2010 lgpc marine patrol annual report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I The Mission of the Marine Patrol Introduction, Officer Training & Credentials, Patrol Operation & Priorities II Public Assistance and Education Boater Assists, Public Education, Boater Training, Recovered Property III Law Enforcement and Public Safety Enforcement Summaries, Regattas & Special Details, Log Bay Day IV Resource Protection Water Quality, Vessel Sanitation Inspections, Invasive Species Monitoring V Accidents and Unusual Incidents VI Annual Boat Count VII Acknowledgements 2010 Patrol Roster Contacting the Patrol

ON THE COVER: The Marine Patrol rescues several tourists from a sinking rental boat just south of Dome Island.

I THE MISSION OF THE MARINE PATROL Introduction

Patrolling the waters of Lake George since 1962, the Lake George Park Commission’s Marine Patrol has logged its 49th year of continuous service in 2010. Through the years, the Marine Patrol has built up a solid record of service dedicated to the protection of Lake George and its users.

The primary mission of the Marine Patrol is to promote the safe and enjoyable use of Lake George. The Marine Patrol accomplishes this primarily by protecting and educating the public. They also play a key role in protecting the valuable natural resource that is Lake George. In addition to all that, the Marine Patrol enforces the New York State Navigation Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Lake George Park Commission's Rules and Regulations, and all other laws.

The Lake George Marine Patrol has a very large and diverse area to cover. At 32 miles long, Lake George presents these officers with over 50 square miles of patrol area, including the shoreline and some 245 islands. Lake George exists within many different localities, due in part to its large size and shape. There are three counties (Warren, Washington, and Essex), eight townships (Lake George, Bolton, Hague, Ticonderoga, Putnam, Dresden, Fort Ann, and Queensbury) and one village (Lake George) all of which touch the lake and have a vested interest in it.

The enforcement programs of the Commission are coordinated by its Director of Law Enforcement, a Supervising Environmental Conservation Officer. This position exists through a unique agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and is intended to provide consistent enforcement of the Commission’s regulations throughout the Lake George basin.

Training and Credentials

The Commission’s Marine Patrol Officers have impressive credentials across a wide range of professional disciplines. They come from careers in such areas as law enforcement, education, and recreation management. Many of them come with prior emergency services experience. Officers are recruited to provide the Marine Patrol with a deep and diversified mix of expertise in such fields as supervision, enforcement, first-aid, rescue, firefighting, and vessel operation.

As certified peace officers, all Marine Patrol Officers are required to successfully complete a basic training course approved by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, Bureau of Municipal Police. To supplement this, yearly "in-service" schools are conducted to review subjects of particular interest and importance to our officers.

Patrol Operations and Priorities

The Marine Patrol consists of ten uniformed patrol officers and two experienced sergeants. The Marine Patrol operates seasonally from early May to late October. Full time operations occur from late June through Labor Day with a maximum of eight patrol vessels on duty, both day and night.

Patrols are dispatched through 911 by the Warren County Sheriff's Department. The Marine Patrol also monitors marine channel 16 for direct contact with the boating public. The patrol boats range in length from 19 to 23 feet and are equipped with radios, fire pumps, emergency gasoline, and other necessary equipment. The boats are assigned to patrol within zones to minimize response times to any given section of the lake.

Environmental Conservation Officers Mike Trottier and Steve Stubing were assigned to the Lake George Park Commission starting with the 2008 season. They have been working with the Marine Patrol in the summer and have been patrolling the lake continuously throughout the year via boat and snowmobile. Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) are police officers with statewide authority to enforce all laws. ECOs typically concentrate on enforcing the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (which includes the Commissions rules and regulations). Mike and Steve have done an excellent job supporting

and supplementing the Marine Patrol, both on and off the water. As a result, the general public has received a much higher level of service.

The Patrol began the 2010 season on May 22nd with three patrol vessels operating on weekends. Beginning on June 26th, the Marine Patrol operated at full strength, seven days a week until Labor Day. Seven patrol vessels were on duty Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. As in past years, a two person night patrol unit operated on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. During the week, there was an average of four patrol vessels on the lake. After Labor Day, the Marine Patrol reverted back to three vessels operating on weekends until Columbus Day.

The end result of a contractor’s sloppy paint job. ECO Steve Stubing investigated this incident and ticketed the responsible

parties. They were fined $1000 by the court.

