The New York State Department of Conservation plans to move forward with a $3 million project to reconstruct a section of Beach Road on State lands and the Lake George Beach parking with porous asphalt and other storm water management features to protect water quality, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The project is funded by the state’s New York Works initiative.

Under the plan, the current DEC boat launch would also be moved to the east side of DEC’s Lake George Beach (aka Million Dollar Beach) as part of the two-year project. The project must be approved by the Adirondack Park Agency and the Lake George Park Commission.

“DEC is committed to protecting the water quality of Lake George and ensuring public access to its waters,” Commissioner Martens said in a statement to the press. “We want to join with Warren County to provide the best storm water management practices the full length of the mile-long stretch of road.”

Beach Road is located on the south end of Lake George and leads from the village’s main street to Million Dollar Beach, dedicated in the 1950s. In 2011, the Lake George Park Commission worked with Warren County so porous asphalt would be used when the county reconstructed the section of the road between Canada Street and Fort George Road. That work was substantially completed by Memorial Day Weekend. DEC anticipates construction of the section of Beach Road beyond Fort George Road would begin this fall and be completed before Memorial Day 2014.

Porous asphalt is proposed to be used on most of the road. Regular asphalt will be used on turns and other highly stressed areas. Other storm water management features in the proposal include drainage collection piping and a dry swale for collection and treatment of any excess storm water runoff.

“Stormwater runoff from the large developed complex and system of paved roadways at the southern end of Lake George has long been a concern for the water quality of Lake George,” said Bruce Young, Chairman, Lake George Park Commission Board. “The environmentally sound repaving project when coupled with the West Brook Project will go a long way toward alleviating this source of pollution. LGPC is greatly indebted to DEC, the State of New York, local governments and environmental groups for making this possible.”

“The Lake George Association is excited to hear the announcement of DEC’s new plans for the Lake George Beach Parking lot reconfiguration that will also include a boat washing station location, Walt Lender, Executive Director, Lake George Association. Together with the West Brook Conservation Initiative and the recently completed Beach Road project, these projects will help to treat millions of gallons of stormwater each year and the washing station will add another line of defense in protecting the lake from invasive species.”

The proposal calls for reconfiguring Beach Road to improve traffic flow and public safety within the facility.

Reconstruction of the parking lot and the boat launch could begin as early as the fall of 2014 and be completed before Memorial Day 2015. Use of porous asphalt and drainage collection piping will be maximized in the reconstruction of the parking lot the DEC’s press release said.

DEC proposes to move the current boat launch to the east of the Lake George Beach House. The proposed design for the boat launch includes a site for a portable boat washing station.