The Saratoga Lake Watershed Advisory Committee Meeting

July 12, 2001

Meeting Notes

Attendees: Stephen Williams the Daily Gazette; George Hodgson SCEMC; Jaime O'Neill SC Planning; Larry Benton SC Planning; Barbara Faraone SLA; Joe Finn SLA; John Bartow Town of Milton; Lynnwood Taylor SLPID; Cindy Allen Saratoga Co. Chamber of Commerce; Bill Lupo NYSDEC; Alec Mackey Town of Stillwater; Tom Williams Malta Resident; Ray Melander Malta Resident--Riley Cove; Karen Sklenar NYS Department of Health; Leif Engstrom CDRPC; Ed Dweck SLPID; Jennifer Brady-Connor Land Trust of the Saratoga Region; Tracey Clothier the LA Group, P.C.; Dean Long the LA Group, P.C.; Meredithe Smith the LA Group, P.C.

1. Overview of Plan Process
2. Public Input
3. Recommendations from the Group for each Goal

A. Designate the permanent position of a Watershed Manager
B. Develop a long-range aquatic plant management plan
C. Create a statewide fund dedicated to freshwater aquatic plant management
D. Establish a permanent water quality monitoring program
E. Develop a set of uniform standards for docks and marinas
F. Develop a recreational access and use plan
G. Develop a model stream corridor protection standards
H. Develop a watershed growth management boundary

1. Overview of Plan Process

Dean reviewed results of Sonar & Weevil experiments, discussed recent data that showed the weevils have survived the winter and have repopulated themselves in weed beds surrounding Snake Hill. Also, the weed beds that were subjected to the SONAR experiment have depleted. Discussed the further actions to be taken.

2. Public Input

- Request to remove picture of downtown Saratoga Springs off the cover--possibility of placing an urban aerial photo within the watershed.

- Discussion regarding the Army Corps of Engineers study which will be taking place this summer and into the fall. The Corps will be looking at overall lake conditions, flow hydrology of the Kayaderosseras and Fish Creek. If the information is available by the completion of the watershed plan, it will be included and discussed within the report.

- A request was made to have a greater discussion of the historical discharges of phosphorus loadings within Saratoga Lake. Comments were made that the true story is not depicted without a historical perspective on declining agriculture in the watershed. Also, not enough attention is paid to groundwater interference contributed to on-site failure, and pathogen contribution to loss in water quality.

- Watershed plan does not include critically sensitive areas that should be focused on preservation and protection. Jennifer Brady-Connor discussed areas that the Land Trust of the Saratoga Region has identified as valuable to the area for natural and cultural purposes. To refer to the map in detail, including the data overlay criteria and lands managed or protected by the Land Trust of the Saratoga Region, visit http://www.ltsr.org.

- Karen Sklenar of NYS Dept. of Health made comments regarding the water clarity chapter of the lake. She said that the Dept. of Health no longer uses Fecal Strep and Fecal Coliform as a reference point to determine where the source of contamination is from. Also, comments were made regarding the filtration avoidance clause in which Skaneateles Lake and the New York City Reservoir are placed on--such water bodies have a higher level of water clarity and are subjected to tighter regulations. Saratoga Lake could not become on of those water bodies because there was a time frame in which an agency or town could apply to have the ability impose such strong restrictions.

- Suggestion that with the final document includes an individualized town-by-town manuals on watershed protection.

- Better watershed view, current document is too lake based and will not be useful to outer watershed towns.

3. Recommendations from the group for each goal:

A. Designate the permanent position of a Watershed Manager

A watershed protection advocate should be established on the county level to give technical assistance to local governments and landowners for the control of nonpoint control sources and to supplement existing staff in the training and guidance for protecting the watershed and wetlands of Saratoga Lake.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? County, EMC, Soil & Water, County Planning should designate position. Advocate should focus on watershed issues, not in lake issues.

- Who should implement this recommendation? County level

- Costs: Salaried employee--perhaps individual town contribution

B. Develop a long-range aquatic plant management plan

The plan should include an inventory of aquatic plant life every three years, continue to provide funds for evaluating and implementing various management techniques, and develop a fund in which to purchase new equipment and programs to prevent the spread of non-native species throughout the lake and watershed.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? SLPID should develop a plan and strategy for other nuisance aquatics, which may become a problem. Evaluate progress and failures of existing management tactics.

Who should implement this recommendation? SLPID; Increase volunteer efforts for management tactics--i.e., weed pull, zebra mussel watch, water chestnut pull.