The Marine Patrol's priorities are as follows:

Public Assistance and Education Assistance to Stranded Boaters Vessel Safety Inspections Dissemination of Maps and Publications NYS Safe Boating Course Training First Aid and Rescue Fire Suppression Removal of Hazards Lost/Stolen Property Recovery

Law Enforcement and Public Safety

NYS Navigation Law LGPC Rules and Regulations LGPC and NYS Vessel Registration Vessel Noise and Speed Laws BWI and Other Unsafe Operations Restricted Use Zone Monitoring Special Security and Regatta Details Regulated Recreational Activity Monitoring Vessel Accident Investigation Assistance to Other Agencies

Resource Protection

Water Quality Monitoring (Lake and Tributaries) Vessel Sanitation Checks Invasive Species Reporting Protection of Fish, Wildlife and State Lands

In 2010, a total of 4393 officer hours were logged including all patrol and non-patrol hours. During this period, the officers documented 1716 contacts with the public. These contacts included, 372 assists to boaters, 130 complaints, 17 vessel noise tests, 10 accident investigations, 405 cruiser sanitary inspections, and 1290 warnings for minor violations. A total of 240 appearance tickets were issued. The Marine Patrol keeps careful track of all data related to its daily activities. These statistics help identify areas of special concern and assist in determining future patrol needs

II PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION Boater Assists The Commission places a high priority on responding to the needs of the boating community with education, high visibility and availability. As stated earlier, the primary mission of the Marine Patrol is to promote the safe and enjoyable use of the lake. The Marine Patrol provides assistance to the boating public in a variety of ways. These include, but are not limited to; the dissemination of maps, decals and other Commission publications, providing courtesy gas and emergency towing, initiating first aid and rescue, performing vessel and forest fire suppression, removing navigational hazards, recovering lost or stolen property and much more. The Marine Patrol monitors marine channel 16 for direct contact with the boating public. The patrol boats are equipped with first aid equipment, police radios, fire pumps, emergency gasoline, and other necessary equipment. The boats are assigned to patrol within zones to minimize response times to any given section of the lake. These boats actively patrol all areas of the lake. They are highly visible and accessible to the public. It is important to remember that many hours of assistance and response do not get captured in any statistical analysis of the patrol’s activity, yet they have a profound effect on public safety, public perception, cooperation, and overall protection of our lake.

Education Public education will always be a priority for the Commission. Vessel informational decals, PWC regulation decals, Lake George Boaters Maps, posters and regulation information are distributed to the boating public by the Marine Patrol and the Commission’s participating vendors. Officers continue to dispense the Commission’s full color, laminated informational posters which were designed to be displayed at public locations across the lake basin. They are intended to inform lake users as to the laws, rules and regulations, common navigational aids, necessary vessel equipment and operational information which apply on Lake George. Copies of the posters can be obtained from any Marine Patrol Officer or by contacting the Commission office.

New York State Safe Boating Course Instruction

The Lake George Park Commission continues to maintain its leading role in offering the New York State Safe Boating Course free of charge to lake users. Any youth between the ages of 10 and 18 who wishes to operate a vessel (not a PWC) without an adult present must first earn this “boater safety certificate.” As of 2004 all operators of personal watercraft (PWC) must complete this course in order to legally operate a PWC in New York. The New York State Safe Boating Course now trains youths and adults with a minimum of eight hours of classroom training. Subjects covered include: safe operation, seamanship, the rules of the road, required equipment, buoy identification, accidents and special activities. This year, classes were scheduled and published on the Commission’s website, as well as on the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website. Six free classes were held this year, spread throughout the early

Every passenger holds up a lifejacket during a routine safety check by the patrol.

summer. Thanks to their dedicated efforts, the Marine Patrol succeeded in educating and training about 100 lake users this season. Demand continues to increase for this training, meaning an increasing demand on Commission resources.

Recovered Property

The Marine Patrol recovered lost and/or stolen property valued at more than $45,000 during the 2010 season. Every year an assortment of missing vessels, canoes, PWC’s, etc. are routinely located by the patrol. In addition, a wide variety of smaller items such as knee boards, waterskis, lifejackets, tubes, etc., are often recovered by the patrol. Any lake user who loses an item on or around the lake should check with the Marine Patrol to see if the item has been found or turned in.

III LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY

The Marine Patrol enforces the New York State Navigation Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Lake George Park Commission's rules and regulations, and all other laws on and around Lake George. In addition to this, the Marine Patrol provides a crucial public safety function by acting as security at all the lake’s official and unofficial events. BWI Enforcement People should take BWI just as seriously as they do DWI, if not more so, since alcohol is a major contributor to boating accidents and fatalities. A first conviction for BWI is a misdemeanor with hefty fines and possible jail time. A second conviction increases BWI to felony status. Alcohol and drugs cause poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times. Most people have less experience operating a boat than a vehicle, which makes drinking even more dangerous on

An intoxicated operator is taken off the lake.

the water. Another important factor is the effect the sun has on a person’s body. On the water, the sun feels less intense than it actually is, and drinking a cold alcoholic beverage makes you feel like you’re hydrating your body, even though you’re not. This means you can end up being surprised by how high your alcohol concentration is after a day of drinking out in the sun on the lake. The Marine Patrol is vigilant in enforcing New York’s BWI laws and keeping the lake safe for all its users. Every officer has gone through the NYS Impaired Boaters Recognition Course and is certified in field sobriety testing. They take every opportunity to educate operators about the effects of alcohol and drugs on vessel operation. Sobriety checkpoints, night patrols and extra patrols at special events have all had a positive deterrent effect on boating while intoxicated on Lake George. Vessel Exhaust Noise Enforcement The Marine Patrol continues to fairly and actively enforce the NYS Navigation Law’s statewide standards for vessel exhaust noise. All Marine Patrol Officers are trained and certified in vessel exhaust noise measurement. Over the past few years, there has been a significant drop in vessel noise violations on Lake George. This seems to indicate that the Marine Patrol has done a very good job in educating the public and “getting the word out” that extremely loud boats will not be tolerated on Lake George. It remains to be seen if this trend will continue. Vessel exhaust noise enforcement involves a significant commitment of time and effort by our patrol and will continue to be monitored closely in future seasons. Vessel Speed Enforcement In 1990, the Commission established a maximum daytime speed limit of 45 mph and a maximum nighttime speed limit of 25 mph on Lake George. In addition, there are designated “no wake” zones with a 5 mph maximum in numerous areas around the lake. When the Commission enacted these speed regulations, many boats could not exceed 45 mph. In recent years, however, faster boats have become more common and excessive speed has become a greater concern. Naturally, lake conditions will always dictate safe and prudent

operat ing speeds. The max imum l im i t may be completely inappropriate at t im e s , e s p e c i a l l y u n d e r conditions such as heavy congestion, rough seas, fog, etc. Operation at a speed not reasonable for lake conditions is considered Reckless Operation under NYS Navigation Law, regardless of speed limits. Marine Patrol Officers are speed radar certified and equipped with sophisticated radar units. There has been a steady increase in speed related violations over the past several years. Speed enforcement details will continue to be conducted every season to help curb speed violations and unsafe operation.

Personal Watercraft (PWC) Enforcement The Lake George Park Commission administers Special Navigation Regulations which pertain to the operation of Personal Water Crafts on Lake George. They apply only on Lake George and are above and beyond the requirements of the NYS Navigation Law. These regulations set operational requirements such as limiting the hours of operation of PWCs to between 8am and 7pm and prohibiting the operation of PWCs at speeds in excess of 5 mph within 500 feet of shore. The presence of these additional regulations on Lake George requires constant education and enforcement due to the ever-changing lake user population. PWC’s were approximately 5% of the total vessels on the lake in 2010. Out of a total of 240 tickets issued by the Patrol, 85 tickets were issued for offenses which involved a PWC. Tickets written for operating a PWC without a boater’s safety certificate are responsible for about half of these tickets. Regattas and Special Details A Regatta is defined in the law as any “organized water event of limited duration which is conducted according to a pre-arranged schedule, in which general

Sgt. VanAnden checks a vessel’s speed using a portable radar unit.

public interest is manifested.” Any organization or individual wishing to conduct an organized activity on any of the navigable waters of the state must apply for a regatta permit. The Department of Environmental Conservation handles this function within the Adirondack Park, which includes Lake George. The Marine Patrol provided security and assistance at a wide variety of regattas and other special events in 2010. The following is a list of the more significant ones.

