Applying Stream Applying Stream Buffer Science to Buffer Science to the Lake George the Lake George

WatershedWatershedLake George Stream Corridor Lake George Stream Corridor Management Stakeholder Management Stakeholder

MeetingMeeting

May 28, 2008May 28, 2008

Unique Considerations in Unique Considerations in the Lake George Watershedthe Lake George Watershed Lake George as a ResourceLake George as a Resource Streams of the Lake George Streams of the Lake George

WatershedWatershed Regulatory EnvironmentRegulatory Environment Growth/ Land UseGrowth/ Land Use Key DecisionsKey Decisions

Lake George is an Lake George is an Exceptional ResourceExceptional Resource

"...without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw..."Thomas Jefferson on Lake George, May 1791

Source: HighhlinerFishing.com

Value of the Lake Value of the Lake to the Communityto the Community

FishingFishing Unfiltered Water Unfiltered Water

SupplySupply TourismTourism Water Clarity/ Water Clarity/

RecreationRecreation“…cool, crystal clear lakes–surrounded by towering mountains and miles upon milesof unspoiled wilderness.”Visitlakegeorge.com

Streams of Lake GeorgeStreams of Lake George Lake George has 132 Lake George has 132

streams in its 230- streams in its 230- square mile square mile watershed.watershed.

These streams are These streams are primarily very small, primarily very small, high quality, forested high quality, forested tributaries.tributaries.

Annually, 56% of the Annually, 56% of the water budget is water budget is carried to the lake as carried to the lake as surface runoff through surface runoff through streams *streams *

Source: HistoricLakes.org

(Source: Shuster, L., R. LaFleur and C. Boylen. 1994. The Hydrologic Budget of Lake (Source: Shuster, L., R. LaFleur and C. Boylen. 1994. The Hydrologic Budget of Lake George, Southeastern Adirondack Mountains of New York. Northeastern Geology, George, Southeastern Adirondack Mountains of New York. Northeastern Geology, 16(2): 94-108)*16(2): 94-108)*

Water Clarity*Water Clarity*

Source: Boylen, J., E. Howe, J. Bartkowski and L. Eichler. 2004. Augmentation of a Source: Boylen, J., E. Howe, J. Bartkowski and L. Eichler. 2004. Augmentation of a Long-Term Monitoring Program for Lake George, NY by Citizen Volunteers. Long-Term Monitoring Program for Lake George, NY by Citizen Volunteers. In Lake and Resource Management, 20(2) 121-129. In Lake and Resource Management, 20(2) 121-129.

Water Quality Concerns in Water Quality Concerns in the Lakethe Lake

Lake and its Lake and its tributaries tributaries impaired for impaired for sediment (New sediment (New York State DEC)York State DEC)

South Basin is South Basin is mesotrophic, mesotrophic, affected by affected by development in development in this portion of the this portion of the watershed.watershed.Source: Boylen, J., E. Howe, J. Bartkowski and L. Eichler. 2004. Augmentation of a Source: Boylen, J., E. Howe, J. Bartkowski and L. Eichler. 2004. Augmentation of a

Long-Term Monitoring Program for Lake George, NY by Citizen Volunteers. Long-Term Monitoring Program for Lake George, NY by Citizen Volunteers. In Lake and Resource Management, 20(2) 121-129. In Lake and Resource Management, 20(2) 121-129.

Streams of Lake George*Streams of Lake George*

Most Streams “Not Most Streams “Not Impacted” or “Slightly Impacted” or “Slightly Impacted” for Impacted” for macroinvertebratesmacroinvertebrates

Impacted streams Impacted streams downstream of downstream of developed areasdeveloped areas

Some stream show Some stream show water quality water quality differences between differences between downstream and downstream and upstream locationsupstream locations

(Source: Draft Annual Assessment, Stream Assessment, 2007, Lake George Water Keeper)*(Source: Draft Annual Assessment, Stream Assessment, 2007, Lake George Water Keeper)*

