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AGREEMENTS\Memorandum of Understanding,—Municipalities Bordering Lake George-Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention—6-17-19
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS BORDERING LAKE GEORGE
REGARDING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION
RESOLUTION NO.: ,2019
INTRODUCED BY:
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY:
•
WHEREAS, the municipal governments bordering Lake George , i.e., the Towns of
Queensbury, Bolton, Dresden, Fort Ann, Hague, Lake George, Putnam, Ticonderoga and the
Village of Lake George, wish to enter into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) stating their collective intent to work in good faith to create an effective program to
prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species into the waters of Lake George, and
WHEREAS, a proposed MOU is presented at this meeting,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes the "Memorandum of
Understanding of Municipal Governments Bordering Lake George Regarding Aquatic Invasive
Species Prevention" substantially in the form presented at this meeting, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to
execute such Memorandum of Understanding and any other needed documentation, and take any
other needed actions to effectuate the terms of this Resolution.
Duly adopted this 1711'day of June, 2019, by the following vote:
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT:
•
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OF
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS BORDERING LAKE GEORGE
REGARDING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to describe an
understanding among the municipal governments bordering Lake George regarding the program
to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species in Lake George. This MOU is not a binding
commitment,but is a statement of the intent of the municipalities signing this document to work
in good faith to create an effective program to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive
species in Lake George in recognition of the following:
• Lake George currently is experiencing infestations of five aquatic invasive species,and
aquatic invasive species infestations pose a serious and urgent threat to the ecological
health of Lake George and the economic future of the Lake George region; and,
• Nearly$9 million dollars has been spent to remove and control the five aquatic invasive
species established in Lake George,and the efficacy and cost effectiveness of aquatic
invasive species spread prevention have been found to far exceed eradication and
containment efforts of introduced species.
• The undersigned municipalities each passed resolutions in 2013 supporting the creation
of a new mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program for Lake George in
order to protect the water quality and the public enjoyment of Lake George to the
maximum extent practicable by proactively preventing the introduction of new aquatic
invasive species.
• In 2013, the Lake George Park Commission,with unanimous support from the nine
municipalities around Lake George,voted to put a new regulatory program forward to
require the inspection of all trailered boats prior to launch into Lake George.
• Since 2014, the Towns of Queensbury, Lake George and Bolton and the Village of Lake
George have contributed $150,000 each,for a total of$600,000,to the staffing and
program costs as administered by the Lake George Park Commission.
• Since 2014,Warren County has contributed a total of$600,000 for the staffing and
program costs administered by the Lake George Park Commission.
i
• Since 2014,two lake protection not-for profit organizations have contributed towards the
staffing and program costs administered by the Lake George Park Commission -The
FUND for Lake George ($150,000) and the Lake George Association ($142,000).
• Since 2014, the Towns of Putnam and Hague have invested funds in furtherance of the
effective administration of the Lake George Park Commission mandatory boat inspection
program by staffing the town-owned launches. The Town of Putnam has invested a total
of$102,320 and the Town of Hague has invested a total of$41,390. It should be noted
that the Lake George Association has administered funds totaling$58,000 from their New
York Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Program Grant in addition to the Town's
expenditures to aid the Towns of Putnam and Hague in their efforts.
• Since 2014, the Towns of Putnam and Hague have maintained a public launch in a manner
authorized by the Commission as to prevent trailered vessels not equipped with an intact
VICS (Vessel Inspection Control Seal) from launching into the waters of the Lake George
Park. This has included securing the public launch sites by locking the launch site during
hours without launch operator in attendance or referred to as"after hours operation".
• Since the adoption of E.C.L. 646-9 Prohibition of Aquatic Invasive Species Introduction
Regulation and the implementation of the Boat Inspection Program by the Lake George
Park Commission,there have been no new aquatic invasive species known to have
entered the waters of the Lake George Park. In fact,through the inspection program, a
total of 647 visible aquatic invasive species have been removed from trailered vessels
entering Lake George including species not yet introduced or established.
• New York State currently owns and operates two public launches in the Lake George
basin, Northwest Bay and Million Dollar Beach,where trailered vessels are not permitted
to be launched after hours and the launch is locked and secured. It should be noted that
Northwest Bay is permanently locked to prevent the ability of trailered vessels from being
launched.
NOW,THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY
AGREED that the said Towns,Village and Counties intend to continue their
financial commitment to implement the boat inspection program administered through the
Lake George Park Commission;and it is further
AGREED that the said Towns,Village and Counties intend to continue to secure
public launch sites pursuant to the requirements of E.C.L. 646-9,the regulations adopted and
administered by the Lake George Park Commission to restrict the launching of trailered
vessels to only times when a launch operator is present at the public launch; and it is further
AGREED that the said Towns,Village and Counties recognize the importance of the
State of New York properties and launches for providing public access, but that they also
provide major points of entry for aquatic invasive species introduction; and it is further
AGREED that the said Towns, Village and Counties call upon the State of New York
to partner with the said parties and adopt the same prevention policy for its public launch
sites including securing said public launch sites during hours without launch operators
present, i.e. lock the public launch sites during after hours, which can continue to provide
access for complying users while preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive
species; and it is further
AGREED that this Memorandum of Understanding may be signed in counterparts.
VILLAGE OF LAKE GEORGE
By:
Mayor Date
TOWN OF LAKE GEORGE
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF BOLTON
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF QUEENSBURY
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF HAGUE
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF TICONDEROGA
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF PUTNAM
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF DRESDEN
By:
Town Supervisor Date
TOWN OF FORT ANN
By:
Town Supervisor Date