The IROW Milford D. Lester Memorial Cup Rowing Race held on May 22nd. The Queens Great Boat Race held on May 22nd. The Lake George Donzi Classic Club Spring Dust Off held on June 19th. The New England Wakeboard Tour held on July 11th. The Lake George Antique Classic Boat Show held on August 21st. The Lake George Vintage Race Boat Regatta held on September 25th. As in previous years, the Marine Patrol provided security and public safety at the July 4th fireworks shows in both Bolton Landing and Lake George Village. Regular patrols were also provided at the weekly fireworks show held in Lake George Village every Thursday night.

Log Bay Day Once again the Marine Patrol performed a vital public safety function at “Log Bay Day,” held on July 26th. This event originated as an unsanctioned public amusement provided by members of the local entertainment scene. It has historically resulted in hundreds of boats tying up in Shelving Rock Bay to listen to a live band playing from a floating barge. In 2005 the known sponsors and participants in this event were advised by both the Commission and the DEC that permits were required for this type of event and that those requirements would be enforced. Since that time, Log Bay Day has become a “word of mouth” event with no known organizers. One worrisome development is the existence of a Facebook website for Log Bay Day. This could have a negative impact on future events, as it allows for easy coordination and networking among young people. Time will tell if this is the case.

T h e c o m b i n e d w a t e r b o r n e enforcement detai l cons is ted o f t he Commission’s Marine Patrol, along with NYS E n v i r o n m e n t a l Conservation Police, NYS Troopers, and Warren County Sheriff’s Officers. A total of 9 l a w e n f o r c e m e n t vessels and 4 PWCs were utilized to provide public safety and law enforcement at the event. This year’s Log Bay Day kept our officers very busy and seemed very close to last year in overall activity. There were no major accidents this year and only one serious injury, however there were several more fights noted than in 2009 and 2008. This is a worrisome trend. An estimated 350 to 400 boats were in attendance with probably 900 to 1100 attendees at the height of the event, a slight increase from 2009 and 2008. Here is a summary of Marine Patrol arrests and other significant activities:

ARRESTS INCIDENTS BWI/BWAI 4 First Aid assists 7 Disorderly Conduct 9 Fights broken up 21 Resisting Arrest 2 Stranded vessel assists 3 Underage drinking 1 Rescues 4 Littering, water quality 3 Accidents reported 0 No registration/User Fee 4 Warnings issued 39

Sgt. DeLappa, Lt. Crain and ECO LaPoint provide first aid for an unconscious female at Log Bay Day. Alcohol poisoning was determined to be the cause.

