LAKE LUZERNE TOWN BOARD SALUTES LAKE ASSOCIATION FOR SEASONAL ’24 WATER STUDY RESEARCH
Supervisor Gene Merlino, joined by Deputy Supervisor Jim Niles and Council Members Annie McMahon and Dane Morton of the Lake Luzerne Town Board, paid tribute last Monday night to the leadership of the Lake Luzerne Association for their fourth year of their participation in the Citizen Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) sponsored by the NYS Federation of Lakes (NYSFOLA) and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Members of the association collect water samples from June through September. Samples are analyzed to determine the levels of pH, phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll and ammonia. The ongoing monitoring helps to assure water quality. In coordination with the New York State Federation of Lakes, Lake Luzerne residents Mike Schaffer and Jane Oppenlander led the effort to conduct 14 water sampling sessions from June thru September. The all-volunteer local chapter of CSLAP is responsible for collecting bi-weekly water quality from key positions in the watershed.
This season, CSLAP Lake Luzerne Coordinators Schaffer and Oppenlander organized a partnership with Science Classes from the Hadley-Luzerne High School, hosting students who learned about the water study itself and participated in the collection, water surveys and data management. HLHS Principal Daniel Hamm expressed great appreciation to the local initiative, noting “The Hadley-Lake Luzerne Community is indeed fortunate to have volunteers step up and make a difference, working to not just assure our lake water quality, but to bring in the next generation of local leaders to care for our environment and the entire watershed”. All volunteers were given shirts saying “Lake Luzerne Scientist” from the local CSLAP group.