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CURRENTSb l a c k l a k e

a s s o c i a t i o n , i n c

BannerPhoto Thank you to member Wayne Miller for his beautiful “Mile Arm Bay” reflections photo used in this newsletter banner.

TableofContents:President’sMessage….…..…1NaturalizedShoreline..…..…2CSLAP2017.…………………..…2BoatStewardProgram.....…3SepCcDyeKits……………….…3

PhotoContestWinners………4FinancialUpdate………….…….5MemorialBench…………....….5NYSFOLA2018…………..….…5BLBarnQuiltTrail2019……..6IceCreamSocial2017…….….6

Officers/Directors……………..7NewsleWerAward…….…………7MembershipRenewal…………7ProtectYourWatersSigns…..8BLAssoc.TeesforSale…….….8

FALL2017

NewPresidentWelcomesChallenge Jim Staples was elected President at our August 26 board meeting, and has been busy ever since meeting with other Board members and gathering information that will help us prioritize initiatives as we move forward. As a relatively new member of our board (2016) and a camp owner on the north end of Black Lake since 2012, he is eager to listen to our members regarding the issues that are important to them. Jim notes: "The board members of the Black Lake Association are dedicated to the words on the signs around the lake -- PRESERVE  PROTECT ENHANCE  ENJOY. New York has finally recognized

the importance of our waterways by making monies available to help us do these very things. I urge everyone to come help us take care of the lake that has been the source of many memories and experiences for all of us. Feel free to contact any one of us to volunteer, discuss opinions or just a note to say what’s on your mind. Taking care of Black Lake is a responsibility that we should all share." He has owned waterfront property most of his adult life, including a cottage on the St. Lawrence River for over 25 years and in Ohio where he was also involved in a lake association. After his retirement in 2007, he and his wife, Nonna Rahll, built a home in Brasher Falls, and in 2012 he built their Black Lake cabin on Zollar Road. Jim’s hobbies include hunting, fishing and golfing. He and Nonna volunteer for the St. Regis Falls food pantry, and he has volunteered as one of our boat stewards and CSLAP water testers. We look forward to the gifts and experience he brings to our Association.

WebsiteGetsanUpdateThanks to Brenda Powell and Karen Winters, our website, originally designed by Marsha Arend, has been updated to include recent events, photo contest winners and upcoming activities. www.blacklakeassoc.org. If you have suggestions for updates, please email blacklakeassoc@gmail.com.

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BenefitsofaNaturalizedShorelineatBlackLake©GLQA,Inc.,October2017R.C.Henderson

Today large areas of Black Lake’s 69 miles of shoreline are becoming developed. As a shallow lake, water chemistry changes and sediment loads from storms and erosion of soils have a big impact on the viability of the lake as a healthy fishery and recreational resource. One factor increasing sedimentation in the lake, has been recent shoreline development. Landowners are denuding shorelines to obtain clear, panoramic views and easy access to dock or swim area. Problem: Stripping away the natural vegetation barrier adds sediment to the water with every rain and even wind. Bare shorelines remove privacy and result in bare soil and rock that’s not only ugly from the water and opposite shore, but also may take decades to hundreds of years to return to a natural state, if it ever does! A 2013 DEC survey of lakefront property owners listed ten benefits of a natural shoreline: 1. Increase Property Value; 2. Reduce Soil Erosion; 3. Protect Water Quality (reducing sediment); 4 Enhance Wildlife Habitat; 5. Reduce noise from roads, neighbors, boats, jetskis; 6. Provide Privacy; 7. Screen unsightly Views; 8. Enhance Scenic Views; 9. Keep Geese Off your lawn; 10. Absorb Phosphorus, Nitrates, Pesticides, Detergents and other chemicals thereby reducing incidence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). DEC’s CSLAP 2016 Report to Black Lake, recommended that we actively Promote Shoreline Naturalization! If your shoreline has a native buffer zone of vegetation (trees, shrubs, weeds), leave it. Groom a path through to the water. If you already have grass to water’s edge, consider transplanting native plants to a 6-8’ wide zone. Or let them grow up from seeds (no mow). Black Lake Association can help—call or write us for more information.

