Links to Interesting Articles

Wetlands of Saratoga County New York (fws.gov)

Agency prepares to meet watershed quality guidelines – Saratogian

Study: SLPID short-staffed – Saratogian

Sharing shoreline of Saratoga Lake – Saratogian

Saratoga Lake residents claim lake level is too low – Saratogian

Low water frustrates Saratoga Lake residents – Places and Spaces (timesunion.com)

Hydraulic Study of Fish Creek.doc (saratogalake.org)

Chemical to be used on local lake – Saratogian

Lake group to sue city – Saratogian

City seeks cooperation on water – Saratogian

Reader’s View – Loughberry Lake not dying – Saratogian

Looking out for the lake – Saratogian

Lake group implies DEC support for river plan – Saratogian

SLIPD proposes boat fees for non-lake residents – troyrecord

REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING (townofsaratoga.com)

Witt development planned above Saratoga Lake raises concerns (timesunion.com)

Final Draft.docx (sleloinvasives.org)

Saratoga Lake officials plan to battle invasive species – Saratogian

roohan-beat-summer-2019-web.pdf (roohanrealty.com)

Brown’s Beach Still Closed; Department of Health, Stillwater Monitoring Waters (timesunion.com)

Change comes to Saratoga Lake’s shores (timesunion.com)

Sustainable Saratoga Statement on Saratoga Lake Stewardship – Sustainable Saratoga

Lake Protection group holds annual event to learn about aquatic invasive species – Saratogian

PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

Amedore Homes, Winding Brook, Stillwater, Ed Kinowski, John Cashin, David Chatt, Cristina Connolly, SLPID, Saratoga Lake, Route 9P, Creighton Manning (saratogatodaynewspaper.com)

REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING (townofsaratoga.com)

PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

Saratoga rowers learn about lake ecology in floating classroom – Saratogian

Lake Protection group holds annual event to learn about aquatic invasive species – Saratogian

Investigation continues into Saratoga Lake death (timesunion.com)

Getting rid of weeds in the lake | WRGB (cbs6albany.com)

Algae Bloom Reported in Saratoga Lake – The Daily Gazette

Hannaford Giving Tag Program to Support Saratoga Lake (saratogatodaynewspaper.com)

NOTICE: Central Rivers Power, LLC, is the privately owned dam on Fish Creek that controls the lake levels within Saratoga Lake.  Saratoga Lake has a very large watershed coming into the lake, 244 square miles.
There are many factors involved with the delicate operation of the dam.  Beyond recreation, downstream community safety is an issue with flooding, which may factor at times with maintaining a higher lake level in the body of Saratoga lake to protect other communities.  One inch of rain can raise the lake level three inches making the water level difficult to control for the dam operator.  Water quality, lake access and weed control are also taken into consideration.  With climate changes occurring bringing more intense weather conditions such as superstorms and drought periods, consistent water levels are even more difficult to maintain.
 Ideal summer water level is 203.3.
At the end of October, the dam is opened, you will begin to see the water level in the lake then begin to lower.  There is no winter water level to be maintained.  Please take all of this into consideration when thinking of the lake level.

Saratoga Lake Aquatic Weed Harvesting – July 2020

SARATOGA LAKE AQUATIC WEED HARVESTING PROGRAM
The aquatic weed harvesting program is to allow boating access to the deeper water areas of the lake and special projects to combat aquatic invasives.  The weed harvesters are not for in shore private property use.  This is for several reasons:

  • New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation Fisheries Manager has requested that harvesting be minimized when ever possible to preserve fish habitat.
  • Operating the harvesters in between the docks is difficult,  this puts the harvesters  at risk as well as private property for damage.
  • Working near shore puts the harvester and operator at risk due to submerged  pipe lines, old dock debris, and the risk of hitting docks or boats is great.
  • Harvesting is for boating access, only to clear paths.  Areas in front of and in between docks, boats, moored boats, swim docks and shoreline are the land owners responsibility.
  • The harvesters stay away from all personal property.
  • Harvesting near docks and closer to shore, may happen but it has to be limited and in response to a specific problem and when the harvesters are in that area.  In the same way that the fire department would pump out a property that has been flooded.
  • The SLPID board expresses the focus of the harvesting program has to be for access to deep water and cannot for in shore personal use clean-up.