PUBLIC Courtesy Gas 13

ASSISTANCE Vessel Tows 49

Other Stranded Boaters 61

First Aid 11

Ambulance/Rescue Called 9

Reported Drowning 3

Searches 5

Fires 2

Boater Assists 372

Assists to Outside Agencies 59

LAW ARRESTS/CITATIONS - TOTAL 240

ENFORCEMENT Arrests/Citations – Navigation Law 110

Arrests/Citations – All Other Laws 129

PWC Citations 85

BWI Arrests (includes TOTs) 9

Vessel Noise Citations 2

Vessel Noise Tests 17

Complaints Addressed 130

Accidents Investigated 10

Accident Fatalities (WCSD) 1

Regattas Patrolled 32

Warnings Issued 1290

SANITARY On Water 307

INSPECTIONS At Launch 23

At Marina 75

TOTAL 405

VESSEL CONTACTS Includes All Other Contacts 1716

RECOVERED Stolen/Lost Vessel 4

PROPERTY Stolen/Lost Motor 0

Stolen/Lost Other 5

Property Recovered 9

Property $ Value $45,000

2010 MARINE PATROL OFFICER ACTIVITY STATISTICS

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Registration &

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22%

Lifejacket Violations

11%

Safe Operation

Violations

13%

Vessel Speed

Violations

11%

Alcohol Related

Violations

7%

Boaters Safety

Certificate Violations

16%

Environmental

Conservation

Violations

12%

All Other

Violations

8%

2010 VIOLATIONS BY TYPE

IV RESOURCE PROTECTION Water Quality and Other Conservation Concerns Lake George is classified as a Class AA Special body of water under NYS Environmental Conservation Law. This is the highest classification standard given and Lake George is the only water body in the state to be listed as such. The lake is still used as drinking water by many of its local residents. It is well known as one of the cleanest lakes in the country and the Marine Patrol works hand-in-hand with the DEC to enforce the many laws which keep it that way. Lake George is also renowned for its wonderful sport fishing opportunities. Trout, Salmon, Bass, Pike and other popular sport fish are plentiful and anglers come here from all over the country to try their luck. The Marine Patrol works closely with the Environmental Conservation Police enforcing the laws that pertain to recreational fishing. Lake George is also a very popular destination for campers and picnickers. New York State owns over 200 of the islands that exist on the lake and allows camping and/or picnicking on most of them. In addition, the state owns a large portion of the land on the lake’s east side, which is classified as forest preserve. The Marine Patrol remains vigilant in watching out for fire hazards, illegal tree cutting, littering, and other disturbances that might impact the natural resources of Lake George both on the islands and the lake shore. Vessel Sanitary Inspections The Commission’s regulations prohibit the launching and operating of any vessel on Lake George which is not permanently sealed to prevent the discharge of wastewater into the lake. This regulation is unique to Lake George and many boaters that come here for the first time are unaware of this requirement. The Marine Patrol makes every effort to educate the public about this very important regulation. Every year the Marine Patrol performs hundreds

of voluntary sanitary inspections on the lake and informs boaters on how best to comply with this regulation. Vessels in compliance with the law are given a complimentary decal to display on their vessel. These decals have become very popular with the boating public and many boaters actively seek out the Marine Patrol in order to have an inspection done and obtain one. Invasive Species Monitoring The Marine Patrol continues to disseminate information to the boating public on invasive species. All officers are supplied with information kits which contain useful, easy to understand information on the precautions every boater should take to prevent the spread of invasive species. Commission regulations prohibit the launching vessels unless both the vessel and trailer are looked over and all traces of marine life removed. As always, the Marine Patrol is on the lookout for situations which involve the potential for spreading invasive species.

V ACCIDENTS AND UNUSUAL INCIDENTS

The Marine Patrol investigated a total of 10 vessel accidents this season and a wide variety of calls for assistance. These are some of the more unusual incidents. A Courageous Effort On May 31st,Marine Patrol Sergeant Cindy DeLappa was on routine patrol when she heard a distress call broadcast over the Warren County EMS channel. The dispatcher was calling for any available patrol vessel to check for an overturned canoe in the area of the Sun Castle Resort in the Town of Lake George. Sgt. DeLappa was there in less than 10 minutes and was the first officer to arrive on the scene. She could see the overturned canoe about 100 yards from shore. One of the occupants of the canoe had made it to shore and was yelling to Sgt. DeLappa to save his friend, who had not surfaced. Apparently neither man could swim very well. Sgt. DeLappa could see the man lying motionless on the bottom in approximately 12’-15’ of water. With little regard for her own personal safety, Sgt. DeLappa dove into the water and brought the man up to the

surface. For several minutes, Sgt. DeLappa used her water rescue skills to keep herself afloat and the victim’s head above water until help arrived. When the North Queensbury Fire Department and Warren County Sheriff’s vessels arrived, they assisted Sgt. DeLappa with getting the victim on her vessel. CPR was performed, but unfortunately the victim could not be revived. Nevertheless, Sgt. DeLappa’s brave and decisive action gave the victim a fighting chance. Sgt. DeLappa was awarded the Commission’s Medal of Honor for her courageous actions while attempting to save a man’s life with full knowledge of the life threatening risk involved. Operation Dry Water – Part 1&2 On June 26th, the Marine Patrol, along with ECO Stubing and Trottier, participated in a statewide detail to address the issue of b o a t i n g w h i l e intoxicated. Dubbed Operation Dry Water, this detail was done across the state by the NY State Police and other agencies. The Marine Patrol and Encon Police worked from 4pm until midnight on Lake George, primarily in the Lake George Village area. Although it turned out to be a damp evening with some scattered showers, the officers still managed to check 38 vessels. In all, 2 BWI arrests were made, 11 tickets were written, and 27 warnings were issued for minor violations.

On August 14th, the ECOs and the Marine Patrol performed a BWI detail on their own, this time in the Ticonderoga area. Many people were surprised to see this level of enforcement so far north on the lake and the Marine Patrol received many positive compliments. One BWI arrest was made and 10 tickets were issued for various other violations. A total of 60 vessels were checked and 30 warnings were issued for minor offenses.