Example:NaturalizedShoreline

Examples:DenudedShoreline

CSLAPWaterTesIngbyAlanBoekhout

My first season collecting water samples for the Association presented some interesting challenges due to our unusual weather pattern this past summer. Typically, we did sampling on Saturday, Sunday or Monday so that samples could be shipped to and received by the lab before the following weekend. Frequent rain and having to deal with a dock that was sometimes under water, made it difficult at times to complete the sampling on a timely basis. Jim Staples and I began sampling the week after Memorial Day and concluded just after Labor Day. That equated to eight sessions spaced two weeks apart. Sampling during this timeframe gives us the opportunity to monitor lake conditions when it is usually the most "biologically active." In addition to the water samples, surveys are also filled out during each trip. Whoever is sampling is asked to make a subjective assessment concerning the suitability of the lake for recreational use and the overall esthetic quality of the water. Questions cover weed growth, water clarity and any unusual biological conditions, e.g., dead fish. Given the size of our lake a complete survey is not practical. Association members are strongly encouraged to contact the Association should some unusual conditions exist in your area of the lake, especially if it prevents you from using the lake.  Getting my "feet wet" this past season was very enjoyable and I'm already anxious to see what surprises await me next year. Please remember that actively participating in our Association will help it grow stronger and increase our ability to protect the lake.

WATER QUALITY

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WATER QUALITYBoatStewardProgram

ByKarenWinters2017 marks the second year of our NYS DEC grant to provide boat stewards at the BL boat launch. Returning this summer were BL residents and siblings, Will Bronner and Brooke Bronner, who again were overseen and supported by the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) at Paul Smith's College. NYS Parks, which oversees our boat launch, assigned a full-time boat steward, Thomas Weitz, which allowed us double coverage on most weekends and individual coverage weekdays. In addition, AWI received a Federal grant that allowed periodic placement of additional stewards at Black Lake, supported by our Association volunteers. Altogether, 4,150 water craft were inspected with 411 containing invasives, or about 10 percent. This compares to 2016, when approximately 2,560 water craft were inspected with approximately 15 percent containing invasives. If you launched at the NYS launch on CR#6 this year, you probably met one of these individuals in person conducting voluntary boat/trailer inspections and delivering education and outreach to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS).  Black Lake currently has several invasive species - Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels, curly leaf pond weed, and European frogbit.  The first two have been more damaging to our water quality than the others. The Boat Steward inspections focus on keeping NEW INVASIVES out of Black Lake, and preventing EXISTING INVASIVES from spreading to other water bodies.  There are numerous invasives we do not have - both plant and animal - that can significantly threaten water quality and recreational activities.  Black Lake is one of NY State's top fishing destinations, with the public launch accessed regularly by out-of-state/region boaters who travel from waterbody to waterbody, as well as those who fish the St. Lawrence, which is susceptible to foreign AIS from ocean going vessels. By keeping new AIS out of Black Lake and working to reduce existing AIS, native aquatic species have a better opportunity to survive, and thrive, keeping an ecological balance.  The earlier the detection of new invasives, the higher the probability of eradication.

Brooke&WillBronner

BoatStewardVolunteerProgrambyJimAnthony

Greetings to all Black Lake Association Members. It is my pleasure to have served as Boat Steward Volunteer Trainer/Coordinator this past summer. Our Association was very successful in 2016 to obtain the Invasive Species Boat Inspection Grant from NYS DEC that provides thousands of dollars to pay for material and trained Boat Stewards. As part of our grant, the Black Lake Association promised to create a Volunteer Program to provide assistance to the paid Stewards. This included conducting boat/trailer inspections ourselves at the Black Lake State Boat Launch on County Route 6 when the number of boats launching and retrieving became too numerous for just one Inspector to handle. After just an hour of training in regard to material, procedures, iPad Survey input along with do’s and don’ts, my volunteers did an awesome job. Special thanks to Pat and Joe Ferrone, Mike Kotash, Sandy Shine and our current President Jim Staples for taking the time to help prevent the transport of nuisance aquatic species. We assisted in thousands of boat inspections and performed 147 inspections ourselves all while enjoying conversation with the boaters, some of them as far away as Texas. We all look forward to continuing this effort next Summer and I would like to extend an invitation to any Member that would like to give us a hand. I have plenty of red shirts and hats to issue to those that join our Team. Please give me a call, Jim Anthony, at 315-375-0000. Thanks for wanting to Preserve, Protect and Enhance Black Lake and its surrounding watershed.

MikeKotash&SandyShine

SepCcDyeKitsFreetoBlackLakeResidents Once again our Board has purchased and made available free of charge self-testing septic system dye kits. Each kit contains simple instructions on how to test your septic system. Kits are available at the clerk’s office of each of the six municipalities surrounding the lake: Rossie, Morristown, Macomb, Hammond, Oswegatchie, and DePeyster.

