Aquatic Invasive Species & Lake Steward Program 

History of  Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Variable Leaf Milfoil in Long Lake:
​    In 2016, Paul Smith's College conducted a comprehensive survey of Long Lake and verified that we do, in fact, have Variable Leaf Milfoil (VLM), a recently reclassified invasive species.  Dan Kelting, then Executive Director, Adirondack Watershed Institute of Paul Smith's College, earmarked funding for  Long Lake to participate in a fully funded 2-year remediation effort to eliminate variable leaf milfoil.  During the summers of 2017 of 2018, with an extension into the summer of 2019, due to bad weather in the previous summers, a five member dive team worked on Long Lake to systematically hand harvest the plants.   This work was made possible through the collaboration of Paul Smith's College, NYDEC, the APA, the Nature Conservancy, LLA, and the Town of Long Lake.    Town of Long Lake staff brought the harvested milfoil to the Long Lake Transfer Station for composting.   
​     VLM was first reported in Long Lake in 2006.  This aquatic plant is usually very invasive and as such is ranked very high by NYS as a threat to waterbodies.  VLM typically forms dense beds that broach the surface, preventing use and enjoyment of large areas of lakes invaded by this species (as in the case of the Fulton Chain and Raquette Lake).  Fortunately, though VLM has been present in Long Lake for many years, it is not a dominant species. We believe this limited invasive behavior is partly explained by the large fluctuations in our lake water level that provides a natural means to control this species.
​     Our goal is to contain and control this species in Long Lake.  By definition, a species is considered eradicated if it is not observed for three consecutive years after control ends.  Since it is unlikely that we can eradicate VLM from Long Lake, the LLA has committed to seek funds through grants, fund-raising, and support from the Town of Long Lake to continue the harvesting control and management program.
     

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For more information on aquatic invasive species, here are some great links.

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Where are they today?
In 2009, Kinga Stryszowkska-Hill and Sam Taylor were Lake Stewards in Long Lake.  

Here is Kinga's recent post on LinkedIn.  Since 2009, she's earned a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Clarkson University,  married, has 3 children, and is currently working as a Data Scientist.  Kinga still returns every summer to enjoy Long Lake and help out her family at the Long Lake Motel. 

Sam is a Materials Science Engineer and earned his MS degree from Penn State.  He is working as a Single Crystal Engineer at Metamagnetics in Massachusetts, his home state.  Sam visits his family in Long Lake as often as he can.
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In 2013, Meg Smith of Long Lake and Dan Levy were our lake stewards.  Meg graduated from Hamilton College and is living in Ithaca where she is a farmer who uses draft horses as her power source. She’s a board member of the Draft Animal Power Network.
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​Dan finish his degree in Math at U Mass Amherst and is living with his wife in Yakima WA.  He visits his relatives in Long Lake whenever they are on the east coast.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Check out the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APPIP) website and become a Lake Protector. 
https://adkinvasives.com/Get-Involved/Volunteer/Lake-Protector-Corps