The Lake George Park Commission (LGPC) has established a “Frozen Boats” Program that allows local residents to have their boats certified as invasive-free with a Vessel Inspection Control Seal (VICS) in advance of the 2014 boating season.

Walt Lender, the LGA’s Executive Director, said in a statement issued to the press that “the LGPC’s efforts to create a comprehensive mandatory inspection program to protect the Lake is no small task – and seemingly minor details, such as tagging frozen boats, can help decrease congestion at the inspection stations early on in the season, which will be important to the success of the program this first year. When folks arrive at the Lake this summer we want them to understand that lake protection and recreation can go hand in hand. It’s like a first impression – you want to get it right.”

Having a boat with an intact inspection seal acquired through the Frozen Boats Program removes the need for that boat to visit one of the six regional inspection stations for a ‘clean, drained, and dry’ inspection prior to its first launch of the year into Lake George. This local program will provide inspection seals for trailered boats that have been demonstrated to be exposed to the winter elements sufficiently long to kill aquatic invasive species.

In general, three days of continuous freezing is long enough to kill any AIS present on a boat or trailer according to the LGA’s Emily DeBolt. The earliest ice out on the area’s local water bodies will signify the end of the 2014 Frozen Boats Program, and Vessel Inspection Control Seals will not be applied through this program after that date.

“Ice out is typically early to mid-April, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t a bit late this year,” DeBolt said.  “Although, you just never know what the weather is going to do, so if you have a boat that you want sealed as part of this program, I would be sure to get it taken care of sooner rather than later.”

The new mandatory inspection program will go into effect May 15, 2014.  “If you plan to launch your boat before May 15th you won’t be required to be inspected and sealed.  But if you aren’t sure – you can go ahead and get your boat sealed now to be safe,” added DeBolt.

“If your boat is stored at a local storage facility, the LGPC has drafted agreements with local marinas and haulers which include provisions for the Frozen Boats Program,” said Dave Wick, Executive Director of the Lake George Park Commission. “If your boat is presently in the care, custody, and control of a local winter storage facility, please contact your facility for details. It is likely that there is nothing further you have to do.”

The LGPC is also coordinating its program with local haulers as well as storage facilities.  If your boat is stored on blocks and seasonally transported with a hydraulic trailer by a local hauler, contact your hauler for details.

The LGPC has teamed up with its local partners to administer the Frozen Boats Program. If you have a trailered boat that qualifies for the program and you would like to receive this service, you can contact the Commission office or your local Frozen Boats representative listed below.

Photo: LGPC Executive Director Dave Wick and LGA Educator Jill Trunko seal the LGA’s Floating Classroom as part of the Frozen Boats Program (provided).