Lake-Saving Project Descriptions

Stream Corridor Stormwater Management

More than 100 streams drain into Lake George; the quality of these streams largely determines the quality of the Lake. The stream corridor or watershed is the land around the stream that contributes drainage to the stream. This land also contributes pollutants like nutrients and sediment. The Lake George watershed totals 233 square miles. It is steep and rocky and it drains quickly to the Lake-especially in large storms. The Stream Corridor Stormwater Management projects are intended to identify, assess and ultimately fix erosion and sedimentation problems in Lake George Basin stream corridors that result in the deposition of sediment and other pollutants into the Lake. 

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Roadside Stormwater Management

Urban runoff is the most significant source of pollutants to Lake George. These pollutants include oil and grease, lead, sediment and nutrients like phosphorous. Potential sources of these pollutants include building construction, landscaping and lawn care, logging, agriculture and road maintenance. There are hundreds of miles of Town, County and State roads in the Lake George Basin, including paved and gravel roads. These roads act as conduits for stormwater runoff to streams and the Lake. This runoff occurs very rapidly and often with no removal or reduction of the pollutants carried by the water. The runoff also frequently causes erosion of the road banks and roadside ditches, especially in large storms, thereby increasing the delivery of sediment to the Lake. The Roadside Stormwater Management projects are intended to identify, assess and ultimately fix road-related stormwater problems in the Basin. LGA members and other Basin residents who experience these problems firsthand suggest many of these projects. 

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Pond Reclamation

There is a need throughout the watershed to reduce the amount of sediment carried by streams into Lake George. These projects identify existing ponds and basins that need maintenance to function effectively as sediment traps, and sites for new basins that could provide upstream collection and retention of sediment and contaminants carried by stream flows. Such upstream improvements in stormwater management will reduce the level of sediment and other pollution entering the Lake and will help protect the existing shorelines against the formation of sediment deltas. 

* Retention Basin Sites Survey- The purpose of this project targeted for completion in Spring 2001, is to catalog existing sediment retention basins, and identify locations for possible sediment retention basins in the Lake George watershed.

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For more information, please contact the Lake Saving Projects Coordinator.