Below are the summary minutes from the LGPC AIS meeting on Friday February 17th.
Attendees: LGPC: J. Stanek, J. Pettica, M. Gallagher,T. Conerty, K. Fish, J. Thouin
Public: M. White, W. Lender,E. DeBolt, P. Bauer, J. Alexander,R. Randy, M. Johnstone, D. Wick, F. Dunlap, R. Phinney, S. Anderson, D. Hurley, R. Conover, Z. Gabriels, S. Ramant, C. Clark, L. Bennett, D. Moore
Key Points and Notes:
· The followingpoints were discussed in the meeting:
o Emily DeBolt distributed the 2011 Lake Steward Program Report. The Lake Steward inspected 8,593 boats from 193 different waterbodies in 15 different states. There were 171 samples removed and 87 of these were invasive species. She indicated the LGA is compiling a list of invasives in these lakes and surrounding lakes in NYS.
o John Pettica announced
1. Lake Tahoe Management Team will attend the National Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington, DC during the week of February 27th. He requested that Congressman Gibson’s office try to meet with them during their visit.
2. A meeting at the Lake George Chamber of Commerce will be held on March 9th with a few of the municipalities, Environmental groups, etc. to discuss the LGPC efforts on AIS prevention.
3. The Town Supervisors for the Lake George and Bolton have been briefed on the pilot proposal.
4. A meeting with the DEC has been scheduled to (a) review the pilot proposal, (b) explain the need to establish schedule hours of operations at Mossy Point and Rogers Rock launches and install gates to prevent launches when closed, (c) place notices on their camping websites to warn boaters to keep their vessels and equipment “Clean, Drained and Dry” and the Warren County law on transporting invasives is now illegal.
o Molly indicated that the notices for docks and boat registrations will contain a DEC insert to remind everyone to keep the vessels and equipment “Clean, Drained and Dry”. Walt Lender volunteered to help make the insert Lake George specific.
o The pilot site for the wash station using Buzz Lamb’s location on Route 9N is not suitable during peak times because of road traffic. The Norowal property, next to Sagamore Rd., is the preferred location but the owner - Bolton Local Development Corp. (BLDC) has concerns. A few other pilot locations were suggested. A meeting to review the raised concerns has been set up.
o The attendees reviewed the following:
1. The Colorado Watercraft Inspection Handbook
2. Description of seal used to connect the vessel to the trailer
3. US map showing Zebra and Quagga Mussels locations
4. Detail description of the Landa portable wash/reclaim system
o A request to hold a meeting in Ticonderoga was made. This will be scheduled in the next few weeks.
o A request to increase the LGPC boat registration fee by $20-25 was made to help cover AIS prevention expenses.
Follow-up actions:
1. Modify the DEC insert - LGA
2. Investigate pilotfunding opportunities - Committee
The next meeting is at the Bolton Town Hall on March 2nd at 1:30