Online Petition

We need your help to protect Lake George from new infestations of aquatic invasive species. We must make sure only clean boats are allowed onto Lake George. Please sign our online petition today calling for a new mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program. 

The FUND for Lake George and Lake George Waterkeeper have called upon the NYS Lake George Park Commission to develop a new mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program for Lake George to protect against new infestations of aquatic invasive species. This effort is modeled after the successful program currently in operation around Lake Tahoe. Lake George has experienced four infestations of different aquatic invasive species. Once an invasive species is established in the lake it is very expensive and very difficult to manage and almost impossible to eradicate. The risk of further aquatic invasive species infestations is too great.

In Lake Tahoe, a law was passed that made it illegal for a boat owner to launch an uninspected boat onto Lake Tahoe and illegal for any landowner to launch an uninspected boat. There are stiff penalties for failure to comply for boat owners and for launch operators, whether commercial, municipal or residential.

Local leaders support a new program for boat inspections and decontamination.

Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais signed the petition. The Mayor said “We must be pro-active in our fight against invasive species and everyone who boats on Lake George is being asked to help. The inconveniences and time to implement mandatory boat wash stations far outweigh losing our wonderful lake to the invasives.”

Bolton Town Supervisor Ron Conover signed the petition. Supervisor Conover said "The program to protect Lake George from aquatic invasive species needs our support. All of us can help by supporting the clean, drain and dry program and insisting that boats brought here from other waters be clean of aquatic invasive species prior to entering Lake George. I encourage everyone to visit the Protect Lake George website to find out more about harmful aquatic invasive species and what you can do to help."

Town of Queensbury Board Member John Strough signed the petition. John Strough said "Alien to the native ecosystem, the prolific nature of invasive plants, animals and microbes have the ability to be harmful to the environment, economy and human health. Although currently infested by Eurasian watermilfoil, Asian clams and Zebra mussels, which I believe can be managed, Lake George is surrounded by water bodies infected by other, potentially more harmful, invasives. Inaction now may cost dearly later."

The FUND believes that a clean boats program should emphasize the fact that in order to prevent new infestations of aquatic invasive species all boats that arrive to be launched on Lake George must be CLEAN, DRAINED and DRY. This places responsibility on the boat owner for the boat's condition. Any boat that is high risk, has visible evidence of aquatic invasives species on it or on the trailer, or is not completely clean, drained and dried prior to inspection (including ballast tanks, bilge, live well, hatches, engine compartment, lines, anchor and trailer) must be decontaminated before entering Lake George. Decontamination of the boat includes the spraying of 140 degree water to clean the boat, which has been driven onto a surface that will contain all contaminated water. Invasive species juveniles or microscopic veligers can survive in standing water in the boat engine, ballast tanks, compartments, live wells and other surfaces. This is how invasive species are often transported. 

The proposed mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program would permit only boats that are inspected to be launched on Lake George. This significantly reduces the risk of new invasive species infestations.

The FUND envisions a Lake Tahoe-style program where boat inspections and decontamination stations are geographically located around the lake. These facilities will need to be staffed 7 days per week with specific hours of operation during the boating season. Separate protocols will be developed for "Lake George Only" vs. transient boats. The Lake Tahoe program is very flexible and meets the needs of the diverse boating public, yet also pro-actively protects the lake.  

The FUND just published a new report with loads of information on this issue. See Clean Boats Only: The case for a pro-active and mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program for Lake George to prevent new aquatic invasive species infestations.

Please join us. Please sign the online petition today and help protect beautiful Lake George.

Please sign our online petition to protect Lake George from aquatic invasive species and join with us to urge speedy action by the NYS Lake George Park Commission to prevent new infestations of aquatic invasive species by creating a new mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program for Lake George. All signatories will only be used for presentation in the future to the Lake George Park Commission.

The time is now for action. The time is now for the Lake George Park Commission to develop and implement a new program for mandatory boat inspection and decontamination to prevent new aquatic invasive species infestations.

Number of Signatures: 323

Sign the Petition Here

The first 100 registrants will receive a 'Keep the Clean' t-shirt. Please indicate size requested.