Lake George. A Blueprint for Protection

Transcription

1 Lake George A Blueprint for Protection

2 THE 1 As described in the State of the Lake, Lake George now faces three fundamental threats (see facing page): invasive species; rising salt levels; and declining water quality and clarity. Because the threats facing Lake George are complex and interconnected, securing the Fate of the Lake demands an unprecedented, indeed, a generational, commitment to reversing present trends and preventing Lake George from slipping into a state of irreversible decline. As presented in these pages, The FUND for Lake George is leading the way to lasting protection with one goal: stopping the present decline of water quality and achieving sustained protection of Lake George for the next generation. This goal drives our Legacy Strategy that fuses environmental and economic imperatives to produce the transforming energy, coherent purpose, and broad resolve required for enduring success. Bold partnerships, program innovations, and direct investments are the three main pillars of this historic endeavor. The Legacy Strategy is already delivering groundbreaking results on what is arguably the most serious threat facing the lake, invasive species. Concerted action and investment produced the first mandatory invasive species inspection and decontamination program east of the Mississippi. The S.A.V.E. (Stop Aquatic invasives from Entering) Lake George Partnership demonstrated the power of diverse public and private interests acting in common purpose to uphold the natural, community, and economic values that make Lake George unique. Building on its momentum, S.A.V.E. has begun focusing on priority measures for reducing salt levels in the lake. In this crucial pursuit, S.A.V.E. now expands to mean: Salt Abatement is Vital to the Ecology of Lake George. As scientific understanding of the state of the lake makes clear, Lake George remains remarkably healthy. Even at this late date, sustained protection of Lake George can be largely achieved through preventive measures, such as the invasive species program, that reduce stress on the lake s natural systems. This, in turn, strengthens the lake s resilience to change. Almost as extraordinary as the lake itself is the vital opportunity to make Lake George a world-leading example of how to keep it that way a momentous accomplishment befitting the Queen of American Lakes. The Fate of the Lake is now in our hands.

3 1 2 3 INVASIVE SPECIES Five species including spiny waterflea, asian clams, zebra mussels, curlyleaf pondweed, and Eurasian watermilfoil, that aggressively adapt to lakes like Lake George and can dramatically alter how they function ecologically. RISING SALT LEVELS Thirty times above the natural background and increasing fast, from roadway de-icing applications during winter. Among other impacts, salt will make the lake s water unsafe to drink for some people within a few decades if loadings aren t curtailed. DECLINING WATER QUALITY AND CLARITY Measurable (about 6%) loss of clarity, an indicator of declining quality, caused by either or both: Increased discharges of plant fertilizers, stormwater runoff, and wastewater adding phosphorus and nitrogen that stimulate microscopic algal growth in the water, decreasing light penetration. Introductions of alien forage fish species like rainbow smelt that consume microscopic animals that would otherwise eat the microscopic plants, allowing the plants to proliferate. 2

4 $ $ $ INVASIVE SPECIES $ Invasive impacts on water quality could cause a property value drop up to 20% NUMBER OF INVASIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES IN NEIGHBORING BODIES OF WATER ST. LAWRENCE RIVER LAKE CHAMPLAIN GREAT LAKES 5 Estimated annual costs of damages from invasive species in the United States exceed LAKE GEORGE $120 billion HUDSON RIVER 91 INVASIVES HEADED THIS WAY 3 quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) from the Great Lakes called zebra mussels on steroids where they are causing billions of dollars in damage every year hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) in Cayuga Lake Inlet, Central NY, rhymes with godzilla, and has monstrous effects on invaded waters Trailered boats are a primary vector for the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.

5 We are expanding the successful S.A.V.E. program to engage more partners, leverage investments, and establish an Adirondack-wide prevention program. EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP Bringing in key constituencies EXPANDED PROTECTION Stopping invasives region-wide INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH Finding new invasive treatments PARTNERSHIP Work with fellow S.A.V.E. (Stop Aquatic invasives from Entering) Lake George Partnership members and the Lake George Park Commission to successfully implement the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program and make the pilot program permanent with dedicated underwriting. Expand S.A.V.E. membership to include other key constituencies, including businesses. INNOVATION Leverage S.A.V.E. and its progress to date to establish The S.A.V.E. Adirondack Waters Partnership designed to lead implementation of an Adirondack-wide prevention program with the same broad support as achieved at Lake George. Gaining region-wide prevention will better protect Lake George and help secure sustaining public revenues from state and federal levels. INVESTMENT Contribute to the local match for Lake George prevention program implementation and training of boat inspect or s. Commit to financial support of S.A.V.E. Adirondack Waters. Provide matching support for intensified treatment regime to reduce Eurasian watermilfoil to low maintenance levels. Support targeted research on asian clam and spiny waterflea to realize breakthrough treatments leading to potential eradication. 4

6 continued rise in salt levels will make water unsafe to drink for people with hypertension SALT 8000 metric tons of road salt are applied on basin roadways each winter the composition of microscopic plants is starting to change the water is starting to move differently due to salt levels 13 metric tons of salt per lane mile salt levels in Lake George have tripled in 30 years 5 Salt is considered the acid rain of our time. undeveloped Adirondack lakes Lake George in 1980 Lake George today

