November 21, 2024
Updates

Meeting Minutes June 8, 2024

- - Admin

KLCA Meeting
Kasoag Lake Tavern & Grill
June 8, 2024
10:00 AM

 

DISCUSSION

Called to order at 10:08am

  • Thank you to Deb Myles & Jay Bergin
  • Work party, date TBD
    • Remove fallen trees
    • Typically meet at the Tavern around 8-9am, ~3 hours of work via pontoon boat
    • Need volunteers to sign up
  • Email is a member-only benefit to stay in the loop on the KLCA 
    • Important for members to provide an updated email address to KLCA membership
  • Secretary’s Report
    • Questions
      • Gordon Hyatt: Will Ezra be gathering info from residents ahead of study?
        • Part of study agreement – results of study to be shared with KLCA 
      • Will the sonar pick up stumps?
        • It will be picked up but will it be marked on the map?
      • Will the sonar provide for a map?
        • Yes
      • Will the map be available on the website and/or available to print?
        • Mike said yes
    • Motion to approve: Harry T, second Denise H
  • Treasurer’s Report
    • Mike clarifying some noted confusion on bank accounts; two accounts: General Fund (membership, fundraising) and Lake District account (tax money collected; used only for lake treatment and associated costs; KLCA owns account, Town of Williamstown has oversight of account)
      General Operating Account – 
    • May 10 Balance: $10,408.84
    • Proceeds:
      • Membership dues: $550
      • 50/50: $55
      • Merch Sales: $60
      • Total: $665
    • Disbursements:
      • Merch costs & CC fees: $19.06
    • June 7 Balance: $11,054.78

      Restricted Funds (Lake District)

    • Proceeds:
      • Distributed on March 8
      • $20,000
      • Account setup at Community Bank
    • Disbursements:
      • Purchased checks: $14.45
      • Lake Study deposit (20%): $3,380
      • Total: $3,394.45
    • June 7 Balance: $16,605.55
    • Motion to approve: Gary, Second: Ed Googin
  • Status of Herbicide Treatment
    • Mike offered printed details for anyone wishing to review at the meeting
    • Permit approved; A-Tip Control to perform treatment
    • $15,000 cost, paid $500 deposit
      • Monies come out of Lake District (restricted) funds
    • Treatment date: June 19
    • Yellow signs posted at time of treatment at lake access points, bulletin boards, dam
    • Gordon H – Is there a map of the lake that highlights treatment locations? 
    • Ed M – How far down do we send letters to properties down Fish Creek?
      • Down to Oneida Lake; sent in March
  • Invasive Species Grant – Lake Study
    • Contract signed with ADK Research, Owner: Ezra Schwartzburg
    • Study date: June 17
    • Cost – $16,900; paid $3,380 from LD Fund
      • Balance – $13,520, due at project completion, scheduled for EOY 2024
      • Grant covers $12,000, balance comes from LD Funds
      • Reason for study:
        • Number of years since last study done
        • Helps to understand what’s going on with/in lake
        • How we can ensure effective treatments
        • Provides access to future grant money
    • Govt system: SFS
      • Govt grant money to come from this, either electronically or paper check
        • Expect this by EOY 2024
        • Money in LD account to cover expenses until grant money arrives
    • Questions
      • Gordon H: Can we get a small group together to meet with ADK Research ahead of study?
      • Steve: How much of a chemical study will they be doing? Will they be testing for chromium? Any other chemicals included in study?
      • What is chromium and what is its effect?
        • Carcinogenic at certain levels
        • Denise: The last time it was studied/measured it was not at a concerning level 
      • Where does it come from?
        • By-product of the mill and steel production/burning
        • Dates back to when the mills were operating on Shingle Mill Creek
  • Culvert Repair
    • No new updates from May meeting
    • Tunnel is corroding and becoming a hazard for both boaters who move through it and drivers transiting over
    • Tentative plans for repair: Sept 2024, after Labor Day week
      • Kelly: State or county will do the work to ensure that it will be done as quickly as possible to reduce disruption for those with property on the other side of the culvert
    • Concern for river otter den on Shingle Mill Creek
      • Should be OK for the time required to do the work
  • Apparel
    • T-shirts available at meetings for $20
    • Apparel and other KLCA merchandise also available online for purchase
  • Events
    • Cornhole Tournament
      • June 29
      • Basket Auction
        • Need donated baskets 
      • Post about sign-ups on Facebook
    • Annual Picnic
      • July 13
      • No Basket auction; bring dish to pass
    • Duck Race
      • August 10
      • Ducks available for purchase
    • Fishing Derby
      • Sept 21
      • Still need a volunteer to run the event; will have to be canceled if we do not have someone to take the lead
  • Other
    • Runaway dock, secured on big island between 1st and 2nd lakes
    • Beaver problems
      • Request nuisance permit from DEC online to set traps
      • Brian Clark offered to do the trapping, property owner still responsible for obtaining permit
    • Harry T: Water temp volunteers
      • Water temp and other variables (depth, weather)
      • Jen Hays to take weekly water temps and post to Facebook
    • Harry T: Monthly photo challenge
      • June: Docks
      • Harry will lead by posting the challenge each month; lake community encouraged to participate by sharing their own photos under his original post each month
  • Cornhole Tournament