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HonorableMenConJune“Nature’sFlowers”KerryStroll

1stPlaceSeptember“BlueHeron”MaryPrinz

HonorableMenConAugust“JuvenileEagle”-MaryPrinz

1stPlaceJuly“LastCatch”-BarbaraMiller

GreatBlackLakePhotoSubmissionsThe second year of our Association / Black Lake Chamber Monthly Photo Contest continues to provide some amazing photos of life at Black Lake. Congratulations to our winners! Our contest continues monthly — won’t you consider adding some of yours? blacklakeassoc@gmail.com

HonorableMenConJune“SunsetOverBL”HaroldPfleiderer

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

FinancialUpdateByRonniBadini,Treasurer

It’s hard to believe yet another summer season at Black Lake has come to a close. But alas, the brightly colored leaves are telling the story. The 2017 season was another exciting one for our Association. We increased our membership again, continued our Boat Steward Program, co-hosted with the Black Lake Chamber our second successful ice cream social, and again partnered with local lakes and agencies to greatly increase our exposure and presence on the lake. Our current financial position remains strong through the end of the 3rd quarter and is projected to remain strong through 2017. Checking Balance $3,363 Savings Balance $5,079 Investment Balance $6,111 TOTAL $14,553 Significant REVENUES year to date include: Chamber IC Social $ 500 Grant Match/Partners $ 700 IRLC Grant Reimb. $ 890 Town of Morristown $2,000 Grant Reimbursement $4,725 Membership Dues $6,325 Significant EXPENSES year to date include: IC Social Net $ 504 Financial Audit $ 750 NYSFOLA Conf. $ 755 Grant Match Net $6,000 The Ice Cream Social raised $800 from premium sponsors and door prize donations generated another$1,137. Over 425 people attended this event and 11 new members signed up there, while others took membership applications. Our current membership total is 268 which includes 46 new members this year. We also achieved a savings of $825 in our liability insurance policies compared to last year, and have earned $568 interest in our investment account year to date. We still have $4,725 due from DEC for our 2nd quarter reimbursement which should be received before the end of 2017, bringing our cash on hand up to approximately $19,500. We have no more significant expenses anticipated for the remainder of this year. Hope you all have a safe and good winter without too much of that ‘white stuff !’ If you have any questions please contact me Ronni Badini, rbonthebay@aol.com or 610-462-8555.

MemorialBenchHonorsAssociaIonFounder Our Association recently placed a memorial park bench at the Black Lake boat launch in memory of our founder, Marge Schaefer. If you frequent the launch, or just want to check out the bench and plaque, take a moment to sit and enjoy the view and reflect on the many contributions Marge Schaefer made at Black Lake.

In 1982 Marge was the catalyst in gathering together a group of concerned Black Lake residents interested in championing environmental issues on behalf of the lake. She spent many years and volunteer hours in service to our lake, helping to commission studies and securing our involvement in the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) that we continue today. We are grateful for her foresight 35 years ago. Marge was also one of the founding members of the New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA), which currently represents more than 200 lakes across the state. One of our board members and past presidents, Rich Henderson, is currently President of NYSFOLA. Her legacy continues.

The New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA) is moving to a new venue in 2018 due to its popularity and attendance requirements. The 35th Anniversary Conference will be held at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center in Lake George, NY. Early arrivals on Thursday night, May 3, will have the opportunity to tour the fort and museum. For more details about the venue, logon to www.fortwilliamhenry.com . This conference is a great resource for Associations.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONSBlackLakeBarnQuiltTrailPlannedfor2019

ByLisaSarfatyHave you seen any beautifully painted wooden squares on barns, businesses and homes in your travels around Hammond? If so, you have been on our Barn Quilt Trail which started in Hammond in 2014 and now comprises more than 60 quilt blocks around the area. Our thanks to Teresa Hemingway, Bella-Brooke Winery, The Log Cabin, Chris & Diane Klenk, and Dick Watson who are

already proud owners of barn quilts along Black Lake. We encourage other Black Lake property owners to join them. In fact, the trail committee would like to feature barn quilts along Black Lake as our special theme in 2019. If your property is not visible from a major highway, but you would like to be part of this trail, we are encouraging you to consider adding a barn quilt to the waterfront of your property, so the lake itself can be part of the trail. Hammond was the first town to bring this concept to the North Country, and the response has been very positive. Barn quilts bring joy to owners, pride and connec-tion to our community, and new visitors/customers to our businesses. We celebrated our Grand Opening in 2015, created a “Festival” with barn quilts and food in 2016, and this year had fun with a Fairy House theme. Next year we will be working on a garden theme, and we are eager to encourage and assist participation by Black Lake residents and businesses for our 2019 theme. Our committee is available to help you design and paint a barn quilt, or we can create a custom ordered “mini” barn quilt, either 1’x1’ or 2’x2’, for you. We can refer you to one of our members to help you with the larger barn quilts – 3’x3’, 4’x4’ or 8’x8’ – you can commission one through several local members, or you can purchase one already done from the Iva Smith Gallery on County Route #37.

