Preserving Heritage and Protecting Waters
By Hallie Bond, Long Lake Historian and Barbara Taylor, President, Long Lake Association
The current Long Lake Association (LLA) is a community-based organization that was established in the early 1990s by a small group of concerned Long Lakers. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the health and beauty of the lake and to promote its wise use for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Since Long Lake is an asset to all that live in the Town, all residents, full and part-time, are part of the LLA. At this time, the LLA is not a membership organization and relies on a Board of Directors and volunteers to actively participate to support the mission.
A Long Lake Association existed by 1930, when the officers were Pres. Erik S. Lagerquist; Hon. Timothy D. Sullivan, 1st VP; Harry D. Stone, 2nd VP; E.J. McSweeney, Secy-treas; and H.D. Jennings, Assist secy. Lagerquist was a seasonal resident, but Stone, McSweeney and Jennings were all locals. The group had a number of committees: Executive, Water Sports, outboard motor boat races, to cooperate with Central Adirondack Fish and Game Association to secure legislative action for diverting the flow of Cold River, Conservation, Betterment (“in train service to work on the New York Central Railroad for the improvement in train service and the remodeling of the station at Sabattis, NY”), and the committee to cooperate with the Long Lake Board of Health. Lots of locals were active in the committees, along with seasonal residents. Statements of purpose or mission were not found in the archives.
In the 1940s there was the Long Lake Improvement Club, active from at least the 1940s and as late as the 1970s, and referred to sometimes as “the Woodchuck Club.” That group seems to have been focused on boosting and publicizing the area. An undated booklet was found touting “The Unspoiled Playground of the North,” sponsored boys to the state conservation camp, put on fireworks, and sponsored theater plays and a two-day regatta in 1947.
Our top priority remains protecting the health of our lake and preserving its history for the community through water quality improvement efforts. LLA has been working with Hamilton County Soil & Water since the early 2000s to test water quality. We joined the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP) in 2016 to maintain our high water quality standards. Currently, our focus is on preventing the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Long Lake. To this end, we have collaborated with several organizations, including the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP), and Nature Conservancy, through the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program. We are pleased to report that the most recent full lake survey, conducted in 2022, showed no spread of the variable leaf milfoil, which was first identified in 1999. This is a significant achievement for our entire lake community. In 2023, ADK Research conducted a targeted survey to identify any changes and a full survey will be carried out in 2024 to assess the impact of the catastrophic July 2023 floods, which drained Jennings Pond, on the spread of aquatic invasive species.
To ensure the continuity of various programs, including ongoing prevention of aquatic invasive species, daily lake steward and boat wash coverage, water quality programs, and community activities, the town established the Long Live Long Lake Fundraiser campaign in 2019. Our small community's dedication to lake health is evident through this campaign. In order to keep our lake and community clean, we rely heavily on the volunteers in our town and on our lake association. Without their help, we would face a very different situation. The Long Lake Association is proud to be a part of the initiatives started by the Town of Long Lake to engage with the community. Activities such as the Annual Loon Census, Fishing Line Recycling, and state Department of Environmental Conservation Lean2 Rescue Program are important lake community programs that strengthen our commitments to the lake. We also provide safety boats for the annual Adirondack Canoe Classic (also known as the 90-Miler) and Long Lake Regatta in coordination with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, which bolsters our economy and encourages additional tourism in Long Lake.