 

ROUNDTABLE

  • Green Pond access
    • Mike: DEC opinion is that waterway between Green Pond and Shingle Mill Creek is not navigable; written decision has been requested multiple times and have yet to receive 
    • What is definition of navigable and whether it’s changing; doesn’t seem to match what is used on other similar areas. Why can’t Kasoag residents go to Green Pond but anyone from Green Pond can come to Kasoag Lake?
    • Jay spoke with DEC (Zac Brown) and was previously told Green Pond was accessible; later was told that DEC had to recant the statement, that Green Pond was not navigable
    • Discussion of Salmon River legal case
      • Douglaston Manor won case
    • DEC Zac Brown 315-200-2111
    • Is there a law backing up the DEC’s opinion?
      • Unclear and that’s why we’ve been requesting it in writing
    • Jay: ATV club became member of Barclay’s Hunting Club, could KLCA membership do the same thing? $1000/year
      • Some support was mentioned about this avenue
      • Who would be responsible if KLCA were to become a member and non-KLCA members went onto Green Pond and something happened?
        • Garrett: Another concern for Douglaston Manor
    • Lynne has met with folks from Green Pond, they said they’d be present at meetings
      • Garrett from Douglaston Manor present to answer questions
      • Indicated that DM is a member of KLCA
      • Conversation:
        • Kelly: What is the concern about us boating on Green Pond?
        • Garrett: It’s a private lake, leased to Green Pond Club and they want it to be private…nice thing about the pond is that there’s hardly anyone there….that’s the primary concern.
        • Mike: The concern/disagreement is that the lake is public and the land is private; when it’s said that the lake is private, people take exception to that; Kelly – it’s not land-locked
        • Garrett: Understanding of concerns; not a lawyer, some things said are accurate and some are not. Navigation is rooted in commerce, not necessarily if you can just float somewhere getting from point A to point B; Green Pond and Trout Pond are each a terminus. Not sure if DEC can give anything beyond an opinion. Has heard about the negative experiences of Kasoag Lake boaters on Green Pond from Lynne; has been addressed with the club. Can’t control personal actions of lessees of the property. Approach is educational; participation at KLCA meetings is to be a liaison.
        • Mike: Who can make determination if DEC can’t?
        • Garrett: Court system
        • Adirondack League Club
          • Lawsuit from 20 years ago
          • Boaters went from public waterway to the club’s water; boaters won
        • Garrett: Public right of navigation is based on historic routes of commerce
    • Concerns: Threats have been made towards boaters from Kasoag Lake
    • Jay and Gordon requested that it be brought to Douglaston Manor board that lake residents be allowed to use Green Pond; offered to put sign up at beaver dam to discourage others from continuing beyond; not many people who are actually boating into Green Pond
  • New culvert: Will we still be able to maneuver small boats through? Yes
  • Is Green Pond doing a lake study? No
  • Dave H: Requesting that Green Pond be treated first
  • Gary K requested the association post additional photos of water chestnuts
  • 50/50 Raffle
    • Took in $60
    • Winner: Merrill’s
      • Donated winnings back to KLCA
  • Motion to adjourn: Harry T; second: Jack L at 11:15am

Our Mission

To Promote and Implement Responsible Stewardship and Conservation Efforts at Kasoag Lake.

Our Vision

It is the vision of the Kasoag Lake Conservation Association that the natural beauty and recreational opportunities afforded by Kasoag Lake remain available for the enjoyment of future generations.