7 We are engaging public officials through the S.A.V.E. partnership to reduce salt application with investments in better monitoring and alternative de-icing options. PARTNERSHIP Mobilize The S.A.V.E. Lake George Partnership as the core constituency leading a concerted public/private program to reduce salt levels; (S.A.V.E. expands to mean Salt Abatement is Vital to the Ecology of Lake George.) Conduct Salt Talks around the lake, hosted by respective municipal leaders of S.A.V.E., culminating in broad sign-on and support for a Memorandum of Understanding the organizing tool successfully used by S.A.V.E. on invasives prevention that details the case, provisions, and timeline for an aggressive salt reduction plan. TARGETED PUBLIC EDUCATION Reaching new audiences DIRECT INVESTMENT State-of-the-art de-icing strategies NEW PUBLIC POLICIES Safeguarding water from salt INNOVATION Identify and implement successful salt reduction techniques from other regions, especially those in the Lake Champlain watershed. Apply advanced monitoring technology to document results and ecosystem benefits of reducing salt use. INVESTMENT Building on S.A.V.E. s successful co-investment strategy for invasive prevention, catalyze and coalesce private and public funding to achieve salt reductions. Support targeted research to inform best practices and, like invasives prevention, make Lake George a national leader in solving this grave and growing problem. 6

8 DECLINING WATER QUALITY AND CLARITY 33% phytoplankton increase water clarity decrease 6% fertilizers wastewater detergents stormwater PHOSPHORUS 2 PHYTOPLANKTON 3 1 Rainbow smelt feed on zooplankton, the main consumer of phytoplankton, allowing the phytoplankton population to grow. ZOOPLANKTON 1 4 NITELLA 2 3 Phytoplankton thrive on increased phosphorus from runoff. As phytoplankton grow, sunlight for Nitella is reduced, threatening Nitella s survival. 7 RAINBOW SMELT 4 Since Nitella consume phosphorus, as the meadows recede, there is more phosphorus to promote phytoplankton growth. NITELLA Acting as nature s filter by consuming nutrients from the water column, the Nitella meadows are a lynchpin of lake health and water clarity.

9 We are curbing nutrient and contaminant levels reaching the lake by confronting major sources, including wastewater, and creating a certification system to guide low impact development. PARTNERSHIP Engage S.A.V.E. members in establishing new private and public measures to curb contaminant levels and set a new basin-wide development standard, featuring creation of a Low Impact Development (LID) Certification System. Co-develop with municipal officials complementary public policy measures (tax incentives, fast track application approvals, new regulations, etc.) that strengthen the certification system. Engage development professionals (developers, engineers, architects, etc.) along with municipal officials to gain their input and support for producing a certification system that is widely accepted and applied. BETTER POLICY To facilitate low impact development FIXING PROBLEMS Identifying point source problems, investing in halting runoff TRACKING IMPACTS Advanced monitoring to inform solutions INNOVATION Establish a Low Impact Development (LID) Certification System. The first system of its kind in the nation, LID certification will reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment, and land disturbance throughout the watershed while providing distinct economic benefits and competitive advantage. The LID Certification System business plan will make the program a growing and sustaining revenue generator, especially in its expanding application beyond Lake George. Advanced water quality and ecosystem monitoring capacity at Lake George will track results of combined actions and investments to provide positive feedback that reinforces expanding commitments to lasting protection. INVESTMENT Provide targeted grants, seed funding, and matching support toward identified point source problems to curb water quality/clarity declines. These include upgrading the Lake George Village Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) directly complementing benefits of the West Brook Conservation Initiative, and Town of Hague WWTP, as well as establishing regional septic districts and fostering lake-friendly lakescaping practices. 8

10 FROM ONE GENERATION FOR THE NEXT INVESTING IN SUCCESS As a living system under mounting stress, latest research informs the bold opportunity now before us to protect Lake George for the next generation. Indeed, the partnerships, innovations, and investments that define and drive The FUND s Legacy Strategy are empowered by science. Never in the history of any freshwater lake has the caliber of science and technology now being brought to Lake George been applied for the purpose of sustaining lake health, from physics to fish. The Jefferson Project at Lake George The FUND s groundbreaking collaboration with IBM and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute picks up where latest research on water quality leaves off to usher in the world s most advanced technologies and analytical capacity all focused on the Fate of the Lake. 9 Guided by state-of-the-art understanding, with our partners and strongest supporters, The FUND is forging the critical path to lasting protection. Integral to the success of this endeavor are the investments we make to reverse trends and subdue threats, before ecological tipping points are reached and cascading impacts are triggered that block the path to protection. As science reveals, the consequences for Lake George would be devastating and permanent. It is this prospect that compels The FUND s generational commitment to preventing such a fate. Direct investment in tangible solutions, and the science that will ensure their effectiveness, provides the single-best method for achieving results at the pace and scale now required. For all those wishing to support this history-making body of work, priority opportunities to invest in our success are detailed at fundforlakegeorge.org/invest. The returns are priceless and timeless a clean and clear Lake George, a living legacy for the ages.

11 Invest in Lake George for the next generation. fundforlakegeorge.org/invest 10

12 LEARN MORE AT fundforlakegeorge.org