Watershed Management Plan2010

Photo by Carl Heilman

SCHROON LAKEWATERSHEDMANAGEMENT PLAN

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - p.2

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - p.3

• SCHROON LAKE – AT A GLANCE - p.5

• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1.1 Project Introduction and Background - p.61.2 Cultural History of the Schroon Lake Region - p.8

• CHAPTER 2: STATE OF SCHROON LAKE2.1 Overview and Summary - p.102.2 Lake Characteristics and Hydrology - p.132.3 Water Quality and Clarity - p.142.4 Lake Water Level - p.202.5 Aquatic Life - p.212.6 Wetlands - p.262.7 Lake-Based Recreation - p.272.8 Aquatic Plants and Invasive Species Management - p.312.9 Special Lake Issues - p.35

• CHAPTER 3: SCHROON LAKE WATERSHED AND LAND USE3.1 Introduction - p.393.2 Land Use and Development in the Watershed - p.393.3 Soils and Their Importance - p.423.4 Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality - p.443.5 Streams of the Schroon Lake Watershed - p.473.6 Highway Management Practices - p.513.7 Wastewater Management Around Schroon Lake - p.573.8 Assessment of Local Laws Which Impact Schroon Lake - p.623.9 Upland Invasive Species Management - p.683.10 Lake and Watershed Stewardship - p.723.11 The Human Component - p.77

• CHAPTER 4: OPINION SURVEY RESULTS –RESIDENTS AND USERS OF SCHROON LAKE

4.1 Background - p.804.2 Tabulation of Results - p.80

• CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY5.1 In-Lake Recommendations - p.875.2 Upland Recommendations - p.88

• BIBLIOGRAPHY - p.100

• APPENDICES: MAPS AND GRAPHS - p.103

Table of Contents

Appendices

• APPENDIX 1: MAPS

Map 1 - Schroon Lake Tributary Map with Water Monitoring Locations - p.104

Map 2 - Known Eurasian Watermilfoil Sites on Schroon Lake, 2009 - p.105

Map 3 - Schroon Lake Watershed Land Cover, 2001 - p.106

Map 4 - Schroon Lake Land Ownership - p.107

Map 5 - Schroon Lake Watershed Hydrologic Soil Groups - p.108

Map 6 - Schroon Lake Watershed Hydrography - p.109

Map 7 - Town of Schroon Sewer District - p.110

Map 8 - Schroon Lake Watershed Municipalities - p.111

Map 9 - Schroon Lake Watershed Topographic Image - p.112

Map 10 - Schroon Lake Bathymetric Map (Lake Depths) - p.113

Map 11 - Schroon Lake Watershed State Land - p.114

Map 12 - Schroon Lake Park District Boundary - p.115

Map 13 - Schroon Lake Lakeshore Land Cover - p.116

• APPENDIX 2: GRAPHS

Figure 1 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Total Phosphorus Levels - p.117

Figure 2 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Total Phosphorus Levels - p.117

Figure 3 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North vs. South Basin Epilimnetic

Total Phosphorus Levels - p.118

Figure 4 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi

Disk Transparency - p.118

Figure 5 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi

Disk Transparency - p.119

Figure 6 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake Secchi Disk Transparency Levels - p.119

Figure 7 - 1995-2007 Schroon Lake Tributaries Conductivity Levels - p.120

• GRAPHS1. 2001 Shoreline Water Craft Survey - p.32. Land Use – Schroon Lake Watershed - p.393. Survey Results: Time Spent in Schroon Lake Area - p.814. Survey Results: Goals of Watershed Plan - p.815. Survey Results: Quality of Swimming - p.826. Survey Results: Importance of Water Testing - p.828. Survey Results: Importance of Open Space - p.839. Survey Results: Issues of Concern - p.84

• TABLES1. Hydrologic Soils Groups - p.432. Schroon Lake River & Tributaries Network Lengths - p.493. Local Regulations Summary Matrix - p.634. Jurisdictional Topic and Agency Review - p.66

• RECOMMENDATION TABLES1. In-Lake Recommendations - p.872. Upland Recommendations - p.88

a. Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality - p.88 - 91b. Stream Recommendations - p.92c. Highway Operation Recommendations - p.93d. Wastewater Recommendations - p.94 - 95e. Regulatory Recommendations - p.96f. Invasive Species Management - p.97g. Stewardship Recommendations - p.98

• LIST OF MAPS1. Schroon Lake Watershed Location Map – p.32. Schroon Lake Bathymetry – p.53. Schroon Lake Lakeshore Land Cover – p.414. Schroon Lake Shoreline Soils Sensitive to Development - p.425. Town of Schroon Location Map - p.636. Town of Chester Location Map - p.647. Town of Horicon Location Map - p.658. Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan Map and State Land Map, 2009 APA - p.679. APIPP Invasive Plant Map of the Adirondacks, 2008 - p.68

Graphs, Tables and Maps in Document

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTShis Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan is the culmination of the hard work,knowledge, experience, and dedication of many individuals and organizations.

Over the period of three years, these people came togetherwith the shared goal of setting a vision for the protection ofSchroon Lake while maintaining its enjoyment for residentsand visitors alike. The development of this important docu-ment builds upon many years of local stewardship of thelake, and it encompasses their long-term commitment andperseverance.

The Schroon Lake Watershed Management PlanningCommittee would like to sincerely thank the followingindividuals for sharing their time and efforts on this project:

SCHROON LAKE ASSOCIATIONHelen Wildman, PresidentMark WhitneyRoger FriedmanHoward WarrenPaul ConollyDon and Ellie Searles

EAST SHORE SCHROON LAKEASSOCIATIONBill McGhie, PresidentJane SmithVince BlandoPeter Oberdorf

ADIRONDACK ECOLOGISTS, LLCSteven LaMere, CLM, President

NYS DEPARTMENT OF STATEStephanie Wojtowicz, Coastal Resources Specialist

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENTSGary Clark, Town of ChesterDana Shaughnessey, Town of SchroonPaul Smith, Town of Horicon

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERSWalt Tennyson, Town of ChesterDon Sage, Town of SchroonGary McMeekin, Town of Horicon

MUNICIPAL OFFICIALSFred Monroe, Supervisor, Town of ChesterCathy Moses, Supervisor, Town of SchroonRalph Bentley, Supervisor, Town of Horicon

WARREN COUNTY SOIL AND WATERCONSERVATION DISTRICTDave Wick, District ManagerJim Lieberum, Water Resources SpecialistLori Kerrigan, Natural Resources SpecialistDean Moore, Senior District TechnicianJosh Davis, Intern

ESSEX COUNTY SOIL AND WATERCONSERVATION DISTRICTDave Reckahn, District ManagerTiffany Pinhiero, District Technician

LCLG REGIONAL PLANNING BOARDBeth Gilles, Environmental Planning Assistant

NYS DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTALCONSERVATIONMike Dauphinais, Division of WaterVincent Kavanagh, P.E., Division of Water

WARREN COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENTSheri Norton, GIS Administrator

WORD OF LIFE COMPLEXEric Cordis, P.E., Engineer

MAPS:Jim Lieberum, Water Resources Specialist,Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District

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This report was prepared for the NYS Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund

TOWN HALL, PO BOX 423CHESTERTOWN, NY 12817

518-494-2711FRED MONROE, SUPERVISOR

ON BEHALFOF THE TOWNSOFCHESTER, SCHROON, AND HORICON

Town of Chester

NYS Department of StateLocal Waterfront

Revitalization Grant

LAKE CONSULTANT:ADIRONDACK ECOLOGISTS, LLCPO Box 515, Crown Point, NY 12928518-573-8846www.newyorklakemanager.com

Steven A. LaMere, Certified Lake ManagerAuthor, Chapter 2 - State of Schroon Lake

AUGUST 2010

GRANTMANAGER:WARREN COUNTY SOIL And WATERCONSERVATION DISTRICT394 Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885Phone: 518-623-3119 Website: www.warrenswcd.org

Dave Wick, CPESC, District ManagerAuthor, Chapters 3 and 4 – Schroon Lake Watershedand Resident SurveyDocument Editor

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undertaken by a consulting lake manager(Adirondack Ecologists, LLC) and fundedprimarily by the two lake associations onSchroon Lake. Water quality trends havebeen analyzed for this period of time, andshow a very mild but statistically significantdecline in overall water quality and clarity inthat time, particularly in the more developednorthern basin.

Schroon Lake maintains a well balancedaquatic plant community, although it doeshave existing populations of Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed. Theseinvasive species sites are being identifiedprimarily through a professional surveillanceprogram, with assistance from a cooperative“Milfoil Scout Program” effort consistingprimarily of lake association volunteers.Hand harvesting and benthic barriercontrol efforts have been undertakenby Adirondack Ecologists, LLC over anumber of years. Currently, milfoil isbeing actively managed every summeron Schroon Lake with documentedsuccess, but the problem still persists.

The land area that drains to SchroonLake (its watershed) is fairly sizeable atmore than 316 square miles, andencompasses portions of 10 differenttowns. Most of this land area is forest,which covers approximately 84% of thewatershed. Only a modest 2% of thewatershed is developed, most of whichis within the near-shore area of SchroonLake itself. The State of New York owns 60%of the land within the Schroon Lakewatershed, all of which is held as ForestPreserve.

The primary impacts to the water quality ofSchroon Lake come from upland sourcessuch as stormwater runoff from roads andproperties, and sediment sources such asroad de-icing materials and streambankerosion. Significant effort was undertaken inthis study to identify these sources, and site-specific recommendations were developedto address these issues for both the shortand long term. As part of this effort, a review

was conducted of the three municipalitiesregarding land use regulations and policieswhich affect Schroon Lake. Overall, thesemunicipalities have fairly comprehensive landuse plans and zoning, and currently haveadequate staffing to address local issues.

To understand the public’s perception ofSchroon Lake, a broad public survey/questionnaire was conducted around SchroonLake. The vast majority of the 523respondents showed strong interest in thelake’s protection, and outlined their primaryissues of concern to be development alongthe lake, septic system impacts to waterquality, Eurasian water milfoil control, andstormwater runoff impacts from roads.

The successful future of Schroon Lake’soverall water quality and ecology lies primarilyin our ability to properly protect it from uplandimpacts and to minimize the adverseconsequences of invasive speciesintroductions. This can only be achievedthrough cooperative working relationshipsbetween municipalities, lake associations,public agencies, and local landowners. Therecommendations outlined in this plan willhelp to improve the existing condition of boththe watershed and the lake itself, but onlyif proper stewardship and diligent action areundertaken towards their implementation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Watershed Management Plan

Schroon Lake

chroon Lake is a major Adirondack Lakebordering northern Warren County and

southern Essex Counties, and isapproximately 9 miles long and over onemile wide at its widest point. It is borderedby three townships (Chester, Horicon, andSchroon) and lies within the Adirondack Parkof upstate New York. Schroon Lake is avaluable resource both economically andenvironmentally, and local officials and lake

associations have worked for many decadesto strike a good balance between these twofactors.

The shore of Schroon Lake is fairly developedwith first and second homes, particularly onthe northwestern and southeastern shores.The largest population center on SchroonLake is the hamlet of Schroon on thenorthwest tip of the lake, which is a thrivingcommunity primarily based on tourism andrecreation. Four public boat launches provideaccess for thousands of visitors to the lakeevery year, who enjoy excellent boating,swimming, and fishing. The water level ofSchroon Lake is controlled by theStarbuckville Dam located approximatelyfive miles downriver from the lake on theSchroon River. Operation of the dam and thewater level is controlled by the Schroon LakePark District Board of Commissioners.

This Schroon Lake Watershed ManagementPlan is a comprehensive review of the stateof Schroon Lake and its watershed, outliningconsiderable information related to the lakeand surrounding lands. The goal of thisinitiative was to identify issues affecting thewater quality and ecology of Schroon Lake,and to outline specific recommendations toprotect the lake for the future.

Schroon Lake exhibits very high water qualityand clarity, and is considered an excellentrecreational resource. Water quality samplingof Schroon Lake has been ongoing since1987, conducted through the volunteer-drivenCitizen’s Statewide Lake AssessmentProgram. This program was augmented in1995 by an annual sampling program

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INTRODUCTIONChapter 11.1 Project Introduction and Background

chroon Lake is amagnificentAdirondack waterbody,

maintaining excellent waterquality and a great diversityof aquatic life. It has long beena destination for tourists, aswell as a home for manyseasonal and year-roundresidents. With such animportant natural resourcecomes the responsibility toprotect it and manage it to thebest of our ability.

Although state and federalagencies have some authorityover land use and lakemanagement decisions, mostactions and activities areconducted at the local level.Municipal decisions play a farlarger role in how well a lakeis protected from developmentactivities, and how impactssuch as wastewater disposaland highway management

operations are handled. Inaddition, local non-profit lakeassociations are a primary driverfor proactive lakemanagementactivities (e.g., invasive plantcontrol and water qualitymonitoring) and public outreachactivities.

Schroon Lake has a stronghistory of stewardship by itslocal populace. Indeed, it hastwo well established and long-standing lake associationswhich encourage stewardshipof the lake through communityinvolvement. Themunicipalitiesalong Schroon Lake’s shore arealso keenly aware of their vitaland symbiotic link to the lake.These communities thrive onan economy driven by tourism,and that tourism is driven bythe quality of Schroon Lake andthe beauty of its local parks,beaches, and overall setting.

Photo by Carl Heilman

SS

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• Lake Length: 9 miles• Maximum Width: 1.3 miles• Lake Surface Elevation: 806 feet• Lake Surface Area: 4,000 acres• Average Depth: 56 feet• Maximum Depth: 152 feet• Volume: 73 billion gallons• Hydraulic Retention Time:5 months

• DEC Water QualityClassification: AA

• Water Level Control:Yes – Starbuckville Dam

• Shoreline Length: 24.0 miles(Chester: 4.2 miles)(Horicon: 5.2 miles)(Schroon: 14.6 miles)

• Watershed Area: 202,575 acres• Primary Watershed Land Use:Forested (84%)

• Highest Point in Watershed:4,857 feet (Dix Mountain)in Keene/North Hudson

• Number of Towns in Watershed: 10• State-Owned Land in Watershed: 60%• Lake Associations: 2 -Schroon Lake Association (www.schroonlakeassociation.org)East Shore Schroon Lake Association (www.essla.org)

AT A GLANCE

Schroon Lake

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The Schroon River Valley has long been themost practical north-south travel route in theeastern Adirondack Mountains. The ancientriver that often twists as an oxbow wore downthe hill through the ages to form a naturalchannel that early in the 1800’s the GreatNorthern Turnpike from Hudson Falls toKeeseville was laid out through the SchroonRiver Valley and the Bouquet River Valley.When automobiles appeared early in the1900’s the same route was chosen for Route9. And in the 1960’s the Schroon Valley wasdeemed the most desirable of competingroutes for Adirondack Northway.

The Schroon Valley’ssettlement resulted frompublic policy from thelate 1700’s throughmuch of 1900’s whichcalled for exploitingnatural resources tosupport the burgeoningdevelopment of theUnited States. Peoplewere encouraged to cuttrees, utilize timber, turnforest into farmland, digup minerals and tamethe wilderness. Onlywhen the ForestPreserve and Conserva-tion Department wereestablished and duringthe last 40 years as theenvironmental move-ment developed did thattrend reverse. Today theAdirondack forest land iswell protected.

In the old days dams were needed to sendlogs downstream to market, supply water totanneries and operate the sawmills and gristmills that fueled the economy. Many SchroonValley waters were dammed: Minerva Stream,Trout Brook, Deadwater Pond, Elk Lake, The

Branch, Schroon Falls, Rogers Brook, CranePond, Pharoah Lake, Mill Brook, Loon Lake,Friends Lake, Faxon’s Pond, South Horicon,Brant Lake and Tripp Lake. Today the recon-structed Starbuckville dam controls waterlevels below the lake.

In the 1830’s the Schroon Valley’s beautyattracted artist Thomas Cole, who paintedHoffman Mountain and the farms north of thelake. In the 1870’s summer visitors discoveredthe scenery when they took the new Adiron-dack Railroad to Riparius, and made their wayto the hotels on Schroon Lake. In the 1900’s

the summer business expanded to includechildren’s camps, motels, Seagle MusicColony and other attractions. Winter activitiesthrived. Today the valley is home to the stal-wart natives whose ancestors settled the landand to people from other places who chosethis lovely part of the Adirondacks for theirpermanent or seasonal homes.

1.2 Cultural History of the Schroon Lake RegionBy Ann Breen Metcalfe, local author

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Themanagement actions of themunicipalitiescan have a vital and long lasting effect onSchroon Lake, and their involvement in thisprocess was not only helpful but absolutelynecessary for this Plan to be an effectivemanagement tool.

Schroon Lake is one of the few in theAdirondacks to have been professionallystudied by a consulting lake manager formore than 15 years. This involvement beganwith a grass roots initiative in 1994 whenmembers of the Schroon Lake Fish andGameClub and the PharaohMountain Sportsman’sAlliance, the Schroon Lake Chamber ofCommerce, and representatives of theSchroon Lake Association (SLA), approachedJohnKelly, Supervisor of the Townof Schroon,with a request for the formation of a SchroonLake Study Committee. This committee,

desiring to know the current status of thelake’s water quality, retained the firm ofAdirondack Ecologists, LLC to undertake anintensive five-year (1995-1999) limnologicalstudy of the lake.

The culmination of this study in 1999 provideda tremendous amount of insight into theecology and health of Schroon Lake, andit also identified a number of issues facingthe lake. It was at this time that the conceptof developing a holistic lake management

plan was first introduced and discussed indetail as a means for obtaining funding forremediation projects. Many granting entitiesrequire that a comprehensive study of issuesand specific recommendations forimprovement be in place prior to seriousconsideration for the funding of correctivemeasures.

This Schroon Lake watershed and lakeplanning process was initiated by the SLAin December of 2006, and in January of 2007a planning committee was established. Thisgroup included representatives from the threemunicipalities surrounding Schroon Lake(Schroon, Chester and Horicon), the SLA,the East Shore Schroon Lake Association(ESSLA), Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, theWarren and Essex County Soil and WaterConservationDistricts, various state agencies,the Schroon Lake and North WarrenChambers of Commerce and local citizens.These parties agreed upon a direction andgoals, and set forth to develop this plan overthree-year period.

Thanks to grant funding provided by the NYSDepartment of State through its WaterfrontRevitalization Program, this effort takes adetailed look at Schroon Lake and itswatershed. The outcome of this endeavor isa document which outlines the current “Stateof Schroon Lake” including current andhistoric management practices, a summaryof land use practices and upland issueswhichaffect the lake, and an array ofrecommendations to protect and evenimprove Schroon Lake for the future.

This planning process incorporated theconcept of management at every level. Theresult is a document which is a major toolfor the long-term planning andmanagementof Schroon Lake. This Plan provides valuableinformation on important lake andwatershedissues, and is intended for local municipalofficials, land use planners and managers,lake associationmembers and local citizens.Our collective efforts now and in the futurewill be required to ensure that Schroon Lakeremains the beautiful, high quality waterbodythat we all enjoy for generations to come.

STATEOF THE LAKEChapter 2chroon Lake is a beautiful and vibrant bodyof water that offers a variety of recreational,aesthetic, commercial and ecological uses,values and opportunities to local residents

and visitors alike. The one common denominatorthat defines the experiences each lake user hasand binds these experiences together is the qualityof the lake itself.

The “quality” of Schroon Lake is ever-changing.This is natural and understood by most people.However, what may not always be understood orappreciated are the effects that some culturalactivities could have on this quality. In order toprotect and preserve a resource, it is importantto first understand how the resource functions.We accomplish this through insightful studyand research, so that we may define its currentstate and determine if observed future changesin its quality seem natural or unnatural.

With lakes, there are a number of important factorsto consider regarding its long-termmanagement.The physical and watershed characteristics ofthe lake, water quality data,information about thebiological communitiesliving in the lake, and thepeople who use the lakeand how they use it allcome into play. Obtaining this information canoften be expensive and time-consuming, andunderstanding the relevance of the informationas it pertains to lake quality can be challenging,but they are necessary steps to achieving goodstewardship. This knowledge empowers us withthe understanding that we need to have to makesound, informed decisions and it enables us toplan for the future of the resource and for thegenerations yet to come who will use it.

The thirteen seasons of Citizens Statewide LakeAssessment Program (CSLAP) water quality dataand the fifteen years of data obtained byAdirondack Ecologists, LLC (AE) through various

water testing and biological sampling programsprovide a very powerful database for SchroonLake. In fact, few lakes in the Adirondacks possessasmuch historical data as Schroon Lake does tobase assessments and long-term planning upon.

These data indicate that Schroon Lake enjoysexcellent water quality andwater clarity. We knowthat Schroon Lake is a soft water lake thatpossesses sufficient levels of dissolved oxygenthroughout the water column to support a healthyaquatic ecosystem. We also know through ananalysis of the phytoplankton and zooplanktoncommunities that the food web of the lake is, ingeneral, healthy and in balance, and that thespecies assemblages observed in the varioussample collections are reflective of the lake’sexcellent water quality.

We have determined that despite possessingrelatively low levels of alkalinity (i.e., low bufferingcapacity), the pH of Schroon Lake is circum-neutral and that this finding is suggestive thatacid deposition is not currently a significant problem

on this water body. This is very good news forthe fishery community of the lake, specifically,and for the entire aquatic ecosystem in general.

Based on the geologic age and physicalcharacteristics of the lake (and its watershed),parameters like phosphorus, algae levels andwater clarity all fall within the theoretical guidelinesof what we would expect to see. In addition, itcan be stated that no dramatic changes ordisparities in water quality or clarity were identifiedin the data during the time period from 1995 to2009. This finding is illustrated by the variousgraphs (Figures 1 through 10) presented inAppendix A.

S2.1 Overview and Summary

These data indicate that Schroon Lake enjoysexcellent water quality and water clarity.

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This knowledge empowers us with the understanding thatwe need to have to make sound, informed decisions and itenables us to plan for the future of the resource and forthe generations yet to come who will use it.

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A review of these graphs indicates that: (1) SchroonLake TP levels remained stable from 1987 to 2004,but have increased since 2004; (2) Schroon Lakewater clarity has remained relatively unchangedsince 1987; and (3) there has beenminimal changein chlorophyll a levels since data collection startedin 1987. These results agree, for themost part, with

those results obtained via the annualmonitoring programconducted byAdirondackEcologists, LLC. Any discrepancies maybe explained by different sampling and/orlaboratory protocols followed by the twoprograms.

The total nitrogen (TN) to total phosphorus(TP) ratio is sometimes used by lake managers asan indicator of what type of algae may becomedominant in any given body of water. Since blue-green algae or cyanobacteria are capable of nitrogenfixation, these planktonic organisms tend to do wellin lakeswith low total nitrogen levels. Some researchhas suggested that TN:TP ratios of less than 30favor blue-green and diatom production.

Total nitrogen and total phosphorus data collectedfrom Schroon Lake basin samples were evaluatedand it was determined that the surface water TN:TPratio generally exceeded 30, with only a fewexceptions. In 1997, 2008 and 2009, the ratiowas less than 30 in both of the lake basins, and in1999 and 2004 the ratio was less than 30 in thenorth basin.

Based on this information and the above-mentionedprinciple, it would seem likely that the prevalenceof blue-greens in Schroon Lake should have beenrelatively low during most of the years sampled.This is important since the presence of a largeamount of cyanobacteria can often be suggestiveof poor water quality, and toxins released by thesealgae can potentially be a hazard to humans andanimals, if ingested.

Fifteen years of aquatic plant management andresearch has shown that even though Schroon Lakehas populations of nuisance aquatic plants likeEurasian water milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, theoverall health and diversity of the aquatic plantcommunity is excellent. Fortunately, these invasiveplants were discovered before it was too late toeffectively control them utilizing physical controlstrategies, like hand harvesting and benthic barrierapplications.

Known areas of invasive aquatic plants continue tobe actively managed by Adirondack Ecologists,LLC, and both professional and volunteer inspectionsto locate new areas of invasives are conductedannually. In addition, efforts to educate boaters onpreventing the spread of these plants are ongoingand help tominimize the risk of future introductions.

This is important since lake water quality and clarityare indirectly related to aquatic plant productionand the presence of large-scale invasive speciespopulations can eventually lead to long-termwaterquality and ecosystem degradation. Clearly, theholistic approach tomanagement and stewardshipthat the lake community and local government ispursuing will yield long-term, tangible benefits tothe protection and preservation of Schroon Lake.

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Figures 1-3 plot the past fifteen years worth of totalphosphorus (TP) data collected at the lake’s twointernal basins. Based upon a review of thesegraphs, it appears that there has been relativelylittle change in surface water phosphorus levelsin Schroon Lake since 1995. When surface waterTP levels are plotted for both the north and southbasin (Figure 3) it can clearly be seen that phosphoruslevels are consistently higher in the north basin.

A review of Figures 4 and 5 seems to indicate along-term correlation between chlorophyll a levelsand secchi disk transparency (SDT) in SchroonLake. Mid-August north basin water clarity hasgradually decreased over the past fifteen yearsconcurrent with a slight increase in chlorophyll alevels (Figure 4). During the same time period, along-term, slight increase inmid-August chlorophylla levels has also been noted in the south basin, anda slight decrease in water clarity has beendocumented (Figure 5).

It should be noted that it is normal for lakes toundergo both seasonal and annual fluctuations inchemical and biological parameters. In fact, weexpect that to occur. Bearing that in mind, therelatively small scale changes in water clarity andchlorophyll a levels observed to date are not of greatconcern. However, monitoring should continueto determine whether any changes we are seeingand documenting are progressing at a speed orin a direction that seems to suggest a potentiallong-term problem for the lake.

Figure 6 is a comparison of historic water clarityat the two basins from 1995 to 2009. Looking atthe graph, it is clear that water clarity in the southbasin is consistently higher than that observed inthe north basin. In fact, an analysis of the dataindicates that the mid-August water clarity in the

south basin generally averages 2 feet more thanthat of the north basin (Note: Theories that mayexplain the reason for this phenomenon are coveredin Chapter 2.3).

A common technique by limnologists (people whostudy inland lakes) to assess the productivity or“trophic state” of a body of water is to applyestablished standards to the data obtained froma water quality monitoring program. In order todetermine the trophic state of Schroon Lake, thefifteen-year averages of surface water totalphosphorus, chlorophyll a, and SDT levels in boththe north and south basin were calculated basedon the results of water sample analyses obtainedduring the 1995 to 2009 monitoring trips.

The water clarity and total phosphorus averagesclassify the lake as oligotrophic (low productivity),while the chlorophyll a average places SchroonLake just inside the lower range of a mesotrophic

(moderate productivity) body ofwater. Overall, these cumulativeaverages suggest that Schroon Lakeis a late oligotrophic lake.

Tributary conductivity and chloridedata collected during the same timeperiod suggests that the long-termuse of de-icing agents on theNorthway and other roads hassaturated wet areas adjacent tothese highwayswith chloride. Figure7 shows that inlets located on thewestern side of the lake (i.e., Rogers

Brook, Horseshoe Pond outlet, and Thurman Pondoutlet) tend to possess significantly higherconductivity levels than do those on the easternside. Basin conductivity and chloride levels havenot changed appreciably in the past fifteen years,which suggests that Schroon Lake water qualityhas not yet been significantly affected by the influxof de-icing agents.

Schroon Lake data obtained through the CSLAPsince 1987 were also reviewed and three graphspresented in the most recent CSLAP report onthe lake were extracted for use (with slightmodification) in this plan. These graphs (Figures8 through 10) present the mean readings for lakebasin secchi disk transparency, total phosphorusand chlorophyll a from 1987-1991, 1997, 2002-2006 and 2008-2009 (NYSDEC. 2010).

Fifteen years of aquatic plant management andresearch has shown that even though SchroonLake has populations of nuisance aquaticplants like Eurasian water milfoil and curly-leafpondweed, the overall health and diversity ofthe aquatic plant community is excellent.

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Water samples have been collected from SchroonLake every year by Adirondack Ecologists, LLCsince 1995. Each summer, epilimnetic (surface)and hypolimnetic (bottom) lake water samples arecollected once each August from both the northand south basins, and every third year samplesare collected once from the mouth of each ofthe significant tributaries to the lake (Schroon River,

Alder Brook, Spectacle Brook, SuckerBrook, Mill Brook, Thurman PondOutlet, Horseshoe Pond Outlet, andRogers Brook) and from the outlet.

