PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hello to all our Lake Moraine Association Members and Neighbors,

I hope everyone had a safe winter wherever you spent it. I’m pretty sure most of you, who spent the winter in New York, were glad to see it finally end. This year Carol and I left for Florida at the end of January and did not enjoy the unusually harsh January weather we experienced here one bit. But we finally made it to Florida and enjoyed almost two and a half months of great weather. We spent a lot of days on the intercostal fishing and, of course, I managed to squeeze in my usual couple of days a week on the local links.

I think everyone is aware of the high water and eventually ice levels we experienced throughout the winter months. You will recall we were notified by Jackie Schillinger, Sr. Communications Strategy Manager from the Canal Corporation, in early January that they had made a safety-driven operational decision not to lower the lake level the normal three feet during the winter months to avoid potential damage to the dam’s low-level outlet pipes. Fortunately, at least as far as we know, no property damage resulted from that decision.

Jackie has also provided an update on the current status of the Dam Restoration aka Madison Dam Rehabilitation Project, which we have included in this newsletter.

The LMA Board of Directors held their first 2025 monthly meeting on April 17th. Your directors provided updates on various ongoing, as well as new, projects and initiatives that their committees are working on this year. More information and updates on these activities are included in this newsletter. I’d like to once again acknowledge and thank the officers and directors for their commitment to attend and participate in the monthly board meetings, as well as their contributions to these projects and initiatives that are undertaken to sustain or improve the health and safety of Lake Moraine.

Of course, special thanks to Michele Howgate and Martha Young for their ongoing efforts and contributions to the content in these newsletters, as well as others who have shared information and updates.

Looking forward, as I’m sure you all are, to the great weather to come and enjoying an abundance of quality time on Lake Moraine.

Also, looking forward to seeing everyone at our first General Membership Meeting on Saturday, May 24th.  - Mike

LMA General Meetings for 2025

Coffee & Refreshments  9:30 am / Meeting 10:00 am

• Saturday, May 24^th – location to be announced
• Saturday, July 5^th – location to be announced
• Saturday, August 30^th – location to be announced

Board of Director Meetings

Held the third Thursday of each month – April through October at 7:00 pm. Locations to be announced – anyone is welcome to attend.

2025 LMA Membership Dues

• Regular Membership - $30 and includes two people
• Associate Membership - $15 per person

Regular Membership is available to any riparian property owner (owning lakefront property). Regular membership entitles the property owner (or owners) of any parcel or parcels on Lake Moraine to one vote, provided current dues have been paid. Regular Membership also includes free admission for up to two persons at social events, including the LMA picnic. Additional family members and guests will be charged a nominal fee at social events.

Associate Membership is available to any one individual not owning lakefront property with an interest in the affairs and condition of Lake Moraine. An Associate Membership will be assessed annual dues as established by the Association. Associate members have no voting powers in meetings of the Lake Moraine Association. Associate members and guests will be charged a nominal fee at social events.

If you would like to pay your dues before a General Meeting, you can mail your check to

Kate Smith

LMA Treasurer

215 Salt Springs Road

Fayetteville NY 13066

Checks should be made payable to the Lake Moraine Association. If you are mailing a check or sending cash, send a self-addressed envelope if you would like your membership sticker mailed to you, or you can pick up your sticker at the next General Meeting.

Please join your Association to show your support and to ensure the lake is healthy and safe. Learn how we try to control weeds and protect the lake. We have many committees that need additional participants. 

Please let us know if there is a particular aspect of the lake that interests you. 

As our meetings are public meetings, anyone can speak at any of the meetings.

4th of July Festivities

• Thursday, July 3rd – Lighting of the Lake around Lake Moraine at dusk
• Friday, July 4th -- Village of Hamilton Farmer's Market 8:00-1:00
• Friday, July 4th -- Village of Hamilton Parade at Village Center 11:00
• Friday, July 4th – Village of Hamilton Events in the Park after the Parade
• Thursday, July 4th –Lake Moraine Boat Parade 3:00

Madison Dam Rehabilitation Project

Provided by Jackie Schillinger, Sr. Communications Strategy Manager, NYS Canal Corporation

Happy Spring! We think it’s safe to say that we’ve made it to the other side of winter.