The Marine Patrol checks a vessel at night during Operation Dry Water

Dangerously Overloaded Vessel On June 27th, Sgt. VanAnden and ECO LaPoint responded to a 911 call about a sinking boat out on the lake. When they arrived, they found that the boat was obviously overloaded, which caused it to take on water over the sides. There was also a large sheen of gas and oil on the lake surface. After successfully rescuing all 15 passengers, the boat operator was interviewed and DEC Spills Response was called. After noting several gross violations of Navigation Law, the operator was ticketed for reckless operation. The petroleum spill was taken care of by the DEC Spills Team.

Bathtub Dumpers Get Caught

In early July, ECO Steve Stubing received a tip that an old clawfoot bathtub had been dumped in Lake George near Turtle Island. The incident, which occurred just after dark, was witnessed by a DEC Park Ranger. As the ranger watched from a distance, three men dumped the tub overboard in about 20 feet of water and then went back to their camp. The next day, ECO Stubing went to the camp and saw that renovations were being done but nobody was home. For the next several days, the Marine Patrol kept an eye on the camp. At the first sign of people, they notified Stubing and gave him a ride to the camp. As they approached, three men came out to the dock looking a bit nervous. ECO Stubing raised his finger to the men and said, “What you did was very stupid.” One of the men immediately put his hands in the air and said, “We’re sorry, we’re sorry!” Stubing ticketed all three men for misdemeanor dumping. The men removed the tub from the lake the next day. They were fined $750 in Bolton Town Court. Parasail Problems Persist On July 3rd, MPO Johns was watching the parasail vessels operated by National Watersports when he saw a boat drive between the tow vessel and the raft. The parasail’s tow line got caught in the boat’s prop and both the parasail customer and an employee on the raft were thrown into the water. MPO Johns got both people out of the water safely and assessed their conditions. They had a few bumps and bruises, but were ok.

The tub, as seen from the surface

A Long Night For Joe Also on July 3rd, MPO Johns received a late night call about a vessel accident that just occurred in Hague. Apparently, someone coming back from the fireworks show had misjudged the location of Scotch Bonnet Island and ran his boat right up on the rocks. MPO Johns got there quickly and assisted Hague EMS. Fortunately there were no serious injuries. MPO Johns filled out the accident report and made sure that the boat was not leaking fuel before finally going home at about 2:00am. Smoke on the Water On July 6th, Sgt. VanAnden was drawn to a fickering light on Speaker Heck Island at about 10pm. When he arrived, he saw that there was a vessel on fire at the docks. It was more smoke than fire, so VanAnden quickly extinguished it. Sgt. Van Anden safely towed the vessel back to the Village of Lake George and sent the 2 adults and 6 children on their way. Rescue and More Rescue On July 11th, MPO Bob Sutphen spotted two men in the water near a capsized canoe just south of Rock Dunder Island. He quickly made his way over and rescued the tired men, who had been treading water for a while. MPO Sutphen righted their canoe and brought the two men back to Huletts Landing with their canoe in tow. On July 24th, Sgt. DeLappa and MPO Andersen were flagged down around dusk by a PWC operator who was not only lost, but sinking. The officers brought him on board their vessel and towed his PWC back to the rental house he was staying at.

Sgt. DeLappa and Lt. Caifa assisted these troubled

individuals

Another Sinking Vessel Rescue On August 2nd, heavy winds were creating quite a bit of chop on the lake. MPO VanNess and MPO Smith responded to a distress call from a vessel that had taken water over the bow and was sinking. The officers were only minutes away and arrived in time to get all 7 passengers, including three children, off the boat safely before it completely sunk. Using their fire pumps, the officers pumped out the boat and towed it back to shore, along with the 7 passengers. Charter Boat Detail was Successful In mid August, the Encon Police and Marine Patrol set out to check on the many commercial fishing charter boats that operate on Lake George. Most of these vessels haven’t been checked in many years and the results were an eye opener. Out of the 10 charter vessels checks, 5 had violations, including two that were operating without a DEC Guides License and one that failed to make sure their customers had fishing licenses. It took the officers about 5 days to track down all 10 vessels, which represent most, but not all of the commercial fishing boats on the lake. In total, 7 tickets and 8 warnings were issued. Help is on the Way On August 14th, MPO Neeley was flagged down by a vessel containing an injured 7 year old child in Dunham’s Bay. When he arrived at the family vessel, he found the child in extreme pain with a 4 inch rusty nail through the right foot. MPO Neeley called for an ambulance and performed first aid on the child. He then escorted the vessel to shore, where he kept the boy calm and distracted from his injury until the ambulance arrived.

