People Protecting the Lake
Since 1885.
Lake George Association – P.O. Box 408 – Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 668-3558 – Fax
(518) 668-4702 – www.lakegeorgeassociation.org
April 30, 2008
For
Immediate Release
Contact: Emily DeBolt
Education and Outreach
Coordinator
Lake George Association
Phone: (518) 668-3558
Note: The photo that
accompanies this press release should have the following caption: “Northern Map
Turtles on Lake George. Photo taken by LGA volunteer Joe Harrigan.”
LGA LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR TURTLES
Lake George, NY – This summer, the Lake George Association (LGA) will conduct the second season of the Lake George Turtle Monitoring Project (LGTMP). This monitoring program relies on volunteers to look for various types of turtles and report back to the LGA. The LGA is hoping to recruit new volunteers to bolster the program, as well as to bring back volunteers from last summer’s successful showing.
A training session for new volunteers will be held on Saturday May 17th from 10:30-12:30 at the LGA office on Route 9N. A “refresher and review” course for continuing volunteers will be held that morning at 9:00 a.m. The training session will cover the turtles found in the area, how to identify them, and how to participate in the monitoring project.
Turtles are an indicator species. This means that changes in water quality can quickly affect the turtle population. A healthy turtle population indicates good water quality. The LGA is hoping to use the data collected by the monitors to look for trends.
According to Emily DeBolt, the LGA’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, this program does not require a big time commitment and is ideal for families.
“Volunteers are asked to go out only 4 times during the summer for a minimum of 30 minutes each time,” said DeBolt. “It’s a great excuse to get the kids out on the lake, take pictures, learn more about turtles and more about the lake.”
Volunteers who used canoes or kayaks last summer seemed to have had the most success in spotting turtles, but DeBolt says that lack of access to a boat does not exclude one from participating.
“You can sample from shore if you don’t have a boat, but land locations are limited as there is not much public access to wetland areas around the lake.”
The LGA considers last summer’s effort a great success, with over 30 volunteers seeing more than 400 turtles throughout the summer. Painted, snapping and map turtles were the most commonly seen.
If you would like more information or would like to sign up to become a turtle monitor this summer, please call the LGA at 518-668-3558 or email edebolt@lakegeorgeassociation.org.
The LGA is a not-for-profit membership organization of
people interested in working together to protect, conserve, and improve the
beauty and quality of the Lake George Basin. For more information, contact the
LGA at (518) 668-3558 or check out LGA on the web at www.lakegeorgeassociation.org.
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