The proposed Madison Dam rehabilitation project continues to progress and remains on schedule, with construction targeted to commence in 2026. Project design is wrapping up and the remainder of the year will be focused on permitting, environmental review, and bidding the project for construction. At this time, the anticipated 10-foot reservoir drawdown is scheduled to begin during the late winter to early spring of 2026. The exact timing will be coordinated with NYSDEC and is subject to environmental review and permitting. Further detail regarding the construction and drawdown schedules will be communicated as those timelines are solidified.

As we gear up to begin the rehabilitation project next year, we are planning to install a temporary siphon system this summer. For the project, this system will be used to facilitate the drawdown, manage reservoir levels, and ensure consistent flow to Payne Brook. An added benefit for all of you is that we’ll be able to better control water levels this season during weather events. As you may know, our ability to manage reservoir levels has been somewhat restricted recently as our ability to operate the dam’s low-level outlet pipes was reduced.

What about last year’s seep, you may wonder? After careful and continuous study, it appears to be under control and shouldn’t impact water levels.

Okay, but what does it all mean? Barring unforeseen circumstances, no changes are anticipated for water levels this summer – enjoy the Lake Life as you normally would!

Have you heard that we’re commemorating 200 years of continuous operation of the Erie Canal? Lake Moraine once played an integral role, so we hope you’ll partake in some of the happenings this summer and fall. More information can found here: https://eriecanalway.org/bicentennial.

We can’t say it enough: Take this time to prepare yourselves and your property for any anticipated impacts from the project, and we hope you have a wonderful summer on Lake Moraine! We will be in touch as the project’s start approaches with any necessary communication. As always, you can reach Jackie at Jackie.schillinger@nypa.gov or 518-281-5510.   

- Jackie Schillinger



Stewardship Program

Lake Moraine, Madison County, Hamilton, NY

Looking for Boat Launch Stewards starting June 14^th through Labor Day

Flexible hours - early morning, late afternoon. includes weekends and holidays.

Duties include but are not restricted to:

• Examining watercraft for invasive aquatic species
• Educating boaters on the importance of clean/drain/dry
• Collecting data on boats, watercraft, previous waterbodies visited etc.

Training will be provided. Applicants must have transportation to the launch site as well as a working iPhone or iPad. Hourly minimum wage of $15.50. 

Contact Jane Clement @ 315-225-9032 or 607-336-9127 - leave name and contact information. - Jane Clement

Plant Management

• We expect the weed harvester to be used on our lake again this year during the first two weeks of June.
• The permits are being prepared for a Copper Sulfate Treatment in mid-June, if needed.

Tributary Monitoring Program to begin

Several lakes in our area conduct tributary testing to determine which parts of the watershed contribute the most nutrients to the lake. At our April meeting, the LMA Board of Directors voted to work with the Upstate Freshwater Institute (UFI), a not-for-profit laboratory in Syracuse, to test our main tributaries in the coming year for phosphorous and nitrogen. Dr. Andrew Brainard from UFI will come to the lake in early June to train our CSLAP volunteers in the sample collection protocol. - Nancy Ries

New York State Federation of Lake Associations

LMA Board member Nancy Ries attended the New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA) annual conference in Lake George on May 2-3. The conference included many informative presentations on harmful algal blooms (HABs), using herbicides to control invasive milfoil, the different ecological challenges facing NY lakes, and ideas for increasing community participation (including by young people) in lake stewardship. -  Nancy Ries

Historical Documents

Just a reminder we have compiled a tremendous number of historical files regarding minutes, documents, photos, events and more related to Lake Moraine.

