Warren County Soil & Water asks county to consider $10,000 to expand volunteer lake-sampling program

Warren County Soil & Water asked the county to consider a $10,000 contribution for 2026 to sustain and expand a volunteer lake-sampling program that produces trend data to support water-quality improvements and funding applications. Jim Lieberman, representing Warren County Soil & Water, described a program run in partnership with SUNY Adirondack and multiple lake associations that samples for indicators such as E. coli and chlorides.

"We've been paying in from our coffers for supporting SUNY Adirondack," Lieberman said, and he outlined that the program required staff time — roughly 60 hours under current participation but likely to increase substantially if new lakes and longer travel distances are added. Lieberman said he and staff put a funding request together with Sarah and Ethan and proposed $10,000 to offset costs and allow program expansion.

Lieberman emphasized the program is an "indication program" that produces trend data to leverage corrective projects (for example, septic pump-out cost-share, stormwater fixes) rather than a basis for immediate enforcement. He explained volunteers and lake association subcommittees typically coordinate sampling days and provide boat stewards and that deeper source-identification testing (forensics at the state Wadsworth lab) is available but costly — roughly $1,000 per test.

Board members praised staff for quick responses in incidents such as an unofficial Scroon Lake sample that later returned negative on follow-up tests. Unidentified Speaker 5 said the presenters should return when ready and that the county would put the funding request "as an action item on our agenda." No formal county appropriation vote occurred during this meeting excerpt.