March 2017 Newsletter: Spring into Lake Season

As the days get longer and we see some temps get close to 50 degrees our thoughts turn to getting back to our favorite water activities. One important task is cleaning and preparing our equipment for fun on the Lake. On May 25, 2016 New York passed a new Aquatic Invasive Species Law. This applies to all water bodies in New York and requires that all New Yorkers decontaminate all watercraft, boat trailers, docks, floats, rafts, towables, ropes, and flotation devices. The goal in this activity is to kill zebra muscle microscopic larvae (veligers) and prevent the spread of invasive species.

The recommended method of decontamination is:

1. Remove all visible plant or animal matter. Dispose of this at an off site location away from the Lake.
2. Wash the equipment with a pressure washer if available. Temp of the water should be 140 degrees. Be careful not to damage mechanized boat parts with too high a pressure. A 10 second exposure to this temp water will kill zebra muscles. If a pressure washer is not used, you can decontaminate your gear with a 10% Clorox solution.
3. Draining boat bilges, dry wells, and motor cooling systems. Allow these areas to dry.
4. After washing, your equipment must be dried. Exposure to 3-5 days in the sun is the recommended method to dry your gear.

Ballston Lake can only improve if we all join in and follow these recommendations. Thank you for your
support.