They can be found at: General Meeting Minutes and Newsletters and Documents

Lake Drawdown 1983-1984 - In advance of the lake drawdown for the dam rehabilitation, the LMA board wanted to know if our historical documents archive included any discussion of problems with wells in prior drawdowns. We found this one document in the archive collection, from February, 1984, which mentioned wells going dry during the unplanned drawdown to fix the causeway in 1983. Some residents may remember this event. The archive of newsletters and general meeting minutes are incredibly interesting, and we invite LMA members to take a deep dive into the history of the LMA going back to the 1950s if you’re interested. Thanks to many lake residents for providing documents for the archive project. - Nancy Ries

Lake Moraine CSLAP

The Lake Moraine Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program, (CSLAP), will begin the 2025 season, it’s 40th, in June. The group will collect water samples for monitoring four times this summer. Collections will take place once in June, July, August and September. Lake Moraine will once again add important data to its historical record. This data will be compared to past data to assess any dramatic changes in water quality over time.

Remember to be on the lookout for Harmful Algae Blooms in our waters. If you see any, stay away and keep pets away. Also, report your sighting. 

-  Eileen Fehlner

Town of Madison Clean Up Days

June 20th and 21st (8 am – 4 pm)

Town Highway Building, 3733 Solsville Road, Madison

Eroding Shoreline / No Wake Zones

Our shorelines continue to erode. We are asking you to be respectful of your neighbor’s shoreline/property by abiding by the “No Wake Zone” signs.

Septic

• Rebates for electric/gas/compost toilets are 30% of the cost of the unit, but not the cost of installation. The maximum refund is $1,200.
• Septic clean-out rebates are 50% up to $350 per clean out, available once a year for everyone, island and mainland property owners.
• We strongly recommend island property owners to group with other island property owners to have their systems pumped, to reduce cost.
• Contacts: Craig Lawson 607-226-4214, Nancy Ries 315-750-0007 or Ryan Hurley 413-455-4689
• For reimbursement, please send a copy of your bill to: Craig Lawson, 19 Summit St, Norwich NY 13815

Boater Safety Courses – Who needs a New York Boating Safety Certificate

All operators of motorized boats or PWCs in New York are now required to be certified.

The regulation, education class information, and more information can be found at https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/education.aspx. We also have a list of classes on our website: https://www.lakemoraineny.org/nys-safe-boater-law.

DEC Permit Process

DEC permit applications take over 12 months to be approved or denied.

To perform any work, replacement, repair, or changes of any type to your "seawall", permanent dock, lake floor, or anything to do with the lake, you are required to obtain an Army Corps of Engineers Permit and a DEC Permit, and possibly others.

Many of our neighbors are thinking about changes they want to make during the water drawdown for the dam reconstruction project.

We have some tips and tricks for the permitting process - we recommend that you start soon! It is our understanding, the permits are good for a minimum of 2 years, and are renewable, once issued.

FIRST STEP: Review the DEC requirements. These 2 websites are a good place to start, depending on what your project is:

• Proper Shoreline Stabilization https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/50534.html
• Waterways, Coastlines & Wetlands https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/96314.html

SECOND STEP: Review the Army Corps of Engineers requirements:

• Army Corps of Engineers https://www.usace.army.mil/

THIRD STEP: Call Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, whose office is located here in Hamilton, 6503 Wes Rd, Hamilton NY 315-824-9849, extension 5. They will come to your property and can give you advice regarding the permitting process, create the required drawings, make the required measurements, and help complete the application paperwork. They also have design ideas and suggestions.

The process is VERY complicated, time consuming, and frustrating. Nothing will move quickly. Start early and use the (free) services of Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District. This is what they do, and they are VERY knowledgeable.

Depending on the job, you may need a Town of Madison building permit also.

There are other permits that could be required.



Please visit our website: www.lakemoraineny.org

Please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LakeMoraine

To send an email: mail@lakemoraineny.org