2010 Annual Report
Greetings,
It’s that time of year when we update you on our activities including our educational outreach work. We invite you to join us at our monthly meetings and ask for your donations and support.
We’ve had an extremely dynamic year. The focus of our past activities continues to be to raise awareness and protect Mirror Lake and surrounding water bodies from adverse impacts to water quality. Again this year we increased our efforts to locate potential new invasive species, particularly variable leaf milfoil, before they become established.
Year in Review
Mark Wilson was awarded the seventh Annual “Frog Award” for his efforts in eradicating the invasive species ”variable leaf milfoil” in the waters of Placid Lake thereby preventing the spread to neighboring waters, including Mirror Lake. The award this year was a spectacular photo donated by John Eldridge.
A Lake Champlain Basin Program grant was obtained by the Village of Lake Placid with support from the Association. The grant is to survey and start the design process to improve the storm drain system on the east shore of Mirror Lake.
- A “Don’t Feed the Wildlife” brochure was distributed.
- Volunteers took part in ongoing water testing in conjunction with the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program sponsored by the D.E.C. The results are consistent with a recreational lake, but with a slight spike in the level of phosphorus and chloride, which we will continue to monitor.
- An Earth Day “Poop Scoop” cleaned up the shoreline and walkways after winter snows, and we are seeing less of a problem each year. Doggie bags are available at many locations for your use and are doing the job.
-Storm drain filters are continually monitored around the lake to check on their effectiveness in eliminating the unwanted contaminents of the stormwater. This was done in conjunction with the Village of Lake Placid.
Looking Ahead – Goals for 2011
In the coming year the MLWA has set the following goals:
•Continuing to inventory and control Purple Loosestrife plants and continued searching for potential new invasive species, especially milfoil.
•Searching for a writer to publish monthly articles to educates the public concerning water quality issues.
•Partnering with the Village and Town to test environmentally friendly de-icing agents around Mirror Lake.
•Expanding our area of concern downstream to include the Chubb and Ausable Rivers and helping to implement a Watershed management plan for them.
•Researching and promoting more “lake friendly” products such as de-icing agents and non-phosphate lawn fertilizers, which are available locally.
•Developing a work plan with the Village Of Lake Placid for the grant obtained from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and participating in the collection of the data for the design of an improved stormwater system on the east side of the lake.
•Continuing the on going effort to clean-up Mirror Lake’s under surface garbage and surrounding areas.
The above goals are in addition to our regular activities, which include storm drain stenciling, shoreline cleanup, and the placement of posters and informational articles in the Lake Placid News to increase awareness. Please check out our web site: www.mirrorlake.net.
As you can see 2010 has been a busy year but this coming year we hope to top this past year’s activities. If you have an interest in the well being of our precious Mirror Lake, please join our team. We meet the second Monday of every month at 5 pm at the Mirror Lake Peacock Beach House, or you may contact Bill Billerman, our chairman, at 523-8925.
Cordially,
Mirror Lake Watershed Association / Water Management Committee
Bill Billerman – Chair
Mark Wilcox – Treasurer
Mitch Goroski – Secretary
Shawn Ayers, Conni Cross,
John Eldridge, Georgia Jones,
Madeline Killeen, Larry Master,
Carol Treadwell, Mark Wilson
David Ackerman – Chair Emeritus