Schroon Lake Watershed Program:
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program
The Schroon Lake AIS Program continues through the
partnership including the Towns of Chester, Horicon and
Schroon, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation
District, East Shore Schroon Lake Association and the
Schroon Lake Association. The goal of this program is to
reduce the amount of AIS found in Schroon Lake.
Currently, two species are of concern—Eurasian
Watermilfoil and Curleyleaf Pondweed. Aquatic
Invasive Management LLC (AIM) harvested
approximately 715 pounds in 4 weeks of hand harvesting. The volume harvested has shown a
significant downward trend over the past 4 years. This is due not only to the actual harvest, but
the Milfoil Scout Program that ESSLA coordinates. We currently believe that while additional
milfoil patches or plants are found, AIS are at a practical management level. This would not be
the case except for the dedication and cooperation that the communities and associations
have developed.
Water Quality Improvements
The Town of Schroon’s stormwater remediation work in
the downtown area continues with the completion of
two approved stormwater infiltration systems within the
Village of Schroon Lake. Work at the municipal parking
lot on Fairfield Avenue was completed with the
installation of three drywells, the paving of its road side
gutter and turnouts to the drop inlets. This new system
will capture and treat localized stormwater runoff from
both Route 9 and Fairfield Avenue. The drywell system will aid in the reduction of nonpoint
source pollutants and runoff water volumes that use to flow to the lake through the Dock Street
Watershed area. A second drywell system was installed at the east end of Leland Avenue with
the installation and turnout paving for this location was competed during the summer of 2015.
A new draft plan for stormwater treatment at the Schroon Town Hall and parking lot is being
developed at this time and new plans for the expansion of the town hall building will require a
new set of designs to be developed for this location. Design work for the treatment of Dock
Street stormwater runoff continues with the assistance of consulting engineers. A special thanks
goes out to Schroon Supervisor Michael Marnell and the Schroon Lake Water Department’s
Dave Clark and Bill Jenks without whose assistance these projects would not have been
completed in such an efficient manner.
Town of Horicon
This year the District was successful in installing two
drywells at the intersection of Eric, Belle and Church
Streets that outlet to a bioretention structure which has
taken on the appearance of a tiered rain garden for
the maximum amount of stormwater treatment
possible. In the past, stormwater from these areas has
run unmitigated down the roads to the beach. This ha
resulted in continual beach erosion and contributed
thousands of gallons of stormwater to Schroon Lake
with each storm.