SARATOGA LAKE’S SAFEKEEPING
Saratoga Lake Protection & Improvement District

Contributor: Cristina Connolly, SLPID County at Large Chair
Article ran in the Roohan Realty’s Summer Newsletter

The “Jewel of Saratoga County,” Saratoga Lake encompasses a 300 square mile watershed (larger than that of Lake George!), and is classified as a grade A lake for water quality in New York State.
As with any body of water, native aquatic plants and weeds are vital to the lake’s health and ecosystem. Unfortunately, the health of these vital ecosystems is under attack.

Invasive plant species spread between water bodies with boater activity, altering the habitat and ultimately the ecosystem function of a lake. Since 1986, the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLPID) has been actively working to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and preserve water quality through things like their lake steward program and NYS boat launch station. Herbicide treatments to manage milfoil and other invasive weeds are also conducted regularly, and have been successful to the extent that no treatment is needed for 2019.
What will be needed this summer, however, is treatment for water chestnuts at the mouth of the Kaydeross Creek.

Water Chestnuts (Trapas natans) were introduced to the northeastern US in the 1800’s. Not to be confused with the kind typically in Asian cuisine, this plant species is native to Eurasia and Africa, and poses a massive inconvenience to swimmers, fisherman, and recreational boaters alike. For years, SLPID has worked to eradicate them from the lake by hand/machine pulling and spot treatments. This hard work is paying off & the plants are gradually decreasing in density.

Some of SLPID’s other duties include:

  • weekly water testing & CSLAP testing
  • lake surveys, studies & yearly boat counts
  • watercraft inspections and-boat wash stations
  • monitoring water levels, temperature & shorelines
  • educational outreach, floating classroom & in-school education

With these efforts in place (and the establishment of the county sewer district around the lake in 1981) invasives are decreasing and Saratoga Lake has improved from a grade D in 1986 to its current status of grade A. The diversity of wildlife is outstanding, with an increase in fish, turtles, birds, bald eagles, osprey and loons common in the springtime.

Lake health is important locally and globally. And while government regulations can help maintain order on aquatic ecosystems, it’s also the responsibility of property owners to maintain the integrity of their shared resource by preventing and reporting any activity that would disrupt the ecosystem or biodiversity. Boaters are encouraged to CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY before entering any body of water to stop the spread. Property owners are encouraged to take the SLPID pledge by saying NO to fertilizers, pesticides & chemicals, minimizing runoff, and stopping pollution.
For more information, visit SLPID.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Referendum Vote for new 2019 Truck

 January 10, 2019
Summary:

Referendum: The qualified voters in the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District are requested to approve the purchase of a new Ford F- 250  XL four wheel drive  diesel pickup. The purchase will be from  a New York State Office of General service qualified vendor. The price of the truck will not exceed $40,000. Purchase of the truck will be funded by existing balance in the SLPID treasury set aside for equipment. This purchase will not impact the tax rate.

Ballots and voting will be take place at Malta Community Center 1 Bayberry Dr, Malta NY 12020, on Thursday Jan 17, 2019  Between 6 pm-8pm. To vote you need to show that you are a resident of the district. District role will be at the voting site.

2017 Herbicides Treatment

 March 22, 2017
Summary:

