Monday Night Band Jam is Back

Schroon’s famous Monday night band jam at the BoatHouse is back. This acoustic only event starts tonight (June 14) and runs through the late summer from 7 pm – 9 pm. Everyone is welcome at this free event. Never been to the Boathouse acoustic jam? The talent is amazing -- and there's always an eclectic range of musicians (and instruments) onstage. Sponsored by the Schroon Lake Arts Council.

Tiny Discovery Could Prevent Huge Problems for our Lakes

Photo: Courtesy Roger Friedman

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”.

Really Good Lake News March 2014 Edition

Really Good Lake News March 2014 Edition

Photo: A Frozen Schroon Lake, Winter 2014

Both the Schroon Lake Association (SLA) and the East Shore Schroon Lake Association (ESSLA) have something to be very proud of: the number of hours volunteers from both associations have contributed to help secure matching grant money for various projects to protect and improve Schroon Lake.

Bill McGhie, ESSLA past president and current board member, says that in 2013 volunteers committed 1,477 hours (valued at @ $25 an hour for a total of $36,925) towards the $200,000 grant.

“We have every active volunteers throughout our organization,” Bill told Schroon Laker. “And for 2014 volunteers have contributed 158 hours so far.”

Added ESSLA President Jane Smith: “We have a very hands on lake steward program and dedicated members whose job it is to educate the public on invasive species. That has gone a long way to educate people being aware of the dangers of invasive species.

“I am proud of all of the ESSLA members who have volunteered to educate the public over the last three years at various crafts fairs and public events.

“Sometimes people just chuckle when they see us, but they come back and learn something.”

Over at SLA, they have equally impressive volunteer hours: more than 1100, (valued at $27,000) according to President  Mark Granger.

In a statement Mark said the SLA’s Steering Committee Representative Paul Conolly handed over 1100 volunteer hours to the storm water runoff project being managed by Warren County Soil and Water, the group responsible for collecting the hours for the grant.

“Our Board Members held educational programs, trained and supervised Lake Stewards scouted for milfoil and did scores of other things over the past 9 months” said Conolly

Like ESSLA, the work of SLA Board members was done to provide matching funds for the grant received from the state.

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