to lake talks,
we have been working diligently to protect the lake, and many of you have joined us. Here are just a few snapshots of
some of the actitives that went on this summer. We held 2 volunteer stream clean ups this summer. LGA and LG Land Conservancy staff and volunteers cleaned
up Stewart Brook in Bolton Landing in July (far left) and in August LGA staff and volunteers cleaned up West Brook at
Sewell St. and along West Brook Rd. Thank you to all our volunteers, and to John Carr, who provided the West Brook
volunteers with lunch from his new restaurant in Lake George, Common Man’s Bistro, in order to support our efforts. Our summer talk series focused on artists
inspired by Lake George, and included talks from
photographers Mark Bowie and Carl Heilman, writer
Nancy Scarzello, painter Loren Blackburn, and the
Hyde Collection’s Curator Erin Coe. Carl’s talk was
held at Canoe Island Lodge, and he and wife Meg
joined the rest of the guests for a special BBQ dinner
out on Canoe Island before the presentation. Thank
you to Tom & Carla Burhoe and staff at Canoe Island
Lodge for being such gracious hosts!
Emily DeBolt and Kristen Rohne joined staff from the Darrin Fresh Water
Insitute to sample water in the northern basin for spiny waterflea. This invasive
zooplankton was discovered last fall in nearby Great Sacandaga Lake, and the LGA
had received a report of its presence in Lake George. However, so far it presence
has not been confirmed. Let’s hope it stays that way!
We make learning about Lake George fun for the younger generation, with hands-on activities such as painting
zebra mussel rocks at Waterfest, looking at plankton and using the watershed model onboard the Morgan, or catching
macroinvertebrates in the stream. These kids are the next generation of lake stewards and we need to get them excited
about learning about the lake today, so they will want to help protect it when they are older.
Citizen Science: LGA Volunteers help monitor
Loons, Turtles, and Water Quality
The LGA’s volunteer Citizen Scientists were very busy this summer
with the Lake George Turtle Monitoring Project and the Annual Loon Census. Volunteers also collected water quality data for the 6th year.
2009 is the third year that the LGA has helped coordinate volunteers
for the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation’s Annual Common Loon
Census. We had 14 groups of volunteers sign up to help monitor for loons
this year on Saturday July 18th from 8-9 am. The official results are not
available yet, but there were a number of loon sightings on the lake.
This season of turtle monitoring came to an end on August 8th. We Common loon photo by volunteer Fran Sloatman.
are still working on the final results, but so far just over 400 turtles were
reported this summer. Week 2, which ran from June 13th to June 20th, seems
to be the standout week thus far with 129 turtle sightings.
Seven sites were sampled around the lake this summer as part of the
Citizen Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). Reports along with
the raw data are available on our website from 2004-2008. 2009’s report
should be available late May 2010.
To learn more about any of these programs and to see volunteer photos and results go online to www.lakegeorgeassociation.org and click on
Snapping turtle photo by volunteer Sue Pierce.
“Citizen Science/Monitoring”.
Protecting Lake George Also Means Protecting Its Watershed
LGA doesn’t just work to protect Lake George from aquatic invasive species; but we also work to preserve the
integrity of the Lake George watershed from terrestrial invasive species as well. A few of the invaders that we attacked
this summer included purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, shrubby honeysuckle, and spotted knapweed. We also provided
a number of educational programs about forest invaders such as the Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer,
which threaten the trees around Lake George that are so important in keeping the water clean. (from left to right): Lake Stewards help remove garlic mustard at public campgrounds in May. LGA teams up with Cornell Cooperative
Extension for Forest Invaders education at the Firemen’s Family Festival in Lake George Village in August. Youth from Chimney
Beckett Corners YMCA volunteer to cut shrubby honeysuckle on top of the LGLC’s Pilot Knob Preserve with staff from LGA and
LGLC. We continue to monitor (and measure) the purple loosestrife on Friends Point where we released beetles last summer.
Water-Saving Rain Barrels For Sale at LGA
A rain barrel is a rainwater collection system that stores rooftop runoff for later activities
such as lawn and garden watering. Rain barrels conserve water and decrease water pollution
by reducing the creation of stormwater runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment,
oil, grease, bacteria and nutrients. The water savings from using stored rainwater rather than
municipal or well water can be substantial over time.
