The FUND for Lake George recently released
\nits State of the Lake: Chief Concerns as
\nRevealed by Science and the Fate of the Lake:
\nA Blueprint for Protection” report.<\/p>\n
This two-volume set focuses on the fundamental
\nthreats the organization feels are
\nfacing Lake George, a prime tourist attraction
\nthat has a huge impact on the area’s economy.
\nAmong the issues, the report said, are invasive
\nspecies, rising salt levels, and declining
\nwater quality and clarity.<\/p>\n
The publication calls for “an unprecedented
\ncommitment to reversing present trends and
\npreventing Lake George from slipping into a
\nstate of irreversible decline.”
\nThe report said 30 years of water quality
\nmonitoring (conducted by Rensselaer’s Darrin
\nFresh Water Institute and underwritten by The
\nFUND) has revealed a complex, yet solvable,
\nset of problems. These include: invasive and
\nintroduced species stressing the lake’s native
\nspecies and food web; an alarming threefold
\nincrease in salt concentrations from road deicing
\nfavoring blue green algae that can be
\ntoxic; measurable declines in water clarity
\nwith ensuing impacts on key species including
\nthe lake’s Nitella meadows, considered vital
\nto maintaining clarity; increased nutrient
\nloading from stormwater runoff, wastewater,
\nfertilizer use, and land disturbance; and a
\nsignificant rise in chlorophyll concentrations
\nreflecting increases in algal growth.<\/p>\n
“Scientific knowledge of the past generation
\nprovides an historic opportunity to protect
\nLake George for the next,” said FUND Executive
\nDirector Eric Siy. “Central to success are
\nconcerted actions that unite all those with a
\nstake in the fate of the lake.”<\/p>\n
Measures to address the issues include
\npartnerships, innovation, and investment as
\nthe three pillars for lasting success, according
\nto the report. These measures form the core
\nof The FUND’s Legacy Strategy adopted in
\nearly 2013 with one goal: stopping the present
\ndecline of water quality and achieving sustained protection of Lake George for the
\nnext generation.<\/p>\n
The report notes that broad resolve and
\nshared investment produced the first mandatory
\ninvasive species inspection and decontamination
\nprogram east of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n
Catalyzed by The FUND, The S.A.V.E. (Stop
\nAquatic inVasives from Entering) Lake George
\nPartnership demonstrated the fresh approach
\nneeded–diverse public and private interests
\nacting in common purpose on behalf of the
\nlake’s ecological and economic importance,
\nrecognizing that the two go hand-in-hand.<\/p>\n
The report said leveraging its success and
\nguided by latest science, S.A.V.E. will focus
\non the need to put the lake on a low salt diet.<\/p>\n
In this pursuit, S.A.V.E.’s purpose expands to
\nmean: Salt Abatement is Vital to the Ecology of
\nLake George. Moreover, S.A.V.E.’s geographic
\nreach also expands to advance invasives prevention
\nas urgently needed throughout the
\nAdirondack region, using the same playbook
\ndeveloped and implemented at Lake George.<\/p>\n
Given the mounting invasives threat, regionwide
\nprevention will be key to long-term success
\nof the Lake George program.<\/p>\n
Following suit are measures addressing
\nwater quality and clarity concerns, as well
\nas an annotated list of investment priorities,
\ntotaling nearly $2 million for 2015.<\/p>\n
“Direct investment in tangible solutions,
\nand the science that will ensure their effectiveness,
\nprovides the single-best method for
\nachieving results at the pace and scale now
\nrequired,” the report states.<\/p>\n
“Lake George remains one of the nation’s
\nmost loved natural treasures,” said Jeff
\nKilleen, chairman of The FUND’s Board of
\nTrustees. “Despite mounting pressures, lasting
\nprotection of the lake can be largely achieved
\nthrough preventive measures, such as the
\ninvasive species program. Together, with clear
\nvision and commitment, we will leave a living
\nlegacy, for which future generations will surely
\nthank us,” Killeen said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The FUND for Lake George recently released its State of the Lake: Chief Concerns as Revealed by Science and the Fate of the Lake: A Blueprint for Protection” report. This two-volume set focuses on the fundamental threats the organization…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[66,103],"yoast_head":"\r\n