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Soil & Water report: Eurasian watermilfoil thinning, natives reappearing; outfall mapping continues
Summary
District staff reported progress on aquatic plant monitoring with native species returning in treated milfoil beds and said they have mapped 182 outfalls in the Lake George watershed and inspected/sampled 80 of them this year.
Warren County Soil & Water staff told the commission they have continued aquatic plant surveys and outfall mapping across the Lake George watershed.
Presenters reported that in some historically dense Eurasian watermilfoil beds (for example Blair and Sheep Meadow) native species now appear in greater numbers — "we're finding upwards of 6 plus natives making up that plant community," the presenter said — a sign of improving biodiversity in treated areas. The district said it has mapped 182 stormwater outfalls to date and inspected and sampled 80 outfalls this year as part of an MS4-style outfall monitoring program that looks for illicit discharges and measures constituents such as pH, temperature, ammonium and chlorine.
Staff also highlighted work at high-traffic boat-launch areas and the Million Dollar Beach boat-launch survey efforts and discussed next steps for monitoring and combining district efforts with Lake Champlain Basin Program grant work.
