Volunteers Needed to Survey Lake Sebago for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
– from Ira Stahl, Conservation Committee Chairperson
I have met with representatives from the ACA and AMC several times in the past months regarding Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Lake Sebago. The first meeting was attended by me, Lisa North, Marty Kellerman, and representatives from New York State Parks Department, Harriman State Park, and Teatown Nature Preserve, all of whom will be working together through PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) with other interested parties.
At the last meeting:
1) We discussed the three clubs on Lake Sebago, ACA, ADK, AMC, working together on environmental issues as an informal “friends coalition” and possibly forming an official association in the future. We proposed a mission statement for the “coalition” (see below).
2) We discussed the need for a boat decontamination station on the lake as well as discussed other AIS updates, issues, and actions which include a planned survey on July 11 of the Lake Sebago’s current AIS status by Teatown using volunteers from ACA and Camp Nawakwa (see notice below).
3) We were given a detailed update about AMC’s plans and progress in the Lake Sebago area. They are hoping for a 2025 opening for the new camp on the lake. Plans for the Lake Sebago beach area and Lake Skenonto, which have also been leased to the AMC for development, are still in the discussion stages with the parks department.
Coalition Description and Mission Statement
The Lake Sebago Coalition is a partnership of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), the American Canoe Association (ACA), and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), working collaboratively with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The public, who have access to the lake, will benefit from the work of this coalition. The coalition plans include securing a decontamination boat washing station near Lake Sebago and collaborating on a range of environmental issues. The mission of the Lake Sebago coalition is to preserve and enhance the environmental quality and public enjoyment of Lake Sebago in New York’s Harriman State Park.
The Aquatic Invasive Species survey will take place on Sunday, July 11, 2021 from 11am to 3pm
Meet at the ACA Pavilion at 11 am for a comprehensive training with Lindsay Yoder, aquatic species coordinator for the Lower Hudson PRISM (Prevent Regional Invasive Species Management).
The program will begin with Lindsay giving an overview of AIS in Lake Sebago and how we can survey the lake to conduct ongoing assessments. Participants will then proceed to Dock 10 and use MCKC’s tandem canoes to survey the cove—and possibly other areas of the lake—for AIS. Participants must have basic paddling skills and wear a PFD at all times on the dock and on the water.
If you are interested in participating in this very important activity or would like more information about this or other conservation activities at Nawakwa, please contact me by email: Irastahl@yahoo.com or call or text me at 516-547 2780.
Note: It is important that we have volunteers from Nawakwa. The current plan is to survey the cove near ACA and, based on the number of volunteers, other parts of the lake. If we have enough volunteers, we should be able to survey more of the lake, including around our lake front and boat launch areas. We possibly could continue this work on our own through the summer and fall.
– Ira Stahl, Conservation Committee Chairperson, New York Chapter-ADK
