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The Dr. fully examined the patients and reported on the
current health and future probabilities. The Dr. was
Peter Tobiessen, Union College biology Professor and LPSA
member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Tobiessen has a
summer home on Sacandaga Lake. The patients were our local
lakes, specifically Lake Pleasant and Sacandaga Lake. Dr.
Tobiessen spoke to a group at a Library program co-sponsored
with the Lake Pleasant - Sacandaga Association. His
conclusions: the lakes are in excellent health but there are
potential problems that we all must be aware of and be ready
to take action so that the lakes stay in their excellent
condition, and not require expensive treatment.
Tobiessen first explained the many ways he and the LPSA
check the lakes. These include testing the waters on a
regular basis, surveying the shores for problems, hiring a
Lake Steward to help keep the boats being launched into the
lake safe and free from dangerous "hitchhikers." Volunteers
from the LPSA help Peter and the Lake Steward, who is
employed with funds from the LPSA and from the Town of Lake
Pleasant. The Town and LPSA are partners in the
funding and operation of these programs. LPSA was recently
called on to do testing during the e-coli problem due to the
high water. Frank Mezzano, Town Supervisor, was glad
to have this help and have an expert such as Peter to help
in that emergency.
Peter reported on many aspects of lake health and found
most in good to excellent condition. This included a
steady and healthy oxygen level and a healthy PH level
showing no acid rain problems here. A device called a
secchi dish tests the clarity of the water and found the two
lakes healthy and even improving over past tests.
Water chemistry tests taken at regular intervals show the
lake rates well in all tested chemicals. Some signs of
higher than past chloride readings were attributed to salt
from roads as the higher reading showed up consistently
where the lakes bordered highways. Even at the
slightly elevated levels, there is no immediate concern.
Tests on the Sacandaga River after the e-coli event shows
low and acceptable levels of the bacteria in all areas of
the river.
The area of greatest concern now is the threat of
invasive plants. Even here, the news is good. We
do not have these dangerous plants now and many lakes in the
Adirondacks do. However, it is in this area that the
Dr. warned of future problems. Pictures showing the
devastating effects of invasive plants such as water
chestnut, curly leaved pondweed, and the newest and most
dangerous threat, Eurasian Water Milfoil. Weeds that
are even more dangerous are working their way to our area.
Once these weeds establish themselves they can make the
shallow waters of a lake unusable and the cost for treating
them after they get a good start is extremely high. As
with many problems, prevention is the surest and cheapest
treatment.
LPSA and the Town have hired a lake steward to check
incoming boats. For the past four years, this program
has been working and the current steward, Ken Hoffman, is in
his second year on the job and has received compliments on a
job well done. In addition, volunteers from LPSA
patrol the entire shoreline of the area lakes and report any
unusual finds to Tobiessen who determines if it is just a
local weed and no problem or if the invasive weeds have
arrived. Some invasive weeds have been found at boat
launches but to date, no problems have developed in the
lakes. Any one interested in helping in this very
important project can contact LPSA President Bob Camoin 548
5226.
The Library is planning future co -
sponsorships with other area organizations.
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