The Hammond Barn Quilt Trail’s purpose is to bring beauty and joy to our community, and enhance economic activity through increasing tourism. Black Lake has long been a tourism leader in the area, and we invite you all to continue that tradition with our Barn Quilt Trail! www.HammondBarnQuiltTrail.wordpress.com www.Facebook.com/Hammond.Barn.Quilt.Trail LisaSarfaty:203-627-301,lisa.sarfaty@gmail.com

IceCreamSocial Our second annual Black Lake Ice Cream Social held on July 5th, brought together 425 lake enthusiasts to enjoy free ice cream cones, music by Joe Battles, and the amenities of Bella-Brooke Vineyard. This year’s event was co-sponsored by the Black Lake Chamber, whose members donated over $1,000 in door prizes. All 1,000 Black Lake property owners received a direct-mail invitation to the event and roadside signs around the lake alerted others to the special social evening. It was a beautiful night after several weeks of rain.

PremiumSponsors:Bella-BrookeVineyardBackBayCampgroundCampWildwoodCrossKeysRealEstateEchoesontheLakeSt.LawrenceRiverRealEstateSchaefer’sCedarGroveCamps

DoorPrizeSponsors:BlackLakeMarine’sBuWernutCoveCoWagesChapman’sMarineElla’sRestaurantFoster’sHarborInnHeuveltonFarm&Garden

DoorPrizeSponsors(conCnued):Hosmer’sMarineLakesideMarine/TreasuresLangbrookMeadowsGolfClubLogCabinMack’sInnMcLear’sFishBoneCaféMcQuade&BanniganMorristownFuel&SupplyPaddleInnPub&RestaurantSchermerhornHarbor&MarineSt.LawrenceStateParkGolfCourseTurnerInnUncleSam’sBoatToursWrightsMarinaBlackLakeAssociaConMembers

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ASSOCIATIONOfficers: President: Jim Staples, jkwfalcon@gmail.com Vice President: Richard Henderson, rchender01@gmail.com Secretary: Brenda Powell, brenkinder@hotmail.com Treasurer: Veronica Badini, rbonthebay@aol.com

Board of Directors: David Duff, woodandduff@gmail.com Ron Perry, deereseller@gmail.com Karen Winters, kwwinters@gmail.com & Newsletter Editor

Mailing Address Facebook Black Lake Association Black Lake Association P. O. Box 308 This is a closed group for Hammond, NY 13646 members only.

Email Website blacklakeassoc@gmail.com blacklakeassoc.org The Black Lake Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Contributions made greater than the cost of membership dues, are tax deductible to the degree permitted by law. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution.

BLACKLAKEASSOCIATION 2018Membership Application / Renewal

Name (s):________________________________________________________________________________________

Permanent Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ (City) (State) (Zip)

Lake Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____Pleasecheckifthisisamailingaddress. From:___________________ To:_____________________

E-mail Address:___________________________________________________ Phone: _(_____)___________________

Newsletter Preference: ______USPS _____E-mail

2017 Annual Membership Fee: $25 Renewal: _______ New:_______

Add my name to the Volunteer List ______ (You will be contacted as volunteer opportunities arise to see if available.)

Interests: _________________________________________________________________________________________

Referred by: _____________________________________________________ (CurrentMemberName)

Make Check Payable to Black Lake Association and return to: Veronica Badini, Treasurer P. O. Box 308 Hammond, NY 13646

Yourmailinglabelshowsthelastyearyourdueswerepaid.

BLCurrentsReceivesNewsleWerAward

Our Association's newsletter, Black Lake Currents, took 2nd place in the Large Lake Association category at the 2017 NYSFOLA Conference. A total of 19 entries were judged in the 3 association categories - small, medium and large. Criteria included: overall appearance, use of color, use of photographs and graphics, publication information, president's message, committee reports, feature articles and the presence of a masthead, mission statement, table of contents, list of officers and calendar of events. KUDOS!

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BlackLakeAssociaConP.O.Box308Hammond,NY13646

MailingLabel

OPPORTUNITIES

AssociaIonTeeShirtsForSale If you are interested in purchasing a Black Lake Association tee shirt (50/50), you can do so by emailing Jim Staples, jksfalcon@gmail.com. Cost is $15 including mailing costs. Shirts are available in the design on the right - in BLUE only. Sizes: M, L, XL and 2XL. Red ones are free to boat steward volunteers. See pg. 3.

ProtectYourWatersSign If you own a campground or have an area on your property to launch boats, we have some extra “Protect Your Waters Signs” that you can post as a reminder on how to check your boat, trailer and equipment for aquatic invasive species (AIS). Prevention is the most cost-effective method for maintaining our lake’s water quality, as well as stopping the spread of new AIS into Black Lake and other waterbodies.

AvailableinBlueOnly