PLA Greetings,
The summer 2025 season has come to a close. It's time to look back on our accomplishments for the year. There are many:
1. Foxey Brown Trail - A section of the Foxey Brown Trail, that was flooded by a beaver dam, was rectified on July 10 when the dam was removed by PLA members and the NYSDEC.
2. Loon-Friendly Lake Certification was granted to Piseco Lake due to the efforts of Chips and Ann Arends. Certification requirements included: 1. organize 2 - 3 lake clean-ups; 2. provide Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC) brochures to rental properties, businesses, and residents; 3. Place ACLC’s “Help Protect Loons" signs and fishing line recycling containers at appropriate locations around the Lake; 4. take actions to reduce our environmental impact.
3. A PLA Meet & Greet was held on July 29 at the Irondequoit Inn. Approximately 30 persons attended to discuss Piseco Lake associated topics.
4. Four lake plankton samples were collected from June to September (one each month). The samples are being analyzed for phytoplankton and zooplankton. Our overall objective is to observe any changes in the plankton population that may be associated with the introduction of the spiny water flea.
5. Hamilton County Soil & Water collected lake samples to monitor the lake chemistry over the summer months. Samples over the last 30 years have not indicated adverse water quality.
6. Aquatic Invasive Plant (AIP) surveys were conducted by PLA members at various locations around the lake. No AIPs were observed.
7. Terrestrial Invasive Plant (TIP) surveys were conducted by PLA members at sites along the roads and at the stump dump. TIPS were observed at these sites, especially at Poplar Point Campsite. Unfortunately, our TIP team is not able remove the TIPs at Poplar Point as a NYSDEC permit is required. Barbara McIlroy is pursuing actions to initiate TIP control at Poplar Point and along areas adjacent to Old Piseco Road, where recent culverts were upgraded.
8. PLA member meetings were conducted in July and August, with elections of new Board officers and members.
9. Highway clean-up activities were coordinated by Rick Hilton. Cleanups were conducted in May, July and September. Participation was minimal - we need more members to participated in this annual activity. Also, Rick Hilton will be leaving his coordinator position and we will need a coordinator for 2026.
10. The Boat Steward program at the three NYSDEC boat launches were coordinated by Kevin Kennedy, with a few invasive species identified and removed from incoming boats.
11. The PLA supported a proposal to install a communication tower on the east side of Route 8, behind the highway road salt storage area. The tower will be on a hill top, well away from the highway. Tower installation will be in 2026, after an access road and tower footings are installed at the end of this year.
12. Several PLA members attended the August meeting of the Lake Pleasant - Sacandaga Lake Association. We discussed common lake concerns and proposed to have a combined Meet & Greet activity in 2026 at the Irondequoit Inn or Oxbow Inn.
13. The PLA web site was upgraded to a new platform. We also approved a new records retention policy.
David Wilson
PLA President
