Overview
The Lake George Park Commission is the New York State agency charged with the prevention and management of invasive species in Lake George. The Commission has been managing the invasive plant Eurasian watermilfoil since the early 1990’s in dozens of sites throughout the lake, through various methods and with varying success. The primary management method of milfoil management on Lake George is ‘Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting’, which consists of a diver hand pulling each plant by the roots and putting those plants into a suction tube for transport up to a topside boat. This method, while effective, can be difficult in areas that are rocky and in areas that are very dense.
In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency approved a next-generation aquatic herbicide called ProcellaCOR EC, that selectively targets milfoil and is applied at staggeringly low dosage rates (5-7 parts per billion). This new aquatic herbicide has no drinking water impacts, no contact recreation impacts, and has no impacts upon fish or other aquatic life. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation approved this aquatic herbicide in 2019, and it has been applied in 30 lakes in New York State to date and more than 100 throughout the Northeast, all with tremendous success and no negative impacts identified.
The Commission is currently working with highly experienced SOLitude Lake Management to obtain permits to undertake two small one-time pilot treatments (four-acres each) in Lake George in early June of 2023. The first site is in Blairs Bay in Glenburnie in northern Lake George, and the other site is on the north side of Hulett's Landing in Sheep Meadow Bay. The Commission has held several public outreach meetings with local homeowners, town officials and other interested lake associations to discuss this exciting new tool to manage and perhaps even eliminate this invasive species from long-standing problem areas in Lake George.
For more information on the Commission's historical milfoil management efforts, visit: https://lgpc.ny.gov/invasive-species-management
Frequently Asked Questions
This document provides answers to some of the most common questions regarding ProcellaCOR and it's potential limited use in Lake George.
Look TV Interview 3/20/23
ProcellaCOR Discussion with Hulett's Residents - 2/16/23
Response to LGA Comments
The Lake George Park Commission is the New York State agency charged with the long-term protection of Lake George and its many users. The Commission is responsible for proper invasive species management, including Eurasian watermilfoil control, which it has been conducting for more than 30 years. It is incumbent upon any management agency to evaluate all available tools to help address any particular issue, including invasive species management. The Commission has spent more than 12 months learning about and evaluating a next-generation aquatic herbicide known as ProcellaCOR, which has been scientifically studied for many years and ultimately approved by US Environmental Protection Agency, the NYS Department of Health and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. This aquatic herbicide has no public health impacts, no drinking water impacts, and no negative ecological impacts except for eliminating this invasive species. Hundreds of waterbodies in the Northeast (including Glen Lake, Saratoga Lake and lakes that are used as drinking water supplies) have utilized this herbicide tremendously successfully, and the Commission has worked very publicly to advance two demonstration projects for use in year 2022. Considerable information regarding this herbicide and the proposed project are on the Commission website.
Unfortunately, there has been considerable misinformation regarding this aquatic herbicide and its intended use on Lake George, which has been sent out to thousands of residents around the lake by the new Lake George Association leadership in concert with the Lake George Waterkeeper. The Commission, as a New York State agency, has a responsibility to provide only accurate and scientifically valid information. Towards that effort, the Commission has reviewed the association’s comments, and has provided informed, scientifically-backed responses to each of the statements.
Pertinent information may be found in the document below.
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Response to LGA ProcellaCOR Public Statement
The LGPC response to comments from the Lake George Association.
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ProcellaCOR Meetings
Science & Approvals
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ProcellaCOR EC DEC Registration Decision - 2/22/2019
Registration of Special Local Need (SLN) Labeling for ProcellaCOR EC (EPA Reg. No. 67690-80) for Use on Aquatic Weeds.
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ProcellaCOR Washington State Aquatic Plant Management - EIS - 4/2017
Environmental Impact Statement of ProcellaCOR use by Washington State.
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