The CLCA Invasive Species Committee sponsors three lines of defense to protect our lakes from the spread of invasive aquatic plants: Lake Stewards, Lake Inspectors, and the Boat Wash Station.
Lake Stewards:
Throughout the summer months, a combination of paid and volunteer stewards monitor the West Lake Boat Launch. The stewards inspect boats and educate their owners of the threat invasive aquatic plants present to our waters. Summer jobs are available for part-time lake stewards, over 18 years old, to inspect boats and trailers at the West Lake Boat Launch. Stewards will normally work about 8 hours per day, 3-4 days per week, and be paid $9.50 per hour from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. They will be trained at Paul Smith’s College, employed by the Town of Caroga, and supervised by the Lake Association.
The paid stewards are supplemented by volunteer stewards who work hours not covered by the paid stewards. It is especially important to have stewards monitoring the boat launch early weekend mornings during the summer.
Lake Inspectors:
Lake Inspectors play a critical role in our efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants, especially Eurasian Water Milfoil, to our lakes. Volunteer Lake Inspectors are assigned a segment of the Canada Lakes that they inspect each August. They are provided with manuals and taken on a field trip to Caroga Lake to view Eurasian Water Milfoil growing. The linked page identifies the inspectors and the territories they cover. If you encounter a plant that you think might be an invasive species, you are encouraged to contact the inspector responsible for that particular area.
Boat Wash Station:
The CLCA in collaboration with the Town of Caroga applied for and won a grant from the DEC for the funding to equip and operate a boat wash station located on Rte 10 across from the Caroga Town Hall. Located on a primary route into the Adirondack Park, this Boat Wash Station equipped with a pressure washer and other equipment provides a first line of defense for the invasive species. If boats are inspected and cleared at the station, they can be launched immediately at any boat launch; if they do not stop there, they will be inspected as usual at West Lake. Boats found at West Lake with visible plant or animal material will be referred back to the boat wash station for decontamination.