Costs: Fund raising measures should fall onto next goal.

The fund would provide funding for technical assistance, public education and grants to tackle the problem of aquatic weeds on a statewide level. Grant projects would address prevention and or control of freshwater, invasive, non-native aquatic plants. Activities to be funded could include: planning, education, monitoring, implementation, pilot/demonstration projects, surveillance and mapping projects. Revenues for the fund could come from an increase in annual boat and trailer fees.

- How would this recommendation be put into action? Create boater tax since they are the primary vectors; Lobby statewide legislators and them know the need for increased funds on Saratoga Lake.; Qualify for a state revolving fund.

- Who should implement this recommendation? NYS Division of Water; Creation of a regional fund similar to Great Lakes, Finger Lakes

- Costs: Mowing; designated boat wash for input/output of boats; chemical treatment; assessment/identification; grass carp, other biological controls; physical barriers to block sunlight, encourage native plant growth

D. Establish a permanent water quality monitoring program

Develop a comprehensive water-sampling program for Saratoga Lake, Lake Lonely and associated streams. Parameters should include pH, conductivity, total phosphorus, reactive phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate, ammonia, chlorides and reactive silica.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? CSLAP; NYSFOLA; Permanent water quality monitoring stations; Cooperative venture with schools, colleges, universities, similar to "River Watch", also retired people, BOCES; Have BOCES build permanent housing for equipment, if needed; Research status of EPA's clean lakes program; NYSDEC stream monitors

- Who should implement this recommendation? SLPID for lake, tie county in for associated streams (EMC) for monitoring water quality.

- Costs: Obtain sponsorship, assistance, and reduced rates from commercial labs; Sponsorship of monitoring stations by companies and marinas;

E. Develop a set of uniform standards for docks and marinas

This plan would create a simple permit system for the construction of commercial marinas and residential docks. Standards would set a reasonable limit and provide for adequate parking, sanitary needs and garbage disposal.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? Set standards for docks--shore vs. number of docks. Small lots need to be included in standards; Reauthorize SLPID to become a regulatory agent; Prepare a dock rule for SLPID to follow. Educate lake towns to rules; Inventory all existing docks; Site plan review for commercial marinas--either towns or SLPID;

- Costs: Legislative action to expand the power of SLPID; Gradual or one-time dock fee for registration.

Develop a safety committee that continually monitors recreational issues on Saratoga Lake, Kayaderosseras Creek and Fish Creek. Develop a long-range recreational plan that considers regulating the horsepower of boats to mitigate the disturbance of wakes, adding or adjusting the speed zones, and incorporating a buoy system for moored boats in Mannings Cove.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? Report needs to look at Kayaderosseras access; Moorings should be considered after docks, uniform surface water use standards; Need for surface water use plan to unify vessel speeds, horsepower; Designate use of certain areas--Mannings Cove etc; Regulations for special events; Inventory of trails, fishing access

- Who should implement this recommendation? DEC--increase access; County--DPW;

- Costs: Apply non-residential dock fee, based on $ per foot of slip, no restriction on residential, 2 boats, one dock, no residential fee; One time of every 5yrs fee for residential; Annual fees support personnel to review and implement dock regulations; Site plan review for marinas; Stickers on boats

Watershed standards should at a minimum address variable setbacks allowing for stream shoreline conditions, the size of the buffer, the location in which the distance should be measured, and a list of allowable activities in the buffer.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? Ask towns what works; Creation of a watershed manager would help communities implement standards. Would also educate towns how to incorporate new models; Would also work with SLPID, businesses within the watershed.

- Who should implement this recommendation? County creates position

- Costs $75,000, funded by SLPID and county, housed at county; Pro-rate cost from each community

H. Develop a watershed growth management boundary

Promote land use initiatives that direct growth inside the existing sewer district and encourage open space preservation planning.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? Encourage town master plans to adopt open space standards; Provide education about why need to preserve open space; Encourage development where services presently exist and provide; Incentives to do so.

- Who should implement this recommendation? County, individual towns; The LA Group

- Costs: Possible Grant, EPA

I. Establish a program for priority stormwater improvement projects

Identify and prioritize a set of stormwater system improvement projects throughout the watershed.

- How should this recommendation be put into action? Identify towns where there are problems, incorporate culvert study; Map problems; prioritize issues; Identify most immediate erosion control problems around lake (9P)

- Who should implement this recommendation? State, County, Towns--joint effort of highways departments