The Lake Steward Program at Long Lake

​2019 Update on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Variable Leaf Milfoil in Long Lake:
​    In 2016, Paul Smith's conducted a comprehensive survey of Long Lake and verified that we do, in fact have Variable Leaf Milfoil, a recently reclassified invasive species.  On Thursday, June 15, 2017, Dan Kelting, Executive Director, Adirondack Watershed Institute of Paul Smith's College, met with the LLA Board to inform us that Long Lake has been selected to participate in a fully funded 2-year remediation effort to eliminate variable leaf milfoil.  During the summers of 2017 of 2018, a five member dive team worked on Long Lake for about 7 weeks, systematically hand harvesting the plants.  For summer 2019, this harvesting program will continue to check previously harvested areas for regrowth and to finish areas not covered previously.  This work is 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 bring the harvested milfoil to the Long Lake Transfer Station for composting.  You will be seeing the divers, their boat, and their hookah (a floating air compressing to supply air to divers with a flag to identify its location) all summer long at various locations along the lake.  
​     Variable leaf milfoil 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.  Variable leaf milfoil 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 variable leaf milfoil has been present in Long Lake for at least 12 years, it is not a dominant species, nor is it established any beds.  We believe this lack of invasive behavior is partly explained by the large fluctuations in water level in Long Lake the provides a natural means to control this species.
​     Our goal is to eradicate this species from Long Lake and to have the lake declared free of aquatic invasive species.  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 will eradicated variable leaf milfoil from Long Lake in two years of harvesting, the LLA has committed to seek funds through grants, fund-raising, and support from the Town of Long Lake to continue the control and management program in later years.
​     When you are out on the lake this summer, please be on the lookout for diver down flags and stay at least 300 feet away to protect the divers.  You are more than welcome to stop and observe the control team in action.  They will probably begin the 2019 work in early to mid July.

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ANNUAL REPORTS FOR LAKE STEWARD PROGRAMS:
​The Adirondack Watershed Institute of Paul Smith's College  maintains a website that includes reports  of all the Lake Steward Programs.  You can access these from this link which includes the Long Lake report for 2018, starting on page 130.

NYS PRESS RELEASES:
To learn more about aquatic invasive species and the threat they pose to New York State, please visit the following link.

For more information on aquatic invasive species, here are some great links.
New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc. - LLA is a member - lots of great info on many issues relevant to keeping our lake healthy
The NYSDEC website - a good description of invasive species
The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIP) - great info on programs, maps, and how you can protect the lakes
Cleaning your Boat - U-Tube by Lake George Lake Association