Water Quality
Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP)
In the Spring of 2016, the Long Lake Association enrolled in the ALAP. ALAP is a water-monitoring project managed by Protect the Adirondacks. Samples are taken by volunteers, and the analysis reports and interpretation are done by the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith College.
Long Lake enrolled in a three month lake sampling program. During this time, the transparency of the lake is measured with a Secchi disc. Water is collected to be analyzed for various chemical compounds and filtered for chlorophyll sampling. Analyses test for acidity, total phosphorous, alkalinity, conductivity, color, nitrate, calcium, aluminum, pH, calcite saturation index, chlorophyll-a, chloride, and dissolved oxygen. Abnormal levels of these water properties not only would compromise the natural aesthetics of Long Lake, but also diminish lake health, reducing the habitat quality of the lake and the surrounding ecosystem.
Here is the link to ALAP's website that explains all the details of the water testing program. Recent summary reports for Long Lake can be found on the Long Lake Water Quality Reports / Survey tab of this website.
We thank Carma and Steve Flannery for their many years of diligent data collection for submittal to ALAP.
HAMILTON COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (HCSWCD)
Hamilton County Board of Supervisors contracted with the District in 1993 to conduct a comprehensive lake monitoring program. Our residents, economy, and ecosystem depend on clean water for drinking, recreation, and flourishing flora and fauna. Decades of consistent lake data collection is essential to the effective analysis of long term trends. Tax payer dollars are saved when a water quality problem is detected and remediated in its early stages.
Twenty-one Hamilton County lakes are monitored once a month throughout the summer at their deepest point. A YSI probe is lowered at 1 meter increments to the bottom of each lake, collecting pH, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen data. Water samples are collected for nitrates, total phosphorus, calcium, aluminum, alkalinity, and chlorophyll a analysis.
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT IN THE ADIRONDACKS
The HCSWCD teamed up with Cornell Cooperative Extension and with a grant from the Hamilton County Water Quality Coordinating Committee put together an informational brochure on shoreline management.... (This link is broken)
Topics include:
In the Spring of 2016, the Long Lake Association enrolled in the ALAP. ALAP is a water-monitoring project managed by Protect the Adirondacks. Samples are taken by volunteers, and the analysis reports and interpretation are done by the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith College.
Long Lake enrolled in a three month lake sampling program. During this time, the transparency of the lake is measured with a Secchi disc. Water is collected to be analyzed for various chemical compounds and filtered for chlorophyll sampling. Analyses test for acidity, total phosphorous, alkalinity, conductivity, color, nitrate, calcium, aluminum, pH, calcite saturation index, chlorophyll-a, chloride, and dissolved oxygen. Abnormal levels of these water properties not only would compromise the natural aesthetics of Long Lake, but also diminish lake health, reducing the habitat quality of the lake and the surrounding ecosystem.
Here is the link to ALAP's website that explains all the details of the water testing program. Recent summary reports for Long Lake can be found on the Long Lake Water Quality Reports / Survey tab of this website.
We thank Carma and Steve Flannery for their many years of diligent data collection for submittal to ALAP.
HAMILTON COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (HCSWCD)
Hamilton County Board of Supervisors contracted with the District in 1993 to conduct a comprehensive lake monitoring program. Our residents, economy, and ecosystem depend on clean water for drinking, recreation, and flourishing flora and fauna. Decades of consistent lake data collection is essential to the effective analysis of long term trends. Tax payer dollars are saved when a water quality problem is detected and remediated in its early stages.
Twenty-one Hamilton County lakes are monitored once a month throughout the summer at their deepest point. A YSI probe is lowered at 1 meter increments to the bottom of each lake, collecting pH, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen data. Water samples are collected for nitrates, total phosphorus, calcium, aluminum, alkalinity, and chlorophyll a analysis.
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT IN THE ADIRONDACKS
The HCSWCD teamed up with Cornell Cooperative Extension and with a grant from the Hamilton County Water Quality Coordinating Committee put together an informational brochure on shoreline management.... (This link is broken)
Topics include:
- Preventing the Introduction of Exotic Species
- Special Considerations of Lakefront Planning
- Limiting the Impact of Recreation on Water Quality
- For Lakeshore Residents - Hazardous Household Product Use; Maintaining a Safe Water Supply; and Maintaining your Septic System
