School Children Raise Beetles!  

The Purple Loosestrife Committee (headed by Don and Ellie Searles) spent the summer of 2007 mapping the Schroon Lake Watershed for purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).  A number of infestations were found and mapped and many plants were dug or pulled and disposed of.  Four or five sites were so infested it would have been impossible to dig the plants and a biological control was needed.

During the winter of 2007-8 the Committee approached the Schroon Lake Central School and Mountainside Christian Academy science teachers to explore their willingness to participate in a science project with their students to raise Galerucella beetles.  These beetles eat only purple loosestrife leaves and can eradicate the plant in areas where plants are too large or too difficult to pull.  Both schools agreed to participate and are growing loosestrife roots in pots in wading pools.  The pots are covered with netting and about 20 beetles have been introduced into each pot where they will be allowed to multiply prior to release in July or August.  Permits for the release at four selected sites have been obtained from the APA and the DEC.

Scout Program Seeks Volunteers  

ESSLA and SLA have teamed up to form a Milfoil Scout Program in which volunteers will look for milfoil in Schroon Lake.  Many years ago the Schroon Lake Association formed a group of volunteer "Milfoil Watchers" to look for milfoil around the lake.  The new Milfoil Scout Program, developed this last winter, will offer training in milfoil identification and surveillance techniques by Hilary Oles of APIPP (The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program).  The Program will be under the jurisdiction of our Lake Manager, Steve LaMere, and is co-chaired by Jim Lynch and John Huston.  

It is important to find milfoil when it first takes root at a site, before it has had a chance to spread.  The Milfoil Scouts will help to search out and mark any new beds of milfoil before they become established so that trained divers can remove harvest it.

If you are willing to help, please contact Jim Lynch (jlynch97@nycap.rr.com) if you live in warren County, or John Huston, (northwild@msn.com) if you live in Essex County.