In order to ensure the collection ofaccurate “base flow” data, no watersampleswere ever takenwithin 48 hours of amajorstormevent, with the exception of samples collectedon February 26, March 8 and March 17, 1998,which were part of a specially-designed testingregimen to determine the “first flush” water qualityconditions (conductivity and chloride levels only)of the various tributaries during a storm event.

All epilimnetic and hypolimnetic samples were

collected from Schroon Lake by boat usinga Van Dohrn Sampler. These samples wereobtained at locations representative of the lake’stwo basins (seeMap 1). Epilimnetic samples weretaken 1.5 meters below the lake’s surface andhypolimnetic sampleswere taken 1.5meters abovethe lake bottom. Outlet water samples werecollected underneath the bridge onGlendale Road.

The tributary samples were taken via “grab”sampling at various locations around the lake.Rogers Brook was sampled just above its outletinto the lake. Thurman PondBrook andHorseshoePond Brook samples were obtained just east ofRoute 9 where these brooks each respectivelypass underneath the road via culverts and enterthe lake. The Schroon River and Alder Brook,which is fed by the outflow from Crane Pondand Goose Pond, were sampled just downstreamof their intersection with Alder Meadow Road.Spectacle Pond Brook was sampled at its outletjust upstream of the culvert that intersects NESARoad, and Sucker Brook, which is spring fed, wassampled just downstream of the culvert thatintersects the East Shore Road.

All water samples obtained werestored on ice and transported tothe laboratory at the Darrin FreshWater Institute (DFWI) in BoltonLanding, New York within six hoursof collection. The followingparameters were analyzed duringeach routine sampling trip: orthophosphorus, total phosphorus,chloride, total nitrogen, nitrate,sulfate, conductivity, total dissolvedsolids, pH, alkalinity, calcium, andturbidity. In addition, the epilimneticlake water sample obtained from

eachbasin during each visit to the lakewas analyzedfor chlorophyll a.

An YSI model 50 B dissolved oxygen (DO) meterwas utilized to perform a dissolved oxygen andtemperature profile of the lake’s vertical watercolumn during each trip, and a secchi disk wasemployed to obtain secchi disk transparency(SDT) measurements. A secchi disk is a heavy

Water Quality & Clarity 2.3

Lake association volunteersmeasuring Schroon Lake waterclarity, or “secchi depths”

13

Schroon Lake is an approximately 4,000-acre lake situated in the eastern region of New

York State’s Adirondack Park. It is 9 miles longand the orientation of the lake is north-south withthe Schroon River serving as its primary inlet on thenorth end and also as its outlet on the south end.The lake has two distinct basins separated by the“narrows”, and it is bounded by two counties (EssexandWarren) and three townships (Chester, Horicon,and Schroon). It is part of theHudsonRiver drainagesystem and possesses amean depth of roughly 56feet and a maximum depth of 152 feet.

Possessing a 24.8-mile long shoreline, the lake wasformed by glacial rubble damming an ancient valley.The valley was created by the subsidence of itsunderlying bedrock between two parallel faults(called a graben). The lake bottom consists ofPaleozoic rock which once laid over the Adirondackanorthosite (Miller, W.J. 1918).

Thewatershed area of Schroon Lake is approximately202,575 acres and it ranges in elevation from 807feet at the lake surface to 4,857 feet at the summitof Dix Mountain located roughly 15 miles north ofthe lake. Roughly 2% of the watershed area isdeveloped and the remainder is comprised primarilyof forested land (84%) or wetlands (8%).

Schroon Lake is a dimictic lake, mixing (turningover) twice a year, once in the spring and once inthe fall. Even though the lake possesses amoderatelyhigh mean depth, there is still a relatively extensivearea of littoral zone present around its perimeter.In general, the near-shore depth tends to dropmoreprecipitously on the eastern shore than on thewestern, and the lake bottom consists primarilyof sand, clay, gravel, rock, cobble and copropelmuck. Copropel sediments are finely grained andconsist of a mixture of humus material, fine plantfragments, algal remains, grains of quartz andmica,spore and pollen relics, and the exoskeletonfragments of dead aquatic invertebrates.

The flushing rate of Schroon Lake has been estimatedat 2.5 times per year by the New York StateDepartment of Environmental Conservation(NYSDEC) and at 1.75 times per year by MarketDecisions, Inc. of South Portland, Maine (Market

Decisions. December 1992). It receives directhydrologic influence from at least 12 major andminor inlets. Themost significant tributaries to thelake are the Schroon River, Alder Brook, SpectacleBrook, Sucker Brook, Mill Brook, Thurman PondOutlet, Horseshoe Pond Outlet, and Rogers Brook(refer to Map 1). In addition to surface watercontributions from tributaries, the lake also receiveshydrologic influence fromprecipitation, groundwaterseepage and runoff from the shoreline. The lake’slevel is controlled via gates at the StarbuckvilleDam, which is located approximately five milesdownstream of the lake on the Schroon River.

Many residences and camps are situated along theshoreline of the lake, but the hamlets of SchroonLake on the western shore and Adirondack onthe southeastern shore are the most concentratedpopulation centers. The lake is surrounded, for themost part, by paved or gravel roads which, in someareas (e.g., East Shore Drive), are located within afew feet from thewater’s edge. In addition, sectionsof Route 9 and the Northway (I-87) run parallel tothe lake’s western shoreline for roughly 8 miles.

The lake enjoys a surface water classification ofAA(t), meaning its “best intended uses” includewater for drinking, culinary or food processingpurposes, contact recreation, and trout survival.Public bathing beaches are located near the businessdistrict of Schroon Lake and in the hamlet ofAdirondack. A number of non-profit organizationsoperate private retreats on the lake, the largest ofthese being the various summer camps administeredby Word of Life Ministries.

In addition tomooring docks and launch sites ownedby riparian landowners, the lake is accessed by anumber of larger private and public boat launchsites. The NYSDEC operates three launch sites.One is situated at the Eagle Point State Campsite,a second at the Scaroon Manor day-use facility,and the third at the southern tip of the lake in thetownship of Horicon. The Town of Schroonmaintainsa smaller public launch site at the end of DockStreet, in the center of the Village of Schroon Lake.One private marina, the Schroon Lake Marina(formerly the Maypine Marine), is situated at thenorthern end of the lake.

2.2 Lake Characteristics

16

on the northern shore of the lake. Second, the inflowof water from several tributaries (including theSchroon River) into the northern end of the lakecontinually introduces suspendedparticulatematerialinto the water column of the north basin. Thismaterial decreases water clarity by partially filteringout sunlight penetration into the water column. Theresulting effect is a decrease in water clarity.

ORTHO & TOTAL PHOSPHORUSTotal phosphorus (TP) measurements includeorganically bound phosphates, condensedphosphates, andorthophosphates, andeach water samplecollectedwas analyzed forTP. The term phosphateis sometimes usedinterchangeably (anderroneously) with the termphosphorus. Phosphatesare chemical compoundsthat contain the elementphosphorus.

Since phosphorus is themost limiting nutrient inNew York State lakes, itusually serves as the focusofmost nutrient abatementstrategies. Phosphorus is measured in parts perbillion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (ug/L) and TPlevels greater than 20 ppb are often found in bodiesof water with significant algal growth. Conversely,oligotrophic lakes normally have TP levels less than10 ppb.

Ortho phosphorus (OP) is themost readily availableform of phosphorus to aquatic plants and algae,and it was alsomeasured in the samples collected.It is the form of phosphorus used in fertilizers.Common cultural sources ofOPmay include fertilizerrunoff, human waste from failing septic systems,effluent from sewage treatment plants that donot employ tertiary treatment, and detergentwastewater (Note: The impacts of these sourcesare discussed in Chapter 3). Some natural sourcesinclude leachate from phosphorus-rich bedrockand decomposing organic matter.

Lakewater total phosphorus concentrations (Figures1 through 3 in Appendix A) suggest that SchroonLake is an oligotrophic lake. Average TP readings

in August for north basin epilimnetic and hypolimneticwater samples collected during the fifteen-yearperiod that AE has been studying the lake were 6.8and 6.9 ppb, respectively. South basin Augustphosphorus concentrations exhibited an epilimneticTP average of 5.3 ppb, and a hypolimnetic TPaverage of 5.2 ppb.

The north basin epilimnetic TP levelswere almost always higher than the southbasin epilimnetic levels. A review ofFigure 3, which plots both north andsouth surface water TP readings,suggests that the epilimentic TP levelsof Schroon Lake have changed relativelylittle over the past fifteen years.

Schroon Lake basin and tributary waterOP concentrations were all within

expected ranges, and sinceOPwas rarely detectableat the 1 ppb level in lakewater samples this suggeststhat available phosphorus is rapidly captured byalgae, thus supporting the conclusion thatphosphorus is the nutrient limiting algal growth inSchroon Lake.

NITRATE & TOTAL NITROGENTotal nitrogen (TN) is a measure of all nitrogenpresent, including that bound in cellular materials.Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient required byall living plants and animals for building protein,and as such, it influences the productivity of aquaticsystems. Measured in ppm or milligrams per liter(mg/L), TN concentrations are usually less than 1mg/L in most of our relatively pristine Adirondacklakes, with concentrations in the neighborhoodof 0.1 to 0.6 mg/L being commonly found.

Readily available plant nutrients are mainly nitrite(NO2), nitrate (NO3) and ammonia (NH4), with nitratenormally playing the most significant role. Nitrateoccurs naturally, but it can also be found in

Since phosphorus is the mostlimiting nutrient in New York State

lakes, it usually serves asthe focus of most nutrientabatement strategies.

15

plastic disk quartered in alternate black and whitethat is used to measure the transparency of lakewater. Both SDT and DO/temperature data wereobtained at the two lake basin testing sites.

The following narrative consists of a summarizedinterpretation of the data collected on SchroonLake from 1995 to 2009. Appendix A consists often graphs (figures). The first six graphs (Figures1-6) plot lake basin data obtained in mid- to late-August on three important trophic parameters (i.e.,secchi disk transparency, total phosphorus andchlorophyll a). Figure 7 is a pictorial illustration of

the conductivity data obtained on the lake’s varioustributaries since 1995. In addition, historical CSLAPdata from 1987 to present has been included in theform of three graphs (Figures 8-10) taken fromthe 2009 CSLAP annual report of Schroon Lake(NYSDEC. 2010).

DISSOLVED OXYGENAn analysis of dissolved oxygen (DO) provides ameasurement of the amount of gaseous oxygen(O2) dissolved in the lakewater. Oxygen is introducedinto the water column by diffusion from thesurrounding air, as a byproduct of photosynthesis,and from aeration caused by turbulence (e.g., waveandwind action). In addition, the various tributariescontribute dissolved oxygen to the lake.

Oxygen is necessary to all forms of life, and aquaticorganisms generally need at least 5.0 parts per

million (ppm) of DO to thrive. Bacteria living inthe bottom sediments of the lake decomposedetritus and other material accumulating there, andthe decomposition process consumes DO. Duringperiods of extended and extensive thermalstratification, DO levels in the hypolimnion -particularly in those areas closest to the lake bottom– can become so depleted that the survival offish is threatened.

The results of fifteen years of DO and temperatureprofiles performed at both the north and south basinlake testing sites clearly indicate that sufficientlevels of DO for fish and other aquafauna can befound throughout the entirewater columnof SchroonLake during August. This is excellent news for thefishery of Schroon Lake and, in part, explainswhy a quality coldwater fishery exists in the lake.

In addition, a review of the DO profiles obtainedsince 1995 indicates a tremendous amount ofsimilarity between the two basins, with respectto both dissolved oxygen concentrations and thermalstratification. The depth of the thermocline (typically5 to 6 meters by mid-August) and the width ofthis zone were remarkably similar from year to yearbetween the two basins. Like many deeperAdirondack lakes, thermal stratification of SchroonLake normally begins sometime in June and persistsuntil fall overturn occurs in November.

SECCHI DISK TRANSPARENCY &TURBIDITYTurbidity is a measurement of the amount ofsuspended materials such as clay, silt, algae andother constituents in water. These particles cancause light to be scattered and absorbed, nottransmitted in straight lines throughwater, and thusthey can affect the transparency of water. Waterclarity or transparency is generally measured usinga secchi disk.

Secchi disk transparency (SDT) readings observedin the south basin were consistently higher thanthose observed in the north during the month ofAugust. North basin SDT readings averaged 15.5feet from 1995 to 2009, while south basin readingsaveraged 17.5 feet during the same time period.

This phenomenon is likely a result of two factors.First, the prevailing wind on Schroon Lake normallyblows from south to north. This means that themajority of the fetch or wind turbulence occurs

The results of fifteen years ofDO and temperature profilesperformed at both the northand south basin lake testingsites clearly indicate thatsufficient levels of DO for fishand other aquafauna can befound throughout the entirewater column of Schroon Lakeduring August.

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shoreline (i.e., Thurman Pond Brook, HorseshoePond Outlet, and Rogers Brook), the variousstreams flowing into Schroon Lake also exhibitedrelatively low levels of conductivity and chloride.It is hypothesized that the elevated readingsobserved in the waters along the western shorelineare attributable to a long-term build-up of chloridesin the soil as a result of the application of de-icingagents by highway crews on the Northway andother nearby roads.

Figure 7 presents tributary conductivity datacollected from 1995-1999, 2000, 2002-2004 and2007. Tributary samples were collected duringthe spring, summer and fall during the time periodof 1995 to 1999. Starting in 2000, tributaries wereonly sampled during mid- to late-August.

The graph clearly shows that during those yearswhen spring, summer and fall sampling occurred,conductivity levels were generally higher duringthe summer on most of the tributaries tested thanduring any other time of the year. This is likelydue to the fact that there is usually less volumeof water (and less flow) in August than there isin the spring or fall, and because of this, electrolytestend to be more concentrated in the water.

In addition, a “first flush” sample collection wasperformed during a late winter storm event in1998, and the resulting data is also included inFigure 7. The “first flush” testing wasrecommended and conducted in order to ascertainthe dynamics of conductivity level fluctuationsassociated with a surge or “pulse” of melt waterduring a warm, rainy spell in March.Water sampleswere collected before (February 26), during (March8) and after (March 17) the storm event, and thesesamples were analyzed for conductivity andchloride.

As expected, a noticeable “spike” in conductivitylevels occurred in water samples collected fromboth Horseshoe Pond and Thurman Pond outletsduring the peak flow of the storm event. Thesetwo tributaries have consistently possessedthe highest conductivity readings observed sincetesting began in 1995, and it is hypothesized thatthe causative agent for these elevated levels isrunoff from road salt-saturated soils adjacentto I-87 and Route 9.

CALCIUMCalcium is ametal found naturally in lake systems.It is an important parameter tomonitor since zebramussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an invasivespecies of bi-valve mollusk discovered in NorthAmerica in 1988, normally require between 10 and12mg/L of calcium in order to form their calcareousshell. Zebra mussels, if accidentally introduced

into a body of water, can cause profound damageto the aquatic ecosystem by filtering massiveamounts of phytoplankton out of the water columnand consequently disrupting the food web.

Itwas found thatSchroonLakesurfacewater calciumconcentrations normally ranged between 4 and 7mg/L. It does appear that surface water calciumlevels have increased somewhat since testingbeganin 1995. For example, mid-August calcium levelsobserved during the first four years (1995-1999)of the fifteen-year study averaged 4.8 mg/L in thenorth basin and 4.6 mg/L in the south basin. Bycomparison, the averagemid-August readings from2005 to 2009 (the last four years of the study) for

A review of historical tributarydata does indeed indicate thatseveral inlets on the westernside of the lake routinelypossess calcium levelspotentially high enough tosupport zebra mussels.Thus, the assumption cannotnecessarily be made based onthe relatively low calciumconcentrations observed inthe basins, that Schroon Lakeis protected from zebramussel colonization.

17

agricultural fertilizers, livestock manure, and insewage and industrial wastes. Nitrates in excessiveamounts can result in negative human health effectslike methemoglobinemia (“blue baby syndrome”)in infants less than six months of age, and theycan contribute significantly to the eutrophicationof a body of water. Most natural lakes exhibit nitrateconcentrations less than 1 mg/L, but in theAdirondacks, nitrate levels are usually below 0.3mg/L.

Total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate (NO3-) levels werewithin normal limits for all of the lake and tributarywater samples analyzed over the fifteen year period.The TN and NO3- levels normally ranged frombetween 0.1 to 0.6 mg/L and from between lt0.01and 0.2mg/L, respectively, and no significant trendswere observed.

PH & ALKALINITYA measure of the number of hydrogen ions insolution, pH is measured on a scale ranging from1 to 14, with a “1” being extremely acidic in natureand “14” being extremely alkaline or “basic” innature. Most lakes are circum-neutral (i.e., a pHrange of “6” to “9”); an acceptable range for mostaquatic organisms. (Note: Pure rainwater has apH of around “5.6”, while acidic precipitationcan have a pH as low as “4”).

Alkalinitymeasures the capacity of a lake to “buffer”or neutralize acidic inputs. Alkalinity usually refers

to the quantity and kinds of compounds presentin an aqueous solution that tend to shift the pHtowards basic. The epilimnetic water of SchroonLake enjoys a circum-neutral pH. Themid-Augustepilimnetic pH for both the north and south basinaveraged 7.2 over the course of the fifteen-yearstudy. The pH of the various tributaries flowinginto the lake ranged between 6.5 and 7.4.

The alkalinity of Schroon Lake water and manyof its tributaries is relatively low, as is the case withmany Adirondackwaters. This unfortunatelymeansthat the buffering capacity of these waters to resistsudden shifts in pH is poor. From 1995 to 2009,the north and south basin, mid-August alkalinityreadings averaged 12.9 and 12.8 mg/L CaCO3,(calcium carbonate) respectively. Waters thatpossess alkalinities less than 10mg/L are consideredpoorly buffered, so these values put Schroon Lakejust above that theoretical threshold.

CONDUCTIVITY, TOTAL DISSOLVEDSOLIDS, & CHLORIDEElectrolytic conductivity is the ability of a solutionto pass an electric current. Current is carriedby inorganic solids, such as nitrate, sulphate,chloride, and phosphate ions, in water, as well ascations such as sodium, magnesium, calcium,iron, and aluminum. High specific conductancelevels can sometimes be indicative of pollutionfrom sources like septic or salt leachate. Thisis because chlorides (Cl-), which are present inroad de-icing agents (e.g., calcium chloride, sodiumchloride, and magnesium chloride) and humanwaste are electrolytic in nature.

Specific conductance is measured in microSiemens per centimeter (uS/cm). Soft water lakeshave relatively few dissolved ions, generallyresulting in conductivity readings less than 100uS/cm. Hard water lakes often have conductivitylevels higher than 300 uS/cm.

Comparatively speaking, Schroon Lake basinconductivity and chloride levels fall within normallimits for the majority of our soft water Adirondacklakes, with basin samples always registering lessthan 100 uS/cm.

With the exception of the Schroon River and thosetributaries that enter the lake along its western

It is hypothesized that theelevated readings observed inthe waters along the westernshoreline are attributable to along-term build-up of chloridesin the soil as a result of theapplication of de-icing agents byhighway crews on the Northwayand other nearby roads.

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Thewater level of Schroon Lake is controlledby the Starbuckville Dam. The dam is ownedby the Schroon Lake Park District (SLPD),which is a legislatively appointed board withrepresentatives from the towns of Chester,Horicon and Schroon. The SLPDwas formedby an act of the New York State Legislatureset forth in Chapter 688 of the Laws of 1955,and it makes decisions regarding water levelmanipulation and must approve anyconstruction work to the dam. It is a taxdistrict and the owners of the roughly 2,250properties situated within 1,500 feet of theshoreline pay an annual assessment tosupport the activities of the district.

According to Joe Koch of the SLPD, theaverage annual river flow over the dam isabout 680 cubic feet per second (cfs). Thecrest elevation of the spillway is 805.7 feet.In the summer, when the lake level at thedam exceeds 806.2 feet the gates willautomatically adjust every 15 minutes, asneeded. From October 15 to May 15, thegates are taken off of automatic and they areleft completely open. In the case of high

water conditions, such as in the springduring snowmelt or a heavy rain, the gateswill be placed back on automatic and willalso be adjusted manually, as needed, toavoid flooding both upstream anddownstream. There is also a fish laddersituated at the dam which allows upstreammigration of trout and salmon into SchroonLake. This ladder was designed by the DECand Christie Engineering and it provides a4.3-foot elevation lift from the bottom ofthe ladder to the top.

The primary objective of the Schroon LakePark District is tomaintain an almost constantwater level of 806 feet for the lake. This isno small feat given the size of the SchroonLake watershed. Stable lake water level isextremely important to the ecological viabilityof the lake, as a whole, and to wetlands inparticular. The integrity of fish spawning andnursery areas, plus the habitat ofmany speciesof amphibians, reptiles, aquatic and wetterrestrial plants, waterfowl, marsh birds, andaquatic insects all depend heavily on arelatively stable lake level environment.

In addition, the recreational,commercial and aestheticvalues of the lake can beimpacted by lake levelfluctuations. Access to thelake can become difficult oreven impaired and bankdestabilization can occurwhenthe lake level is erratic,resulting in excessive shorelineerosion. The property ofriparian landowners (e.g.,docks, dock houses, beaches,lake fronts, retaining walls,etc.) can also be damaged ifproper lake levels are notresponsibly maintained.

Lake Water Level 2.4

Starbuckville Dam on the Schroon Rivercontrols Schroon Lake's water level

the north and south basins were 6.7 and 6.1mg/L, respectively. It is not known why thecalcium levels of Schroon Lake have graduallyincreased, but this change should continue tobe monitored.

Even though there does appear to be anoticeable increase in calcium levels over thepast fifteen years, these relatively lowconcentrations in the lake water suggest thatSchroon Lake is still at low riskfor large-scale zebra musselcolonization. However, the fairlyrecent discovery of zebramussels in Lake George - awater body with calcium levelscomparable to Schroon Lake– coupled with the fact that itappears that the calcium levelsin the lake are graduallyincreasing should certainly actas a warning.

Zebra mussels in the relativelyshort period of time that theyhave been in North America,have exhibited the ability toadapt much quicker thanoriginally expected to theenvironmental conditions of ourregion. It is nowwidely believedby scientists that the environmental tolerancesof zebra mussels are much broader thananticipated, and that this exotic species hasthe ability to take advantage of certain areaswithin a water body (e.g., mouth of a streampossessing high calcium levels) to thrive.

A review of historical tributary data does indeedindicate that several inlets on the westernside of the lake routinely possess calcium levelspotentially high enough to support zebramussels.Thus, the assumption cannot necessarily bemade based on the relatively low calciumconcentrations observed in the basins, thatSchroon Lake is protected from zebra musselcolonization.

CHLOROPHYLL ASchroon Lake surface water samples collectedduring the fifteen study years were analyzedfor chlorophyll a, a plant pigment that scientists

oftenmeasure to indirectly assess algal biomass.A review of the data collected during this timeperiod indicates that there appears to be a long-term trend of increasing chlorophyll a levelsin the epilimnion of both lake basins duringmid-August (see Figures 4 and 5 in Appendix B).While the increase over time appears to onlybe slight, this parameter should continue to bemonitored in order to ascertain the nature ofthis change.

Despite this observation, the amount ofchlorophyll a present in the surface waters ofSchroon Lake is certainly still at normal levelsfor a lake with its morphological and chemicalcharacteristics. Mid-August north and southbasin chlorophyll a levels from 1995 to 2009averaged 3.79 ug/l and 3.54 ug/l, respectively.

SULFATESulfate levels normally observed in Adirondacklakes not significantly impacted by atmosphericdeposition normally range between 1 and 3mg/l. All of the sulfate analyses performedon samples obtained from the lake water andtributary water stations indicated levels lessthan 3 mg/l, with most samples ranging inbetween 1 and 2 mg/L. These data supportthe theory that Schroon Lake does not appearto be suffering from the negative impacts ofacid deposition.

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a total of twenty-one gangs of multifilament gillnets at various locations throughout the lake. Theobjective of the netting was two-fold. First, it washoped that some idea of the growth rate of thejuvenile lake trout population in Schroon Lake couldbe ascertained from length, weight and age (fromcollected scale samples) data. Second, DECfisheries personnel collected lake trout and yellowperch specimens to be sent to the Departmentof Health (DOH) lab for fish tissue analysis. Theseanalyses were part of the state’s toxic substancemonitoring program.

A survey of the lake’s fishery community is tentativelyscheduled for the summer of 2010. The objectiveof the survey will be to obtain current insight intothe growth rates of salmonids and to collect fishfor the state’s ongoing toxic substancemonitoringprogram.

PHYTOPLANKTON (ALGAE)Phytoplankton or algae aremicroscopic plants thatlive in the open waters of lakes and ponds andthey serve as an important food source for manyaquatic organisms. Understanding the characterand function of the phytoplankton community is akey component to understanding thedynamics of any lake system andits food web. A limited study ofthe phytoplankton community ofSchroon Lakewas performed duringthe summers of 2008 and 2009.Since limited historical data on thispopulation exists, the primaryobjective of the study was to assistin the creation of a scientific databasethat could be used as a historicalbenchmark to compare the resultsof future phytoplankton monitoringefforts with.

Most species of algae do not rootto the lake bottom or attachthemselves to other objects, but rather float freelythroughout the water column of the lake. Likerooted, vascular plants, algae produce dissolvedoxygen and are nutrient-limited in their growth.Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are also organismsthat float freely throughout the water column andpossess photosynthetic capabilities. Unlike greenand yellow-brown algae, however, blue-green algaeare not “true” algae, but instead are a type ofbacteria.

The abundance and species composition of algaecan have significant implications with regard toboth the water clarity and quality of any given bodyof water. Since there is normally a strong statisticalcorrelation between secchi disk transparency (SDT)and algal biomass, with both parameters usuallyfollowing predictable seasonal patterns, a changein the composition of the phytoplankton communitymay result in decreasedwater clarity and increasednutrient loading. These changes, if observed, wouldlikely occur during the summer, as algaemetabolizemore efficiently under higher water temperatures.Since algae utilize nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)directly from the water column for photosynthesis,the higher the nutrient concentrations the more“productive” algae become. In the spring and fall,

when water temperatures arecooler and total phosphorus(TP) levels are lower, algalbiomass decreases and watertransparency increases.

Phytoplankton were collectedonAugust 25, 2008 andAugust27, 2009 via surfacewater grabsampling at both the north andsouth lake basin testing sites,and these samples wereimmediately preserved and

shipped to Aquatic Analysts in Washington forlaboratory analysis.

Over the two-year research project, a total of thirty-three species of phytoplanktonwere identified fromthe Schroon Lake collections. In addition, oneunidentified flagellate specieswas observed. Thosespecies documented were: Achnanthesminutissima, Aphanothece sp., Anabaena flos-aquae, Anabaena planctonica, Ankistrodesmus

Since algae utilize nutrients(phosphorus, nitrogen) directlyfrom the water column forphotosynthesis, the higher thenutrient concentrations the more“productive” algae become.

Chrysophaerella

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FISHERIESSchroon Lake serves as a very important regional

fisheries resource. It is classified and managedas a two-tier fishery, which means that bothcoldwater and warmwater fish species are presentand abundant. The lake provides excellentlargemouth and smallmouth bass and northernpike fishing, and it supports a relatively healthysalmonid (lake trout and landlocked salmon) fishery.In addition, anglers enjoy spring and summer brownbullhead fishing on the lake and several speciesof panfish are extensively fished for throughout theentire year.

As a publicly-accessible body of water, the NewYork State Department of EnvironmentalConservation (DEC) has a hand in managing thefisheries resources of the lake. Part of theirinvolvement includes stocking lake trout andlandlocked salmon raised in state fish hatcheriesin northern New York. The lake trout come from

the Chateauguay state fish hatchery and are theRaquette Lake strain and the landlocked salmoncome from the Lake Clear state fish hatcheryand are the Little Clear Pond strain.

On an annual basis, the DEC stocks spring yearlinglake trout (LT) off of Taylor Point and spring yearling

landlocked salmon (LLS) off of the town of Schroon-owned launch site in the village. The LT normallyrange between 7 and 8 inches long and the LLS

are usually between 6 and 8 inches in length.Historical records indicate that since 2000, roughly3,100 LLS and 6,600 LT have been stocked eachspring (mid-May to early June) into the lake.Stocking also occurred each year prior to 2000,but the actual number of fish being stocked intothe lake varied somewhat from one year to thenext.

