Microsoft Word – MLWA, Looking At The Mirror, May 2022.docx
Mirror Lake Watershed Association “Looking At The Mirror”, May 2022 By Sandy E. Bissell
I don’t know about you, but for me open water on Mirror Lake marks the beginning of the almost-summer season. I’d say spring, but as we all know, spring is not an Adirondack phenomenon. Official ice-out date for Mirror Lake this year was April 14, and once again, we turn our thoughts to boating, fishing, and before long, swimming.
With the passing of one more Earth Day, we should be reminded of all we owe Mother Earth for this awe-inspiring place we call home or love to visit. We should feel obligated to be aware of all the pressures human development creates for Mirror Lake and do all we can to protect it like the vulnerable treasure it is. How lucky we are to have this gem in our midst!
In winter, we constantly need to be thinking about eliminating, or at least reducing, the use of salt on our roads and sidewalks because much of that salt eventually ends up in the lake, threatening the wildlife. Fortunately, we have a highway department that has been working to help prevent that by changing old systems to require less salt use.
With the snow melt comes the reminder that so many people do still litter. What a contradiction it is that some who are attracted to this region’s natural beauty don’t mind defiling it with their trash and, likewise, that some who are fortunate enough to live here wouldn’t feel compelled to keep it unspoiled. Clean-Up Day 2022 has just come and gone. Such a difference it makes every year, and how grateful we are for the organizers and many participants! However, we should all do our part to keep this place clean throughout the year because a good portion of the debris discarded around Mirror Lake ends up on the bottom of the lake for years to come.
In the summer months, there are different threats to Mirror Lake’s health, ones we can all do something about, either directly or indirectly, by educating our friends and neighbors. A number of shore owners, including the North Elba Park District’s own public beach, use an unencapsulated foam to keep their docks afloat. Over time this breaks down into toxic, bite-sized particles tempting for fish, birds, and mammals. Deterioration of the foam is accelerated by the presence of mink and muskrats.
The Town of North Elba recently adopted a law banning the use of this unencapsulated foam, giving property owners and its own park district until the
end of 2023 to update their docks. But now we know that these docks are endangering the very lake we need to preserve, why wait two seasons when this summer or next your dock might be the culprit?
There’s a good chance you are aware of the growing nuisance giant Canada geese have been creating all over North America in recent years. In the past month, these non-migratory Canada geese have returned from areas not far from here where water remains open year-round. They’re back to nest and raise their young on the shores of Mirror Lake and Lake Placid. The situation is particularly serious on Mirror Lake as the geese foul our public beach swim docks and boat access as well as the shores of Mid’s Park.
It is partially our own fault that they have found our lake so inviting. Well- meaning people enjoy feeding them, but the daily contribution of goose feces can be two pounds per day per goose. Think: barefoot children, playing by the water’s edge, not a pretty image and not a healthy one, for us or for them. Many human foods are bad for geese, and what they leave behind is bad for us and our waters.
The very best thing property owners can do to address the problem is also the easiest; allow shoreline vegetation to grow to at least 24 inches and plant native plants. If you are unwilling to let your lawn go wild, at least let it grow longer. These geese are looking for open, close-cropped grass leading to the lake. If this describes your yard, you may as well engrave your invitation. Do your part; embrace lazy gardening. The geese want quick access to the water, and fresh young shoots of grass to munch on. Make them go elsewhere to find it.
Because native plants don’t need fertilizing, creating a natural shoreline will save you time and money and protect your shoreline from erosion. At the same time, you will eliminate the chance of any fertilizers seeping into the lake and harming the lake’s ecosystem. The nitrogen and phosphorous in fertilizer increase the nutrient load in the water, contributing to the chances of harmful algal blooms (HABs), another serious concern for bodies of water enjoyed by boaters, swimmers, and their dogs. As you might guess, HABs are also toxic to the fish.
Another summer time stressor for Mirror Lake is the possible spread of invasive species. To date, we are aware of two invasive plants in Mirror Lake, the purple loosestrife and the yellow iris. Both are being kept under control thanks to the combined efforts of the Mirror Lake Watershed Association and the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program. We believe Mirror Lake has escaped
some of the more harmful aquatic invasives, but we are surrounded by bodies of water that have not been so lucky.
Lake Placid Lake is battling variable leaf milfoil, and both Lake Flower and Upper Saranac Lake are fighting Eurasian water milfoil. Vigilance is key because ridding a lake of an invasive species is difficult and expensive. Often, it can’t be done. The concerns are for the biodiversity of the water it invades and the possibility of contaminating water used for drinking, swimming, fishing, and boating. The solution? Clean, drain, dry (boat bottoms, fishing gear, all watercraft equipment) every time you move between bodies of water.
This summer, mid-June through Labor Day, Friday through Monday, a lake steward from Adirondack Watershed Institute will be stationed at the public boat launch near the beach. They will be educating boaters about the importance of “Clean, Drain, Dry” and sharing ways of preventing the spread of invasive species. We are most grateful for a LEAF grant that has subsidized two-thirds of that expense. The Mirror Lake Watershed Association is paying for the other third with donations from generous contributors.
The MLWA is also most grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of Hannaford’s “Bloomin’ 4 Good Program” which benefits local non-profits. For the month of June, we will be receiving $1 for every bouquet purchased with the round, red sticker.
To learn more about the volunteer efforts of the Mirror Lake Watershed Association to protect Mirror Lake, go to mirrorlake.net or join us for our monthly meetings at 5 P.M. the second Monday of each month on the second floor of the beach house at Mirror Lake on Parkside Drive.