Tiny Discovery Could Prevent Huge Problems for our Lakes

Photo: Courtesy Roger Friedman

The above photo appears to show two, tiny gravel shaped pieces, less than the size of a finger nail.

They are Zebra mussels, one of the most dangerous invasive species that threaten the lakes of the Adirondacks.

These two were discovered by lake Steward Molly Wisser at the Route 74 Boat Washing station, according to Roger Friedman, from the Schroon lake Association.

The station, established two years ago, is vital to fighting invasives. A hat tip to all three of our area lake associations: The Paradox Lake Association, The Schroon Lake Association and the East Shore Schroon Lake Association for initiating this effort.

And take a bow Molly: your eagle eyes saved what could have been a disastrous event.  More about these mollusks from the Lake Champlain Basin Atlas:

“The zebra mussel is a small freshwater mollusk native to the Black and Caspian Sea regions. First discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988, it is thought that they were transported to North America in the ballast tanks of ships. Since then, the mussels have spread throughout much of the eastern half of the United States.

Zebra mussels were first discovered in the southern part of Lake Champlain in 1993. Since then, the State of Vermont has tracked the spread of zebra mussels northward as part of the Long Term Water Quality and Biological Monitoring Program. Since 1993, zebra mussels have spread throughout nearly all of Lake Champlain. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation also monitors for zebra mussels on inland lakes”.

Boreas Ponds Tract Sold To New York State

New York state has purchased the Boreas Ponds tract bordering the Adirondack High Peaks near North Hudson for $14.5 million, completing a 69,000-acre land acquisition begun in 2012, The Nature Conservancy announced Thursday.

Mary Esch, from the Associated Press reports the 20,758-acre tract, with its trio of connected ponds reflecting the state’s highest mountains, is now protected as Forever Wild under the state constitution. It features 50 miles of rivers and streams, a variety of forests and a network of logging roads.

The council is part of the coalition seeking to have the tract classified as wilderness, which excludes mechanical access including bicycles.

North Hudson Town Supervisor Ronald Moore is a member of a coalition of local leaders seeking easier access into the tract to accommodate a wider range of users than just the most physically fit.

“There’s a wide infrastructure of logging roads that could sustain multiple uses including horseback riding and bicycling,” Moore said.

The DEC will propose a classification plan that will be subject to public hearings and comment before being sent to the governor for approval.

It’s part of the conservancy’s 2007 purchase of 161,000 acres of former Finch timber company land to protect it from development. Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged to buy 65,000 acres of the most ecologically significant tracts of that land along with 4,000 acres of other conservancy land in 2012. The rest is protected by conservation easements that allow sustainable forestry and continuation of leases with hunting clubs.

“This project is a model of how to keep large landscapes conserved and connected, to sustain both wildlife and people for future generations,” said Frances Beinecke, former president of the Natural Resources Defense Council and trustee of The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack chapter.

A state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman confirmed the purchase, adding, “Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.” The agency didn’t say when the land will be open to the public.

The deed was filed on April 5 with the Essex County clerk.

Environmental groups have been campaigning for the tract to be added to the 203,000-acre High Peaks Wilderness to create a motor-free preserve larger than Rocky Mountain National Park. Local officials advocate a less restrictive “wild forest” classification for part of the parcel, allowing people to drive on the 7½-mile logging road that leads to the ponds.

“Organizations from around the country have been waiting to applaud this Adirondack purchase since 1988 when we first called for it to become Forest Preserve,” said William Janeway, executive director of the Adirondack Council.