The current DEC fish management plan directingthe state’s stocking policy for Schroon Lake wasdeveloped in 1997. This plan calls for a LLS stockingrate of 1.0 smolt/acre and a LT stocking rate of 1.6spring yearlings/acre (Preall, R.J. 1997).

Several findings are stated in the DEC fishmanagement plan as they relate to the salmonidpopulation of the lake. One finding is that laketrout growth has declined since the 1960’s andthat landlocked salmon growth rates are slow.In addition, the plan narrative indicates thatapproximately 40% of the lake trout populationis ofwild origin and that natural reproductive successappears to have improved since the 1950’s. Thefish management plan notes that it is suspectedthat 5-10%of the lake’s LLSpopulation is comprisedof wild salmon.

The last DEC survey of the lake was performed onJuly 31-August 2, 1989 when fisheries staff placed

2.5 Aquatic Life

The lake provides excellentlargemouth and smallmouth bassand northern pike fishing, and itsupports a relatively healthysalmonid (lake trout and land-locked salmon) fishery.

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data relative to the zooplankton communityof Schroon Lake. The impetus for the studywas a growing concern on the part of manyfishermen for the “balance” and structureof the fish community.

Fish production ultimately depends onproduction at lower trophic levels, andinterrelation-ships between planktivorous(“plankton-eating”) fish growth andzooplankton abundance have been welldocumented. It has even been suggestedby some researchers that zooplankton sizeand abundance can be used as a predictiveindex in separating lakes on the basis offish community structure (Mills et. al. 1987).

Most zooplankton range from 0.5 to 1.0 mm(millimeters) in length, and feed on algae.There are two main types of crustaceanzooplankton, cladocerans and copepods.The relative abundances of zooplankton, interms of density, vary greatly from lake tolake. The density can be as low as <1individual per liter in oligotrophic waters andas high as 500 individuals per liter in eutrophiclake systems. Cladocerans tend to be moreabundant in summer, probably due to thegreater availability of food, while copepods,which are generally perennial, exhibit activeover-wintering populations.

The amount and type of algae in a lake areheavily dependent upon the predatoryeffectiveness of zooplankton. Thiseffectiveness is dependent on the zooplanktonspecies present in the lake at any given timeand their average size. The larger thezooplankter the more algae it can ingest andassimilate. The size and species ofzooplankton in turn are often reflective of thetype of fish present in any given lake systemand the extent to which the fish communityutilizes the zooplankton for food.

During years in which a lake is dominated byan overabundance of adult planktivorous fishor a “bumper crop” of young-of-the-year(YOY) fish during the summer, it is possibleto note observable population shifts withinthe zooplankton community as a result ofincreased predation by these fish. In general,fish select themore visible, larger zooplankton

species such as Daphnia, thus allowing foran increase in the relative abundance of smallerzooplankton species.

A well-established piscivorous (“fish-eating”)fish population, such as walleye or lake trout,containing a plentiful number of individualsof sufficient size to effectively controlplanktivores is thus highly desirable, particularlyin a deep oligotrophic or mesotrophic bodyof water. Planktivorous fish species leftunchecked by natural predation have the

capability of exhibiting explosive growthcycles. A commonly noticed result of suchan overabundance of planktivores is “stunting”of growth within the population.

Another possible effect of an overabundanceof planktivorous fish is a general decline oflake water clarity. As heavy and continualforaging on zooplankton occurs, thezooplankton community eventually losesits ability to effectively control phytoplankton(algae). As a result, phytoplankton populationsincrease. This increase in phytoplanktonmaysubstantially alter lake water clarity, and asa consequence, localized or even lake-widealgal blooms may occur.

In order to evaluate the zooplanktoncommunity, samples were collected over athree-year period. Samples were taken in1995 (June 14, August 22 and October 10),1996 (June 15, July 24 and August 27) and

Daphnia, a common species ofzooplankton, greatly magnified

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falcatus, Asterionella formosa, Chlamydomonassp., Chromulina sp., Chroococcus minimus,Chrysococcus rufescens, Chrysosphaerella sp.,Cocconeis placentula, Cosmarium sp., Crucigeniaquadrata, Cryptomonas erosa, Cyclotella stelligera,Dinobryonbavaricum,Dinobryon sertularia, Fragilariacrotonensis, Glenodinium sp., Gloeocystis ampla,Gomphonema angustatum, Hemidinium sp.,Kephyrion littorale, Nitzschia dissipata, Oocystispusilla, Peridiniumcinctum,Quadrigula closterioides,Rhizosolenia eriensis, Rhodomonas minuta,Sphaerocystis schroeteri, Synedra rumpens andTabellaria fenestrate (LaMere, S.A. 2008 andLaMere, S.A. 2009).

A total of twenty-eight species of phytoplanktonwere documented in the 2008 Schroon Lakesamples. Twenty-one species of algae wereobserved in the collections taken from the southbasin of the lake and nineteen species wereobserved in the north basin.

Themost common algal species in the south basinwere Rhodomonas minuta (29.5%), Achnanthesminutissima (20%), andDinobryon sertularia (15.2%).In the north basin, Rhodomonas minuta (35.4%)and Dinobryon sertularia (19.5%) dominated thecollections. Rhodomonas minuta is a verywidespread alga (probably themost common alga

in the U.S.) and it is found under a wide range ofecological conditions (LaMere, S.A. 2008).

The results of the 2009 sampling were very similarto those observed in 2008, with a total of twenty-five species of phytoplankton identified in the fieldcollections. As in the previous year, Rhodomonasminuta and Dinobryon sertularia were two of themost dominant species of algae found in both ofthe basins (LaMere, S.A. 2009).

The two basinswere very similar in terms of speciescomposition and abundance, and the speciescomposition was, for the most part, normal for alate oligotrophic or early mesotrophic lake. Mostof the species in Schroon Lake are typical ofoligotrophic lakes, with a few minor exceptions.Fragilaria crotonensis, Anabaena flos-aquae andAnabaena planctonica are all eutrophic algae, andA. flos-aquae can potentially be toxic if it blooms.This particular species, however, was found in verylow abundance andwas only observed in the southbasin collections.

Trophic State Indices (TSI) are used to assessthe degree of eutrophication of a body of waterand they frequently are used to compare lakes.TSI values range in most lakes from 0 to 100,with 0 corresponding to the lowest productivityand 100 corresponding to the highest (Carlson,R.E. 1977). Using these values, the densities ofalgae in the Schroon Lake collections indicate lowendmesotrophic conditions. In 2008, the TSI was41.3 and 35.2 for the north and south basin,respectively. The TSI in 2009 for the north basinwas 34.1 and for the south basin it measured 39.8.With only two years of data available it is difficultto assess whether any significant trends arenoticeable within the phytoplankton community,but it is apparent that the species assemblagespresent in the lake are highly reflective of the currentwater quality condition of Schroon Lake.

ZOOPLANKTONZooplankton are microscopic crustaceans whichinhabit lakes, ponds and rivers. Research hasshown that a sound way to indirectly evaluate fishcommunity structure is to examine the compositionand quality of the food web, particularly thezooplankton community. A limited study of thelake’s zooplankton community was performedduring a three-year time span from 1995 to 1997.The primary objective of this study was to obtain

The amount and type of algaein a lake are heavily dependentupon the predatoryeffectiveness of zooplankton.This effectiveness is dependenton the zooplankton speciespresent in the lake at any giventime and their average size.The larger the zooplankterthe more algae it can ingestand assimilate.

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Wetlands are transition areas between theaquatic and the terrestrial environmentwhere the water table is normally at or nearthe land’s surface or the land is covered byshallowwater. They are diverse ecosystemsand serve as habitat for a variety oforganisms, including many species ofaquatic and “wet terrestrial” plants, smallmammals (e.g., muskrat, beaver, mink, etc.),marsh birds, waterfowl, insects andinvertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles.Wetlands andwet terrestrial areas also playa vital role in helping to sustainmany speciesof migratory game birds (e.g., woodcock)and waterfowl during their migration.

Approximately 14% of Schroon Lake’sshoreline land coverage is comprised ofwetlands. These areas are visible inLockwoodBay, Terra Alta, MeadowCove, the shallow region near theHoricon state boat launch site andother locations around the lake.

Unique and vital ecological resources,wetlands are among the most productivenatural ecosystems on earth. They helpfilter and purify water, assist with nutrientrecycling, and serve as effective, naturalbuffers to erosion and flooding. In additionto these important ecological values,wetlands also serve as unique habitatsareas for amphibians. With world-widedeclines in amphibian populations beingdocumented and studied, protecting thesediverse ecological zones has become evenmore critical.

It has been documented that thirty-fivespecies of amphibians and reptiles residewithin the Adirondacks, representing sevenamphibian and five reptile families (Saunders,D.A. 1989).

It is not known howmany of these speciesare present specifically within the SchroonLake watershed, but certainly at least amajority of them would be expected tooccupy the various habitat types present.During the conduct of field work andresearch onSchroon Lake, AE has observeda majority of the frog and turtle speciesnoted in the above list. Every effort shouldbemade to not only protect the ecologicalintegrity and species diversity of thesewetland areas, but also to inventory thespecies present within them. This couldbe accomplished at some point in the futureby retaining a herpetologist to perform alimited study of this community.

Approximately 14% of SchroonLake’s shoreline land coverage iscomprised of wetlands.

Wetlands 2.6

The southern tip (and outlet) of Schroon Lake, has a largeand diverse wetland complex. (Google Earth aerial image)

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1997 (June 27, July 23 and August 26). Samplescollected in 1995 and 1997 were obtained duringthe day, whereas the 1996 samples were collectedin the early morning between 12:00 and 2:00am.

The purpose of the early morning collectionswas to selectively sample the invertebratecommunity of Schroon Lake. Since an analysis ofsamples collected in 1995 indicated a relativelylowmean zooplankton size, the decisionwasmadeto try to determinewhether this phenomenonmightbe due to either predation by invertebrates (e.g.,Chaoborus) or predation by a strong year-class ofYOY fish. The phantom midge, Chaoborus spp.,is a phototaxic-negative invertebrate that migratesup into the water column from the benthos (lakebottom) at night in order to prey upon zooplankton,and it is one of the more likely species that mightfeed on zooplankton enough to affect thecommunity’s mean size. Due to its nocturnalbehavior, this species is often not found inzooplankton samples routinely obtained duringthe daylight hours, and thus specialized samplingstrategies (e.g., vertical towing at night) are requiredto collect them.

All samples were collected by vertically “hand-towing” an 80 micron mesh Wisconsin-styleplankton net through thewater column at a constantrate of about onemeter per second. Three separatetows (aliquots) weremade at each of the north andsouth lake basin sampling stations during eachvisit to the lake and these samples were combinedinto one sample container (Note: The south basinwas not sampled on June 27 and July 23 of 1997).All collected samples were immediately preservedin a sugar-formalin solution (Haney and Hall 1973)and then transported to the Cornell UniversityBiological Field Station on Bridgeport, NY formicroscopic analysis utilizing theCAPAS (Computer-assisted Plankton Analysis System).

Thirteen species of zooplankton were observed inthe collections over the three years of research.Species present were Bosmina longirostris,Ceriodaphnia quadrangula, Chydorus sphaericus,Cyclops bicuspidatus, Daphnia galeatamendotae,Daphnia pulicaria, Daphnia retrocurva,Diaphonasoma spp., Diaptomusminutus, Epischuralacustris, Holopedium gibberum, Mesocyclopsedax and Tropocyclops prasinus. There weretremendous similarities in terms ofmean body size,

species composition and relative abundance insample collections obtained from the north andsouth basins. Interestingly, the mean size and therange in the mean body size of zooplanktonincreased progressively from 1995 to 1997.

The 1995 research yielded results that weresomewhat concerning in that collections ofzooplanktonmade at the north basin between Juneand August indicated that the mean body size ofzooplankton ranged between 0.45 and 0.50 mm(LaMere, S.A. 1995). Mills et. al. (1987) discoveredthat in lakes where crustacean zooplankton sizeis low (< 0.8 mm) in both the spring and mid-summer, that it is reasonable to assume that a highabundance of planktivorous fish is responsible forthe predominance of small zooplankton.

In 1996, the observed range of mean body sizein north basin zooplankton was between 0.64 and0.71 mm (LaMere, S.A. 1996), and by 1997 therange had further increased to between 0.63 and1.09 mm (LaMere, S.A. 1997). The substantialincrease in this size range over the course of thethree years is significant, and it suggests thatwhatever heavy predation thatmight have occurredon the zooplankton community in 1995 had relaxedsomewhat by 1996 -97.

Predation by a strong year-class of YOY fish(possibly yellow perch) is a plausible explanationfor the depressed size structure of the 1995zooplankton community of Schroon Lake. It isunclear, however, why there were no significantseasonal changes in zooplanktonmean body sizeduring the 1995 sampling season. If a relativelystrong year-class of perch was present during thatyear, it would be expected that predation on large-bodied species like Daphnia would be observedin the spring and summer, but not in the fall.

Additional and more current research into thezooplankton community and the forage baseand game fish populations of the lake might yieldenlightening information. While it appears that by1997 the zooplankton community had “rebounded”from what might have likely been a period ofintensive predation, it is not clear whether this isthe case or not. Since the relationship betweena healthy fishery and a quality zooplanktoncommunity is well-documented, the importanceof understanding this dynamic as it pertains toSchroon Lake is equally important.

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where an angler continues to fish even after catchingtheir limit of fish. If they catch a new fish that isbigger than one currently in their live well, they areallowed to throw out the smaller fish in place of thebigger one. State law allows for this type of activity.During the regular bass season, a single, uninjuredlargemouth or smallmouth bass can be releasedfrom an aerated, properly functioning live well.However, during the pre-season, catch-and-releaseregulations apply, and bass that are caught mustbe released unharmed back into the body of waterimmediately after being caught.

The concern is that this practice can result inmortality to released fish, and if done regularlyon a large-scale basis, the bass population couldeventually begin to suffer. Thus, in order tominimizethe potential negative impact of having a basstournament on Schroon Lake, it would berecommended that an agreement with tournamentorganizers be struck to not allow this practice. Ifthis concern cannot be satisfactorily addressedby tournament organizers then it might be bestto not encourage nor even support this type ofevent at all.

Another event that has become the subject of somedebate is the practice of snowmobile drag racesbeing held on Schroon Lake during the winter.After a four year absence, these races returnedto the area in the winter of 2010. The two-dayevent in February is sponsored by the EasternSpeed Association.

The primary concern is about the potential problemsassociated with gasoline, oil or other automotivefluids leaking out of the snowmobile and ontothe snow and ice, eventually making its way intothe water column. A secondary concern is overexhaust emissions. Many snowmobiles are stillpowered by two-stroke engines, although the trendsince 2003 has been toward the production of four-stroke engines. Like boat motors, two-strokesnowmobile engines are less efficient and morelikely to pollute than four-stroke engines are. Inthe last decade, several manufacturers have beenexperimenting with less pollutingmotors, and havebeen putting them into production.

There is no way of accurately assessing whetherthis is a valid concern or not without having officialsfrom town government or their designees physicallyinspect the area in and around the raceway and

staging area during and after the races . A verificationprocess would be prudent for future races and isrecommended. It would also be beneficial if raceorganizers were required to have a plan in placeto address accidental spills quickly and effectively.Exercising common sense and using due diligenceoftenminimizes the potential risk of having otherwisebeneficial recreational events.

Recreational boating is a popular activity on SchroonLake, and the amount of boaters using the lakehas been increasing over the past decade. Inthe late 1990’s, some members of the SchroonLake Association board of directors expressedconcern over the amount of boating traffic onthe lake, and they wondered if the level of use wasappropriate for the size of the lake and whetherand to what extent recreational boating and jet skiuse might affect the environmental quality of thelake.

As a result, during the summer of 2001 AdirondackEcologists, LLC was contracted to perform awatercraft use survey of Schroon Lake. The primaryobjective of the survey was to obtain data on thecharacter and volume of boating traffic experiencedon the lake during two typical summer weekends(July 14-15 and August 4-5). A secondary objectivewas to determine where watercraft users werecoming from to utilize the lake.

In order to attempt to cost-effectively determinethe level of watercraft activity on the lake, a researcheffort comprised of two distinctly different phaseswas developed and implemented. The first phaseconsisted ofmonitoring all watercraft launch activityat both the NYSDEC launch site in the Town ofHoricon and the Town of Schroon-owned launchsite located in the north basin on both of theaforementioned weekends.

Recreational boating is apopular activity on Schroon Lake,and the amount of boaters using thelake has been increasing over thepast decade.

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Water-based recreational endeavors inAdirondack towns and villages fortunate enoughto have beautiful lakes within their boundariesare a very important component to the localeconomy. The natural character and aestheticappeal of the Adirondacks attracts thousands ofvisitors each year, many of them lake-users.

Schroon Lake is a recreational “Mecca”,possessing a multitude of actual and potentialuses. The lake is utilized primarily for recreationalpurposes such as boating (motorized and non-motorized), fishing (including ice fishing), waterskiing and swimming. In addition, some lakeusers like to ice skate and cross country ski onthe lake during the winter months when the iceis frozen, and some waterfowl hunting occuron a limited basis in the more remote areas ofthe lake during the fall. With approximately 50miles of groomed trails in the immediate area,snowmobiling has also become a popular activityon and around Schroon Lake during the winter.

In general, the recreational use and enjoymentof a lake is a benefit for both the local economyand the lake itself. As long as the recreationaluses are appropriate for and in keeping withthe nature and character of the water body, a

healthy balance can bemaintained between therecreational value and ecological integrity ofthe lake. Local communities realize the importanceof a healthy lake to tourism and that appreciationoften wisely manifests itself in efforts to betterprotect and manage it.

The excellent fishing on Schroon Lake attractsa significant number of local and visiting anglersto the region each year, and it is one of the mostcommon recreational pursuits on the lake. Inaddition, the Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club(SLFGC) sponsors a kids’ fishing derby on thelake each summer (usually the last weekend inJuly) and a ice fishing derby in the winter (usuallythe first weekend in March) which attractshundreds of participants.

In the past few years, therehave been discussionswhether or not to support theexistence of a summer bassfishing tournament onSchroonLake. While it is true that someeconomic benefit couldpossibly be derived locally froma fishing tournament, it is alsopossible that this type of eventcould potentially causedetriment to the basspopulation of the lake.

Some tournaments encouragean arguably unethical practiceknown as “culling” to occur,

2.7 Lake-based Recreation

Local communities realize theimportance of a healthy lake totourism and that appreciation oftenwisely manifests itself in efforts tobetter protect and manage it.

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to be themost popular activity for watercraft users,with 50% of all respondents indicating that it wastheir favorite activity. Fishing was the secondmostpopular activity with 29%of those questioned statingthat angling was their primary reason for usingthe Schroon Lake. Other activities included waterskiing (14%) and sailing and canoeing (2%). Roughly9% of those surveyed indicated that they cometo the lake for all of the above-listed activities.

Two-thirds of the watercraft users surveyed saidthat they come to the lake during the summermonthsonly. The other one-third indicated that they travelto the area on a year-round basis. When askedabout the frequency of visits per year that theymaketo the area, roughly 47% said 1-10 times per year;9% said 11-20 times; and about 44% said morethan 21 times.

Interestingly, only one New York-registered boatsurveyed came from a destination north of SchroonLake. The majority (26%) of the boats surveyedoriginated from the Capital District region, whileroughly 14%came from theGlens Falls/LakeGeorgeregion and another 14%originated from the northernWarren County or southern Essex County areas.

Using the data obtained during the “mobile” surveys,it was calculated that at the height of watercraftactivity there was roughly one boat for every 25acres of water surface available on 8/5 (the busiestday) and roughly one boat per every 88 acres ofwater surface on 7/14 (the slowest day).

An article in the December 1991 edition (Volume11, Issue 4) of Lake Line, a publication put out bythe North American Lake Management Society(NALMS), offered the following guidelines forassessing boating traffic (density) on lakes: lowdensity (> 25 acres/boat); medium density (10-25acres/boat); high density (5-10 acres/boat); and veryhigh density (< 5 acres/boat). Comparing theNALMSguidelines with the data obtained during the survey,it appears that Schroon Lake, at times, falls inbetween the low to medium density groupings forboating traffic.

When evaluating the recreational and aesthetic valueof a body of water, in terms of watercraft usage,there are other factors to consider besides the“volume” of use (i.e., # of acres/boat). Factorslike the size and horsepower of the watercraft usedin the water body, prevailing speed regulations, the

level of noise, the manner in which they are used,and pollution concerns associated with watercraftuse are all issues to be considered.

With the advent of four-cycle outboard engines, thenegative impacts of watercraft, in terms of enginepollution, have been lessened. Due to the fact thattwo-cycle engines accomplish fuel intake and exhaustin the same cycle, they tend to release unburnedfuel along with the exhaust gases. There are over100 hydrocarbon compounds in gasoline, as wellas additives. Given these facts, it is of paramountimportance for the quality of the lake, the organismsthat live in it, and the people who use it that everyeffort bemade to encourage all boaters to use four-cycle engines.

One of the recommended components of futureeducational efforts to protect the lake should beto establish a brochure that could be handed outtowatercraft launchers and lakefront property ownersabout pollution concerns related to boating (e.g.,gasoline and oil, antifouling paints, proper sewagedisposal, etc.) and how to best manage them.

Noise and speed issues associated with watercraftuse have also been a topic of interest with variousorganizations. A couple of years ago the SLAestablished a “noise and speed” committee to studythe existing state and local laws and regulations asthey relate to watercraft noise and speed and todevelop recommendations for addressing these issues(Note: These issueswere identified as itemsof interestby respondents to the lake user survey). The effortsof this group were also supported by the East ShoreSchroon Lake Association, and both organizationshave since passed resolutions supporting theserecommendations. This committee expects toeventually bring their recommendations to the threetowns for further review and possible action.

2001 Shoreline Watercraft Survey (Average number of boats)

66651%

52041%

978%

MotorizedNon MotorPWC

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On each of these weekends (Saturday and Sundayfrom 7:00 am to 7:00 pm), volunteers from theSLAwere enlisted to log and interview all watercraftusers prior to launching. Aware of the fact thatweather often affects the level of boating use, thesurveywas conducted over a period of twoweekendsin order to encompass a time period that wouldhopefully include a variety of weather conditions.

During the survey process, information about thetime and place of launch and the types of watercraftbeing launchedwas obtained. In addition, informationabout thewatercraft users themselveswas obtained.(i.e., place of residence; preferred activities on thelake while utilizing watercraft; and the time of yearthat their watercraft is used and the frequency ofuse).

The second phase of the research consisted of alake-wide count via boat of all watercraft mooredor stored within ten feet of the shoreline betweenthe hours of 6:00 and 8:00 am on each of the twoSaturdays (July 14 and August 5) that the watercraftuse survey was being conducted. In addition, asurvey of all watercraft utilizing the lake between2:00 and 2:45 pm and 5:30 and 6:15 pm on allfour of the weekend days was conducted.

During this “mobile” survey, AE staff and SLAvolunteers traveled the entire length of the lake andlogged the number, type and general location (e.g.,north basin, narrows or south basin) of all watercraftthat were observed in the water, whether movingor stationary. Unoccupied vessels that weremooredwere not counted. The purpose of this surveywas to get an idea of the number of “resident” vesselspotentially available for use on the lake prior tothe onset of “transient” boat launches (i.e., launchesmade at public boat launch facilities).

On average, the Town of Schroon boat launch siteexperienced roughly half the amount of launchactivity that the state launch site in Horicon receives.Furthermore, it was determined that “peak” launch

times normally occurred between 10:00 am and2:00 pm at both of the launch sites and that thebusiest “departure” times (i.e., watercraft leavingthe lake) tended to be between 4:00 and 6:00 pmon sunny, pleasant days and within an hour or soof the onset of a rainstorm. Minimal launch activitywas observed at either of the launch sites duringthe early morning or late afternoon hours. Earlymorning launcheswere normallymade by fishermen,whereas late afternoon launches were usually madeby people operating pontoon boats.

Shoreline surveys (counts) of watercraft on July14 indicated that 666motorized, 524 non-motorized, and 94 personal watercraft (PWC) were presentaround the lake and presumably available for useon the lake by riparian lake users. A redundantsurvey performed on August 4 indicated similarresults with 677motorized, 517 non-motorized and101 PWC being present on or near the lake.

A total of 93 and 132 watercrafts were launched onJuly 14 and 15, respectively, while a total of 152water craft were launched on August 4 and 149were launched on August 5. The “mobile” (in-lake) watercraft survey performed in July and Augustindicated that roughly 85% of the motorizedwatercraft using the lake were boats and 15%werePWC. This correlated well with the launch site datacollected by the SLA volunteers. These volunteersreported that roughly 88% of those motorizedwatercraft put into the lake at the two public launchsites were boats and 12% were PWC.

From a review of the data, it appeared that between50-75% of the motorized boats on the lake on thetwo Saturdays surveyed and a majority of themon the two Sundays surveyed were “transient”.In addition, it appeared that a majority of the PWClogged during the survey were also transient innature.

The southern basin of Schroon Lake seemed topossess more watercraft activity than the northernbasin did during the survey period. Some utilizationof the narrows for fishing and other recreationalendeavors was observed, but predominantly,watercraft used the narrows to travel back and forthin between the two basins.

Responses to the survey questionnaire administeredat the launch sites by the volunteers yielded somevery useful information. Recreational boating appears

Two-thirds of the watercraft userssurveyed said that they come to thelake during the summer months only.

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Northern pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), large-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius), variablepondweed (Potamogeton gramineus), eel grass(Vallisneria americana), water naiad (Najas flexilis),waterweed (Elodea canadensis) and quillwort(Isoetes spp.) were the most abundant speciesobserved overall in the lake. Ribbon-leafpondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus),Richardson’s pondweed (PotamogetonRichardsonii), and the “understory” species bog

rush (Juncus pelocarpus) and leafless watermilfoil (Myriophyllum tenellum) were alsocommonly found. One species observed, littlemilfoil (Myriophyllum alterniflorum), is on the NYSRare Plant List, and as such reasonable effortsneed to be taken to prevent undue damage tothis plant when controlling invasive species. Allof these species are submergent aquatic plants.Other native species observedwere: watershield(Brasenia shreberi), muskgrass (Chara spp.),three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum),spike rush (Eleocharis spp.), water lobelia (Lobeliadortmanna), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis),yellow pond lily (Nuphar luteum), fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), pickerelweed (Pontedariacordata), floating pondweed (Potamogetonnatans), whitestem pondweed (P. praelongus),Robbins pondweed (P. Robbinsii), slenderarrowhead (Sagittaria graminea), common three-square (Scirpus americanus), burreed (Sparganiumspp.) cattail (Typha spp.), sphagnum moss(Fontinalis novae-angliae) and an unidentifiedgrass species.

Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum),hereafter referred to asmilfoil, was first discovered

in Schroon Lake during this survey.This initial sighting took place in thenavigation canal of the Schroon LakeMarina, formerly known as theMaypine Marine, and it precipitatedthe eventual development of aninvasive species managementprogram for the lake. Themanagement programwasdevelopedin conjunction with the SLA, andthe Towns of Chester, Horicon, and

Schroon, and it was initiated in 1996.

The focus of the milfoil program over the pastfifteen years has essentially remained the samesince its inception, with the goal being the controlof milfoil in order to foster the environmental,aesthetic, and recreational values of the lake.While the application of the program has evolvedas necessary and warranted, it still contains twobasic parts - a surveillance (monitoring)component and an eradication (control)component.

The objective of themonitoring component is tofindmilfoil and any other invasive specieswherevertheymight exist in the lake. In order to accomplishthis objective, AE began performing annualinspections of the near-shore littoral zone ofSchroon Lake. In the early years of the program,monitoring consisted of reconnaissanceinspections of selected areas of the lake believedto be at high risk for infestation (i.e., boat launchsites, popular fishing spots, areas adjacent toknown infestations, etc.). In 2000, funding becameavailable to do boat surveys of the entire perimeterof the lake.

The focus of the milfoil programover the past fifteen years has essentiallyremained the same since its inception, withthe goal being the control of milfoil inorder to foster the environmental, aesthetic,and recreational values of the lake.

