Courtesy NYS
The multi-year project to repair and upgrade critical water infrastructure on Lake George that officials said is crucial to protecting the long-term health of the lake is complete, state officials announced.
New York state invested nearly $15 million in the state-of-the-art improvements to the village of Lake George’s wastewater treatment plant that will significantly reduce the amount of pollution that enters the lake and create lasting environmental and economic benefits for the region.
“New York state is committed to working with our local communities to safeguard the quality of our lakes throughout the state, making record investments to protect public health and the environment,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Lake George serves as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Northeast and a beloved location for family vacations, sustaining annual traditions that span generations.
“The critical upgrades made to the village’s wastewater treatment plant will protect the future of this majestic water body while promoting economic growth and tourism throughout the region.”
Lake George is one of New York’s most popular tourist destinations. Nicknamed the “Queen of American Lakes”, the 28,160-acre water body located in the southeast corner of the Adirondacks that has served as a major tourism destination since the Revolutionary War era. Lake George residents and visitors take advantage of the myriad opportunities for outdoor and aquatic recreation in the region.
At the southern end of the lake, the village of Lake George maintains a wastewater treatment plant first constructed in 1932. It services the village and some surrounding communities and experiences substantial influxes in use during the summer tourism season.
Since 2014, the antiquated facility was the subject of a consent order with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requiring the mitigation of nitrate exceedances that harmed the lake’s water quality. In 2016, due to continued exceedances, the order was modified to require the village to upgrade their entire system to improve water quality in the Lake George basin.
The state committed a total of $14.9 million, including grants from the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, State and Municipal Facilities program, and Water Quality Improvement Project program.
The remaining cost of the project was funded with the help of an interest-free loan from the state Environmental Facilities Corp. This investment resulted in a total savings to village taxpayers of approximately $27.3 million. In 2019, the village began construction of the plant upgrades and they were completed this month.
“For centuries, people come from across the country and around the world to Lake George’s unrivaled beauty. New York State’s significant investment and ongoing partnership with the village of Lake George to complete these critical wastewater treatment upgrades will protect and preserve the lake’s water quality and reduce nutrient pollution while supporting the state’s aggressive work to combat HABs in our water bodies,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.
Environmental Facilities Corp. President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Lake George is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. EFC is gratified to have worked closely with the village and our state partners to ensure completion of this critical water quality infrastructure project to safeguard this vital natural and recreational resource.”
State Sen. Daniel Stec said the importance of the lake’s long-term health “cannot be understated. That’s why for years I’ve joined with local officials and advocated for the funding necessary to complete these upgrades. I’m pleased that this crucial project has been completed and appreciative of the state’s support.”
State Assemblymember Matthew Simpson said the successful completion of the project “is a testament to Mayor Bob Blais and the Village of Lake George’s commitment to leave no stone unturned with its mission to see this essential upgrade come to fruition by working with key partners at Warren County, New York state, and the federal levels of government … Now, both residents and visitors alike will be able to continue enjoying an experience that only the one-of-a-kind world-class waters of Lake George can provide while solidifying our ongoing community stewardship of this pristine natural resource and regional economic asset.”
In addition to the municipal infrastructure work completed and underway in the region, the state also offers the Septic System Replacement Program to support residential and small business owners in the targeted replacement of aging and sub-standard septic systems and removal of cesspools in communities statewide. Last month, Hochul announced additional grant awards focused on Lake George of $300,000 to Essex County, $595,000 to Warren County, and $450,000 to Washington County under the septic program. Eligible landowners are eligible for grants of up to 50 percent of the septic project, up to $10,000 per project.
For more information, visit efc.ny.gov/septic-replacement.