To help promote Lake-Friendly Living, the LGA has put together some of our own rain
barrels made out of recycled barrels, and we are offering them for sale. The proceeds from the
sales of the rain barrels will help support our lake saving projects and programs. The cost for a
rain barrel is $60. We have a limited number available, so if you would like to purchase one,
please call the LGA at 518-668-3558.
LGA’s Summer Events Are Always a Good Time - Rain or Shine!
The LGA’s Summer Splash was held at the Inn at Erlowest on
th
July 17 . The rain didn’t seem to inhibit the fun in any way! The
evening started with cocktails and silent auction on the front deck
over looking the lake with the bagpiper leading us into the dining
room for a superb dinner. We had a full house at maximum capacity
with 255 attendees. The event resulted in over $40,000 going to lake
preservation programs and education. Our special thanks to Cheryl Lamb for her leadership and
dedication as Chair of this event, our committee and volunteers,
many sponsors and supporters, and to Terri Jamison at Documents
& Designs for coming up with another winning graphic in our “Lake
George is Drinking Water” campaign!
Next year we will be celebrating the LGA’s
125th anniversary on July 16, 2010!! I hope
that you will all note it on your calendars. Cheryl Lamb has agreed to chair the event
again and she is already off and running!!
The LGA’s 17th Annual Golf Tournament was held September 14th at Glens Falls
Country Club. We felt very fortunate to partner with RAMSCO, a capital district company
owned by one of our local supporters, who decided to merge their company outing with our
fundraiser to support our Floating Classroom and Lake Saving projects. This was a great
opportunity for RAMSCO employees and affiliates to have a
fun day of golf at a course that they wouldn’t normally have an
opportunity to play, all while supporting the LGA. Our thanks to
George and Jim Beaudoin!
Also many thanks
to our loyal golfers,
many who come back
year after year, and
to our sponsors and
volunteers!
LGA president commits to six-figure West Brook gift
J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., two-time Lake George Association President of the Board has announced a pledge to add
to his original donation to the West Brook Conservation Initiative to a total of $100,000. Bryan, a life-long Lake George
resident and homeowner on Northwest Bay, made the earliest donation to the project in the amount of $50,000. After
making that original donation, he gave an additional $5,000 but decided that was not enough. Almost a year ago he
challenged the LGA Board to match an additional $10,000 which Bryan gave to the project. His original donation was
earmarked to cover the interest and handling costs that the LGA would incur in the first year of paying interest on the loan
needed to secure a conservation easement on the property.
“About three weeks ago, I decided that $65,000 still was not enough,” Bryan stated, so he pledged an additional
$35,000 to bring his total to $100,000. “I’m pledging this additional gift to help pay down the principal on the note, I
can’t stand paying interest on this or any other project I’m involved in. I know it’s a necessary part of the deal, but we
need to pay down this principal so the interest starts to go down.” The LGA and Fund for Lake George jointly took out
a $2.1 million note in March of 2008. That loan comes due in 2010 at which time the land acquisition will be complete
if there is no debt remaining on the conservation easement.
Bryan, who returned for his second term as president of the LGA board in 2008, has been in the forefront of the
West Brook project as it developed. “This project would never have gotten off the ground if the LGA, Fund for Lake
George, and Lake George Land Conservancy had not put their resources together for the good of Lake George. After
all, that’s what this project is all about,” Bryan said. “No one organization had the financial wherewithal to shoulder the
entire burden, so we needed to work together. Lake George needs this level of commitment if we expect to be able to
protect it for future generations. It’s a legacy for the future.” Bryan is hoping that this leadership by example will cause
other people to substantially support this critical project to protect Lake George.
Bryan’s gift joins donations from the entire LGA board of directors as well as 100% participation from the
boards of the Fund for Lake George and Lake George Land Conservancy. Other lead LGA donors to the project ($5,000
and up) include Victor and Yvette Hershaft, Pete and Gretchen Menzies, Bill and Ginny Dutcher, the Helen V.