Marine Patrol Officers and Environmental Conservation

Officers pump out a sunken vessel. Fortunately, no gas or oil escaped

into the lake.

Tree Injures Camper On August 22nd, severe thunderstorms passed through Lake George and Long Island was especially hard hit. First, MPO Mitchell responded to a report of two sailboats up on the rocks near the island. After handling that issue, he responded to a report of an injured camper on site #6 who was struck by a falling tree. Upon arrival, he found the man with an injured right arm and ribs. MPO Mitchell provided basic first aid and transported the man and his family to Gilchrist Marina, where an ambulance was waiting. Concerned for the safety of all the campers, Sgt. VanAnden and MPO Neeley evacuated the surrounding sites until the storms had passed.

Contaminated Vessel Caught Before Launching On August 27th, Sgt. Van Anden and MPO Johns responded to an invasive species complaint at Norowal Marina. When they arrived, the officers found a vessel that was literally covered in zebra mussels. Under the direction of the patrol officers, the vessel’s owner attempted to remove all the zebra mussels. After about 20 minutes, it became apparent that the vessel was not going to be safe to launch without some risk of contamination to the lake. Sgt. VanAnden and MPO Johns sent the man away, but gave him information on where he could go to rent a boat so he could still enjoy his vacation. He gladly trailered the boat back to Saratoga and then came back later in the day to start his vacation. Loud, Fast and Out of Gas On September 18th, MPO Johns was running radar on the lake when he clocked a very loud vessel doing 79 miles per hour. That is almost twice the legal speed limit on Lake George. When Johns finally got the 39 foot, cherry red cigarette boat stopped, the operator was not only unapologetic but downright rude as well. Despite his yelling and generally uncooperative behavior, MPO Johns was professional and courteous while writing the violator his speeding ticket. While he was writing, Sgt VanAnden came over to lend an assist and perform a vessel noise test on the loud boat. Unfortunately, the test could not be completed, as the violator’s vessel ran out of gas. He sheepishly accepted a tow back to his dock.

Close Call at Calves Pen On September 24th, MPO Neeley and MPO Paccione responded to a man overboard distress call near the popular diving spot known as the Calves Pen. When the officers arrived, they found a father and his two young daughters treading water. Apparently, the two girls had left the vessel and swam over to the Calves Pen to dive from the rocks. On their way back to the vessel, they grew tired and one girl appeared to be in trouble. Seeing this, her father jumped in the water and tried to help her, however he made three mistakes: 1) he couldn’t swim very well, 2) he had no lifejacket with him, and 3) he didn’t take into account that the boat would drift away with nobody left on board to operate it. As he swam to his daughters, he was quickly overcome by fatigue and started to slowly drown. MPO Neeley and MPO Paccione arrived just in time and assisted several onlookers with getting all three victims out of the water. Sgt. DeLappa just barely saved the drifting vessel from ending up on the rocks near shore. The young girls were ok, but the father was only semi-coherent and extremely exhausted. MPO Neeley and MPO Paccione kept him stable and transported him to Pilot Knob Marina, where the rescue squad was waiting. There is no doubt that a tragedy was averted by everyone’s quick actions.

MPOs Neeley and Paccione to the rescue

VI 2010 ANNUAL BOAT COUNT

Every year the Marine Patrol conducts a very labor intensive count of the number of vessels on and around the lake. This “annual boat count” attempts to capture and depict general trends in vessel numbers for the current year and compare them to previous years. The annual boat count is always taken during the month of August. Although the Marine Patrol endeavors to conduct the count at the same time, on the same kind of day and in the same manner each year, this count should not be mistaken for an absolute census of the number of boats present on the lake. Instead, the boat count should be seen as a general indicator of the trends in lake usage.