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Aquatic plants and algae play a crucial rolein the ecology of lakes and ponds. They provideoxygen to aquatic life via the process ofphotosynthesis, and serve as a refuge and foodsource for many types of aquatic organismsincluding juvenile fish, insects, crustaceansand waterfowl.

Rooted aquatic vegetation also provides lakebottom stabilization, and thus acts to preventshoreline erosion and bottom sedimentdisturbance. These plants frequently improvewater clarity by competing with algae foravailable nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.In addition, the presence of aquatic plants inmoderate amounts often add to the value ofproperty around a body of water by offeringaesthetic and recreational (e.g., fishing)opportunities to lake users.

A limited aquatic macrophyte (rooted aquaticplant) survey of Schroon Lake was performedby Adirondack Ecologists, LLC on September22-25, 1995. Therewere two primary objectivesof the survey. The first goal was to determinethe general character of the aquatic plantcommunity of the lake, and the second goalwas to determine whether invasive species like

Eurasian water milfoil had already becomeestablished in the lake.

Rooted aquatic plants are generally groupedinto three classes:1. Emergents (e.g., cattails) are plants which,to a large extent, grow out of the water. Theyare normally found growing in shallow waternear the shoreline.2. Floating-leaved plants (e.g. water lilies andwatershield), as the “label” implies, aremacrophytes which possess leaves that floaton the water’s surface.3. Submergents (e.g., pondweeds, milfoiland waterweed) are plants that grow entirelybeneath the surface of the water. Due totheir photosynthetic requirements, these typesof plants will grow only where underwaterillumination (sunlight penetration) is sufficient.

In order to obtain enough information to definethe makeup of Schroon Lake’s aquatic plantcommunity, nine sites were selected fromaround the lake (four in the north basin, four inthe south basin and one in the narrows). Theselection criteria were based upon typical andunique habitat types to get a diverse cross-section of those species assemblages presentin the lake.

Utilizing a schedule of abundance (% cover)code, the abundance of each aquatic plantspecies encountered along a straight-linetransect from the shoreline out to a depth ofsix feet at several locations within each sitewas estimated. This schedule ranged fromabundant (> 50% cover) to rare (< 5% cover)and allowed for a semi-quantitative analysisof the Schroon Lake aquatic plant community.

A total of thirty-one species of aquaticmacrophytes and onemacroalgae (i.e., Charaspp.) were observed and documented duringthe late September inventory. This numberof species represents excellent species diversity,and the species assemblages encounteredwere typical of those normally present in otherAdirondack lakes with similar geological andmorphological characteristics.

2.8 Aquatic Plants & Invasive Species Management

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Given the size and nature of the infestation aroundthe lake, they were also the only feasiblemanagement techniques worth considering.

Hand harvesting has normally commenced bymid-June and follow-up scouting often continues throughuntil early October. Several divers normally worktogether at each infestation site, and a personworks from a pontoon boat to watch over the diversand to collect any milfoil fragments that might becreated as a result of the harvesting activity. Thework site is cordoned off by dive flags/buoysand at some sites a canoe or kayak is even utilizedto assist with the operation.

In most circumstances (when funding has beenavailable and approval has been given), controlhas been initiated at sites of infestation during thesame year that they have been discovered.Unfortunately, sites that have been discovered toolate in the season to commence control in that yearor areas of infestation that control could not beimplemented in due to funding constraints, had tobe left until such a time asmanagement of the sitecould proceed. For example, Sites #11-13 werediscovered and reported during the summer of2002, but approval and funding to control theseinfestations were not forthcoming until 2004. Thistwo-year delay afforded the milfoil an opportunityto spread significantly in this area, thus makingcontrol that much more difficult.

Funding for milfoil site identification and controlon Schroon Lake has historically been low, butdespite this fact, the most cost-effective andenvironmentally sensitive strategies available havebeen implemented for the management of milfoilin Schroon Lake. In early 2006, AE prepared anuisance aquatic vegetationmanagement plan forthe lake and this plan was incorporated into a grantapplication assembled by Eric Cordis of theWordof Life Institute for the state’s new Aquatic InvasiveSpecies Eradication Grant Program. A three-yeargrant for $28,833.33 was awarded to the Townof Schroon for the implementation of this plan, andwork under the auspices of this grant was initiatedin June of 2006. The funds have allowed forincreasedmanagement of existingmilfoil infestationsin the lake.

Since 2006, when records began to be kept on theamount of milfoil hand harvested from the lake, atotal of two hundred and seventy-five 24” wide by

36” long mesh bags of milfoil and two mesh bagsof curly-leaf pondweed have been removed fromthe lake. The majority of the sites have improved(i.e., less number of plants or decreased plantdensity) each subsequent year of control. However,hand harvesting work continues on many of theknown sites, and efforts continue to identify anynew sites.

The southern-most sites (#11-#13) have historicallypossessed the highest stem density, with 300stems/m2 documented during the first year ofcontrol. These high densities were due primarilyto the fact that funding was not available forhand harvesting and this particular infestation wasallowed to grow unchecked for several years beforecontrol was effectuated. Considerable progresshas beenmade here and over time andwith ongoingvigilance, this site can be expected to continueto improve.

The littoral zone in the area of Terra Alta and theSchroon Lake Marina are two other locationsthat are improving, but they require a lot of attentionthroughout the entire summer each season. Thisis partially due to the type of bottom substratepresent at these locations and the relatively shallowdepth. In addition, themarina provides an optimumgrowthmedium formilfoil.Warmwater temperaturesdue to the shallowness of the mooring canal andthe lack of vegetative cover around its periphery,combined with the continual stirring up of the lakebottom (and the redistribution of nutrients from thesediment) by boats make this location a primegrowth area.

Funding for milfoil site identificationand control on Schroon Lake hashistorically been low, but despitethis fact, the most cost-effectiveand environmentally sensitivestrategies available have beenimplemented for the managementof milfoil in Schroon Lake.

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During the survey process, the littoral zone istraveled in a zigzag fashion and is inspected outto a water depth of roughly 8+ feet (watertransparency-permitting). This survey method isan excellent way of locating beds of mature milfoilplants, and it can sometimes be successfully usedto help identify scattered or individual plants.Normally, however, more extensive and expensivesurvey techniques, such as SCUBA surveys, arewarrantedwhen searching for small-scale, sparsely-established infestations.

In order to helpwith surveillance,a volunteer milfoil watchconsisting of approximately adozen SLA members wasestablished and trained by AEa few years after milfoil was firstdiscovered in 1995, but theactivity level of that groupdiminished over a period of time. A renewed intereston the part of the ESSLA and the SLA in rejuvenatingthis “scout program” surfaced in 2008. This trainedgroup of volunteers worked in coordination withand under the general guidance of AE on selectedaspects ofmilfoil reconnaissance, with the objectivebeing amore complete coverage of the near-shorelittoral zone of Schroon Lake.

As of the end of 2009, the surveillance programhad been responsible for the identification anddocumentation of one curly-leaf pondweed(Potamogeton crispis) infestation and forty-twomilfoil sites in the lake (see Map 2). The majorityof these infestations were located in the northernbasin, with the concentration of these milfoilsites being situated either adjacent to the easternside of Clark Island or along the eastern shorelineof the lake itself. Another significant populationwas also discovered in the southern basin during

the 2002 reconnaissance survey. These sites (#11-#13) are situated in the small bay just northwestof the state boat launch site at the far southernend of the lake.

The milfoil populations have historically rangedin size from a few plants to relatively large, well-established beds consisting of thousands of plants.In some circumstances, the patcheswere obviouslysites that had only recently been colonized andthey were comprised primarily of low-growing,immature milfoil plants. In other cases, the bedswere extensive and very dense. These moreadvanced colonies have served as vector pointsfor the spread of milfoil to adjacent or downwind(or down-current) areas in the lake for quite sometime. Judging from the distribution and extent ofthe various populations, milfoil has certainly been

present in Schroon Lakesince at least the 1980’s(and probably longerthan that), andunfortunately since itsexistence wentundetected for quitesome time, this invasivespecies has had theopportunity to colonizeat multiple sites aroundthe lake.

A relatively small-scalecurly-leaf pondweed

infestation was discovered in Schroon Lake in Juneof 2003 in the navigation channel of the marina.To date, it is the only documented sighting ofthis species in the lake, and thus far it has beenrelatively easy to control at this location as long ascontrol is initiated early in the summer each yearprior to turion detachment. Curly-leaf pondweedis a submersed species that spreads by both turion(specialized overwintering bud) production andfragmentation.

The objective of the control component of theprogram is simple: to eliminate in as timely amanneras possible any invasive aquatic plants that arediscovered. This objective has been addressedvia hand harvesting, and when feasible or needed,the judicious use of benthic barriers. These physicalcontrol techniques were selected as they offeredthe most cost-effective and environmentally-sensitive approach to invasive plant management.

Judging from the distribution andextent of the various populations,milfoil has certainly been presentin Schroon Lake sinceat least the 1980’s

Photo by Barry Rice,sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org

Eurasian Milfoil

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Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin of significantenvironmental concern. Most of the mercurythat accumulates in fish flesh is methyl mercury(MeHg). The concentration of methyl mercury“biomagnifies” as organisms feed at higherlevels of the food web, and thus, older and largerfish that routinely eat other fish and variouslarger organisms tend to possess moreconcentrated levels of MeHg. Because themethyl mercury is predominantly found in thepart of the fish that is eaten, cleaning and cookingmethods do not reduce exposure to this heavymetal.

Exposure to high levels of methyl mercurycan result in damage to the nervous systemand the kidneys. It is even more of a concernfor children and unborn babies because theirnervous systems are still developing. It mayalso affect children’s attention span, memoryand language development.

The Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) actionlevel for mercury in fish is 1.0 ppm (parts permillion) of methyl mercury in the edible portion.High mercury levels have been documentedin the past in the largest lake trout collectedfrom Schroon Lake and tested. In 1984, thelargest lake trout tested possessed 1.43 ppmmethyl mercury, while the average of allspecimens tested was 0.96 ppm. Subsequenttesting in 1989 indicated that the largest laketrout tested possessed 1.23 ppm of methylmercury and the average for all specimenstested was 0.79 ppm.

PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) are a familyof man-made chemicals that were historicallyused in many electrical and commercial productsuntil they were banned for manufacture in themid 1970’s. Exposure to higher levels of PCB’scan result in damage to the liver, skin, andthe immune, nervous and reproductive systems.Some types of PCB’s can be responsible forcontributing to or directly causing birth defectsin offspring born to humans or animals exposedduring pregnancy, and research has indicatedthat laboratory animals exposed to PCB’s overtheir lifetime have developed cancer. SincePCB’s are concentrated in the fatty tissues offish, exposure can be reduced by adhering togood cleaning and cooking practices.

The FDA’s action level for PCB’s in fish is 2.0ppm. In 1984, lake trout collected from SchroonLake and tested ranged between 0.23 and 1.99ppm for PCB’s. Subsequent testing in 1989indicated that lake trout tested averaged 0.29ppm for PCB’s (with an overall range between0.25 and 0.58 ppm). Thus, there is some evidencethat suggests that PCB levels in the lake maybe declining.

The state also measured the levels of DDT infish collected from Schroon Lake in 1984 and1989. DDT was widely used in the 1950’s forpest control purposes, but it was discontinuedin the 1960’s after public awareness of thedangers of this pesticide increased. The FDA’saction level for DDT is 5.0 ppm in fish. In 1984,the average level of DDT in legal-sized lake trouttested was 1.45 ppm (with a range of 0.19 to2.10 ppm). This compared to an average of 0.38ppm of DDT found five years later in 1989.

In summary, it is important to note that currentdata suggests the presence of these prioritypollutants in Schroon Lake fish persists. Whilethere may be some indication that levels maybe declining, caution should still be exercisedwhen consuming fish taken from the lake.Ongoing education is very important and the

In summary, it is important tonote that current datasuggests the presence ofthese priority pollutants inSchroon Lake fish persists.While there may be someindication that levels may bedeclining, caution should stillbe exercised when consumingfish taken from the lake.

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Priority Pollutants(Mercury, PCB’s & DDT)

The New York State Department of Health(DOH) issues advisories for eating sport fish.There are three fish advisories for theAdirondack Park region. Theseinclude: 1) the statewide advisory;2) advisories for children less than15 years old and for women who arepregnant or might one day becomepregnant; and 3) specific advisoriesfor the Adirondack Park and nearbywaters.

The current “statewide advisory” recommendsthat not more than one meal per week of fishtaken from any lake, river, stream or pond andsome marine waters in New York State beconsumedby anyone. The “advisory forwomenand children” recommends that children lessthan 15 years old andwomenwho are pregnantor whomight one day becomepregnant shouldnot eat ANY of the following fish species

(largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northernpike, walleye, pickerel or yellow perch greaterthan 10” in length) from the Adirondack Parkand nearby waters because they have higherlevels of mercury. The “specific advisory

for Schroon Lake”recommends thatchildren less than 15years old andwomen who arepregnant or whomight one daybecome pregnantshould not eat ANYfish from SchroonLake because ofpotentially highlevels of mercury orPCB’s. These

advisories may change over time and theyshould be consulted each year prior toconsuming fish.

Mercury (Hg) is a metal and some forms ofit are found naturally in the environment. Inthe Adirondacks, most of the mercury foundin water, sediments, and the base of the foodweb comes from atmospheric deposition andit is in the inorganic form.

2.9 Special Lake Issues

The “specific advisoryfor Schroon Lake”recommends thatchildren less than 15years old and women whoare pregnant or who might one day becomepregnant should not eat ANY fish from SchroonLake because of potentially high levels ofmercury or PCB’s. These advisories may changeover time and they should be consulted eachyear prior to consuming fish.

SCHROON LAKEWATERSHEDAND LANDUSE

Chapter 3

he goal of watershed planning is to strikea balance between the land and the lake.

Ultimately, the ideal situation is aneconomically thriving upland communitywith land uses that have little or no negativeimpact upon the lake from which thecommunity benefits. This Schroon LakeWatershed Plan seeks to identify if thereare upland issues which affect SchroonLake, and if so, determine how they can beaddressed to ensure its long-term viability.

There is a direct link between the waterquality of a lake and the land use of itswatershed area. In general, the moredeveloped a watershed is, the more thereceiving waterbody will exhibit declines(short term and long) with water quality.There are dozens of studies across NewYork State and indeed from across thecountry which outline this direct andsometimes unfortunate relationship. To sumit up: taking care of the land takes care ofthe lake.

It is inevitable that land development willoccur. Indeed, much of our economy isbased upon new residential, commercialand industrial growth.We all drive on roads,eat in our local restaurants, and shop in ourstores. As the saying goes, “we all live inawatershed.” However, what is not inevitableis that new (and even existing) developmentmust negatively impact our natural resourcessuch as Schroon Lake.

This chapter will take a look at existing landuse patterns throughout the Schroon Lakewatershed, and discuss impacts to the lakefrom upland sources. The Warren County

Soil andWater Conservation District spentmany hundreds of hours walking streams,roads, ditches, and more to identify theseexisting issues throughout the Schroon Lakewatershed as part of this process. Over theperiod of three years, information wascollected on land use, wastewater treatmentissues, drainage networks, stream systems,stormwater runoff patterns, highwayinfrastructure, local regulations and otherissues affecting Schroon Lake. Each of theseissues is discussed in more detail in thisdocument, and recommendations for long-term improvement are identified in Chapter5 of this Plan.

T3.1 Introduction

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state fish consumption advisory should be heededand adhered to.

Swimmer’s Itch (Cercarial dermatitis)Cercarial dermatitis, or swimmer’s itch as it iscommonly referred to, is a patchy, red pinpointrash associated with itching on the parts ofthe body that have been in the water. The rashis caused by an allergic reaction to larval parasitescalled “cercaria” that are released by aquatic oramphibious (moves both on land and water)snails.

These microscopic flatworm parasitesnormally use ducks and other waterfowlas their primary host, but sometimes theymistakenly burrow into the skin of peoplewhile they are swimming, wading orbathing. The itching, which may occurwithin 48 hours of exposure, can last upto 7 days. Swimmer’s itch is usually notsevere and normally it will disappearwithout treatment.

The flatworm parasite (shistosome) livesas an adult in certain mammals (e.g., mice)and birds (e.g., waterfowl). The adult wormsheds its eggs into the water via the host’sexcretory system. Once in the water, the eggshatch into a free-swimming stage called a“miracidium”. The miracidium searches for asuitable secondary host, a particular type ofsnail. Once found, it will penetrate into the snail’stissue and develop further. After a 3 to 4-weeklong development period, another free-swimmingstage (called a “cercariae”) emerges from thesnail. The cercariae then searches for a suitableprimary host.

The cercariae release usually occurs in late Juneor early July when the water temperatures reachtheir near-maximum summer temperature. Inyears of warm spring weather, swimmer’s itchcan occur as early as May.

Historically, the control method of choice forswimmer’s itch has been the use of coppersulfate as amoluscicide. This chemical, however,indiscriminately kills a wide variety of aquaticorganisms, and long-term use of copper sulfatein a particular area may lead to a build-up ofcopper-contaminated sediment. In addition,since cercariae tend to be concentrated nearthe surface, wind and currents may carry themas far as four miles from their release area. Thismeans that the risk of cercariae drifting in fromnon-treated areas is potentially high, possiblynullifying control efforts in treated areas.

Thus, the best option for avoiding issuesassociated with swimmer’s itch is prevention.Since waterfowl are an integral component ofthe life cycle of the parasite, the feeding of ducksand geese should be discouraged. In addition,strategies aimed at actively addressing nuisancewaterfowl populations should be identified andan action plan developed in advance, just incase a problem occurs in a specific area onthe lake.

Since waterfowl are an integralcomponent of the life cycle ofthe parasite, the feeding ofducks and geese should bediscouraged.

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balsam fir, etc). As mentioned earlier, 60%of the land area within the Schroon Lakewatershed is state-owned forestland, whichis Forest Preserve and will never bedeveloped.

Five percent of the Schroon Lake watershedis open water, and another eight percent iswetland. As can be seen from Map 3, thereare many lakes and ponds and wetlands inthe watershed. These features are valuablerecreational resources within the region, andinclude Paradox Lake, Putnam Pond, ElkLake, Eagle Lake, and many others. Thesewetlands are considered to be extremelyvaluable to watershed function, as theyprovide vital habitat for fish and wildlife,act as natural filters for water and sediment,and act as flood retention areas.

Only 2.6% of the overall watershed area isdeveloped. This includes residential,commercial and industrial development, plus

transportation corridors such as roads andhighways. Agriculture comprises only 0.2%of the watershed.

While the overall development rates in thewatershed are very low, the percentage ofland area developed in the area surroundingSchroon Lake itself is another story. Ananalysis of the land cover data reveals thatalmost 80% of the development within theSchroon Lake Watershed is found withinone-half mile of Schroon Lake. Whenanalyzing the land use within this half-milebuffer of the shore, the percentage ofdeveloped land jumps up to 16%, which issix times greater than the overall watersheddevelopment rate.

This concentration of developmentaround the lake itself is no surprise,as lakes are a natural draw for bothresidential and tourist- relateddevelopment activities. The

nearshore development is clearly shown onMap 4, which depicts the considerablenumber property parcels within the nearshorearea of the lake.

This trend often poses inherent stresseson lakes, due to increased concentrationsof urban stormwater runoff, pesticides,herbicides, road de-icing materials, petwastes, and other pollutants. Compoundingthis issue is that when most of thedevelopment took place around SchroonLake, therewere few standards for stormwaterrunoff or erosion control. As such, much ofthe runoff from these properties dischargesto a road drainage network which outletsinto the lake or stream. Stormwater runoff

Northern end of Schroon Lake, circa 1962. Courtesyof Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District

While the overall developmentrates in the watershed are verylow, the percentage of land areadeveloped in the area surroundingSchroon Lake itself is another story.

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Land use in a watershed plays atremendous role in the quality of water which

runs off into a waterbody. In undevelopedwatersheds where no human activity is present,waterbodies are not exposed to stormwaterrunoff from development activities, fertilizersfrom homes and golf courses, or sediment fromconstruction or logging operations. Theseundisturbed lakes and streams tend to be pristineand high quality, generally with excellent clarity.

While this would seem to be the ideal conditionfor our lakes and streams, it is not a realistic

or even a practical conditionfor most lakes with privatelyheld land ownershipsurrounding the shores. Allof us live, shop, work, andrecreate in a watershedsomewhere, and rates ofdevelopment around lakes andponds oftenwell exceeds otherareas. Land developmentactivities can have a significanteffect on the quality of waterwhich flows into nearbywaterbodies. However, evenwith this development, therearemany lakeswhichmaintainexcellent water quality and awell rounded ecosystem.Schroon Lake, with its moderate levels ofdevelopment and history of good stewardship,is a very good example of this.

To understand the land use within the 202,000acre Schroon Lake watershed, 2001 land cover

satellite imagery and data was utilized (mostrecently available). This base datawas developedby the Multi-Resolution Land CharacteristicsConsortium,which is a group of federal agenciesworking together to make available satelliteimagery for the United States. Although thisland use/land cover data is from 2001, it isstill felt to be very representative of currentconditions within the Schroon watershed.

The predominant land cover within the SchroonLake watershed is forest land (84%). Havingthe vast majority of land in forest is a benefit forthe water quality of Schroon Lake. Forestsallow for increased infiltration of water, havelow levels of erosion, recycle nutrientsefficiently and help to reduce temperaturesto streams that feed lakes and ponds. Unlike

developed and impervious areas, the rate ofwater runoff from forest land is extremely low,which reduces the impact of stormwater runoff.In this watershed, there are large sections ofboth deciduous forest (maple, beech, birch,etc), and evergreen forests (pine, hemlock,

3.2 Land Use and Development

Land Use - Schroon Lake Watershed

84.1%

7.8%2.6%

5.2%

0.2%

Forest 84.2%Water 5.2%Wetlands 7.8%Developed 2.6%Agriculture 0.2%

Land development activities can havea significant effect on the quality ofwater which flows intonearby waterbodies

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“A“ SOILS: Soils with low runoff potential (very high infiltration).These soils have high infiltration rates and consist chiefly of deep,well drained to excessively well- drained sands or gravels.

“B“ SOILS: Soils havingmoderate infiltration rates, consistingchiefly of deep, moderately well drained soils with somewhatcoarse textures.

“C“ SOILS: Soils having slow infiltration rates consisting chieflyof soils with a layer that slows downwardmovement of water, orsoils with moderately fine to fine textures.

“D“ SOILS: Soils with high runoff potential (very low infiltrationrates), consisting chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential,soils with a permanent high water table, and shallow soils overnearly impervious material.

There aremore than 50,000 different soiltypes across the United States, anddozens within the Schroon Lakewatershed. Each of these soils maintainsits own unique properties andcharacteristics. Understanding soils iscritical in undertaking landmanagementpractices such as new development,agriculture, road construction andwastewater treatment. Soil factors andconditions also play a key role in erosioncontrol and stormwater management,but unfortunately are often the mostoverlooked characteristic.

Given the number and diversity of soiltypes in the Schroon Lake watershed,it was more useful to break them downby their hydrologic group. A group ofsoils having similar infiltrationcharacteristics are considered to be aHydrologic Soil Group. Soil propertiesthat influence runoff potential primarilyinclude its physical makeup (i.e. clay,sand, silt) and its porosity. Hydrologicgroups are placed into four classes: A,B, C, D, with definitions as follows:

Soils and Their Importance 3.3

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from existing development (discussed inChapter 3.4) is an issue which should beaddressed around Schroon Lake to helpprotect it for the future.

Given this history and trend, the needfor proper development practices aroundSchroon Lake is exceedingly important.The role of the planning boards and codesofficers of the three municipalitiessurrounding the lake is absolutely vitalto the long-term quality of Schroon Lake.While residential and commercialdevelopment activities are a mainstay ofeconomic growth in the region, theseactivities should be held to a high standardin the review process regarding their long-term potential impact to the lake. Adiscussion of these regulatory roles andresponsibilities around Schroon Lake isincluded in Chapter 3.8.

We all share responsibility for the protectionof our natural resources. As our populationand economy grows, land developmentwithin our watersheds will inevitably

increase as well. We must take heed ofhow our actions can affect our surroundingenvironment, and work to minimize thoseimpacts. With diligence and regard forenvironmental considerations at both theindividual and municipal levels, we can

continue to have responsible landdevelopment and economic growthwithoutharming the natural resourceswe so heavilyrely upon.

Given this history and trend, theneed for proper developmentpractices around Schroon Lakeis exceedingly important.

Northern end of Schroon Lake, circa 2009.Courtesy of Google Earth

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Every time it rains, water that doesn’t infiltrateinto the ground often runs off into a nearby ditch,stream, or lake. This runoff can pick up differentpollutants such as sand, silt, phosphorus, bacteria,oil and grease, litter, dog waste, and more.Ultimately, these pollutants can find their way intoa nearby waterbody, diminishing water quality.

Stormwater runoff from developed areas is thenumber one cause of beach closures across NewYork, primarily due to high bacterial counts in therunoff. In fact, one of the largest water qualityimpacts to our lakes and streams in New York

State is stormwater runoff from developedareas.

To help address this situation, the rules for newdevelopment have changed in New York Stateand across the entire country. Since 2003, theNew York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation adopted new regulations ondevelopment. In what is known as New YorkState’s “Phase II Stormwater Program”, anydevelopment activity which disturbs more thanan acre of ground is required to control soil erosionand stormwater runoff from the development.This is good news for our lakes and streams, andis a new layer of protection to help prevent anyfurther degradation.

While these NYS stormwater regulations addressnew developments which are proposed, whatabout the existing roads, subdivisions, andcommunities? There are no regulations (local,state, or federal) whichmandate that stormwaterrunoff pollution from existing development beaddressed. The only way to address existingproblems is to identify them and fix them.

Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality 3.4

One of the largest waterquality impacts to our lakesand streams in New YorkState is stormwater runofffrom developed areas.

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To identify hydrologic soil types in the SchroonLake Watershed, the watershed boundary wassuperimposed onto a Geographic InformationSystem soils layer developed from the UnitedStates Department of Agriculture Soil Surveycreated in 1986. The majority of soils (almost70%) within the Schroon Lake watershed areHydrologic Soil Groups “B” and “C” (see Map5), which generally tend to be well suited fordevelopment activities.

An evaluation of land use within one-half mile ofthe shoreline of Schroon Lake reveals that 80%of the development within the watershed occurswithin this relatively small area (4% of the overallwatershed). Within this area, 83% of the soiltypes are rated “B” or “C”, which present fewerdevelopment and wastewater disposal issuesthan “A” or “D” soils. However, most of theland area in the Schroon Lake Sewer Districtwhich is not currently hooked up to the systemare on either “A” or “D” soils. Both of thesesoil types are limited in their ability to treat septic

effluent, which reinforces the need to extendsewer service to the rest of the properties withinthe district.

To minimize impacts to Schroon Lake, alldevelopment activities should understand andconsider soil issues in the planning stage. Evenwith “good” soils, development can negativelyalter soil characteristics (i.e. compaction, lossof topsoil). These factors can causewater quality

issues and can result in negative impacts tothe environment. It is only through careful planningthat erosion and sedimentationmay be avoided.

Detailed soils information and maps for bothEssex andWarren Counties can be found in the“Soil Surveys” of those counties. Thesedocuments are available at both County Soil andWater Conservation District offices, or onlineat http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm

An evaluation of land use within one-half mile of theshoreline of Schroon Lake reveals that 80% of thedevelopment within the watershed occurs within thisrelatively small area (4% of the overall watershed).

HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP WATERSHED %WITHIN SHORELINE1/2 MILE BUFFER %

A 4% 6%

B 18% 58%

C 50% 25%

D 28% 11%

COUNTY ROUTE 15(EAST SHORE DRIVE)East Shore Drive runs alongthe east shore of SchroonLake for just over threemiles.Stormwater runoff from thisroad surface either sheets offinto the buffer between thelake and the road, or it flowsinto the ditch on the east sideand is piped into the lake.Most of the road ditch is wellvegetated, and very littleerosion is evident.

A concern along this roadwayis that development and lawnmanagement along the eastside of the road has thepotential to contributingphosphorus, pesticides, andother pollutants.Many houseson steep slopes are built upon along thisstretch, so it is imperative that constructionprojects are diligent in erosion control andstormwater infiltration practices.