LETTER OF NOTIFICATION

Date: March 6th, 2017

Re: Proposed Lake Management Program – Saratoga Lake

The Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District has applied with the NYSDEC to use the aquatic herbicides Aquathol K (Endothall),  Navigate (2-4 D) and Clearcast (imazamox) in the spring or summer of 2017 to control Eurasian watermilfoil and Water Chestnuts in areas of the lake, thus improving water quality conditions as well as recreational and aesthetic values.  Early season treatments with this herbicide combination have demonstrated good selectivity for the targeted plants.  Non-target native plants are expected to remain to provide a habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The Program will be conducted under the supervision of NYSDEC certified personnel with the lake management firm SOLITUDE LAKE MANAGEMENT, NYSDEC Pesticide Business Registration No.16505.  A NYSDEC permit application has been submitted for approval for the application of the herbicides Aquathol K and Navigate.  It is anticipated that spot treatment applications of up to 150.3 acres will take place sometime between May 1st and May 30th, with a target date of May 17th. A NYSDEC permit application has been submitted for approval for the application of the herbicide Clearcast.  It is anticipated that spot treatment applications of up to 5.0 acres will take place sometime between July 15th and August 30th.   Notification of the actual date of the treatment will be submitted to the Town and NYSDEC 7 days prior to application and will be posted along the shoreline on the day of the application.  The roads along the lakeshore will be posted at the time of the treatment indicating applicable water use restrictions.  The water use restrictions will be in effect for the duration of the treatment PLUS the timeframes indicated in the table below. The timeframes start as soon as the treatment has ended.

Water use restrictions are as follows:

Product

Swimming/ Bathing

Fishing

Animal Consumption

Drinking, culinary or food processing purposes

Irrigation

Aquathol K

During Treatmetn and 24 Hours after

During Treatment

            < 50 ppb *

During Treatment

Navigate

24 Hours

24 Hours

24 Hours

< 50 ppb *

21 days or an assay indicating concentrations <100 ppb **

Clearcast

< 50 ppb *

< 50 ppb for established Plants or ***

  • Potable uses will be restricted for at least ten days after the application, and will not be lifted until lab results indicate the concentration is less than 50 ppb at the water intake.  For those residents who rely on lake water for drinking water and who need to be in residence during the water use restriction period (anticipated to be 1 -2 weeks), it is necessary to notify David Wallingford at dwallingford@nycap.rr.com.
  • If treated water is intended to be used to irrigate or mix sprays for plants grown in commercial nurseries and greenhouses; and other plants or crops that are not labeled for direct treatment with 2,4-D, the water must not be used unless one of the following restrictions has been observed: i. A setback distance from functional water intake(s) of greater than or equal to 600 feet was used for the application, or, ii. A waiting period of 21 days from the time of application has elapsed, or, iii. An approved assay indicates that the 2,4-D concentration is 100 ppb (0.1 ppm) or less at the water intake.
  • Do not use Clearcast treated water to irrigate until concentration is less than 1 ppb: annual nursery or greenhouse crops including hydroponics and newly seeded or transplanted annual crops, newly seeded or transplanted ornamentals and newly seeded or seeded turf and less than 50 ppb for all other plants. Water will be sampled at 2 weeks after treatment to determine the concentration of Clearcast.

The product label is available for review on Solitude Lake Management’s http://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/product-labels-new-york. In the event that you as a riparian owner or vested riparian user have any questions or objections to the proposed aquatic plant management program or water use restrictions, please contact the following agency within 21 days of receipt of this notice.  Your objection must be in writing and demonstrate that your use of water will be significantly adversely affected (per the NYSDEC’s policy).  Lack of comment will be considered consent to the treatment and water use restrictions.

Brian Primeau
Bureau of Pest Management
NYSDEC, Region 5
232 Golf Course Road
Warrensburg, NY  12885-0220
518-623-1267

If you wish further information about the proposed management program or need hard copies of the product label, please contact David Wallingford at dwallingford@nycap.rr.com or SOLitude Lake Management at 888-480-5253 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Mon – Fri.

Fireworks Sunday July 3, 2016

 May 20, 2016
Summary:
To All Lake Residents:
On behalf of the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLPID) commissioners, I cordially invite you to watch the Annual Fireworks Display on Sunday, July 3rd, 2016  The show will be displayed at two locations.
The annual fireworks display is an event sponsored by the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLPID)
The annual fireworks display is a line item budget in the SLPID Annual Budget.  With increased costs, this may be the last year SLPID is able to fund the event.  Your input and vote on this line item will be presented at the Annual SLA/SLPID meeting.  The meeting is currently planned for mid July.  Continue to check the website for confirmation date. Plan on attending the annual  at Panza’s Restaurant (located south end of Saratoga Lake)
The SLPID district commissioners wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July celebration! 
Sincerely,
David Wallingford
SLPID Commissioner, County At Large
SLPID Chair, 2016