GREAT
SACANDAGA LAKE ASSOCIATION
Box 900, Northville, New York 12134
518.863.6848 Electronic Mail: sloffice@gsla.org
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Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR) Response to GSLA Request (5.08.08) - The GSLA was concerned that many of the issues raised by the Advisory Committee charged with reviewing the proposed lake access permit rules were unanswered when the document was forwarded to GORR last fall. The Association requested that GORR convene a 'negotiated rulemaking' between the parties and on November 2, 2007 provided a list of the issues which we thought were most important. (A copy of our correspondence can be found in
On May 5, 2008, Robert Hermann, Director, Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform, notified the GSLA that he believed there was 'no appropriate case' for the negotiated rulemaking. He concluded his letter to the Association by stating:
"However, we have shared your concerns with Mr. Glenn LaFave, Executive Director of the District, I believe you will find that many of the issues you presented have been addressed in the latest version of the proposed rule."
In our November 2, 2007 correspondence we indicated that we felt that the document should be reformatted and that the number of sections be reduced. In addition, we cited 18 specific issues and recommended action for each. We are asking GORR for a copy of the "latest version" and will keep the membership informed.
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New York State Safe Boating Classes (5.03.08) - The Association has released the 2008 schedule for NYS Safe Boating Classes. The classes are required for anyone over the age of 10 operating a jet ski (personal water craft) and for those from the age of 10 to 18 operating a 'mechanically propelled vessel'. The classes which may cost $55 or more are offered as a FREE benefit for GSLA members and their families. Join now! A family membership is only $25, think of the savings!
Classes will be offered in Mayfield, Northville and Day. The application form will arrive in the May 2008 GSLA newsletter. Classes are limited to 30. The Marine Services Bureau indicated that two websites may be used by prospective students to prepare for the class. "However, these websites are for informational purposes only, and DO NOT lead to the issuance of a valid boating safety certificate." A valid boating safety certificate in New York State continues to be an 8 hour classroom with proctored exam.
The websites are or
Study before you come to the class!
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New Web Feature Showing Real Time Water Levels (5.01.08) - The water levels on the Great Sacandaga are controlled by an 'Offer of Settlement' which sets 'targeted elevations'. Our website is now offering access to a chart which depicts how well the current and recent water levels match the 'targeted elevations'. Take the mystery out of the elevations by clicking on the 'Target Elevation' button above. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Announcement of Training on Aquatic Invasive Plants - The Nature Conservancy (5.01.08) - One of our members sent the following which he thought it would be of interest to others. We agreed!
Get on-board with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program's 7th
annual aquatic invasive plant
training and learn aquatic plant identification
tips and survey techniques.
The training is free, but space is limited. Select a training location that
best suits you. Please RSVP to holes@tnc.org by June 11.
All sessions are from
June 20, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Bolton Landing
June 24, Harrietstown Town Hall, Saranac Lake,
June 26, Old Forge
Volunteers are asked to conduct an annual survey on an Adirondack lake of
their choice. To-date, 308 volunteers have spent over 3,000 hours surveying
205
Are you a returning volunteer? Feel free to join us for 1/2 or full day refresher
course. Or pass this along and invite someone new!
See you on the water
The Nature Conservancy - Adirondack Chapter PO Box 65 Keene Valley,
518-576-4203
(fax)
holes@tnc.org
www.adkinvasives.com
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Discussion on the Great Sacandaga Reaches the Media and YouTube! (4.23.08) - The Times Union reported on April 23, 2008 that "the water level in Great Sacandaga Lake reached 773.54", which recorded for April 22 as a record high. On April 23, 2008, the Daily Gazette noted that the water stopped rising but they also provided a great picture story. Take a look at the waters of the Great Sacandaga going over the Conklingville Dam!
It has been very hard to keep track of the media coverage on the Great Sacandaga Lake levels since early April. For example, on April 10, 2008, the Daily Gazette announced in their headline that the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District was "not worried about river flooding" but the following day reported that "Just hours after saying that water releases wouldn't resume for a week, the regulating district opened one of the giant Dow valves on the Conklingville Dam on Thursday to create more storage space." The article indicated that the Chief Engineer "said conditions can change dramatically from one moment to the next."
On April 19, 2008, Supervisor Herb McLain of Mayfield was quoted in the Daily Gazette when commenting on water in his town noted that "he's frustrated because the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District is inflexible and unresponsive" and he said that contacting the District "doesn't do any good. The have their plan and they're not going to deviate,".
Supervisor Jean Raymond of Edinburg told the Times Union (April 22, 2008) that the high level makes "her nervous". See reported that "The water level isn't over the road, but I hope it's not eroding underneath". Evan Heller, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Albany, was quoted in The Leader Herald (April 22, 2008) that "Flooding could cause damage to properties. It doesn't take much of a rise above flood stage to cause damage."
Full text for the articles can be found by accessing the website for the respective news outlets on our Lake Contacts page or by clicking below.
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Hudson River-Black River Regulating District Releases Water (4.24.08)- The Regulating District provided the latest information on the success in reducing the flooding on the Hudson.
REGULATING DISTRICT PROVIDES 53% REDUCTION IN
HUDSON RIVER FLOW, REDUCING FLOODING
ALBANY, NY – Through a strategic water release plan at the peak of Spring runoff from melting snow, the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District (HRBRRD) is managing river flow in the Hudson River while maximizing water releases from Great Sacandaga Lake, one of five river-regulating reservoirs operated by the Regulating District.
The Regulating District provided a 53% reduction of water flow in the Hudson River below the confluence of the Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers. On April 12, the natural flow of the Hudson River exceeded 20,500 cfs (cubic feet per second) at Hadley, and 21,900 cfs at Fort Edward, as the reservoir stored inflow of 22,700 cfs, over 169,000 gallons per second. Operation of Great Sacandaga Lake resulted in a peak reduction in Hudson River flow of more than 22,700 cfs on April 12, and 17,900 cfs on April 13. On April 24 at 8:45 AM the Hudson River at Fort Edward was flowing at a rate of 22,900 cfs and was below flood stage.
“Through our river regulation, we were able to reduce the potential peak flood stage downstream of Hadley by more than four feet,” said Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director of the Regulating District. On April 24 at 9:45 AM the flow of the Sacandaga River at Hadley was 13,800 cfs.
Rainfall on the Great Sacandaga Lake watershed during January, February, and March resulted in above-average reservoir inflow. In April, the water content of the snow pack raised the inflow to three times the historic average.
The Regulating District continues to balance the need for flood protection with its desire to lower reservoir elevation, while meeting its statutory obligation to provide river regulation and comply with the Offer of Settlement at the Great Sacandaga Lake.
For information on river flows and the Regulating District’s reservoir releases, please visit http://www.hrbrrd.com/gauges.html. Please visit the National Weather Service website at http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=buf or the U.S. Geological Survey website at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/current/?type=flow for predictions and forecasts.
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Water Quality Reports (02.26.08)- The Darrin Fresh Water Institute and the Adirondack Watershed Institute have released their reports for the 2007 studies of water quality on the Great Sacandaga. These reports are found on the "Reports" pages of the GSLA website, They may be accessed by clicking on button at the end of this notice.