ADIRONDACK ROAD,ESSEX COUNTYAdiriondack Road provides access todozens of shoreline properties on thenortheast shore of Schroon Lake. Most ofits length is relatively stable, although areasexist which show eroding ditch andstormwater runoff onto downhill properties.Adirondack Road north of Nesa Roadexhibits miles of clay/silt ditches, much ofwhich has little or no vegetation. Severalsections of road ditch in this area hadrunning water in them during fieldinvestigations, and erosion was evident.

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There are no regulations(local, state, or federal)which mandate thatstormwater runoff pollutionfrom existing developmentbe addressed. The only wayto address existingproblems is to identifythem and fix them.

Typical roadside “drywell” installation to infiltratestormwater runoff (Village of Lake George, 2009)

STORMWATERRUNOFF AND

WATER QUALITYRECOMMENDATIONSARE INCLUDED IN

CHAPTER 5

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Towards this end, theWarren County Soil andWater Conservation District undertook acomprehensive analysis of all roads anddrainage networks in the developed areassurrounding Schroon Lake. The goal of thisanalysis was to identify and prioritize areas ofsignificant stormwater runoff entering SchroonLake and its tributaries, and to recommendspecific solutions to address identifiedproblems.

A key goal of stormwater management is toeliminate the runoff prior to it reaching the lake.Stormwater infiltration practices have beentremendously successful at achieving this goalin surrounding lakes to the south in WarrenCounty.When stormwater infiltrates the ground,the soil acts to capture all sediments, and themicrobial activity in the soil eliminates pollutantssuch as bacteria, phosphorus, and even oiland grease.

HAMLET OF SCHROONTheHamlet of Schroon is the largest andmostdensely developed area on Schroon Lake.None of the stormwater networks from FowlerAvenue north discharge into the lake, butmuch

of the drainage from the southern end of thehamlet does connect directly to the lake. Thereare no stormwater improvement or flowreduction (infiltration) systems along any ofthe hamlet’s roadways.

HAMLET OF ADIRONDACKThe small Hamlet of Adirondack on thesoutheastern shore of Schroon Lake includesa general store, a number of residential homes,a relatively large townhouse complex(Adirondack Lodges), and a major tributarystream (Mill Brook).

Much of the area within the hamlet was wellvegetated and stable and very few areas draindirectly to the lake or to Mill Brook. Most ofthe road ditch network is lined with stone tominimize erosion, and was found to be infair to good condition.

NYS ROUTE 9NYS Route 9 runs along the western shoreof Schroon Lake for the lake’s entire length.In areas where it is relatively close to the lake,road runoff is often directed to culverts whichoutlet into the lake. Most road ditches alongRoute 9 are very well vegetated, which allowsfor both filtering of stormwater runoff andinfiltration into the ground.

There are five primary areassurrounding Schroon Lakewhich were identified as highpriority for stormwater runoff

and managementimprovements:

1. HAMLET OF SCHROON.

2. HAMLET OF ADIRONDACK.

3. NYS ROUTE 9 CORRIDOR.

4. WARREN COUNTY ROUTE 15(EAST SHORE DRIVE).

5. ADIRONDACK ROAD,ESSEX COUNTY.

Eroding clay road ditch on Adirondack Road

considerable riverbank erosion is the result.The surface geology along the river corridor isprimarily a sand/silt matrix, which has lowcohesiveness and is therefore highly erodible.However, this condition is the natural fluvialgeomorphic condition of the Schroon River,much to the dismay of unwary landowners whobuild houses and other infrastructurenear the river’s edge.

Stabilizing the SchroonRiver throughtraditional bank protectiontechniques (riprap armoring, treecabling, vegetative plantings) often

fails because of the conditions noted above.The County Soil and Water ConservationDistricts in both Warren and Essex Countieshave tried to assist numerous Schroon Riverhomeowners with ideas to protect theirproperties over past decades. Unfortunately,the answer more often than not is that a bankprotection strategy is often more costly thanto relocate the home or structure, and homeshave been moved as a result. Care must betaken in the planning process for new buildingstructures and roads within the river corridor,as highly erodible riverbank conditions areoften present.

SCHROON LAKE TRIBUTARYSTREAMSMost of the 60+miles of direct tributary streamsto Schroon Lake flow through undisturbedforest, much of it on NYS owned land. Thesestreams are in a natural condition, with nohuman impact. Thewater in these upper reaches

flows clear and clean. However, towards theshoreline and in the hamlet areas, landdevelopment activities and roadways areconsiderably more dense. Streams flowingthrough developed areas tend to exhibit moredegradation, due to channelization, stormwater

Sediment delta at the outlet of Rogers Brook,Town of Schroon hamlet

Care must be taken in the planningprocess for new building structuresand roads within the river corridor,as highly erodible riverbankconditions are often present.

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Aerial image of the Schroon River just north of SchroonLake, showing old river bend ponds (oxbows)

The Schroon River and the lake’s tributarystreams are the lifeblood of Schroon lake. Ingeneral, the quality of the river and streams ishighly correlated to the quality of the lake.The waters of even the farthest reaching pointof the Schroon River or any tributary streamwillreach the lake within 48 hours. The quality ofthese flowing waters will ultimately become thequality of the lake, so it important to understandtheir nature and overall condition.

The Schroon River is, by far, the principal watersource to Schroon Lake by volume. However,there are an additional twelveNYSDECclassifiedstreams that flow into Schroon Lake on a year-round basis in a typical year (perennial streams).The entire river and stream network draining toSchroon Lake is shown on the HydrographyMap 6 in the Appendices. A closer-up view ofthe lake’s tributary streams and their namesis also included.

SCHROON RIVERThe Schroon River is a highly sinuous andmeandering river, and is the primarywater sourcefor Schroon Lake. Running from its origins atNew Pond in Elizabethtown, the Schroon River

picks up dozens of streams both large andsmall, and outlets at the north end of SchroonLake. The river itself from headwaters to thelake is 31.3 miles long, but when all tributarystreams to the river are added, the length of theentire flowing system exceeds 260 miles. Amajor tributary system to the Schroon Riveris the Paradox chain of lakes on the easternside of the watershed, which includes ParadoxLake and Eagle Lake.

The geology and geomorphology of the riversystem north of Schroon Lake give the riverits highlymeandering nature. The river continuallycuts on outside bends and deposits sedimenton the inside bends. Dozens of old “oxbow”lakes and wetlands, formed out of old cut-offmeander bends, are exhibited above the inletto the lake adjacent to the river. These conditionsprevail along the majority of the river, and

The Schroon River is a highlysinuous and meandering river,and is the primary watersource for Schroon Lake.

Evaluating stream conditions at the Rogers Brook I87 Northway culvert crossing

3.5 Streams of the Schroon Lake Watershed

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in upland undeveloped areas, and slight tomoderate in the developed areas. The two streamswhich exhibit the most impacts, although stillrelativelyminor, are Rogers Brook (in the SchroonHamlet) andHorseshoe PondBrook, to the southof the Schroon hamlet. Both of these streamsexhibit significant sediment deltas at their outletsinto Schroon Lake, which have beenaccumulating for a considerable timeaccording to lake association andmunicipalofficials. Both Horseshoe Pond Brook andRogers Brook run adjacent to roadways forpart of their length, and it is highly likely thatroad de-icing practices have played a rolein adding to the sediment deltas at theiroutlets. Field reviews of these streamsshowed minor undercutting of manystreambanks at numerous locations, but nolarge bank failures were identified whichwould be cost effective to address.

Most of the streamswithin the Schroon Lakewatershed exhibit excellent natural streambuffers (a corridor of unmanaged vegetationnear the water edge), which act to retain the

streambanks in good condition and minimizeany potential runoff effects. However, at severallocations along the more developed brooks,there is little to no stream buffer and the lawnsare directly adjacent to the streambanks. Theseareas exhibit the highest evidence of bank failures.Numerous studies on streams in the NortheastU.S. showa strong and direct correlation betweenstream stability and vegetative buffers. Just tothe south of Schroon Lake, the Lake GeorgeParkCommission is currently finalizing regulationsrequiring 50-100 foot stream corridor buffers for

all new development along perennial streams inthe Lake George watershed.

There is a considerable amount of streamsidedevelopable land in the Schroon Lakewatershed.Municipal codes vary as to requirements forvegetative cutting and building setbacks, but no

municipality has regulations requiring anundisturbed stream buffer on new developmentprojects. Given the effectiveness of the existingvegetative buffers in protecting the streamsaround the lake, provisions to maintain thesebuffers would be beneficial within the watershed.

No illegal “overflow” pipes from septic systemswere identified on any of the streams. Most ofthe homes and other buildings identified onthe stream reviews were set back from thestreambank a fair distance (more than 50 feet).This helps considerably with keeping stormwaterrunoff from these developed areas away fromthe stream, as this runoff is often infiltratedinto the yards and woods.

Streams within the SchroonLake watershed are generallyin excellent condition, withexceptions in areas alongroadsides or development

Streambank failure on Rogers Brook in an area withvery little stream buffer vegetation

STREAM RECOMMENDATIONSARE INCLUDED IN CHAPTER 5

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runoff inputs, bank disturbances, and more. It isthese areas that were focused upon in thiswatershed study, to identify areas in need ofrestoration activities.

TheWarren County SWCD staff walkedmore than22 miles of the streams within the watershed,primarily in the shoreline and developed areas.The streams include Rogers Brook (3.5 miles),Horseshoe Pond Brook (2.5miles), Thurman PondBrook (1 mile), an unnamed stream at Scaroon

Manor (1 mile), another unnamed brook at EaglePoint (1/2 mile), Spectacle Pond Brook (4 mi), MillCreek (3.7 miles), Sucker Brook (4.6 miles) and 2miles of the Schroon River from Alder MeadowRoad to Schroon Lake. The purpose of these fieldreviews was to identify site specific issues suchas streambank failure, any illicit discharges fromillegal septic pipes, areas of road runoff affectingthe brooks, the condition of stream buffers alongthe channels, and to get a feel of the overall conditionof the streams feeding the lake.

GENERAL CONDITION AND FINDINGSStreams within the Schroon Lake watershed aregenerally in excellent condition, with exceptionsin areas along roadsides or development. Typicalstream substrates are gravel/cobble, lending themto excellent fish propagation and habitat features.Macroinvertebrate (stream insect) populations inthe streams reviewed showed high populations ofpollution intolerant species such as caddis fly,mayfly, and stonefly larvae. Presence of thesespecies indicates that these streamsmaintain highwater quality and good oxygenation throughoutthe year.

As would be expected, impacts to the naturalchannel condition on all streamswere non-existent

Given the effectiveness of theexisting vegetative buffers inprotecting the streams aroundthe lake, provisions to maintainthese buffers would bebeneficial within the watershed.

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While this thought seems innocuous enough, ithas significant implications on the environment.To maintain this level of service, highwaydepartments must utilize road traction materialsand de-icers at a fairly high level. Themost commonde-icing (and anti-icing) practices utilize sodiumchloride (road salt), in combination with tractionmaterial (sand). Both of these items pose bothshort and long-term risks for nearby lakes andstreams. Over time, these materials can have thefollowing negative effects:

• Greatly increased rates of corrosion ofautomobiles, metal and concreteinfrastructure.

• Sedimentation of fish spawning beds instreams from road sand.

• Increased salinity of the water in streamsand lakes.

• Decrease in health of roadside plants dueto chloride and nutrient imbalances.

• Impacts to nearby groundwater wells fromsalinity increases.

• Sedimentation of lakes, manifesting asdeltas at stream outlets.

• Economic effects of addressing theabove issues.

The impacts fromwinter roadmaintenance activitiesare well known and have been studied since the1950’s. In New York State, over the past ten yearsor so, the issue has received more attention asmany lakes are showing clear signs of impact.To assess this issue in the Adirondacks, theAdirondackWatershed Institute recently (February2010) completed a new study titled “Review ofEffects and Costs of Road De-icing withRecommendations for Winter RoadManagementin the Adirondack Park” (Kelting and Laxson 2010).This study outlines the methods, costs, impacts,and alternatives of road de-icing practices,specifically focusing on recommendations forimproved management practices. There arenumerous results and recommendations from thisstudy (and several others) which could serve asa guide for winter road maintenance activities inthe Schroon Lake watershed. De-icing methodsand alternatives aremore complex thanmost peoplerealize, and different conditions merit differingtechniques.

To better understand road and highwaymaintenancearound Schroon Lake, all levels of highwayadministration (town, county, and state) were askedabout their overall programs and managementpractices. Items of discussion included currentroad de-icing practices, catch basin maintenanceschedules, salt storage placement and volumes,roadside erosion control, ditchmaintenance, etc.).The two county Departments of Public Workscontract out all plowing and de-icing operationsto the local municipalities. As such, their practicesare not reviewed herein.

SCHROON HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTThe Townof Schroon highway departmentmanagesover 70 miles of roadway in the Schroon Lakewatershed, significantly more than the two otherlakeshore towns. According toDanaShaughnessey,the Town of Schroon Highway Superintendent,their standard road de-icing application mixture is

80%/20% sand to salt. In the hamlet of Schroon,the highway department utilizes road salt exclusively(NaCl). Their spreader trucks havemanual settingswhich are adjusted by the driver, depending on thecondition of the road. Typical application ratesrange from 150-250 pounds per lanemile per passof the spreader. The Schroon highway departmentconducts all de-icing operations for the county-owned roads in the Town of Schroon, using townpractices.

The town's supply of salt is utilized and stored atthe State Department of Transportation (DOT)garage in the town, which is in good condition.All municipally-owned sediment capturing devicessuch as catch basins or dry wells are maintainedmanually with a shovel or air blower. Very few catch

Given the economic andenvironmental impacts of roadde-icing programs, it isimperative that all best effortsare applied to mitigatethese impacts.

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Whenwe think of development in awatershed,we typically think of residences, businesses,and other structures.What we think of less oftenis the road and highway networkwhich integratesour communities, and how those road networksare managed on a daily basis.

Eachmunicipality and bothcounties in the SchroonLake watershed have theirown highway departments,which is responsible for theintegrity and safety of theirroads. In addition to theselocal roads, there is also asignificant mileage of NewYork State roads (NYS Route 9 and Interstate87) which actually account for most of the pavedarea in the watershed.

Each of these levels of highway administrationmanages its own workload and crew, andundertakes a variety of operations to manage

their roadways and infrastructure. Traditionalpractices undertaken by highway departmentsinclude winter de-icing operations, roadsideditching, paving activities, drainage practicesand new road construction. Asmany roads andditches drain directly into streams and lakes,

it is imperative that highway operationsbe managed not only for public safety,but also with consideration forenvironmental impacts.

WINTER DE-ICING PRACTICESRunoff from highways and roads canhave a considerable influence on thequality of adjacent streams and lakes,particularly from the de-icing materialsspread on them inwinter for public safety.As the traveling public has come to expectroads to be clean of snow and ice evenshortly following storm events, thepressure on highwaymanagers to achievethis goal is significant. Gone are the timeswhen everyone used snow tires and hadchains in the winter time. Now, peopleexpect to drive at almost full speed duringand after snow events, and are oftenchagrined to find snow on a road within

48 hours following even a significant snowfallevent. Unfortunately, human nature is such thatonce a person has come to expect a level ofservice, it is difficult to reverse. Discussions withall highway managers in the watershed led tothe same conclusion: their constituents wantclear roads, period.

3.6 Highway Management Practices

As many roads and ditches drain directly intostreams and lakes, it is imperative thathighway operations be managed not only forpublic safety, but also with consideration forenvironmental impacts.

Town of Chester highway department installing a newculvert to improve both public safety and troutmigration in the stream system

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Because of this proximity, the highwaydepartment actively undertakes post-wintersweeping operations on East Shore Drive.The swept-up road sand is brought back tothe highway yard to be re-used for the followingyear’s operations.

The Horicon highway department has onlyone sediment capturing structure that theymaintain, and that basin is cleaned out annuallywith a shovel. There are opportunities withinthe town to install additional sedimentcapturing structures, but the departmentcurrently does not have an efficient meansof maintaining them.

NYS DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATIONThe New York State Department ofTransportation (DOT)manages all state-ownedroads in the Schroon Lake watershed,including all plowing and de-icing operationson Route 9 and Interstate 87. DOT contractsout plowing and de-icing work to somemunicipalities in the Adirondack Park, but

none within the Schroon Lake watershed.The DOT highways in the Warren Countyportion of the watershed aremanaged by theWarren County DOT office in Warrensburg,and the DOT highways in Essex aremanagedby their office in Elizabethtown (both in DOTRegion 1).

When considering theSchroon Lake watershedas awhole, the surface areaof roadway and overall lanemiles that DOT managesvastly outnumbers the localroads. Even when focusingonly on the area within amile or so of the lake, thestate highway complex isstill the largest area of roadsurface. Much of the DOThighway infrastructuredrains either directly orindirectly to tributary

streams of Schroon Lake or the lake itself.As such, it is important to understand theirwinter road management activities.

According to Essex County DOT ResidentEngineer Mike Fayette and Warren CountyResident Engineer Frank Komoroske, all de-icing operations on state roadways inWarren

Stream culverts on Adirondack Park Road on Rogers Brook, whichare a barrier to fish passage because they are higher than the stream.

Many of the streamculverts reviewed

on the streamwalks exhibited

characteristics which would bebarriers to fish passage, whichdirectly impacts spawning and

reproduction rates.

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basins exist throughout the town, and mostare simply drop-inlets which have no capacityfor sediment storage. No vacuum truck (catch-vac) is owned or rented by the town toundertake cleanout activities, andmaintenance cleanouts are conducted onan as-needed basis. Schroon highway doesown and operate a relatively new Elgin streetsweeper, which is very active in the springto clean up road salt and sand.

CHESTERHIGHWAYDEPARTMENTThe Town of Chester maintains less than onemile of roadway within the Schroon Lakewatershed (North Old Schroon Road),although the highway department doesmaintain all of Pottersville at the south endof the lake. According toGary Clark, HighwaySuperintendent for the Town of Chester,standard road application is 95%/5% sandto salt mixture, at a rate of 150-200 poundsper lanemile. The salt is stored in a shelteredstorage on black top, near their sand pileat the highway garage. The town highwaydepartment conducts all de-icing operationsfor all county-owned roads in the town, usingstandard town practices.

All of the sediment capturing devices suchas catch basins are inspected annually andmanually maintained as necessary. Novacuum truck (catch-vac) is owned or rentedby the town to undertake these activities.

HORICONHIGHWAYDEPARTMENTThe Town of Horicon conductswinter plowingand de-icing operations on approximately

18miles of town and county roads within theSchroonwatershed. According to Paul Smith,the Highway Superintendent for the Town ofHoricon, the town’s standard de-icingapplication is 90%/10% sand to salt. Theirtruck settings apply approximately 175-200pounds per lanemile of the sand/salt mixture.The primary road of concern for SchroonLake in the Town of Horicon is County Route

15 (East Shore Drive), simplybased upon its proximity tothe shore. This road runsdirectly adjacent to SchroonLake for 3miles, within 40 feetof the shoreline for most ofthat length.

A section of Hoffman Road where the ditch wasrecently excavated to maintain drainage capacity. Thisditch is showing signs of erosion and sedimentation.

Eroded soil from bare roadsideditches can be a significantcontributor to water qualityimpairments and aquatic habitatdegradation.

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for years, and notes that road ditches are asignificant contributor towater quality declinesin New York’s waterbodies.

To analyze the current condition of roadditches around Schroon Lake, Warren CountySWCD staff evaluated all roads within a two-mile radius of the lake. Although ditchconditions are always changing based uponan ongoingmaintenance schedule,there were a number of areasidentified which were recentlycleaned and bare of vegetation.The two largest of these bare roadditches were found to be on EastShore Road and Hoffman Road(Town of Schroon). Between thesetwo roads, over threemiles of roadditch have recently been scraped(cleaned) and are in need ofstabilization.

To address these issues, both theWarren and Essex County Soil andWater Conservation Districts ownhydroseeders and operate“roadside erosion controlprograms” for exactly this purpose.The Districts work directly withhighway departments to hydroseedbare road ditches and erodingroadbanks to establish grass inthese areas, effectively minimizingerosion and sedimentation. Theprogram in Essex County is relatively new,and they are working to develop this programwith all local towns, including Schroon. Thesethree miles of exposed road ditches shouldbe addressed as soon as possible throughthis hydroseeding program.

STREAM CULVERTSThere are more than 30 stream culverts fortown road crossings on the direct tributariesto Schroon Lake. These culverts, whilenecessary for highway operations, often causevery detrimental impacts to spawning fisheries.Culverts on streams in which the bottom ofthe outlet side of the pipe is more than 8inches higher than the stream are not passableby juvenile brook trout, smelt, and otherspecies (Mihuc 2008).

Many of the stream culverts reviewed onthe stream walks exhibited characteristicswhichwould be barriers to fish passage, whichdirectly impacts spawning and reproductionrates. As most of the direct tributary streamsto Schroon Lake are DEC classified troutstreams, it is likely that stream culverts arehaving a negative impact upon these fisherycommunities.

Stream culverts generally get replaced byhighway departments when there are signsof structural failure or flooding. Thesereplacement culverts often mimic the designand layout of the original culvert. However,if highway departments took fish passageconsiderations into effect during replacementactivities, then long-term improvements tobrook trout, smelt, and other spawning fisheriesin the Schroon Lake watershed could berealized.

HIGHWAY OPERATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS AREINCLUDED IN CHAPTER 5

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and Essex Counties use 100%salt, and utilizeno sand in the mix unless specific tractionneeds warrant. This is very different fromthe local municipalities which use primarilysand. The rate of application of the salt ishighly dependent upon conditions, but theaverage salt spread per lanemile is 225 poundsper storm event.

The environmental benefits of using a 100%chloridemix (either straight sodium or sodiumand magnesium) include minimal springsweeping and catch basin cleanup activities,and very little sediment runoff to adjacentstreams or the lake. However, as noted in thebeginning of this chapter, the environmentaland infrastructure corrosion issues with saltusage can be significant over time.

The DOT in both Essex and Warren Countyutilize traditional salt spreader with conveyorsin the bed, controlled by a computer in thecab (Dickie-johns). However, the DOT in EssexCounty treats their road salt with liquidmagnesium chloride (MgCl) as it is applied tothe road. TheWarren County DOT trucks fromtheir Chestertown facility service the Schroonwatershed area, and don’t have the requiredequipment currently to do so. MgCl lowers

the freezing point of snowand ice and makes it amore effective de-icerthan straight sodiumchloride.

Given the economic andenvironmental impactsof road de-icingprograms, it is imperativethat all best efforts areapplied tomitigate theseimpacts. This can beaccomplished throughawareness, training, andimplementation of thebest de-icing policiespossible by the highwaysuperintendents at alllevels. Numerous de-icing alternatives exist(Calcium Magnesium

Acetate, MagnesiumChloride, IceBan, MagicSalt, etc), but factors such as cost and logisticsplay key roles in local implementation. Thekey is to balance these factors withenvironmental considerations, to achieve thebest balance for both the lake and itssurrounding communities.

ROAD DITCHING, EROSIONCONTROL, AND DRAINAGEAhighway department’s primary responsibilityis the safety of their roads and otherinfrastructure. A key safety factor for highwaysafety is getting water off of roads as quicklyas possible, very often into roadside ditches.While these ditches need to be cleaned outand re-shaped every few years, eroded soilfrombare roadside ditches can be a significantcontributor to water quality impairments andaquatic habitat degradation.

Roadside ditching activities remove the existingvegetation in the ditch, including the rootnetworks which bind the soil in place. Whenremoved, this soil is highly susceptible toerosion and subsequent sedimentation ofstreams and lakes. Dr. Rebecca Schneider ofCornell University has been studying this issue

Hydroseeding in Horicon

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and for people who draw their water fromthe lake for consumption (not arecommended practice). Untreated septiceffluent can also cause impairments tolakes and streams, causing excessiveweed and algae growth, and can causeinfections of people swimming in theaffected area. For these reasons, it isimperative that the wastewater treatmentis properly addressed in any watershed,particularly around lakeshore areas.

TOWN OF SCHROONWASTEWATER TREATMENTPLANTThe Town of Schroon owns and operates awastewater treatment plant off of Fowler Ave inthe hamlet, plus a network of underground pipesthroughout which collect sewage from propertieswithin the sewer district. The original treatmentplant was built in 1973, and most of the plant’sfacilities were rebuilt or replaced in 2007.

There are currently 625 property parcels withinthe Schroon sewer district, but only 373 of theseproperties (60%) are currently hooked up to thepublic sewer system (see Map 7 in Appendices).Themunicipal sewer district spans fromContinentalDrive at the north end of town, down to CharlieHill Road to the south. Most of the system is gravityfeed, although the town maintains four separatepump stations throughout the hamlet. The sewerplant itself has considerable reserve capacity totreat additional sewage should the need arise.

The primary reason that there are properties withinthe district which are not hooked up to the systemis the cost of extending sewer into the un-served

locations. The current user rates for people in theSchroon sewer district are currently above thestate average, and the cost of running new sewerlines is considerable. Adding new service lineswould increase the per-user rates to anunacceptable level, according to municipal andagency officials. The cost of bringing service tothe un-sewered areas in the district would besubstantial, based upon the presence of shallowbedrock and lack of density in many areas.

The Schroon treatment plant operates under aNYS Department of Environmental ConservationSPDES Permit, which has thresholds for dischargewater quality. The treatment plant discharges itswastewater directly to Schroon Lake via an outletpipe approximately 30 feet below water surfacein a deepwater channel, about 650 feet out intoSchroon Lake. The average discharge volume isapproximately 200,000 gallons per day (gpd) toSchroon Lake, and the allowable discharge bypermit conditions is 350,000 gpd.

Within the DEC permit, there are strict thresholdsfor pollutants such as phosphorus and bacteria.According to Licensed Plant Operator Jim Roblee,the typical effluent discharge averages 0.3 partsper million of phosphorus, which is significantlybelow their permit limit of 0.8 parts per million.Discussions with NYS DEC Division of Water staffand the design engineering firm AES both confirmthat the plant operates considerably under all ofits allowable effluent limits (Kavanagh, NYS DEC,2010).

Town of Schroon Lake�’ s wastewater treatment plant.The facility was mostly rebuilt in 2007 and exceeds allwater quality discharge standards, and is in excellentoperating condition

A failing septic system which isnot properly removing bacteriaand pollutants can cause healthissues for homeowners withdrinking water wells and forpeople who draw their waterfrom the lake for consumption

Every time you take a shower, turn on the faucet,run the dishwasher, and flush the toilet, the waterand waste leaves your house and goes to eithera septic system on your property or a communitywastewater treatment plant. For the largemajorityof homes in the Schroon Lake watershed,wastewater treatment is done by individualhousehold septic systems. Proper treatmentof this wastewater is not only important for publichealth, but is critically important to maintaininga clean Schroon Lake.

Within the Schroon Lakewatershed, there is onlyone “publicly owned treatment works” (POTW),which is the Town of Schroon wastewatertreatment plant (WWTP). There are two othersmaller private WWTPs in the watershed thatdischarge directly into Schroon Lake, namely atthe Word of Life Ranch and the Word of LifeIsland. The remainder of wastewater treatmentwithin the watershed consist of smaller“community” systems for homeownersassociations, condos and the like, and traditionalonsite wastewater treatment systems (septicsystems).

Sanitary wastewater treatment in NewYork Stateis regulated by a patchwork of agencies and localregulations. POTWsare themost heavily regulated,with discharge effluent limits, reporting

requirements, and regular inspections andoversight from the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (DEC). The nextstep down are classified as Private/ Commercial/Institutional (P/C/I) systems, which includerestaurants, hotels, schools, and other similarfacilities which are not on public sewer. Thesesystems are also regulated by NYS DEC, but donot typically receive the same level of oversightunless DEC is notified of a failure or complaint.Certain P/C/I facilities are also subject to regulatoryoversight by theNYSDepartment of Health (DOH).

The least regulatedwastewater treatment systemsare the residential septic systems, which tendto fall under the purview of the NYS HealthDepartment and local municipal regulations. Themajority of the residences in the Schroon Lakewatershed are on private septic systems. Thereis no regular inspection of these systems requiredfor any of the ten municipalities in the Schroon

Lake watershed. However, all newsystems must be designed by a NYSlicensed engineer and must meet NYShealth codes and local regulations.

