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By M. Lisa Monroe
Express News Staff
The Fulton Chain of Lakes Association has been keeping an eye on one of the most important resources (if not the most important resource) in this area, the Fulton Chain, for 41 years. The organization began as a grass roots effort to address a pollution problem with the lakes. Some homeowners along the lakes began to notice that the lakes didn’t look as clean as they had in the past, so they had the water tested. Bacterial levels were so high that the water was not safe to swim in. The group looked to local and state government for help, but none was forthcoming so they attacked the problem on their own. The result of their efforts is that, today, the Fulton Chain of Lakes has some of the cleanest water around.
Today, the FCLA works with towns and villages along the chain to combat invasive species and monitor the lakes. They make sure that the Black River Regulating District has all the information it needs to take recreation into account when deciding on lake levels. They also publish maps and boating regulations and help keep people informed about matters that concern the lakes.
One issue that the FCLA has been keeping close tabs on is the invasion of eurasian watermilfoil. Watermilfoil loves the water in the Adirondacks and once it gets out of control it makes huge mats of vegetation that are not pleasant to swim or boat in. In many places in the Adirondacks, the tab to clean this weed out has been enormous. Member Bill Faro brought the weed to the FCLA’s attention about 10 years ago. Working with the Town of Inlet they were able to get a grant and secure private donations of money and time to start fighting the milfoil in 2005. Since then tons of plants have been removed.
“People should realize that there has been an expenditure of public money but that a good portion was also volunteer and donated,” said FCLA President Don Kelly. “About $1.5 million was spent to combat milfoil on Upper Saranac Lake and we have not had to spend anywhere near that. By getting there early we were able to keep costs way down and keep the problem under control. If we can continue to control this at the upper end of the watershed. we can keep from spending the millions of dollars it would cost if milfoil took hold in the lower lakes,” he said.
This year in the late summer or early fall, the FCLA will help the Adirondack Watershed Institute look for weed beds so that a baseline can be established for the lakes.
Now in its forty-first year, the FCLA is inviting people in the area to join them in keeping the lakes clean and safe. An individual membership in the organization is $10. A family membership is $25. There are also different levels of sponsorship available including a $100 patron sponsorship. If you are interested in becoming “A strong link in the Chain,” contact the FCLA at www.fultonchainoflakes.org.