Existing Buffers of Lake Existing Buffers of Lake George - IGeorge - I

Source: D. Keppler

Existing Buffers of Lake Existing Buffers of Lake George - IIGeorge - II

Source: D. Keppler

Existing Buffers of Lake Existing Buffers of Lake George - IIIGeorge - III

Source: D. Keppler

Existing Buffers of Lake Existing Buffers of Lake George - IVGeorge - IV

Source: D. Keppler

Some Water Quality Some Water Quality Concerns in the Streams of Concerns in the Streams of

Lake GeorgeLake George Some Impaired Some Impaired

Streams*Streams* Finkle BrookFinkle Brook Foster BrookFoster Brook East BrookEast Brook West BrookWest Brook Prospect Mountain BrookProspect Mountain Brook English BrookEnglish Brook Huddle BrookHuddle Brook Indian BrookIndian Brook Hague BrookHague Brook

* Source: New York State * Source: New York State Draft 303 (d) List of 2008Draft 303 (d) List of 2008

Source: Lake George Association

Land Use in the Land Use in the Lake George WatershedLake George Watershed

Large amount of the Large amount of the watershed is state-ownedwatershed is state-owned

Much of the land is zoned Much of the land is zoned very low densityvery low density

Specific areas selected Specific areas selected for more intense for more intense developmentdevelopment

Regulatory Authority in the Regulatory Authority in the Lake George WatershedLake George Watershed

Towns and Towns and VillagesVillages

Lake George Park Lake George Park CommissionCommission

Adirondack Park Adirondack Park AgencyAgency

New York State New York State DECDEC

Federal AgenciesFederal Agencies

Major Goals for Lake Major Goals for Lake George Stream BuffersGeorge Stream Buffers

Temperature Temperature Water quality (phosphorus)Water quality (phosphorus) Sediment (filtering and erosion Sediment (filtering and erosion

prevention)prevention) HabitatHabitat

Key Technical DecisionsKey Technical Decisions

Streams to include Streams to include Buffer widthBuffer width How to measure the widthHow to measure the width Management within the bufferManagement within the buffer Stream crossingsStream crossings Waivers/ exceptionsWaivers/ exceptions

Decision 1: What is a Decision 1: What is a Stream?Stream?

Base stream layer from SWCD Base stream layer from SWCD mappingmapping

Should other streams be added?Should other streams be added? Different treatment of perennial Different treatment of perennial

versus intermittent streams?versus intermittent streams? On-site stream identification?On-site stream identification? Other criteria for non-mapped Other criteria for non-mapped

streams?streams?

Decision 2: Buffer Decision 2: Buffer WidthsWidths

20’ to 200’ typical buffer 20’ to 200’ typical buffer widthswidths

Lake George primarily has Lake George primarily has fairly small (1fairly small (1stst and 2 and 2ndnd order streams)order streams)

Extremely high quality Extremely high quality resourceresource

Decision 3: Vary Widths?Decision 3: Vary Widths?

Perennial versus intermittentPerennial versus intermittent Large versus small streamsLarge versus small streams Expand buffer to include:Expand buffer to include:

FloodplainsFloodplains Habitat areasHabitat areas WetlandsWetlands Steep slopesSteep slopes

Decision 4: Decision 4: How to Measure the BufferHow to Measure the Buffer

Stream CenterlineStream Centerline

Edge of Stream?Edge of Stream?

High Water Mark?High Water Mark?

Other?Other?

Decision 5: Management Decision 5: Management Within the BufferWithin the Buffer

Mature vegetation throughoutMature vegetation throughout

Mix of managed and mature Mix of managed and mature vegetationvegetation

Setback from structures only?Setback from structures only?

Three-zone buffer?Three-zone buffer?

Decision 6: Stream Decision 6: Stream CrossingsCrossings

How many should be allowed per How many should be allowed per stream mile?stream mile?

Design criteriaDesign criteria

Other considerations?Other considerations?

Decision 7: Exceptions or Decision 7: Exceptions or Waivers?Waivers?

Small lotsSmall lots

Previously Previously developed areasdeveloped areas

Stormwater Stormwater practicespractices

Plan for the Rest of the Plan for the Rest of the DayDay

Break (about 15 minutes)Break (about 15 minutes)

Technical questionsTechnical questions

Comments/ feedback for buffer Comments/ feedback for buffer regulationsregulations