The reason for the regulation ofwastewater treatment systems is toprotect both human health and theenvironment. A failing septic systemwhichis not properly removing bacteria andpollutants can cause health issues forhomeowners with drinking water wells

3.7 Wastewater Management Around Schroon Lake

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Schroon Wastewater Treatment Plant – Aeration Tank

Proper treatment of thiswastewater is not onlyimportant for public health,but is critically importantto maintaining aclean Schroon Lake.

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EAGLE POINT CAMPGROUND ANDSCAROON MANORTwo other relatively large complexes on the westshore of Schroon Lake include theNYSDepartmentof Environmental Conservation-owned facilities ofEagle Point Campground and ScaroonManor. Bothof these facilities discharge their treatedwastewaterto groundwater. Eagle Point campgroundmaintainsa day use area and 69 overnight campsites, andhas been operating as a public camping facilitysince the 1930’s. Given the size of this facility, itmaintains a fairly largewastewater treatment system.This campground operates under a SPDES permitfor two groundwater discharges: an 8,325 gallonper day discharge from the bathroom and buildingcomplexes, and a smaller 1,440 gallon per daygreywater (shower and washwater only) dischargefrom the showers. Thetreatment system utilizesthree pump stations todirect septic tank effluentto the absorption fieldlocated approximately1,600 feet north of thecampground area into alarge infiltration bed for theprimary discharge, anddrywells for the greywaterdischarge. Both of theseinfiltration systems arelocated at least 150 feetaway from the lakeshoreat their closest point. Theconveyance pipe systemruns along NYS Route 9for a length, and it has beencompromised several timesover the years by signageinstallations and other roadside activities, but failureor discharge has never been noted as reachingSchroon Lake. The system’s septic tanks and pumpstations receive routinemaintenance and a numberof system upgrades have been conducted overthe years (Dauphinais, NYS DEC, 2010).

ScaroonManor is a new campground and day usecomplex, located to the north of Eagle Pointcampground. The day use area was opened in2009, but the camping facilities are still underconstruction. This complex also has a SPDESgroundwater discharge permit for two of its threenewseptic systems: a 1,600 gallon per day dischargesystem for the day use area, and a 1,485 gallon

per day discharge system for one of the pendingcamping loops. The third system does not requirea SPDES permit, as it is rated for only 825 gpd,which is under the 1,000 gpd to groundwaterthreshold of the SPDES permit system. All systemsare gravity fed and do not rely on any pump stationsfor operation. All three systems are brand new, andonly the 1,600 gallon per day system is currentlyoperating as of early 2010. As such, no problemshave been reported or are expected from this newfacility.

RESIDENTIALSEPTICSYSTEMSIN THE SCHROON LAKEWATERSHEDOutside of the Schroon Sewer District,all households own and operateindividual onsite wastewater treatmentsystems (septic systems), or are part ofa smaller cluster-type system.Newsepticsystems for all residences andcommercial development must meet

strict design and performance criteria as definedby both the state Department of Health or by NYSDepartment of Environmental Conservation,depending upon its size. By law, all new septicsystems must be designed by a NYS licensedengineer, and must have local approval by themunicipality in which it is to be installed.

When properly designed, constructed andmaintained, individual household septic systemsdo a very good job of treatingwastewater. However,if one of these steps fails, then the system breaksdown and problems arise. There is a commonmisunderstanding that septic systems are “selfmaintaining”, and that “out of sight, out of mind”

There is a common misunder-standing that septic systems are“self maintaining”, and that “out

of sight, out of mind”is the right way to go.Unfortunately, this is farfrom the truth.

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In 2009, the Town of Schroon was awarded almost$4.4 million in grants and debt forgiveness forupgrades to the sewer plant and to replace andrepair existing sewer infrastructure within the sewerdistrict. Funds include $3.2 million in debtforgiveness for plant construction from the AmericanReinvestment and Recovery Act (federal stimulusprogram), $300,000 fromUSDARural Development,and $580,000 from the NYS Office of CommunityRenewal.

RECENT AND PENDING IMPROVEMENTS TOTHE INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDE:

• The relocation of a sewer main from OldenDrive to the sewer plant.

• Reconstruction of the sewage pumpstation at Dock Street.

• Rehabilitation of the sewage pump stationknown as the Horseshoe Pond or Tamaracstation.

• Replacement of existing sewer mains alongRogers Brook behind the existing businesses,including the installation of a new pumpstation and connection to the sewer main onRoute 9.

RECENT AND PENDING IMPROVEMENTS TOTHE SEWER PLANT INCLUDE:

• A new control building was constructed in2007, which is the operational center of thesewer plant.

• New clarifiers were added in 2007 as well.

• Ultraviolet disinfection will be added to thetreatment train which will improvebacteriological disinfection and reducechemical use.

• New sludge drying beds will be installed toimprove efficiency and reduce cost of sludgetransport.

• Replacement of all fencing surrounding theplant for improved security.

The Town of Schroon has an active committeewhich is studying how the sewer system can beextended and improved throughout the town,primarily the collection system. Communitywastewater management is an ongoing venture,and the Town of Schroon has been very proactivein trying to meet the needs of their residents andthe lake.

WORD OF LIFE WASTEWATERTREATMENT PLANTSTheWord of Life (WOL) Fellowship is a largeChristianministry complex in the towns of Schroon andChester. The organization maintains considerableproperties and buildings on these complexes, andoperates as a retreat center for religious camps,meetings, and other functions. TheWOL Fellowshipalso owns andmaintains a 48 acre island onSchroonLake (Clark’s Island), which acts as an activitiesarea for attendees and campers.

WOLmaintains two separate but similar wastewatertreatment plants: one at their Ranch complexapproximately one mile north of Pottersville onNYS Route 9, and another on Clark’s Island inthe northern part of the lake. Both plants areextended aeration plants with tertiary treatmentthroughmixedmedia filtration. The Island complexplant was built in 1973, and was expanded in the1980’s. It is permitted by NYSDEC under the StatePollutant Discharge Elimination System ( SPDES)Program to discharge 38,700 gpd of treatedwastewater effluent into Schroon Lake. The plant,while 30 years old, has had regular upgradesandmaintenance according to Eric Cordis, Engineerfor WOL. In 2003, they replaced the main aerationtanks, and in 2007 they were upgraded to increaseefficiency. In 2008 the plant switched from chlorinetablets to liquid chlorine which improves efficiency,and in the summer of 2010 they are installing anewcontrol panel andwill be adding a dechlorinationprocess.

The Ranch plant was installed in 1978 and wasdesigned for 100,000 gpd discharge, although theplant averages 30,000 gpd in peak season. Theplant design and components are very similar tothe plant at the Island complex. According to NYSDEC Division of Water, both WOL plants havecurrently beenmeeting all NYS DEC standards foreffluent discharge, and are not under Orders onConsent from DEC (Dauphinais and Kavanaugh,NYS DEC, 2010).

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Maintaining a high quality waterbody such asSchroon Lake takes not only public awareness andeducation, but also well-thought land use laws andregulations. How a municipality regulatesdevelopment activities at the local level can havea tremendous impact on a waterbody. How closecan a home be built to a lake or stream? Doesthe town have a Planning Board to reviewdevelopment? Are there regulations regardingstormwater runoff and erosion control? Theseissues and a great deal more can greatlyaffect the long-term quality of Schroon Lake.

Local land use plans, including regulationsfor zoning, site plan review and subdivisionregulations can be seen as needlessgovernmental bureaucracy by some.Howeverwithout these provisions, there is often adecline in the quality of the local resourcesthat are so highly valued. Finding a goodmiddle ground between unrestraineddevelopment and ungainly regulations isalways a difficult local issue.

This section provides a brief review of the localplanning and zoning laws of the threemunicipalitieswhich border Schroon Lake. It is by no means acomprehensive analysis of all such laws on thebooks, but rather a review of what regulations exist(or don’t exist) that help protect Schroon Lake.All local laws and codes are available for publicreview at that municipality’s town hall.

In a watershed that encompasses severalmunicipalities such as Schroon Lake does, it isuseful to have a commonality of regulations betweenthese municipalities. However, this is rarely thecase. “HomeRule” in NewYork State is very strong,and everymunicipality sets its own land use codes

and regulations as they best see fit.Indeed, the three municipalities borderingSchroon Lake, while similar in size anddemographics, vary in their local planning andzoning laws.

Making the issue even more complex is theAdirondackPark Agency (APA), which has regulatoryauthority over development projects in theAdirondack Park. A detailed discussion of how

these local and APA regulations are integrated atthe municipal level is complex and is beyond thescope of this document. The goal here is to identifyany recommendations for local codes which couldultimately help protect Schroon Lake.

In assessing the current status of land useregulations, the Town Supervisors and CodeEnforcement Officers from all three municipalitieswere interviewed to determine their Town's policiesin caring for and protecting the resources. Thediscussions also included their thoughts on potentialimprovements to the existing codes and lawswhichmight help protect Schroon Lake. Following this,a review of all pertinent local zoning codes andregulationswas conducted by SWCDstaff. A similarreviewwas conducted by theWarrenCounty SWCDin 2005 for the Towns of Horicon and Chesterregarding local stormwater laws, and these resultswere coupled into the documentation as well.

Assessment of Local Laws which Impact Schroon Lake 3.8

How a municipality regulatesdevelopment activities at thelocal level can have a tremen-dous impact on a waterbody.

Looking West Across Schroon Lake

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is the right way to go. Unfortunately, this is far fromthe truth.

Septic systems need regular cleanouts to be effective(usually every three to five years), or they willeventually fail. Traditional septic systems consistof a septic tankwhich holds the solids, and a “leachfield” which infiltrates the wastewater into theground. If the tank gets too full, the solids willflow out into the leach field and clog it. The resultis a failure of the system which can result in costlyfixes and public health issues. Failing septic systemswhich are on shoreline properties have the addedissue of causing problems for their lake, includingincreases in nearshore algae blooms and sometimesdangerously high bacteria counts in the water.

Along the Schroon Lake shoreline, there are 647property parcels (see Land Ownership Map 4 inAppendices). An analysis of Essex and WarrenCounty 2009 tax parcel data reveals that out ofthose 647 parcels, 116 are undeveloped and 48are on public sewer. That leaves 483 lakeshoreparcels with onsite wastewater treatment systems(75% of the total lakeshore parcels). Most of thesebuildings are primary or secondary residences,many of which are located within 200 feet of theshoreline. NYS health codes require all newconstruction to have 100 foot setbacks for septicleach fields from anywater source or well. However,a number of the residences on Schroon Lake dateback to the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s, prior to suchrequirements.

New septic systems typically have a design lifeof approximately 30 years.Older systems, particularlybuilt for seasonal camps, often lacked qualifieddesign for sizing and separation distances, andwould not meet today’s standards. These tend tobe the systems which are found to be failing,both from age and inferior design or construction.In 1980, the Essex County Board of Supervisorscommissioned the “Essex County Water QualityManagement Study” (Cahn Engineers, 1981), tostudy wastewater disposal problems in thecommunities of Essex County. A sanitary surveywas undertaken for the Town of Schroon, whichreviewed a total of 122 seasonal camps and 23year-round residences from both west side andeast side of the lake. The report outlines numeroussystems which were either identified as having“reported” septic problems, or “potential” problems.On the west shore, 36 systemswere reviewed, and

6 reported problems, and another 11were potentiallyproblematic. On the east shore, 58 systems werereviewed, with five reported problems and 32 withpotential problems. Overall, more than 50% of thesystems involved in the study had either “reported”or “potential” problems. Many of the surveys cameback inconclusive.

No comprehensive study of the septic systemsalong Schroon Lake has been conducted sincethat 1980 sanitary survey, some 30 years ago.Many

homes along the Schroon Lake shoreline havechanged from seasonal camps to year-roundresidences in the past 30 years, and many morenew ones have been built. These two factors onlyadd to the potential impact on Schroon Lake fromless than ideal systems. On the positive side, asolder camps get replaced with newer homes, theyare (in most cases) required to upgrade the septicsystem to meet current codes.

Generally speaking, the overall condition of onsitewastewatermanagement on Schroon Lake is largelyunknown at this time. As septic failures arise ona lot by lot basis, they are dealt with by the localmunicipality and upgraded as best as possible. Nocomprehensive database exists at any regulatorylevel documenting the age of existing systems,upgrades, ormaintenance schedules. Compoundingthis issue is that there are three municipalities withshoreline on Schroon Lake which administer theirown sets of local codes and regulations. Withouta comprehensive onsite wastewater assessmentproject or system, the status of this issuewill remainlargely unknown.

WASTEWATER RECOMMENDATIONSARE INCLUDED IN CHAPTER 5

No comprehensive study of theseptic systems along SchroonLake has been conducted sincethat 1980 sanitary survey, some30 years ago.

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zoning regulations without first receiving a variance.

Both the Town Board and Planning Board areresponsible to administer the State EnvironmentalQuality Review Act (SEQRA) for developmentprojects or zoning changes. SEQRA guides theseboards and requires them to take environmentalimpacts into consideration when approving theabove activities.

The 1995 Town of Schroon Flood Damage Lawrefers to the 1995 Flood Insurance Rate Map. Itbans structures, excavation and fill in flood hazardareas. This is enforced by the Zoning EnforcementOfficer who reviews all subdivisions and newdevelopments and identifies all flood- ways utilizingwater surface elevation data and other availableresources.

The town’s site plan review process considersthe traditional issues of onsite septic systems,drinkingwater wells, roads, drainage, and setbacks.The subdivision regulations comply with the SEQRAprocess and APA regulations where applicable.In managing stormwater, the town encourages theuse of erosion control techniques and discouragesdirect nonpoint source deposition into the lake.However, there are no separate stormwatermanagement regulations that the town administersthat developersmust adhere to aside fromconditionsplaced upon the developer during the site planreview process.

There are no local wetland, stream or floodingregulations in the municipal codes, but the towndefers to state and federal regulations for oversight.The Federal andState regulations that apply towardsstreams, lakes, wetlands and stormwater aresummarized later within this chapter. The towndoes not have any timber harvest laws on the books,but APA jurisdiction would apply to clearcuttingover 25 acres upland or 3 wetland acres.

The town’s zoning officer felt that long-term lakequalitywas the biggest concern, not only for SchroonLake, but also for Paradox Lake and the otherwaterbodies in town. He supported reevaluatingolder regulations and bringing them up to date ina comprehensive process.

The Town of Schroon codes and zoning map canbe viewed at the Town’s website athttp://www.schroon.net/planning%20board.html.

TOWN OF CHESTERREGULATORY HIGHLIGHTS

The Town of Chester Zoning Administrator, WalterTennyson and Patricia Smith are the two parttime zoning staff in the town. The Town of Chesteroperates administers land use through the “Townof Chester Zoning Local Law”. The purpose of thislaw, as stated, is to “promote the health, safety,and general welfare of the community and protectthe property values and aesthetics of the communityby channeling and directing growth... to ensureoptimum overall conservation, protection,development... to preserve the beauty and characterof the Adirondack Park... to the benefit of theresidents and visitors of the community.”

The TownofChester has anAdirondackPark Agencyapproved Comprehensive Land Use Master Plan.According to the APA Act, this approval transfersconsiderable permitting authority from the Agencyto the Town of Chester. However, there are stillmany land development transactions which requireAPA approval as well as local municipal approval.Local law does not supersede the determinationof the Adirondack Park Agency on any matters ofland use within APA jurisdiction. On the other hand,the APA cannot override a local decision not topermit a given land use or development.

All applicants must comply with the local lawregarding shoreline and other zoning issues withinthe Town of Chester. A subdivision review is requiredfor all proposed subdivisions within the town.

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LOCAL REGULATIONS SUMMARY MATRIX

TOWN OF SCHROONREGULATORY HIGHLIGHTS

Town Supervisor CathyMoses and Building CodesOfficial Donald Sage provided a summary of theirtown's laws for the development of the SchroonLake Management Plan. The Town employs onefull time zoning staff person. Although the towndoes not have a Land Use Master Plan, it doesadminister local laws and ordinances and it adheresto state laws and federal guidelines to protectthe watershed and lake.

The Town of Schroon has both Planning and Zoningregulations, and has a Planning Board and a Zoningboard which meet monthly. The Planning Boardadministers site plan review for housing unitdevelopment, commercial development, andindustrial development. It also manages specialuse permits and expansion of non-residentialfacilities. The Zoning Board controls and issues

variances for land use, development and subdivisionactivities which are not allowed under existing

ITEM SCHROON CHESTER HORICON

Land Use Master Plan No Yes- APA approved Yes- APA approved

Zoning Laws Yes Yes Yes

Planning Laws Yes Yes Yes

Site Plan Review Yes Yes Yes

Subdivision Regulations Yes Yes Yes

Stormwater Management Yes Site Plan Review Site Plan Review

Shoreline Cutting Restrictions APA APA APA

Waterfront Setbacks Town and APA APA only Town and APA

Wetlands regulations APA APA Town zoning / APA review

Erosion ControlYes, under stormwatermanagement

Guidelines onlyYes, under stormwatermanagement

Septic Regulations Dept. of Health Dept. of Health Dept. of Health

Mandated Septic Inspectionand Maintenance

NoResale inspectionby engineer

No

Zoning Staff 1 full time 2 part time 2 part time

Junk Storage laws Yes Yes Yes

Timber Harvest No No No

Dock regulations Yes Yes Yes

A summary matrix of municipal regulations surrounding Schroon Lake is detailed below.Highlighted are the key local regulatory issues and codes which play a role in protecting Schroon

Lake and other waterbodies in these municipalities.

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As can be seen, most land disturbance andlake management practices require somelevel of state or federal review. Althoughthe permit process can often be daunting,

the regulatory framework is intended to provideenvironmental protections while allowinglandowners appropriate usage of theirproperties.

All new septic systemsmust adhere to all codesin Appendix 75a of the Public Heath Law. Systemson difficult lots may be granted approvals to usealternative onsite wastewater treatment systemsif approved by an engineer. These alternativesystems generally require more maintenance,and often require contracts with qualified outsidemaintenance firms.

The town does not have any timber harvest lawsand interviews indicated that it would be beneficialto have some regulations and guidelines forthe community to follow. APA jurisdiction wouldapply to clearcutting over 25 acres upland or 3wetland acres.

The Town of Horicon’s Comprehensive MasterPlan and its documents can be viewed onlineat the Town of Horicon’s website which can beviewed athttp://www.horiconny.gov/comprehensiveplan/documents.php.

A copy of the zoning and project review as wellas subdivisions and sanitary regulations canbe obtained at the Horicon Town Hall.

STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONSPROTECTING WATER QUALITY

In addition to local municipal regulations, thereis also an array of state and federal regulationsin place to protect the natural resources of NewYork State. The principal state agencies whichare charged at environmental protection in theSchroon Lake region are the NYS Departmentof Environmental Conservation and theAdirondack Park Agency. On the federal level,waterbodies and wetlands are regulated bythe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under variousstatutes. There are numerous other agencieswhich regulate specific issues, but these threeare the dominant permitting agencies from anatural resources perspective.

COMMON TOPICS APA NYS DEC U.S. ARMYCORPS

New Development �

Stormwater (New Development > 1 acre) �

Shoreline Disturbance � � �

Streambank Disturbance � � �

Wetlands � �

Logging � �

Shoreline Cutting �

Docks � �

Wastewater Treatment �

Lake Dredging � � �

Aquatic Plant Management � �

The following table outlines selected topics and the agenciesthat often have jurisdiction over those issues.

(Note: this table is informational only and not intended to be used in place of a thorough permit jurisdictional review.)

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The APA may claim jurisdiction in certainenvironmentally sensitive areas at their discretionand as their authority designates. The town, althoughin possession of an APA approved master plan,defers to the APA on matters involving lakes,wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas. Thetown defers to NYS DEC on enforcement andregulations for stormwatermanagement and erosioncontrol. The Town of Chester has no permit systemor requirements for timber harvesting, and theChester Codes Officer felt that this issue shouldbe addressed in the next municipal codes update.

Regarding natural resources protection statutesin the Town codes, there are a few items whichspecifically focus on safeguarding waterbodiesand overall lake water quality. Surface waterprotection is encouraged within the municipalguidelines recommending buffer strips,minimizationof stream channel disturbance, managingstormwater runoff, and installing erosion controltechniques during construction activities. Groundwater is also protected in Chestertown, with theobjectives stated in Appendix D, Section D“preserving the quality, infiltration rate and levels”.Guidelines include: compliance with regulationson pollutant discharge and the protection of aquiferrecharge areas.

In addition to the land and water protections, thelaw’s objectives in Appendix D encourage limitingthe use of fertilizers and other toxins thatmaymaketheir way into water bodies. However, there is nospecific statute controlling these substances, onlyrecommendations. The Town of Chester does nothave any timber harvest laws on the books, butAPA jurisdiction would apply to clearcutting over25 acres upland or 3 wetland acres.

Septic setbacks and regulations adhere to Appendix75a of the Public Heath Law,Wastewater TreatmentStandards. Upon property resale, septic systemsare required to be inspected by an engineer. Thisprovision is intended to protect both the newhomeowner and to protect nearby propertiesand waterbodies from the effects of failing septicsystems.

The Town of Chester’s Planning and Zoningdocuments can be viewed online at the Town’swebsite http://www.townofchesterny.org/planzone-3.html.

TOWN OF HORICONREGULATORY HIGHLIGHTS

According to Gary McMeekin, the ZoningAdministrator for the Town of Horicon the town hasa local land use plan for zoning and project reviewas well as subdivisions and sanitary regulations.The plan was adopted for use in 1976 to promotehealth, safety as well as the moral and generalwelfare of the community. Like the Town of Chester,the Town of Horicon has an APA approved LandUseMaster Plan, givingHoricon authority overmostdevelopment activities. There is also aComprehensive Master Plan for the town that iscurrently being updated by a steering committee.

Subdivision regulations were adopted in 1963 andall subdivisions in the Town of Horicon are subjectto the town’s PlanningBoard reviewprocess. Thosesubdivisions which are unable to meet the zoningcodes must first go in front of the town’s ZoningBoard of Appeals for a variance of thosenoncompliant issues. Variances are subject to bothTown of Horicon and APA review before approved.

The town relies on NYSDEC review for stormwatermanagement on developments over one acre ofland disturbance (as per the NYSDECStormwaterPermit Program) but stormwater managementfor all projects is under the purview of a PlanningBoard review as well. This process encompassescompliance with wetlands, streams and floodingregulations, but being within the Adirondack Parkactivitiesmay also be subject to state agency review.

An “invasive” species is one which is not nativeto the area, grows and reproduces aggressively,and can do extensive damage to the localecosystem. The focus of this section is on invasiveplants and two invasive insects.

INVASIVE PLANTS

The diversity of vegetation in an area can besubstantially reduced when invasive plantsare present, thereby reducing thehabitat value for wildlife. Someinvasive plants grow soaggressively that entire swaths ofland become coveredwith the onespecies (creating a “monoculture”).In areas of farmland andpastureland, particularly out in thewestern United States, invasiveplants have a tremendouseconomic impact, estimated in thebillions of dollars in lost productionand control costs.

Closer to home, the Schroon Lakewatershed is home to a few speciesof upland invasive plants as well.Thankfully, most of these plantpopulations are currently moreof a nuisance than an economicimpact. However, without publiceducation, management andcontrolmethods, these plants havethe ability to clog our wetlands,roadsides, and other scenic areas.

There are three primary invasiveplants of concern in the SchroonLakewatershed: Purple loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria), Japaneseknotweed (Polygonumcuspidatum), and common reed(Phragmites australis). Otherinvasive plants such as TatarianHoneysuckle, Garlic Mustard andOriental Bittersweet are currentlypresent in the watershed as well,but in only in very minor andscattered populations. None of

these invasive plants are poisonous or toxicto humans, they are simply very aggressiveand can take over wetlands and other areas veryquickly. Purple loosestrife and common reedlive in wetland areas and can completely displaceall other species in only a few years. Japaneseknotweed can thrive in wet or dry conditions,and is often found along roadsides and alongstream corridors.

APIPP Invasive Plant Map of the Adirondacks, 2008.The Schroon Lake area is shown within the black oval.

Upland InvasiveSpeciesManagement 3.9

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Within the Adirondack Park, the AdirondackPark Agency (APA) has jurisdiction based onland use and critical environmental areadetermination. In the APA’s Adirondack ParkLandUse andDevelopment Plan all private landsin the Park are classified into six categories:hamlet, moderate intensity use, low intensityuse, rural use, resource management andindustrial use. Each category allows varyinglevels of development activities within the Park.

The APA Act states that local governments inthe Park can develop their own local land useprograms therefore transferring, upon APAapproval, some permitting authority from theAgency to the local government’s jurisdiction.The Towns of Chester and Horicon have APAapproved plans, the Town of Schroon does not.

There is a Citizens Guide available at APA’swebsite:http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Guidelines/CitizensGuide.pdf

which provides a more thorough overview ofthe APA’s roles and jurisdictions. A JurisdictionalInquiry Form should be filed with the APA todetermine permitting authority over any proposeddevelopment or landmodification project in thePark.

REGULATORYRECOMMENDATIONS AREINCLUDED IN CHAPTER 5

NYS Adirondack Park Agency, used by permission

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late summer. In winter, only the stalksremain, and are reddish in color, generallywithout any other plants living within theaffected area. Transport of these plantsis primarily a result of highwaymaintenance operations and by thetransport of seeds and roots by streamswhen established along riparian corridors.

The best control of the spread of Japaneseknotweed is to identify existing plants andnot inadvertently move them. Highway roadditching activities are one of themain causesof new colonies of knotweed. Even smallsections of plant roots which are dug upwillestablish a new colony wherever it isdeposited, often in other roadside areas.In many cases, landowners who are therecipients of roadside fill from a highwaydepartment have found themselves with anew colony of knotweed on their property.Once established, it is extremely difficultto eradicate.

COMMON REEDThis plant is a tall, perennial grass (somewhatresemblingwheat), which ismost often foundalong road corridors and wetland areas. Itcan grow up to 15 feet in height and spreadsvery quickly into surrounding areas. Commonreed can completely take over entire wetlandcomplexes by outcompeting all other species,creating a monoculture. It spreads throughprolific seed production and also by extensiveunderground root systems. Common reed

roots can run underground and surface intoa newplantmany yards away,which happensover and over to create large colonies.Monocultures of common reed of up to 7,000acres have been documented (APIPP, FactSheets).

Control of common reed is primarily donethrough herbicides, applied through licensed

pesticide applicators. However, these controlefforts are expensive, and often have tobe repeated multiple times to eliminatethe plant colony.

In the Schroon Lake watershed, commonreed is present primarily along theNYSRoute9 corridor and between the lanes of Interstate87. However, it can be found in small patchesin many other areas of the watershed, oftenin wet areas and road ditches.

Common Reed

Japanese knotweed

Some invasive plants grow soaggressively that entire swaths of landbecome covered with the one species

To begin to address this concern in theAdirondacks, the Adirondack Park InvasivePlant Program (APIPP) was created in 1998.APIPP is a coalition of nonprofit groups andstate agencieswith themission of “protectingthe Adirondack region from the negativeimpacts of nonnative invasive species”.

Based out of Keene, NY, this group is thenexus for education, training, andmanagement techniques to control invasiveplants in the Adirondacks.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFESo far, the only upland invasive plantmanagement efforts in the Schroon Lakearea have been conducted on purpleloosestrife, primarily by individuals andmembers of the Schroon Lake Associationwith support from the NYS DEC. Under thedirection of Schroon Lake Association

members Don and Ellie Searles, the SLAdeveloped an educational program for schoolage children to help control loosestrife. Thekids raised and releasedGalerucella beetleswhich feed solely on loosestrife plants,eventually killing them. The programmakesa contribution both to the educational andpractical components of invasive plantmanagement.

In addition, the Searles’ have directly takenon the cause of loosestrife control aroundSchroon Lake by digging up plants whereverthey are found. They have spent hundredsof hours on this endeavor, and have madean impact on the loosestrife populationslocally around the hamlet of Schroon. Theirwork and dedication have shown thatindividual efforts can have a great impacton environmental issues.

JAPANESE KNOTWEEDJapanese Knotweed is an extremely fastgrowing perennial plant which primarilycolonizes roadways and riparian areas. Itgrows up to 10 feet in height, has hollowstems, and produces tiny white flowers in

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Their work and dedication haveshown that individual effortscan have a great impact onenvironmental issues.

SLA developed an educational program forschool children who raised Galerucella beetlesto combat invasive purple loosestrife plants.

