The Lake George Park Commission unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a mandatory boat-washing and inspection program in order to protect one of New York's most popular lakes from invasive species.
Lake George is a 32-mile-long waterway in the eastern Adirondacks. On Tuesday, Lake George Park Commissioners, which oversees policy for the watershed, passed a resolution that enables the agency to create mandatory boat washing and inspection programs for all trailered boats entering Lake George waters.
The vote does not immediately implement mandatory boat washing and inspections; rather it allows the Commission to develop such regulations for state approval. Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Nativsky is praising what he calls a milestone.
Lake George Mayor Bob Blais calls the unanimous vote by the Lake George Park Commissioners one of the most important decisions made in the history of Lake George.
The Lake George Association sponsors a voluntary lake steward program that has inspected boats for the past six years. Association Executive Director Walt Lender says what the program has found just this year illustrates the importance of the commission’s vote to implement a lake-wide mandatory system.
Mayor Blais notes that while there may be some inconvenience with initial implementation, communities across the lake depend on the purity of lake waters for their livelihood.
Having strict regulations in place will not only benefit Lake George, it should also help other water bodies across the region, according to Adirondack Council Executive Director Willie Janeway.
There are currently five known invasive species in Lake George: Eurasion watermilfoil, spiny water flea, zebra mussels, Asian clam, and curly-leaf pondweed.