Froehlich Foundation, Mike and Kathy Dier, Glens Falls National Bank, Bruce and Mary Ashby, John T. Beaty,
Jr., Holly and Bob DeBuys, Kemp and Sandy Dwenger, Jerry and Pat Jones, and Ross Sheridan. A $614,000 senate
appropriation from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand added a strong boost to the Conservation Easement acquisition effort.
Make the protection of Lake George a
part of your legacy...
Join the LGA Today and Help Protect
the Beauty of Lake George
for Years to Come!
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the Helen V. Froelich Legacy Society.
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Our Mission Statement
“Working together to protect, conserve
and improve the beauty and quality
of the Lake George Basin.”
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Featuring 12 beautiful
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Proceeds from sales of this calendar
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The Lake George Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 408 Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: 518-668-3558 Fax: 518-668-4702
[email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STAFF
President
J. Buckley Bryan, Jr. (Bolton Landing)
Executive Director
C. Walter Lender
Executive Vice President
Victor Hershaft (Bolton Landing)
Director of Membership Development
Nancy Cobb-Zoll
Vice Presidents
Michael Dier (Diamond Point)
William Dutcher (Pilot Knob)
Karen Larkin (Cleverdale)
Director of Education
Emily M. DeBolt
Project/GIS Manager
Randy G. Rath
Treasurer
Robert de Buys (Hague)
Watershed Educator
Kristen Rohne
Secretary
Kenneth Engler, Jr. (Hague)
Office Manager
Mona Seeger
Legal Counsel
Directors
Matthew Fuller
Rolly Allen (Hague)
Bruce Ashby (Bolton Landing)
Committee Chairs
Graham Bailey (Hague)
Development: Rolly Allen
Dan Behan (Saratoga Springs)
Finance: Karen Larkin
Paul Curtis (Glens Falls)
Nominating: John Schaninger
Holly de Buys (Hague)
Matt Finley (Bolton Landing)
Human Resources: Rolly Allen
Michael Grasso (Lake George)
Summer Event: Cheryl Lamb
Cathy LaBombard (Huletts Landing)
Water Quality: Cathy LaBombard
Cheryl Lamb (Bolton Landing)
Water Recreation: Mike Dier
Peter Menzies (Bolton Landing)
John Schaninger (Huletts Landing) The Lake George Association, Inc. is a
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Emeritus Board
All
donations are tax-deductible to the
Dr. Barbara Chick (Queensbury)
Alison Craig (Hague)
extent allowed by law.
Buzz Lamb (Bolton Landing)
John Lynch (Lake George)
George Singer (Ticonderoga)
Our Mission Statement
Advisory Board
George Beaudoin (Hague)
Keith Ferguson (Bolton Landing)
Ray Freud (Putnam)
William P. Gates (Bolton Landing)
Andrea Maranville (Bolton Landing)
Douglas Smith (Hague)
“Working together to protect,
conserve and improve the
beauty and quality of the Lake
George Basin.”
LGA Welcomes New
Educator On Board
Kristen M. Rohne has joined the
LGA as the new Watershed Educator. Kristen grew up in the area and after
graduating from Queensbury High School,
she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree
in Environmental Science from SUNY Fredonia. She has been
interning with the LGA since April and her prior experience
includes working in the field of environmental education as an
Assistant Naturalist at Up Yonda Farm in Bolton Landing for 2
summers.
“After working with us for the summer, Kristen already
knows the ropes, and has proven herself to be an invaluable
asset to our mission at the LGA” said Walt Lender, the LGA’s
Executive Director. Kristen has been helping with the Floating
Classroom field trips since the spring and has been in charge of
the on-land portion of the program. She will be responsible for
managing and implementing LGA’s current education programs
for area schools as well as expanding our educational programs
for students about watersheds and water quality in order to
create future stewards of Lake George. She will be working very
closely with the LGA’s Director of Education, Emily DeBolt. “Kristen already knows so much about the lake and has such
great energy. We are very excited to have Kristen on board with
us.”
Kristen educated over 260 students
about invasive species this past June
for Warren County Environmental
Field Days. By adding a second
educator, we will be able to reach
even more people with our education
and outreach programs.