Purple Loosestrife

Webster’s dictionary defines “stewardship” as“the careful and responsible management ofsomething entrusted to one’s care”, and is anoften used term in the realmof lake andwatershedmanagement. While it can be argued that stateand federal agencies are the primary stewardsof Schroon Lake, their role is often one of reactionto human activity (i.e. granting permits forlakeshoremodifications, regulating disturbanceof wetlands, implementing fines forwater quality violations). These roles,while not appreciated by all, arenecessary and very important for thelong-term viability of Schroon Lake.State and federal agencies can also

play a role in lakemanagement through fundingof watershed and lake protection projects (suchas this initiative funded by the NYS Departmentof State). State agencies such as the NYSDepartments of Environmental Conservationand NYSDepartment of State provide grants tomunicipalities and County Soil and Water

Conservation Districts to undertake theseprojects.

At the local level, the connotation of stewardshipinvokes the thought of nonprofit lake associations,which are groups of local citizensworking togetherin the interests of their lake. Their focus tendsto be on public involvement and education;networking and outreach. The involvement of

local citizens andcommunity leaders is atthe heart of stewardshipon Schroon Lake, and hasbeen for a very long time.

When all of these groupscome together, as is thecase for this Schroon LakeManagement Planinitiative, the best andmost fruitful efforts areachieved. All parties areat the table, bringing theirexpertise, knowledge, andpassion, and the outcome

is not simply a document but a framework forthe future. Stewardship is a long-term endeavor,and it takes the commitment of all groups totruly achieve the balance between the lakeand its surrounding communities. Throughthis process we see perhaps themost importantactions to protect and improve the lake.

Lake and Watershed Stewardship 3.10

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The involvement of local citizens andcommunity leaders is at the heart of

stewardship onSchroon Lake,and has been fora very long time.

Bill McGhie of ESSLA looking for the invasive plant EurasianWatermilfoil in their “Milfoil Scout Program”

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INVASIVE INSECTS

Along with invasive plants, there are alsoinsects which are not native to the areawhich could cause tremendous economicand environmental damage if they maketheir way into the region. Of particularconcern are two species of insects: theAsian Longhorned Beetle and the EmeraldAsh Borer. There have been no confirmedsightings of these insects in the SchroonLake Watershed currently, but vigilanceis very important.

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is aserious threat to NewYork State. This beetleoriginally from Asia, has been found inthe New York and surrounding states. Theadult female ALB bores into a tree to layeggs, and as the eggs hatch and the larvae

mature they feed on the tree. Uponmaturity,the adult beetle will bore out the tree andwill leave behind a hole of approximately1⁄2 inch in diameter. An infestation of theseinsects can decimate large tracts of Ashforest. The ALB is up to 1 1⁄4” in length andhas numerous white spots on its back andits antennae are long and black and whitestripped. This species does look similar toour nativeWhite Spotted Pine Sawyer. TheAdirondacks are of special concern, becausethe ALB feeds uponmany tree species that

are commonly found here. That list includesits preferred species of maples, elms,poplars and birch. Many other hardwoodtrees can be hosts for this insect as well.

For further information on the ALB, go towww.dec.ny.gov/animals/7255.html.

A more recent invasive insect introductionto the United States that can have majorimpacts to the Adirondacks is the EmeraldAsh Borer (EAB). The EABwas introducedto the US from Asia in 2002. The EAB aresmall (up to 5/8” in length) with greenmetallicwings and a reddish underside. A femaleEAB will lay eggs in an ash tree and asthe larvae mature, they feed on the tree.When the adult EAB bores out of the treea D-shaped exit hole remains. All ash treesare susceptible to this insect, and oncethey are infected they will generally diewithin 2-4 years. Over 50 million ash treesin the United States have been killed dueto the EAB infestation.

For further information, please check theNYSDEC website atwww.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html.

INVASIVE SPECIESRECOMMENDATIONS AREINCLUDED IN CHAPTER 5

Asian Longhorn

Emerald Ash Borer

Scout Program. Werecruited 45 volunteerswho checked formilfoil,we created a trainingvideo and set up aphone line (494-4849)so milfoil scouts couldreport their findings.

Joined by our sisterassociation the SLAweincreased the numberof volunteers to 65. In2009 our collectiveeffort has resulted insurveying the entireshoreline in WarrenCounty and 47%of theshoreline in Essexcounty.

We expect to continue our joint efforts eachyear and eventually provide 100% surveillanceof the entire lake shore line including the River.Our objective is to prevent EurasianWatermilfoilfrom entering the lake on boats and to educateboaters on the threat it poses to our waters.We also attend various events on SchroonLake and inform people what milfoil looks likeand how they can report finding a suspectplant.

Our Association conducts boater safety coursesand participates in the Adopt-A-Highway

program. We organized several local lakeassociations to meet and share ideas andexpertise. Each year we attend conferencesto learn about the latest developments in lakestewardship. We then share this informationwith our members and others.

Throughout the entire year, ESSLA informs ourmembers via e-mail and letters of items whichmay impact or interest them.We also conductopen meetings twice a year where membersand the public may voice their concerns andopinions. Once a year we conduct a socialactivity where our members may gather and

socialize. Visit www.essla.org for moreinformation.

THE IMPORTANCE OFINDIVIDUAL STEWARDSHIPWhile these two lake associations arethe hub of organized stewardship activityon Schroon Lake, there is a tremendouslyimportant role to be played by individualsand property owners. Schroon Lake hasa fairly densely developed shoreline, withhundreds of homes within a half-mile ofthe shoreline of the lake. How theseproperties are managed can have atremendous impact on the water qualityand aquatic plant community in the lake.

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ESSLA volunteers cleaning up roadside trash,under the NYS “Adopt-a-Highway” program

A good example of a well “lake-scaped” property on Schroon Lake

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SCHROON LAKE ASSOCIATION(By President Helen Wildman)

For almost 100 years, the Schroon LakeAssociation Inc. has been caring for the lake,its watershed and the local community. Formedin 1911 to prevent the flooding of the SchroonLake Valley and to control the lake level for thesurrounding land owners, the organization wasinstrumental in caring for the Starbuckville Dam,leasing the structure for over forty years in orderto maintain and rebuild it before the formation ofthe Park District. As the yearswent on the SchroonLake Association’s incorporation was updatedto 501c3 (nonprofit) status. Our stewardshipextended beyond the shores of the lake towatershed tasks such as ragweed control andeven beyond as they fought acid rain. On the alert

for EurasianWatermilfoil, the SLA formed a groupof volunteer “milfoil watchers” who surveyed thelake for this invasive plant as early as the 1980’s.Today, in partnership with our sister organization,ESSLA, we are participating in a lake wide ScoutProgram to continue the volunteer surveillancefor this invasive plant.

Ever mindful of the need to collect scientific dataand prioritize watershed tasks, the organizationsaw the need to retain a professional LakeManagerto direct their stewardship of the lake. In 1995the SLA retained Steve LaMere of AdirondackEcologists, LLC, one of the first twelve lakemanagers in the United States and the first to becertified in New York State. Our group has beenworking under his guidance since that time fundingstudies, broadening educational outreach atthe lake’s launch ramps, mailing information on

septic systems, lake-scaping and vegetativebarriers to taxpayers, and through hand harvestingofmilfoil, mapping and controlling purple loosestrifeand other invasive species, holding open publicmeetings each summer to disseminate information.In partnership with our sister organization ESSLA,we are participating in a lakewide Scout programto continue the volunteer surveillance of EurasianWatermilfoil. The Schroon Lake Association, Inc.proudly continues this 99-year long tradition ofdevoting its funds and volunteer time to lake andwatershed stewardship by spearheading thedevelopment of this Schroon LakeManagementPlan. Visit www.schroonlakeassociation.org formore information.

EAST SHORE SCHROON LAKEASSOCIATION(By President Bill McGhie)

Since its inception in 1964, with the objectiveof maintaining the water quality of Schroon Lake,the East Shore Schroon Lake Association (ESSLA)has been active in lake stewardship. As stewardsof our lake we initiated a program for biologicaltesting of the water quality at various locationsaround Schroon Lake. For chemical testing,our volunteers go out on the lake eight timesduring the summer and collect surface and deepwater samples from the deepest section of thesouth basin. Our sister association the SLA collectssamples from the north basin.

We partnered with Paul Smith’s College to trainvolunteers to inspect boats entering the lake atthe StateBoat launch. In 2008 under the leadershipof Vince Blando, the ESSLA created a "Milfoil

While these two lake associationsare the hub of organized steward-ship activity on Schroon Lake,there is a tremendously importantrole to be played by individualsand property owners.

For 40 years the SLA has raised funds forstewardship of the lake through its annual Artsand Crafts Fair held in the park beside the lake

TheNYSDepartment of Healthrecommends that septic tanksbe pumped out every 3-5years. This keeps the solidsfrom overflowing into theinfiltration lines, causing thesystem to fail. There are manyseptic haulers in the SchroonLake area that pumpout septictanks, at a cost of $200 or less.The hauler will even locate thetank for you if you don’t knowwhere it is. The Department ofHealth does not advocate theuse of “septic tank additives”which are available at storesand seen on television, as theydo not improve the efficiencyof the system and can actuallyimpede the function of the tank.

To extend the life of residential septic systems,water conservation is an important item. Whenwater use is reduced, the solids in the tank havemore time to settle and the microbes have moretime to break down the waste. Most toiletspurchased now are “low flow” at 1.6 gallons or lessper flush, which is a good standard. Each homeshould have faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads,and newer toilets. By having these items in a house,water usage can drop as much as 50% (as canyour water bills). Less water going to the septicsystem means less water to be disposed.

Lawns and gardens is a standard practice for manyhomeowners. To optimize the use of the water,early morning or in the cool of the evening is thebest time forwatering. Evaporation is greatly reducedand fungal growth on lawns and plants isminimized.Simple management changes, even by oneindividual, can result in significant change locally.

CHEMICAL USE ANDWASTE DISPOSALHousehold chemicals (cleaners, bleach, etc.) shouldnever be disposed of down a sink drain. Septicsystems are not capable of breaking down ortreating these chemicals, so they will flow intothe ground untreated. In addition, those chemicalscan often kill the “good” bacteria which break downhuman waste, and thus render the system non-functional. Alternative, less toxic home and gardenproducts should be usedwhenever possible. There

is an array of “green” productson the store shelves now,which are significantly lessharmful to the environmentwhile doing the same job.

In addition to householdcleaners, recent evidence hasshown that the disposal ofunused pharmaceuticals(prescription and over thecountermedicine) is becominga problem in many of ournations waterbodies.Wastewater treatment plantscannot treat or remove thesechemicals from the wastestream, and studies areshowing that dozens or evenhundreds of chemical residualsfrommedications are showing

up in small amounts in our waters. To properlydispose of unused medicines, simply throw inthe garbage. All garbage around Schroon Lakeis transported to the DEC regulated Hudson FallsBurn Plant for final disposal.

Even in our era of heightened environmentalawareness, many people don’t give much thoughtto their actions on disposal of household and otherchemicals. There are often articles in the newspapersabout a home or business owner who dumpedpaint or oil down a road grate, resulting in a plumeinto a lake. These result in a large cleanup cost,and fines, all of which are borne by the responsibleperson. For information on the proper disposalof household chemicals, contact the NYSDepartment of Environmental Conservation at623-1200.

76

There is an array of “green”products on the store shelvesnow, which are significantly lessharmful to the environment whiledoing the same job.

FERTILIZERS AND BUFFERSAlmost all of the homes surrounding Schroon Lakehavemanaged landscapes, including lawns. Withlawns, invariably comes the need for maintenance,often including the application of fertilizers andpesticides. These chemicals, even if properlyapplied, can run off after storm events and leachinto the lake or nearby stream. The results canrange from algal blooms to excessive shorelineweeds to fishkills.

One of the single largest impacts from propertymanagement is the application (and over application)of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. Phosphorus iscalled the “limiting nutrient” in lakes, whichmeansthat the growth of algae and weeds in lakes isdirectly dependent upon the amount of phosphorusin the water. Most water quality protection projectsfor watershed and lakemanagement are intendedto reduce or eliminate the introduction of additionalphosphorus to the lake.

Each bag of lawn fertilizer identifies its three primarycomponents: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.For example, a fertilizer with a 20-10-5 analysismeans that it is 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus,and 5% potassium. Most homeowners applyfertilizer as per the recommendation on the bag,and many times through out the growing season.However, very few of those homeowners have theirsoil tested prior to application to see if the soilactually needs these chemicals. Inexpensive soilstests ($5 or so) are available from local home

improvement warehouses, or more detailed testscan be done throughCornell Cooperative Extension.

Numerous studies have shown that soils are oftensaturated with phosphorus and do not needadditional applications. In addition, if the pH of thesoil is too low or too high, grass cannot uptake the

phosphorus in the soil anyway. Further applicationsare a waste of money and a potential issue foran adjacent waterbody or even their personaldrinking water well.

To help reduce runoff from a property (particularlylakefront) a good practice is to establish a “bufferstrip” of vegetation. These areas tend to be slightlyelevated (to inhibit runoff) or depressed (to capturerunoff) and planted with a variety of plants. Theycan be beautiful additions to a property’s aestheticlook, while providing the lakeshore with protectionfrom fertilizer-laden runoff. The term “lake-scaping”describes the use of vegetative buffers and screenedviews for shoreline properties.

SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND WATERCONSERVATIONWith the large number of septic systems onSchroonLake (discussed in Chapter 3.7), homeownermanagement of those systems is paramount toprotecting the lake. All homeowners should knowwhat type of system they have, its location, andwhen it was last pumped out. Recent septicpumpout programs conducted by the WarrenCounty SWCD on surrounding lakes have foundthat the vast majority of homeowners nearlakeshores have not pumped their tank withinthe past five years. In fact, a large number of thoseindividuals did not even know where their septictank was located.

75

To help reduce runoff from aproperty (particularly lakefront)a good practice is to establish a“buffer strip” of vegetation.They can be beautiful additionsto a property’s aesthetic look,while providing the lakeshorewith protection from fertilizer-laden runoff.

The NYS Department of Healthrecommends that septic tanksbe pumped out every 3-5 years.This keeps the solids from over-flowing into the infiltration lines,causing the system to fail.

of jobs (particularly in theprivate sector), shortageof affordable housing,shrinking schoolenrollments, an agingpopulation, reduced anddeteriorating economicinfrastructures anddiminished communityservices. Many of thesetrendsmight be ongoingin other regions of theUnited States, howeverin the Adirondack Park

the “unique experience” ofman andwildernessliving side by sidemay be in jeopardy in whichthe protected wilderness will survive, butthe viability and sustainability of thesecommunities within this magnificent 6 millionacre park might not.

It is imperative that Schroon Lake protectionskeep in balance the human role in thesubstance of the area’s environment. Oneof the outcomes of the Schroon LakeManagement Plan is that we are striving andwill continue to strive for equilibrium. Thisequilibrium can be defined as a symbioticrelationship in which a healthy watershedequals a successful community and a healthycommunity equals a successful watershed.

The following paragraph in theexecutive summary of the APRAPembodies both of these goals:“The obvious need tomerge long-term economic revitalization withenvironmental protection mustoccur soon for the towns andvillageswithin the AdirondackPark.

Bold new strategies and investment will berequired to address the complex needs ofcommunities within a protected landscape.Such strategies must support sustainabledevelopment of communities consistent withboth quality of life and environmentalstewardship. The data presented assessesthe need for targeted and timely utilizationof resources to address the questions listedabove and to drive the planning process tomeet the fundamental needs of the people ofthe Adirondack Park.”

The APRAP report is downloadable or can beordered by going to the AdirondackAssociationof Towns & Villages website at:http://aatvny.org/content/Generic/View/1.

78

A healthywatershedequals a successful communityand a healthy community equals asuccessful watershed

By Roger Friedman, Schroon Town Councilman

The Schroon Lake Watershed Management Planis a consensus building effort aimed at all residentsand users of the Schroon Lake Watershed. While60% of the Watershed is Forest Preserve and willnever be developed, the area around Schroon Lakeis primarily residential in nature. Thus the humancomponent is of primary importance and the Planprovides a blueprint for the optimal use andenjoyment of Schroon Lake as a natural, recreationaland economic resource.

For years the emphasis within the Adirondack Parkhas been on how to preserve the natural resourcesof the Park. In recognition of the need to preservethese natural resources the Adirondack Park Agency(APA) Act was passed in 1971. The APA providesregulatory guidelines for development within theAdirondack Park and in theory “recognizes thecomplementary needs of all the people of the statefor the preservation of the park's resources andopen space character and of the park's permanent,

seasonal and transient populations for growth andservice areas, employment, and a strong economicbase”.

For yearsmany local officials within the Adirondackshave been apprehensive about a possible crisisconcerning the overall condition ofmanyAdirondackcommunities. In 2009 the Adirondack ParkRegional Assessment Project (APRAP) report wasreleased providing the first comprehensive baselinedata for understanding socio-economic trends andprojecting future outcomes for the Adirondack Park.The data clearly demonstrates that the Blue Lineis not just a geographic boundary, but defines aregion with unique socio-economic characteristics.

The results of the APRAP illustrate the challengesfacingmost Adirondack communities with respectto community life, demographics, employment,emergency services, schools and infrastructure.These trends include but are not limited to: lack

3.11 The Human Component

77

OPINION SURVEYRESULTSChapter 4

atershed planning is not only aboutnatural resources protection andimprovement, but also about the people

who use and enjoy those resources. Towardsthis end, in 2007 the Schroon LakeManagement Planning Committeedeveloped a “Resident and Visitor Survey”,which went to over 2,000 residents andvisitors of Schroon Lake. How do peopleperceive Schroon Lake’s water quality?What are the big issues affecting the lake?Who should be involved and be providingfunding for lake management activities?These questions andmuchmorewere askedof those who chose to be involved in thesurvey response, and the outcomes are veryinteresting.

The Committee’s objective was to developa questionnaire that not only looked atpeople’s opinions and outlook of the lakeitself, but also their views of what ishappening in the watershed. This surveywas very comprehensive, including suchtopics as lake usage, perceptions of lake

condition, and the public’s thoughts on theLake Management Planning initiative. Thegoal was to get the opinions of arepresentative cross section of everyone

from full time local residents to casual usersof Schroon Lake, such that we could betterunderstand the public mindset during thisplanning process.

80

W4.1 Background

The Committee’s objective wasto develop a questionnaire

that not only looked atpeople’s opinions and outlookof the lake itself, but also theirviews of what is happening in

the watershed.

The Committee received 523 completedsurveys back, which was felt to be a goodresponse overall and a reasonablerepresentation from the public at large.Staff at theWarren County Soil andWaterConservation District spent over 150 hourstabulating the combined 56,000 answerson the survey forms. The resulting

information was collated and analyzed,and resulting charts were developed forvisual interpretation.

Through the volumes of data, clear interestsand opinions came through from the surveyrespondents. The graphical results ofthe survey highlights are as follows:

4.2 Tabulation and Results

ooo

82

PERCEPTIONS OF LAKE QUALITY

How Would You Rate Schroon Lake for Swimming?

0.6%7.6%

7.4%

48.7%

35.7%PoorFairDon't KnowGoodExcellent

85% of people believe that Schroon Lake is“good” or “excellent” for swimming.Less than 0.6% of people rated it as “poor”.

IMPORTANCE OF LONG-TERMWATER MONITORING

The vast majority of people (82%) believethat having a permanent water quality testingprogram on Schroon Lake is important.

How Important is it to Develop a Permanent Water Quality Testing Program?

0.6%17.6%

81.8%

Not Important

Somewhat ImportantVery Important

81

How Much Time Do You Spend in the Schroon Lake Area Per Year

9.8%5.9%

34.1%

4.6%

17.4%

28.2%

Weekends Only

Part of Summer

Part of Summer, andSome WeekendsWhole Summer

Whole Summer,and WeekendsYear Round

WHO RESPONDED?Only 28% of respondents were year-round residents, withthe remaining 72% being part-time residents or visitors.

WHAT SHOULD THIS PLAN ADDRESS?

ISSUES OF CONCERN

84

The largest concerns for Schroon Lake among respondentswere development related (nearshore development, septicsystems, stormwater runoff from roads). Also of high priorityamong surveyed individuals were in-lake issues, such asinvasive aquatic plants and boating issues.

83

IMPORTANCE OF UNDEVELOPED/OPENSPACE IN THE WATERSHED

94% of survey respondents think thatit is important to preserve and protectopen spaces in the Schroon Lakewatershed.

Is it Important to Preserve and Protect Undeveloped Agricultural/Open Space Within the Watershed?

6.1%

32.1%

61.7%

Not Important

Somewhat ImportantVery Important

The complete tabulation of the Resident Surveyis available at the websites of both the SchroonLake Association and the East Shore Schroon LakeAssociation. Included within this Watershed Planare merely the highlights of the Survey Tabulation,focusing on the highest priority items. However,there is a considerable amount of insight andinformation which can be gleaned from a reviewof the full report.

The Resident Survey was an important step inprogressing a comprehensive watershed and lakeplanning initiative for Schroon Lake. It gave valuableinput to the LakeManagement Planning Committeeregarding issues of concern, demographics withinthe watershed, and people’s perception of SchroonLake.

These responses helped focus the Committee’swork on this management plan. While sometimesthe results confirmed the perception of Committeemembers and community leaders, other timesthe results were less evident (and therefore evenmore constructive). For the long-term, these surveyresults will be utilized by the two lake associationsas they conduct educational and outreach activitiesthroughout the watershed for the future.

This full report can be found atwww.schroonlakeassociation.com orwww.essla.org

RECOMMENDATIONSChapter 5

86

he ultimate goal of the Schroon LakeWatershed Management Plan is notjust to educate local citizens and civicleaders about Schroon Lake, but alsoto identify key recommendations toprotect it for the future. Towards thisend, the work undertaken on this planwas focused not only on identifyingvarious issues which affect SchroonLake, but also on specific strategiesto address these issues.

This document outlines a number ofrecommendations for the long-termprotection and improvement ofSchroon Lake and its watershed.Those recommendations arecompiled as tables below, basedupon the topic and issue. Outlined inthese tables are the issue, an esti-mated cost of remediation, the likelyparty (or parties) to address the issue,and the timeframe which the issue islikely to be addressed. Many of theseinitiatives will involve funding fromoutside sources, such as state andfederal government grants. However,a good deal of the recommendations

can be implemented by local govern-ment and the two lake associations.

Ultimately, the protection andimprovement of Schroon Lake comesnot from a Plan, but how that Plan isimplemented. This plan was not writ-ten to sit on a shelf as a memorial toitself, but is intended to be actedupon on a regular basis as a workingdocument. These recommendationsprovide the framework and back-ground for future grant applicationsto any number of funding sources.Indeed, it is fully expected that theactions noted in this plan will form thecore of numerous project applica-tions for the betterment and protec-tion of the lake for the future. This isone of the last steps in the planningprocess for the Schroon Lake Water-shed, but it is only the beginning of anew era of projects and programs tobenefit the lake itself, its localcommunities, and the thousands ofvisitors who enjoy Schroon Lakeevery year.

T

ooo

88

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

Install storm drain markers saying“Don’t Dump, Drains to Lake” on road stormgrates in highly developed parts of the watershed.

LakeAssociations,Municipalities

$3,000-$5,000

Municipal,LakeAssociations,NYS

Short term

Over time, work to add stormwatertreatment or infiltration structures to allexisting public road drainage systems whichoutlet directly into the lake

Municipalities,SWCD’s

Varies byproject

NYS,Municipal

Long term

STORMWATER RUNOFFGENERAL

Upland Recommendations 5.2

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. CHURCH/ BELLE STS. –Re-ditch, landscape channelInstallation of one drywell system at theIntersection of Church and Belle Streets, cleanout rock lined ditch, and create a landscaped rocklined channel to the Lake.

Town of SchroonHighway

$1,000-3,000

Municipal ShortTerm

2. ADIRONDACK LODGES –Review stormwater management practicesGiven the size of the Adirondack Lodges complex,review their stormwater runoff management systemto determine if it is effective and isbeing properly maintained.

Town of Schroon,SWCDAdirondackLodges,Town of Horicon

- - ShortTerm

The small Hamlet of Adirondack on the southeasternshore of Schroon Lake includes a general store, anumber of residential homes, a relatively large town-house complex (Adirondack Lodges), and a majortributary stream (Mill Brook). Much of the area within

the hamlet was well vegetated and stable and veryfew areas drain directly to the lake or to Mill Brook.Most of the road ditch network is lined with stone tominimize erosion, and was found to be in fair to goodcondition.

STORMWATER RUNOFFHAMLET OF ADIRONDACK

87

5.1 In-Lake Recommendations

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

Develop a comprehensive plan toaddress known Eurasian Milfoiland Curly-leaf Pondweed sites

Municipalities,Lake Associations,Consultant

$3,000-$5,000

Municipal,LakeAssociations

Short term

Hand harvest of identified scatteredand moderately dense populations

Consultant Variable$5,000 to$50,000annuallydependingon program

NYS,Municipal,LakeAssociations

Long term

Install benthic mats in denseareas of milfoil as needed

Consultant Variable NYS,Municipal,LakeAssociations

As needed

Continue and enlarge volunteer“Milfoil Scout Program”

Lake Associations Minimal N/A Immediate

Continue and enlarge of boatlaunch steward program

Lake Associations Minimal ifvolunteer,$5,000-$10,000if paid

Municipal,LakeAssociations

Immediate

Continue participation in theCSLAP volunteer water qualitymonitoring program

Lake Associations Under$5,000

Municipal,LakeAssociations

Ongoing

Continue professional water qualitymonitoring as needed to ensurevalid long-term dataset for the lake

Consultant Variabledependinguponparametersmeasured

LakeAssociations,Municipal

Ongoing

Conduct a comprehensive aquaticplant survey of the lake every fiveyears using consistent methodology

Consultant $5,000-$10,000

LakeAssociations,Municipal

Short term

Conduct storm event tributary water qualitysampling of Rogers Brook and Mill Brook whichare adjacent to beaches and developed areas

Consultant $2,000-$3,000

LakeAssociations,Municipal

Short term

90

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. The Route 9 section between Charlie Hill Road andRogers Brook on the south side of the Hamlet ofSchroon is more than a mile long. It has over 20drop inlets which ultimately direct stormwater runoffto the lake. There is great opportunity to retrofit theRoute 9 drainage system with stormwater treatmentand infiltration systems along this stretch of highway.

NYS DOT $100,000+ NYS LongTerm

2. All future NYS DOT Route 9reconstruction jobs should incorporate improvedstormwater management practices, includinginfiltration in the areas which have deepsandy or loamy soils.

NYS DOT - - LongTerm

3. Retrofit drainage, install hydrodynamic separatorsRoute 9 in the Hamlet includes a complex series ofdrop inlets and subsurface pipes which discharge intothe lake by the boat launch. That stormwater drainagesystem collects runoff from a large area and has beenproblematic through the years. This system should bemore thoroughly reviewed for opportunities to improvethe runoff quality through hydrodynamic stormwaterseparators and infiltration practices.

NYS DOT,Town of SchroonHighway,SWCD

$100,000 + NYS,Municipal

LongTerm

NYS Route 9 runs along the western shore ofSchroon Lake for the lake’s entire length. In areaswhere it is relatively close to the lake, road runoff isoften directed to culverts which outlet into the lake.

Most road ditches along Route 9 are very wellvegetated, which allows for both filtering ofstormwater runoff and infiltration into the ground.

STORMWATER RUNOFFNEW YORK STATE ROUTE 9

89

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. DOCK STREET –Subsurface stormwater infiltration system.Most of the stormwater from Dock Street currently drainsdown the boat ramp and outlets directly to the lake. Tointercept this drainage, an open top slotted trench drainshould be installed across the upper area of the launch,outleting into an array of subsurface stormwaterinfiltration chambers.

Town of SchroonHighway Dept,SWCD

$50,000-$75,000

NYS,Municipal

BasedonFunding

2. FAIRFIELD AVENUE –Drywell installationInstallation of three separate stormwater infiltrationsystems (drywells) along the roadway; two on thenorth side of the road and one on the south justto the east of the tennis courts.

Town of SchroonHighway, SWCD

$15,000-25,000

NYS,Municipal

BasedonFunding

3. LELAND AVENUE –Single/double stack drywellCurrently there is a drop inlet on the inside of the curvethat drains to a culvert, which then outlets on a steepbank to the lake. Install a single or double stack drywellinfiltration system to replace the current structure, andreinforce the outfall location.

