Soil and Water District Announces 2010 Conservationist of the Year

At their Annual Meeting on December 20th, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District Chairman Frank Thomas presented the East Shore Schroon Lake Association (ESSLA) with the District’s 2010 Conservationist of the Year Award. It is the only award given by the District, and it is presented to an individual or organization who has shown excellence in working to protect and improve the natural resources of Warren County.

ESSLA was instrumental in working with the District and other parties in the development of the new Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan, which is now being viewed as a model by the NYS Department of State and lake groups statewide. ESSLA President Bill McGhie is now heading up a new committee of individuals solely focused on undertaking the many recommendations in the plan. Bill and his group see this as a long-term project, and want to ensure that this important plan doesn’t just sit on a shelf. “The Plan is the framework, but it doesn’t benefit the lake if we don’t act on it and get those recommendations into action” says McGhie.

Bill McGhie was in attendance to receive the award, along with members Jane Smith and Vince Blando, who are also very dynamic and involved in Schroon Lake projects such as a milfoil scouting program and adopt-a-highway litter cleanup. “The East Shore Schroon Lake Association has such a positive impact on Schroon Lake” says Conservation District Manager Dave Wick. “Bill and his organization’s members are tremendously active, and these local volunteer lake groups are really the core of conservation activities on our beautiful lakes.”

Left to right pictured below:

Vince Blando, Jane Smith, ESSLA President Bill McGhie, SWCD Chairman Frank Thomas

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