WATER WATCH COMMITTEE

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Stewardship of Our Lakes. Protection of Our Future.

For more than three decades—and with renewed urgency since 2020—the Blue Mountain Lake community has been united in protecting the health of our waters. The three lakes of the Eckford Chain - Blue Mountain, Eagle and Utowana - define our landscape and way of life. They sustain surrounding ecosystems, provide the town’s primary source of drinking water and support the recreation that brings us together. Their clarity cannot be taken for granted; it is the result of vigilance, collective effort, and a commitment that has strengthened over time.

 

Safeguarding these lakes—for our community today and for generations to come—remains our most enduring priority.

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The Discovery of Variable Leaf Milfoil in 2020

In 2020, variable leaf milfoil (VLM)—a highly aggressive, aquatic invasive species—was discovered in Utowana Lake. VLM spreads primarily through boating and human activity, and once established, it can rapidly overtake a lake environment: choking out native plants, degrading water quality, and diminishing the waters we depend on for recreation and drinking water. Confronting this threat marked a critical moment for the Eckford Chain.

 

The Blue Mountain Lake community mobilized quickly, launching a coordinated, multi-year campaign to fund annual surveys of all three lakes for aquatic invasive species (AIS) and to hire professional divers to hand-harvest VLM from the Utowana lakebed. The critical lesson that defined our response: invasive species don't spread gradually—they accelerate. Early action and persistence are everything.

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$60k Grant for Early Detection & Eradication Work in Utowana Lake

In 2024, our efforts to control and remove VLM from Utowana Lake were recognized at the highest level with a $60,000 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation—awarded to support three years of early detection and eradication work. Notably, Utowana was one of only two lakes in the Adirondacks selected for this highly competitive funding, underscoring both the urgency of the threat and the effectiveness of our community-led response.

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Six Years of Hand-Harvest Data

Swift action produced dramatic early results, reducing removal volumes of VLM in Utowana Lake by more than 85% within three seasons:

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2020: 295 gallons · 2021: 125 gallons · 2022: 38 gallons · 2023: 38 gallons · 2024: 72 gallons · 2025: 165 gallons

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In 2024 and 2025, however, new VLM beds were discovered further west in Utowana Lake near the family camp and the DEC lean-to. Fragmentation from these large, well-established beds drove new growth across the eastern portion of Utowana—including the discovery of one plant in the channel connecting Utowana and Eagle Lakes. The 2025 harvest of 165 gallons, more than double the prior year, reflects both a setback and the proven effectiveness of early detection and rapid response. 

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These recent findings also underscore the importance of staying ahead of the threat.

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Our Approach

The Water Watch Committee continues to lead a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy grounded in prevention, monitoring, and swift intervention.

Current priorities include:

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• Expanded hand-harvesting efforts in Utowana Lake

• Full re-surveys of Eagle and Blue Mountain Lakes

• Strengthened early detection and reporting systems

 

A community training session with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) this summer will further equip residents and visitors to identify and report invasive species.

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​The Importance of Vigilance

Across the Adirondack Park, some lakes now require hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to manage invasive infestations—often after they are too widespread to contain.

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We remain in a different position because of early action and an engaged community has brought dramatic success in Utowana and has so far prevented the spread of VLM into Eagle Lake and Blue Mountain Lake.

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​Supporting the Work

Protecting our lakes requires both commitment and resources. Contributions to the Water Watch Fund directly support:

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• Diver-led removal efforts

• Comprehensive monitoring and surveys

• Rapid-response containment initiatives

Every contribution helps ensure that protection remains proactive, not reactive, and every dollar is spent directly on this effort. 

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Looking Ahead

These lakes have always brought our community together—now their future depends on us. With continued effort, awareness, and collective action, we will protect the water quality and vitality of Blue Mountain Lake and the Eckford Chain—now and for future generations.