October 4, 2023
LAKE GEORGE — As part of its Lake George Road Salt Reduction Initiative, the Lake George Association and Lake George Waterkeeper awarded a $40,000 grant to the Town of Lake George. The aim of the grant is to improve the efficiency and capacity of brine-making for the Town and to expand anti-icing practices that reduce road salt use on winter roads. In 2016, the Town became the first municipality in the Lake George basin to pretreat roads with brine prior to storms.
The grant was presented on October 3 at the 8th Annual Adirondack Champlain Regional Salt Summit. From left: Eric Siy, LGA President; Dennis Dickinson, Lake George Town Supervisor; Vincent Crocitto, Deputy Town Supervisor; Rob Lanfear, Town of Lake George Highway Superintendent; Chris Navitsky, Lake George Waterkeeper.
With increased brine-making capacity, the Town will establish a cooperative that makes brine available for the Village of Lake George and private contractors and businesses. By applying brine to streets before a storm, plow operators can more cleanly remove snow because the brine prevents the snow from bonding with the pavement and turning into ice.
The Town’s existing brine-maker will go to Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center, who, along with The Holiday Inn, will be early adopters of brine use on private business parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways.
The effects of road salt on the environment, particularly freshwater bodies like Lake George, can be devastating. It contributes to stormwater pollution, and it adversely impairs surface water quality, fish, groundwater quality, wetlands and ecosystems, and drinking water. The Lake George Salt Reduction Initiative, led by the LGA and the Lake George Waterkeeper in partnership with municipalities and counties, has reduced use of road salt by as much as 50 percent — protecting the environment and saving taxpayers thousands of dollars every year.