Town of SchroonHighway, SWCD

$15,000-25,000

NYS,Municipal

BasedonFunding

4. DOCK ST./ RT.9 -Two double-stack drywellsAt the top of Dock Street adjacent to Rt. 9 there arestorm drains that collect approximately 500 feet ofstormwater from both roads combined. The outfallsfrom these drop inlets discharge directly intoRogers Brook. These locations would benefit greatlyfrom two double stacked drywells.

Town of SchroonHighway, NYS DOT,SWCD

$15,000-25,000

NYS,Municipal

BasedonFunding

5. TOWN OF SCHROON –Stormwater Codes amendmentConsider a Town of Schroon codes amendmentrequiring redevelopment activities in the hamletarea to consider and address stormwaterrunoff from the site.

Town of Schroon - - ShortTerm

6. INCORPORATE BMP’S INTO ALLNEW PROJECTS CONSTRUCTIONAll new roadway and highway reconstruction projects(local, county, state) should incorporate stormwatercapture and infiltration practices into the design andconstruction.

Town of SchroonHighway, NYS DOT,SWCD

- - ShortTerm

The Hamlet of Schroon is the largest and mostdensely developed area on Schroon Lake. Noneof the stormwater networks from Fowler Avenuenorth discharge into the lake, but much of the

drainage from the southern end of the hamlet doesconnect directly to the lake. There are no stormwaterimprovement or flow reduction (infiltration) systemsalong any of the hamlet’s roadways.

STORMWATER RUNOFFHAMLET OF SCHROON

92

The Schroon River and the lake’s tributary streamsare the lifeblood of Schroon lake. In general, thequality of the river and streams is highly correlatedto the quality of the lake. The waters of even thefarthest reaching point of the Schroon River

or any tributary stream will reach the lake within48 hours. The quality of these flowing waterswill ultimately become the quality of the lake,so it important to understand their nature andoverall condition.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Develop an education and outreach programto target streamside property owners highlightingthe benefits of creating and maintainingvegetated stream buffers. Numerous excellentsources of information exist that are geared towardhomeowners on this topic, available fromCornell Cooperative Extension, the Lake GeorgeAssociation, and other groups.

Municipalities,CornellCooperativeExtension,SWCD

- LakeAssociationsMunicipalities

Short term

2. Consider public discussion regardingcreation of municipal codes for newdevelopment requiring a vegetativebuffer be maintained (a no-cut zone)adjacent to the stream.

Municipalities - - Long Term

3. Any areas of streambank erosion identifiedshould be directed to the local Soil andWater Conservation District for designassistance. Encourage the use of vegetativeprotection methods over hard armoringwhere possible.

Municipalities,local SWCD

- - Short Term

4. To minimize the growth of the Rogers Brookdelta, research the possibility of utilizing the

concrete channel/reservoir just downstreamof NYS Route 9 as an in-stream sediment pond(i.e. clean out on a regular basis with machinery).If this is unfeasible, then areas upstream ofRoute 9 could be reviewed to install an in-streamsediment pond in the brook to captureexcess sediment.

NYS DOT,Municipalities,SWCD

$20,000-$40,000

NYS,Municipalities

MediumTerm

STREAMS

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Property stewardship is very important alongthis section of the shoreline. Use of zero phosphorusfertilizers, maintaining buffer strips betweenmanaged lawns and the road ditch, and propererosion and sediment control are critical in this area.

Private homeowners - - Immediate

2. Reduce mowing of the ditch vegetation toencourage denser growth, which can greatlyincrease stormwater nutrient uptake and improvepollutant reduction.

County DPW,Town Highway Dept

- - Immediate

3. Undertake a detailed evaluation of Lake View Driveand Shaw Hill Road, both of which drain to EastShore Drive and show evidence of sedimentationbelow the intersection. Improve drainage situationthrough stormwater retrofit, improved vegetationand sediment capture.

County DPW,Town Highway Dept,SWCD

$20,000+ Municipal,NYS

Long Term

East Shore Drive runs along the east shore of SchroonLake for just over three miles. Stormwater runoff fromthis road surface either sheets off into the bufferbetween the lake and the road, or it flows into theditch on the east side and is piped into the lake. Mostof the road ditch is well vegetated, and very littleerosion is evident.

A concern along this roadway is that developmentand lawn management along the east side of the roadhas the potential to contributing phosphorus, pesti-cides, and other pollutants. Many houses on steepslopes are built upon along this stretch, so it is imper-ative that construction projects are diligent in erosioncontrol and stormwater infiltration practices.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

Much of the road ditch in the northern portionof Adirondack Road is in need of stabilization,through rock lining and vegetative measures.Given the heavy clay soils, care must be takento minimize sediment suspension and turbidity.

County DPW,Town Highway Dept,

$2,000-$3,000

Municipal Immediate

Adirondack Road provides access to dozens of shorelineproperties on the northeast shore of Schroon Lake. Most ofits length is relatively stable, although areas exist which showeroding ditch and stormwater runoff onto downhill properties.

Adirondack Road north of Nesa Road exhibits miles of clay/siltditches, much of which has little or no vegetation. Severalsections of road ditch in this area had running water inthem during field investigations, and erosion was evident.

91

STORMWATER RUNOFFCOUNTY ROUTE 15 (EAST SHORE DRIVE)

STORMWATER RUNOFFADIRONDACK ROAD (ESSEX COUNTY)

94

For the large majority of homes in the SchroonLake watershed, wastewater treatment is done byindividual household septic systems. Proper

treatment of this wastewater is not only importantfor public health, but is critically important tomaintaining a clean Schroon Lake.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1.Develop an electronic database for the Townof Schroon sewer infrastructure, including maps,outlining pertinent information on the age of pipes,type of pipes, known condition, pump systems, etc.Develop long-range plan to upgrade and replaceaging infrastructure within the sewerconveyance system.

Town of Schroon,Contractors

$30,000-$50,000

Municipal,NYS

Long Term

2. Develop a prioritized list of areas within theSchroon sewer district which would be mostcost-effective to add to the sewer system, basedupon density, estimated cost of design andconstruction, and overall feasibility. Seek fundsfor a full feasibility study to update older information.

Town of Schroon,Contractors

- - Long Term

3. Develop a program to conduct a sanitarysurvey of all septic systems within a specifiedbuffer width around the lakeshore (+-300 feet) toget a baseline understanding of the integrity ofthe shore-area septic systems. Consider acost-shared pump-out and water conservationkit program to obtain landownerbuy-in to this initiative.

Municipalities,SWCD's

Variablebased uponsanitarysurveycomprehensiveness

Municipal,NYS

MediumTerm

4. Add a provision to the town of Schroon andHoricon municipal codes requiring an engineer’sinspection of all septic systems upon homeownership sale. Chester already requires this(Town of Chester Onsite Wastewater TreatmentLocal Law, page 12). Engineer’s report should beprovided to the municipality and kept on file.

Towns of Schroonand Horicon

- - Short Term

WASTEWATER RECOMMENDATIONS

Wastewater Recommendations continue on the following page

93

Each municipality and both counties in the SchroonLake watershed have their own highway departments,which is responsible for the integrity and safety of theirroads. In addition to these local roads, there is also asignificant mileage of New York State roads (NYS Route9 and Interstate 87) which actually account for most ofthe paved area in the watershed.

Traditional practices undertaken by highway departmentsinclude winter de-icing operations, roadside ditching,paving activities, drainage practices and new roadconstruction. As many roads and ditches drain directlyinto streams and lakes, it is imperative that highwayoperations be managed not only for public safety,but also with consideration for environmental impacts.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Convene a series of forums of highway officials fromthe towns of Schroon, Chester, and Horicon, the twocounty DPW’s and NYS DOT to discuss de-icingpractices within the watershed. Discuss the stateof the science and the cost of management practicesand de-icing alternatives which would benefit SchroonLake. Review Kelting’s 2010 study and others prior tothe meeting for an overview of potential alternatives.

Town highway DPWs,County DPWs,NYS DOT

- - Short Term

2.Make it a priority in highway budgets to fundhigh-quality winter spreading equipment and trainingfor departments. Send all appropriate personnel toCornell’s annual highway schooland the NYS DOT de-icing workshops.

Town highway DPWs,NYS DOT

Variable Municipal,NYS

Long Term

3. Highway departments at all levels should engage theservices of the Essex and Warren County SWCD’sto undertake hydroseeding operations for all bare roadditches and banks within the watershed area,particularly those areas identified in this plan. Alldepartments should develop an annual review of allroad ditches and banks and address as needed. Makeseeding and restoration activities a regular part of allhighway maintenance practices.

Town highway DPWs,NYS DOT,SWCD

- - Ongoing

4. Undertake a field evaluation of all stream culvertsin the watershed to determine whether they are passableto fish (brook trout). Use evaluation criteria developedby Mihuc (noted earlier) for this study. Create a list ofculverts which are both structurally deficient and areimpassable to fish, and work with highway departmentsto get these culverts replaced over time.

Town highway DPWs,NYS DOT,SWCD,Lake Assns.

$10,000-$15,000

NYS,Municipal,

Short Term

5. For all future stream culvert replacements, utilizenew NYS DEC General Permit criteria for design.All stream culvert replacements should be conductedwith the local Soil and Water Conservation District, whohas a standing permit to undertake this work, and willproperly size and design the system.

Town highway DPWs,NYS DOT,NYS DEC,SWCD

- - Short Term

6. Consider the purchase of a “catch vac” truck betweenthe towns of Chester, Schroon and Horicon to cleanout catch basins and new stormwater treatment systems

Municipalities $50,000 Municipal Mediumterm

HIGHWAY OPERATION RECOMMENDATIONS

96

This regulatory review identifies that between theexisting federal, state, and local regulations, theSchroon Lake watershed has numerous layers ofregulatory reviews and protections. Local municipalregulations and codes often control most of the

development in a community, and it is theseregulations and their enforcement which often havethe greatest long-term impact upon a waterbody.Based upon the municipal reviews and interviews,the following recommendations were developed:

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVED PARTIES PROBABLECOST

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Municipal Land Use Plans and Codes areessential to sustainable growth and to theprotection of local natural resources. Severalof the municipal officials felt that a review of theircodes was warranted, particularly relating toconservation issues such as erosion control,stormwater management, and timber harvesting.Several excellent model laws exist for suchtopics, and the NYS Department of State is anexcellent resource for this information.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester

- - MediumTerm

2. The NYS DEC has stormwater regulations thatapply to land disturbance of one or more acres,mandating the development of stormwater anderosion control plans (Stormwater PollutionPrevention Plans – SWPPP’s). No local code wasfound to acknowledge these regulations. PlanningBoards should require that all proposed developmentactivities over one acre in size provide copies ofthese plans to the board during the municipal siteplan approval process. Municipalities should alsorequire proof of DEC permit compliance prior tocommencement of land disturbance activities.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester

- - Short Term

3. Professional review of timber harvestactivities can significantly reduce impacts tothe water or land resources from poorly plannedlogging activities. None of the three towns reviewedhave regulations for timber harvest and silviculturalactivities. For commercial logging activities(typically those greater than 25 cords per year),the towns should consider requiring a permit andreview process. A plan including log road layout,stream crossings, landings, and erosion andsediment control should be included. Reviewby either the Code Enforcement Officer or thePlanning Board should also be incorporated.Example language can be found locally at theTown of Lake George or Town of Bolton, or acomprehensive forestry law can be found from theTown of Bristol, NY. All loggers should conform to thepractices outlined in the NYS Forestry BMP Field Guide.http://www.nycwatershed.org/pdfs/BMP%20Field%20Guide.pdf

Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester

- - Short Term

REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS

95

RECOMMENDATION (Continued) INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

5. Most septic failures result from lack ofhomeowners awareness of maintenancerequirements. To address this, an educationalflyer could be sent as part of an annual municipalmailing (tax bill, water bill, etc). CornellCooperative Extension FS1 “Your Septic System”and EPA’s “Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems”are excellent.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester

Minimal Municipal Short Term

6. Evaluate the feasibility of creating a “SepticMaintenance District” along densely developedshoreline and stream areas (i.e., east shore). Thesedistricts mandate routine pumpouts and inspectionsevery 3-5 years. These districts have been usedsuccessfully in many areas around NYS in areas ofdense development but no sewering.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester

$10,000-$20,000

NYS Long Term

7. Undertake a project to evaluate thecomprehensiveness of the DEC Private/Commercial/Institutional (P/C/I) inventory ofseptic systems within a ½ mile radius of SchroonLake. Determine additional properties which arenot in DEC’s database and work with DEC to getall properties under the permit program. The LakeGeorge Watershed Coalition is currently workingon a similar initiative for Lake George.

SWCD's $10,000-$15,000

NYS MediumTerm

8. For new residential septic systems, encouragethe installation and use of effluent filters(i.e. Polylok, Tuf-Tite, as, many others) on allseptic tanks. These filters are inexpensive ($50-100),easy to install, and can greatly increase the life ofthe leach field, leading to less failuresand better water quality protection.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester

$50-100 perhousehold

- ShortTerm

98

Stewardship is a long-term endeavor, and it takesthe commitment of all groups to truly achieve thebalance between the lake and its surrounding

communities. Through this process we see perhapsthe most important actions to protect and improvethe lake.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVEDPARTIES

FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Continue and expand municipal financialsupport for the growth of both the Schroon LakeAssociation and East Shore Schroon LakeAssociation’s programs. All funds put towardsthese groups are multiplied many times overby their volunteer efforts.

Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester

Variable Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester.

Ongoing

2. Education/ outreach programsExpand municipal and lake association educationand outreach efforts to nearshore residentsregarding issues such as septic systemmaintenance, water conservation, and thebenefits of vegetative buffers andlake-scaping initiatives.

Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.

- Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.

Long Term

3. Continue and expand the “Adopt-a-HighwayProgram” to more roads within the SchroonLake watershed, to keep litter out of thelake and steams.

Lakes Assns,volunteers

- - Long Term

4. Work with local lawn-care dealers to promoteand sell zero-phosphorus (P) fertilizers. Consider aDon’t “P” on your lawn outreach and educationalcampaign, such as developed by the LakeChamplain Basin Program.

Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.

- - Long Term

5. Work with Warren and Essex County SWCD’sto obtain funding for a “Septic System Pumpout,Water Conservation and Education program”,which has been tremendously successful onfour lakes in Warren County.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.,SWCD

- NYS,Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester

MediumTerm

6. Undertake a “Clean Sweep” chemicaldisposal program for homeowners in theSchroon Lake area in cooperation withmunicipalities and DEC, which will providesafe and free disposal of unwanted householdchemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and paints.

NYS DEC,Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.

$20,000-$40,000

NYS,Towns ofSchroon,Horicon andChester

Long Term

7. Work with all parties to obtain state grantfunding and private foundation funding forthese and other identified stewardship andconservation initiatives.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon andChester,Lakes Assns.,SWCD

- NYS, FederalTowns of Schroon,Horicon andChester, LakesAssns., SWCD

Long Term

8. Evaluate implementation progressof this Watershed Plan and updaterecommendations every five years.

Lake Associations,SWCD’s,Municipalities

- Long term

STEWARDSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS

97

The Schroon Lake watershed is home to a few species ofupland invasive plants as well. Thankfully, most of these plantpopulations are currently more of a nuisance than an economic

impact. However, without public education, management andcontrol methods, these plants have the ability to clog ourwetlands, roadsides, and other scenic areas.

RECOMMENDATION INVOLVED PARTIES FUNDINGREQUIRED

SOURCEOF FUNDS

TIMEFRAME

1. Provide training to all highway personnelfrom the Towns of Schroon, Chester and Horiconon the identification of invasive plants,including proper disposal techniques.

SWCD's,CornellCooperativeExtension

- - Short Term

2. Discontinue the practice of donating roadditch soil to landowners or re-using the soil onother fill projects. Temporarily dispose of all ditchsoils which are suspected of containing invasiveplants at the local highway garage onan impervious area.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester

- - Short Term

3. Continue and increase public educationand outreach programs about invasive plantsthrough the SLA, ESSLA,APIPP and the municipalities.

LakeAssociations

- - Short Term

4. Map and Inventory all existing knownlocations of these three invasive plants everyfew years, and provide these documentsto APIPP so they can keep an updated database.

LakeAssociations

- - Short Term

5. Put in place an eradication program forany identified small plots of invasive plants,either through the municipality or one of thelake associations. Follow APIPP guidelinesregarding control and eradication methods.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester,Lake AssociationsAPIPP

- - Short Term

6. “Burn it where you buy it”: The bestrecommendation for trying to control the spread ofinvasive insects is to not move firewood. It hasbeen determined that firewood transport frominfected areas is the number one vector in thespread of ALB and EAB. The NYSDEC has issueda firewood regulation that restricts the movement of allnon-kiln dried firewood to within 50 miles of its origin.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester,Lake Associations

- - Short Term

7. “Buy Local, Buy Native”: Another area of concernregarding these insects is through infected treeand shrub stock. When selecting and planting,please check to see if the stock is of a local originor from a non-infected area. Work with your localextension agency or soil and water conservationdistrict to find out where local plant sourcescan be obtained.

Towns of Schroon,Horicon and Chester,Lakes AssociationsAPIPP

- - Short Term

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT

Bibliography

100

LITERATURE CITED

Brooks, J.L., and S.I. Dodson. 1965. Predation, Body Size andComposition of Zooplankton. Science 150: 28-35

Cahn Engineers. 1981. Essex County Water Quality Management Study.Albany, NY. Essex County Board of Supervisors, NYSDEC, Essex CountyDivision of Community Planning & Development.

Carlson, R.E. 1977. A Trophic State Index for Lakes.Limnological Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.Limnology and Oceanography 22: 361-369.

Clark, G. 2010. Personal communication.Highway Superintendent, Town of Chester, Chestertown, NY.

Cordis, E., Engineer. 2010. Personal communication.Word of Life Institute, Schroon Lake, NY.

Dauphinais, M. and Kavanaugh V. 2010. Personal communication.New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,Division of Water, Warrensburg and Ray Brook, NY.

Fayette, M. 2010. Personal communication. Resident Engineer,Essex County Department of Public Works, Elizabethtown, NY.

Galbraith, M.G. 1967. Size-selection predation of Daphnia by rainbow troutand yellow perch. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 96: 1-10.

Haney, J.G., and D.J. Hall. 1973. Sugar-coated Daphnia: PreservationTechnique for Cladocera. Limnology and Oceanography 18: 331-333.

Kelting and Laxson. 2010. Review of effects and costs of road de-icing withrecommendations for winter road management in the Adirondack Park.Adirondack Watershed Institute, Paul Smiths, NY.

Komoroske, F. 2010. Personal communication.Resident Engineer, Warren County Department of Transportation.Warrensburg, NY.

Lake Line. December 1991. Volume 11, Issue 4. North American LakeManagement Society, Madison, WI.

ooo

New York State Adirondack Park Agency. 1971, 1998. Adirondack Park Agency Act.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/APAACT.pdf. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2010.

New York State Adirondack Park Agency. 2003. Citizens Guide.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Guidelines/CitizensGuide.pdf.Retrieved February 9, 2010.

Saunders, D.A. 1989. Adirondack Amphibians and Reptiles.AEC Special Report No. 31. 8 pp. Adirondack Ecological Center,SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Newcomb, NY.

Schoch, W. May 21, 2010. Personal communication. Regional Fisheries Manager,New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Ray Brook, NY.

Shaughnessey, D. 2010. Personal communication.Highway Superintendent, Town of Schroon, Schroon Lake, NY.

Smith, P. 2010. Personal communication.Highway Superintendent, Town of Horicon, Adirondack, NY.

Sprules, W.G. 1972. Effects of Size-selective Predation and Food Competition onHigh Altitude Zooplankton Communities. Ecology 53: 375-386.

Town of Chester Planning and Zoning. 2005. Town of Chester Zoning Local Law.http://www.townofchesterny.org/planzone-3.html.Retrieved December 16, 2009.

Tennyson, W. & P. Smith. 2010. Personal communication.Zoning Administrators, Town of Chester, Chestertown, NY.

Threlkeld, S.T. 1979. The mid-summer dynamics of two Daphnia speciesin Wintergreen Lake, Michigan. Ecology 60: 165-179.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service,United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey.http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/ Retrieved March 26, 2010.

Wetzel, R.G. 1983. Limnology, 2nd. Edition. Saunders College Publishing Company.

Zollweg, E. March 12, 2010. Personal communication. Senior Aquatic Biologist,New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Warrensburg, NY.

102

LaMere, S.A. 2009. Schroon Lake Phytoplankton Monitoring Program (August 2009).Unpublished report. Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, Crown Point, NY.

LaMere, S. A. 2008. Schroon Lake Phytoplankton Monitoring Program (August 2008).Unpublished report. Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, Crown Point, NY.

LaMere, S. A. 1997. Schroon Lake Zooplankton Monitoring Program(June – August 1997). Unpublished report.Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, Crown Point, NY.

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LaMere, S.A. 1995. Schroon Lake Zooplankton Monitoring Program(June – October 1995). Unpublished report.Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, Crown Point, NY.

LaMere, S.A. 1995. Schroon Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (September 22-25, 1995).Unpublished report. Adirondack Ecologists, LLC, Crown Point, NY.

Market Decisions, Inc. and Stroudwater Design Group. December 1992.Lake water and visual quality of Schroon Lake. South Portland, ME.

McMeekin, G., 2010. Personal communication.Zoning Administrator, Town of Horicon, Adirondack, NY.

Mihuc, T. et al. 2008. Lake Champlain Basin Fish Passage Initiative 2008- Final Report.Lake Champlain Research Institute and Center for Earth and Environmental

Science,SUNY Plattsburgh and Mark Malchoff, Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program,Plattsburgh, NY.

Miller, W. J. 1918. Geology of the Schroon Lake Quadrangle. New York StateMuseum Circular 213/214. The University of the State of New York, Albany, NY.

Mills, E. et al. 1987. Use of Zooplankton Size to Assess the Community Structureof Fish Populations in Freshwater Lakes.North American Journal of Fisheries Management 7: 369-378.

Moses, C., Supervisor and D. Sage, Building Codes Official, Town of Schroon. 2010.Personal communication. Schroon Lake, NY

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 2010.New York Citizens’ Statewide Lake Assessment Program 2009 Annual Report:Appendix A – CSLAP 2009 Lake Water Quality Summary: Schroon Lake.Albany, NY.

Preall, R.J. 1997. 1997 Schroon Lake Management Report: UH-P374.Senior Aquatic Biologist, New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation, Ray Brook, NY.

101

Map 1

104

APPENDICES

103

APPENDIX 1: MapsMap 1 - Schroon Lake Tributary Map with Water Monitoring Locations

Map 2 - Known Eurasian Watermilfoil Sites on Schroon Lake, 2009

Map 3 - Schroon Lake Watershed Land Cover, 2001

Map 4 - Schroon Lake Land Ownership

Map 5 - Schroon Lake Watershed Hydrologic Soil Groups

Map 6 - Schroon Lake Watershed Hydrography

Map 7 - Town of Schroon Sewer District

Map 8 - Schroon Lake Watershed Municipalities

Map 9 - Schroon Lake Watershed Topographic Image

Map 10 - Schroon Lake Bathymetric Map (Lake Depths)

Map 11 - Schroon Lake Watershed State Land

Map 12 - Schroon Lake Park District Boundary

Map 13 - Schroon Lake Lakeshore Land Cover

APPENDIX 2: GraphsFigure 1 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Total Phosphorus Levels

Figure 2 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Total Phosphorus Levels

Figure 3 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North vs. South Basin Epilimnetic

Total Phosphorus Levels

Figure 4 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi

Disk Transparency

Figure 5 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi

Disk Transparency

Figure 6 - 1995-2009 Schroon Lake Secchi Disk Transparency Levels

Figure 7 - 1995-2007 Schroon Lake Tributaries Conductivity Levels

Maps & Graphs

106

Map 3Map 2

105

INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEY:SCHROON LAKE

SCHROONLAKE

ESSEX COUNTY

WARREN COUNTY

Town ofChester

Town of Schroon

Town ofHoricon

37

108

Map 5

107

Map 4

110

Map 7

109

Map 6

112

Map 9

111

Map 8

Map 11

114113

Map 10

Map 13

116115

Map 12

118

Figure 3. 1995-2009Schroon Lake North vs. South Basin Epilimnetic Total Phosphorus Levels

0123456789

101112

8/22/95

8/22/96

8/26/97

8/27/98

8/20/99

8/23/00

8/24/01

8/22/02

8/28/03

8/18/04

8/22/05

8/23/06

8/28/07

8/25/08

8/28/09

Date of Sampling

Tota

lPho

spho

rus

Con

cent

ratio

n(u

G|L

)

North Basin

South Basin

Figure 4. 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi Disk Transparency

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

08/2208/22

08/2608/27

08/2008/23/00

08/24/01

08/22/02

8/28/03

8/18/04

8/22/05

8/23/06

8/28/07

8/25/08

8/28/09

Date of Sampling

Chl

orop

hyll

a(m

icro

gram

spe

rlite

r)

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Secc

hiD

isk

Tran

spar

ency

(feet

)

Chlorophyll a

Secchi Disk Transparency

Linear (Secchi Disk Transparency)

Linear (Chlorophyll a)

117

Figure 1. 1995-2009 Schroon Lake North Basin Total Phosphorus Levels

0123456789

1011121314151617181920

04/12/95

08/2210/10

04/29/96

08/2211/07

04/30/97

08/2609/17

05/13/98

08/2710/27

04/29/99

08/2010/28

08/23/00

08/24/01

08/22/02

08/28/03

8/18/2004

8/22/2005

8/23/06

8/28/07

8/25/08

8/28/09

Date of Sampling

Tota

lPho

spho

rus

Con

cent

ratio

n(u

G/L

)

Hypolimnion

Epilimnion

Linear (Hypolimnion)

Linear (Epilimnion)

Figure 2. 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Total Phosphorus Levels

0123456789

1011121314151617181920

04/12/95

08/2210/10

04/29/96

11/0704/30/97

08/2609/17

05/13/98

08/2710/27

04/29/99

08/2010/28

08/23/00

08/24/01

08/22/02

08/28/03

8/18/2004

8/22/2005

08/2308/28

08/2508/28

Date of Sampling

Tota

lPho

spho

rus

Con

cent

ratio

n(u

G/L

)

Epilimnion

Hypolimnion

Linear (Epilimnion)

Linear (Hypolimnion)

120

Figure 7. 1995-2007 Schroon Lake Tributaries

Conductivity Levels

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

4/12/95

08/2210/10

4/29/96

08/2211/7

4/30/97

8/269/17

2/26/98

3/8 3/175/13

8/2710/27

4/29/99

8/2010/28

8/23/00

8/22/02

8/28/03

8/18/04

8/28/07

Date of Sampling

Con

duct

ivity

(uS/

cm)

Schroon River

Spectacle Brook

Sucker Brook

Mill Brook

Thurman Pd. Brook

Horseshoe Pd. Brook

Rogers Brook

Alder Brook

119

Figure 5. 1995-2009 Schroon Lake South Basin Chlorophyll a vs. Secchi Disk Transparency

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

8/22/95

8/22/96

8/26/97

8/27/98

8/20/99

08/23/00

08/24/01

08/22/02

8/28/03

8/18/04

8/22/05

8/23/06

8/28/07

8/25/08

8/28/09

Date of Sampling

Chl

orop

hyll

a(m

icro

gram

spe

rlite

r)

1314151617181920212223242526

Secc

hiD

isk

Tran

spar

ency

(feet

)

Chlorophyll a

Secchi Disk Transparency

Linear (Secchi Disk Transparency)

Linear (Chlorophyll a)

Figure 6. 1995-2009 Schroon Lake Secchi Disk Transparency Levels

1011121314151617181920212223242526

04/12/9508/2210/1004/29/9608/2211/0704/30/9708/2609/17/0305/13/9808/2710/2704/29/9908/2010/2808/23/0008/24/0108/22/0208/28/0308/18/0408/22/058/23/068/28/078/25/088/27/09

Date of Sampling

Secc

hiD

isk

Tran

spar

ency

(feet

)

North BasinSouth BasinLinear (North Basin)Linear (South Basin)

Cover photos by Carl Heilman / Carlheilman.com Design & layout by Stoneyblu Art / stoneybluart@yahoo.com