Year Inboards & I/O's Outboards Sailboats Rowboats/Canoes PWCs Airplanes Totals

2010 4,991 1,394 751 2,791 542 2 10,471

2009 5,149 1,147 722 2,751 444 1 10,214

2008 5,015 1,413 676 2,930 460 1 10,495

2007 5,010 1,346 895 2,902 501 0 10,654

2006 5,163 1,400 814 2,798 565 1 10,741

2005 5,291 1,402 881 2,751 587 1 10,913

2004 5,003 1,621 893 2,426 573 1 10,517

2003 5,372 1,634 1,050 2,792 668 1 11,517

2002 5,442 1,833 1,095 2,317 770 0 11,457

2001 5,381 1,680 1,172 2,685 807 1 11,726

Annual Boat Count — Ten Year Trend

Inboards& I/O’s Outboards Sailboats Rowboats/

Canoes PWC'

s Air-

planes TOTALS

North of Sabbath Day Pt. to Ticonderoga Bridge 481 206 182 590 77 0 1536

Ticonderoga Bridge East Shore to Bluff Head 305 143 77 298 49 0 872

North of Veteran's Beach to Montcalm Point 280 72 30 190 36 1 609

Bluff Head East Shore to 14 Mile Island 192 78 45 112 8 0 435

North of Montcalm Point to Sabbath Day Point 53 25 8 37 12 0 135

The Narrows 49 22 3 22 6 0 102

Mother Bunch Islands 11 6 3 3 4 0 27

14 Mile Channel to Harris Bay Yacht Club 766 141 121 540 72 1 1641

Harris Bay Yacht Club to Million Dollar Beach 468 74 54 317 58 0 971

Million Dollar Beach to Fish Point 823 185 86 476 132 0 1702

North of Fish Point to Veteran’s Beach 305 81 29 136 21 0 572

Sagamore Docks (Green Island) 55 30 3 24 2 0 114

Long Island, Speaker Heck & Diamond Island 24 8 2 4 0 0 38

Marinas 1179 323 108 42 65 0 1717

TOTALS 4991 1394 751 2791 542 2 10471

2010 ANNUAL BOAT COUNT BY LOCATION

VII ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The support given by the Department of Environmental Conservation is critical in enabling the Marine Patrol to function. By providing the Commission with a Supervising Environmental Conservation Officer to run the enforcement program and two Environmental Conservation Officers dedicated to patrolling the Lake George Park, they ensure that the Marine Patrol functions as well as, if not better than, any other law enforcement unit. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement also provides additional support for special details and larger events such as Log Bay Day. The Department of Environmental Conservation's staff at the Green Island Maintenance Facility does an excellent job servicing and maintaining all the Marine Patrol vessels every year. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has always provided the Marine Patrol with valuable training opportunities. The New York State Troopers and Warren County Sheriff Deputies work closely with the Marine Patrol all summer and provide critical support.

Enough can’t be said about the professionalism and dedication of Lake George Park Commission’s Marine Patrol Officers. The Marine Patrol has been charged with a very great responsibility. They provide assistance, education and quality enforcement to all of the lake’s visitors. This is a responsibility that these exceptional men and women take very seriously, and it shows. Year after year, positive comments regarding the Marine Patrol are both common and well deserved. They are the most visible ambassadors of the Lake George Park Commission are directly responsible for the continued success of the Marine Patrol program. The Marine Patrol enjoys a high percentage of returning officers from season to season. This veteran crew becomes a greater asset each season with the compounded experience and training gained each year.

2010 LAKE GEORGE PARK COMMISSION

MARINE PATROL ROSTER

TOP ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Officer Glenn Mitchell (3rd year) Lieutenant Tom Caifa (3rd year) Officer Joe Johns (10th year) Officer Angelo Paccione (3rd year) Sergeant Ray VanAnden (6th year) Officer Bill VanNess (9th year) Officer Bob Sutphen (7th year) Officer Dayton Dedrick (7th year) Officer Francis Neeley (6th year) Officer Frank Fontana (11th year) Officer Scott Andersen (18th year) Sergeant Cindy DeLappa (20th year) Officer Paul Smith (10th year)

Lake George Park Commission 75 Fort George Road, PO Box 749

Lake George, New York 12845 Phone: 518-668-9347

Fax: 518-668-5001 www.lgpc.state.ny.us

TO CONTACT THE MARINE PATROL EMERGENCIES MARINE RADIO CHANNEL 16 Request “Marine Patrol” LG MARINE PATROL DISPATCH 743-2500 or 911 (Warren County Sheriffs Dept) NYS ENCON POLICE DISPATCH 877-457-5680 (toll free, 24 hr dispatch) NON EMERGENCIES LG MARINE PATROL HEADQUARTERS 668-9347 (Monday – Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm) OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS TO REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES 800-TIPP DEC LAKE GEORGE CAMPGROUND INFORMATION 800-456-CAMP NYSDEC – Warrensburg Office 623-1200

2010 lgpc marine patrol annual report

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