2014 Lake George Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program A Trailered Boat Inspection Program Final Report Table of Contents Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 3 2014 Boat Inspection Program Summary ‐ By the Numbers ........................................................................ 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Public Outreach and Involvement ................................................................................................................ 6 Program Description ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Inspection Process: ............................................................................................................................... 8 Data Collection:..................................................................................................................................... 9 Sample Collection: ................................................................................................................................ 9 Decontamination Equipment:............................................................................................................. 10 Inspection Site Staffing and Site Improvements ......................................................................................... 11 Inspection Schedules: ......................................................................................................................... 11 Staffing: ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Inspection Site Preparations: .............................................................................................................. 11 Launch Management and Controls............................................................................................................. 13 Night Operations at State launches .................................................................................................... 13 Management Efficiencies: “Lake George Only” Boats ............................................................................... 14 Vessel Inspection Control Seals (VICS) ................................................................................................ 14 Pre‐Season “Frozen Boats” Program .................................................................................................. 15 Hauler Agreements ............................................................................................................................. 15 Residential and Homeowner Association (HOA) Launches ................................................................ 16 Program Cost, Funding, and Partners ......................................................................................................... 16 Expenses.............................................................................................................................................. 17 Program Income.................................................................................................................................. 19 2014 Inspection Program Results ............................................................................................................... 19 Program Compliance................................................................................................................................... 21 2015 Anticipated Program Improvements ................................................................................................. 21 Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 22 Appendices.................................................................................................................................................. 25 2014 Final Report ‐ LGPC Boat Inspection Program Page 1 Acknowledgements The Lake George Park Commission would like to thank the dozens of individuals, organizations, municipalities and agencies that have helped shape this aquatic invasive species prevention program. Without their support, this program would not have been realized. While these individuals are too numerous to list in their entirety, we would like to make special mention of the following for their tireless efforts on behalf of this program to protect Lake George. Andrew Cuomo, NYS Governor Betty Little, NYS Senator Dan Stec, NYS Assemblyman Joe Martens, Commissioner, NYS DEC Kevin Geraghty, Chairman, Warren County Board of Supervisors Robert Blais, Mayor, Village of Lake George Ron Conover, Supervisor, Town of Bolton Dennis Dickinson, Supervisor, Town of Lake George John Strough, Supervisor, Town of Queensbury Edna Frasier, Supervisor, Town of Hague John LaPointe, Supervisor, Town of Putnam Walt Lender, Executive Director, Lake George Association Eric Siy, Executive Director, Fund for Lake George Chris Navitsky, Lake George Waterkeeper Steve Ramant, Town of Hague Councilman This new Lake George protection program was shepherded through as a result of the considerable guidance and leadership of Bruce Young, LGPC Chairman Special note must be made to the significant volunteer hours provided by Commission’s Aquatic Invasive Species Committee, who detailed the importance of this issue and developed the framework for the final AIS Prevention Program John Pettica, LGPC Commissioner, AIS Committee Chairman Joe Stanek, LGPC Commissioner Dean Cook, LGPC Commissioner For use of their Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Watercraft Inspection Handbook and training materials Colorado Department of Natural Resources This program was developed with funding provided by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. 2014 Final Report ‐ LGPC Boat Inspection Program Page 2 Executive Summary Aquatic invasive species are a growing threat to Lake George and indeed all waters of New York State and the U.S. These non‐native species have been shown to be far more aggressive than native species, often out‐competing the local species and ultimately causing significant environmental, recreational and even economic impacts to waterbodies. Prevention of the introduction of these species into waterbodies has been shown to be far more cost‐effective than management or eradication once introduced. Lake George currently has five known aquatic invasive species. The goal of the Commission’s pilot regulatory program described in this report is to prevent, to the best of our ability, any new introductions of aquatic invasive species into Lake George. The Commission's new regulations 6 NYCRR Subpart 646‐9 entitled the “Prohibition of Aquatic Invasive Species Introduction” which became effective on May 15th, 2014, prohibit the human‐induced introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to Lake George. Recognizing trailered boats as the primary vector for aquatic invasive species transport regionally, these regulations require the inspection of all trailered boats prior to entrance into Lake George, as well as the registration and security of all launches on Lake George. These regulations are effective for a two‐year pilot effort, and expire on December 31, 2015. During that time, these regulations and the associated program will be evaluated for effectiveness and possible long‐term implementation. Six inspection stations were created regionally around Lake George, at locations convenient to boaters prior to launch into the lake. These stations were operated generally from dawn until dusk, in an effort to achieve maximum convenience to boaters. The 2014 program operated, from May 15th 2014 to December 1, 2014. In that time, the Commission processed 20,229 boaters through the inspection stations. Of that number, 10,351 received full entrance inspections, 5,960 received inspections while exiting Lake George at the inspection sites, and 3,918 boats arrived at the inspection stations with launches already having received an inspection seal. Approximately 12 percent of boats receiving an inspection did not meet the “clean, drained, and dry” standard of the program, and required decontamination prior to launch into Lake George. There was no cost to the boater for either the inspection process or decontamination, if required, thanks to funding received from NYS and local entities which covered the entire operating cost of the program for 2014. This program is the direct result of a unique state and local partnership that has united environmental and economic minded citizens alike, and has gained widespread acclaim both locally and afar. This pilot regulatory program is being funded without any new taxes, fees, or NYS general fund moneys. Half of the funding for this St te run program has been put forth by the State Environmental Protection Fund with support from the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the other half has been provided by a consortium of local parties including Warren County, local municipalities and nonprofit lake‐based organizations including the Fund for Lake George and