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Commission approves funding to bolster Hemlock Woolly Adelgid survey and treatment
Summary
The Lake George Park Commission authorized up to $50,000 for 2026 Hemlock Woolly Adelgid survey and treatment—$40,000 from its Environmental Protection Fund and $10,000 from the East Shore Scribe Lake Association—after an educational briefing by Dr. Mark Whitmore of Cornell on treatment options and biological-control progress.
After a staff and technical briefing, the Lake George Park Commission voted Jan. 27 to authorize spending up to $50,000 in support of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) survey and treatment in the Lake George Basin in 2026. The resolution (2026-02) specifies $40,000 from the commission’s Environmental Protection Fund and $10,000 from the East Shore Scribe Lake Association; the motion passed by voice vote.
Dr. Mark Whitmore, director of the New York State Hemlock Initiative, told the commission that HWA threatens hemlock stands because the insect feeds on twig tissue that prevents new-needle growth, often resulting in tree mortality after repeated heavy infestations. Whitmore outlined short-term control tools (systemic insecticides such as dinotefuran and imidacloprid), the limits of chemical treatments near water and injection work required on shoreline trees, and ongoing efforts to scale biological control through predator releases (Laricobius beetles and complementary flies). He also described local priority treatment areas and the use of environmental DNA for early detection.
Commissioners and staff said recent local funding from DEC and partners allowed hiring technicians to survey and treat affected stands; the resolution directs staff to expend up to $50,000 for seasonal field technicians and related survey/treatment activities in 2026.
