It's Time to Thank Our Lake

It’s Time to Thank Our Lake

A New Day Has Dawned for the Protection of Lake George

With the historic merger of the LGA and The FUND for Lake George we have created a single, preeminent organization dedicated to the protection of our Lake. The new LGA is now the nation’s most strategically advanced lakeprotection organization, providing the caliber of freshwater management leadership urgently required. New and intensifying pressures on the Lake demand our unified and redoubled commitment.

The Lake’s clear, clean waters, revered the world-over, are under siege from:

• Millions of gallons of stormwater running off into the Lake every year, carrying algae-feeding nutrients and contaminants with it;

• Thousands of aging and failing septic systems seeping nutrients;

• Invasive species threatening the entire watershed; and,

• Winter road salt accumulating in streams, soils, groundwater, and the Lake.

The impacts are increasingly obvious, and ominous—more slimy green algae on our docks and boats; Lake George’s first-ever harmful algal blooms; and hemlock trees infested with the hemlock woolly adelgid invasive species across large stands of forest vital to water quality protection.

To this perfect storm of problems, we bring an unrivaled constellation of world-class resources powering our ability to protect and improve the Lake’s water quality. These include the Jefferson Project, the Lake George Waterkeeper, LGA program specialists, and our network of technical and advocacy partners. This uniquely powerful team is now focused on securing Lake George water quality through improved public policies and basin-wide participation in protection — bay-by-bay, business-by-business, property-by-property.

Your Partnership and Financial Support Will Ensure Our Success in Keeping Lake George Clear and Clean, Forever

As mounting water quality threats pose unprecedented peril to the Lake’s long-term health, we are reaching out to everyone who loves Lake George to take part in accelerating and expanding the LGA’s programs across all protection priorities.

Your partnership and financial support as a Lake Protector is pivotal to ensuring we succeed in safeguarding the Lake that gives us so much. In our lives and in our souls, Lake George has always been there for us — an oasis of nature and our special place for family. Now, more than ever, we need to be there for Lake George. Please join us today!

Jeff Killeen Board Chair

Eric Siy President

Menzies Vice Chair

Peter

Chris Navitsky Waterkeeper

In our lives and in our souls, Lake George is always there for us.

Now, as we face urgent challenges like harmful algal blooms and hemlock woolly adelgid, we need to be there for Lake George.

Protecting Lake George With a World-Leading Science-to-Solutions Strategy

The LGA’s Science-to-Solutions model, fusing Partnership, Innovation, Investment, and Education, powers our progress across all protection priorities.

Reducing Stormwater & Wastewater Impacts

LGA Investment: $1,009,000

With New York having the nation’s highest reported number of HABs, the LGA’s Science-to-Solutions strategy is dramatically curbing the nutrient loading that feeds algae growth and the potential for HABs.

By partnering with public officials to upgrade municipal wastewater treatment plants, we are reducing algaefeeding nutrients entering the Lake by thousands of pounds annually, which, in turn, reduces the HABs risk.

The LGA’s basin-wide Safe Septic System Program and our work with the State’s Lake George Park Commission (LGPC) aim at ensuring the estimated 3,000 private systems within the watershed’s Critical Environmental Area are not leaching nutrients into the Lake.

Our breakthrough Low Impact Development (LID) Certification System (lidcertification.org) in the Towns of Lake George and Queensbury is providing a scalable model for controlling stormwater runoff and associated development impacts.

Harnessing WorldClass Science

LGA Investment: $994,000

In the lab and in the water, the LGA staff and our science partners are probing ever deeper into the Lake’s complex and increasingly stressed natural systems to guide the pursuit of breakthrough protections from harmful algal blooms (HABs) and other priority threats.

With its globally unique network of Smart Sensors the Jefferson Project has made Lake George the world’s smartest lakespecifically to make it the best protected lake.

Lake George Waterkeeper, LGA staff, & technical conduct hands-on primary stressors and implement measures improved water quality.

Stopping & Controlling Invasive Species

LGA Investment: $296,000

In the Lake and on land, our partners are combating species that threaten water

Since co-fund species stopped Nearly from over have been decontaminated

We formed with multiple new early detection of hemlock

Waterkeeper, technical partners, hands-on research of to identify measures for quality.

Educating for Action

LGA Investment: $308,000

From the iconic Floating Classroom that inspires future Lake Protectors to bold new initiatives that engage and empower current Protectors, we are creating the informed community fundamental to enduring success.

Our “Lake Protector Series” of solution summits, Bay-by-Bay community gatherings, and roundtable meetings compel understanding and commitments to action.

New digital tools are putting the power of protection in everyone’s hands with customized Personal Protection Plans for property owners signing on as Lake Protectors.

Creating the Model for Reducing Road Salt

LGA Investment: $415,000

land, the LGA and combating the invasive water quality.

Since 2014, the LGA has partnered with the LGPC to co-fund one of the country’s strongest aquatic invasive species prevention programs that has successfully stopped new species from entering Lake George.

a quarter-million boats over 450 water bodies been inspected, and decontaminated when needed.

the Save Our Lake George Hemlocks Initiative multiple partners and technical experts, developing detection techniques to control the spread woolly adelgid.

We are training and equipping municipal highway departments to reduce road salt use by as much as 50%.

Three local municipalities have become the first in North America to become certified by the Sustainable Winter Management (SWiM®) Program.

Please Join Us by Becoming a Lake Protector Today

Work

with

the LGA

to Take Action at Your Home or Business Support the LGA’s Lake Protection Programs

With your generous support, the LGA will accelerate and expand our world-leading science-guided protection and education programs to:

• Identify the causes and find solutions to prevent harmful algal blooms;

• Prevent and contain the spread of invasive species including the hemlock woolly adelgid;

• Upgrade public and private wastewater treatment and stormwater controls;

• Expand and enhance road salt reduction;

• Develop and advance our new Education for Action initiative; and,

• Advocate for new public policies that protect water quality.

If you own property in the Lake George Basin, you have a vital role to play in protecting the Lake’s water quality.

Create an account on our website and we’ll prepare your own Personal Protection Plan that identifies the most serious water quality threats where you live and the actions needed to help keep the Lake clear and clean. We’ll work with you to ensure your success.

LakeGeorgeAssociation.org/protect

Use your phone’s camera to go to the link

LakeGeorgeAssociation.org/protect

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