Comments for GALWAY LAKE NY BLOG http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog Discussion about Galway Lake, New York Fri, 15 May 2009 14:55:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Galway Lake Blog by Jeremy http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1307 Jeremy Fri, 15 May 2009 14:55:13 +0000 #comment-1307 My understanding in reading the Gazette article was that only the triploid grass carp were allowed to be introduced in NYS as the diploid variety are more invasive. At $8 to $15per fish, it would seem extremely expensive to introduce them into the lake, as well as maintain their levels. At any rate, if anyone missed the article here's a link - It is quite interesting. http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/05/0505_carpweed/ My understanding in reading the Gazette article was that only the triploid grass carp were allowed to be introduced in NYS as the diploid variety are more invasive. At $8 to $15per fish, it would seem extremely expensive to introduce them into the lake, as well as maintain their levels. At any rate, if anyone missed the article here’s a link – It is quite interesting.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/05/0505_carpweed/

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by S anon. http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1305 S anon. Fri, 15 May 2009 14:48:13 +0000 #comment-1305 Galway Lake is approximately 220 hectares. The cited article recommends 25-60 fish per hectare (the common amount). So roughly 5k-13k fish. The gazette article mentions 8-15 bucks a fish. found here: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/05/0505_carpweed/ That would be QUITE expensive. Would be nice if it could be tested in a small spot first but I don't know how this would be done. Thanks for the article. Galway Lake is approximately 220 hectares. The cited article recommends 25-60 fish per hectare (the common amount). So roughly 5k-13k fish.

The gazette article mentions 8-15 bucks a fish. found here:

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/05/0505_carpweed/

That would be QUITE expensive. Would be nice if it could be tested in a small spot first but I don’t know how this would be done.

Thanks for the article.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by anon23 http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1303 anon23 Fri, 15 May 2009 13:53:48 +0000 #comment-1303 Grass carp, like most fishes, are diploid. They possess two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent) and are capable of sexual reproduction. Triploid fish, however, have three sets of chromosomes and are incapable of normal sexual reproduction and the production of viable offspring. The use of triploid grass carp would severely limit the likelihood and magnitude of any negative impacts, but still allow benefits of its use, that is, long-term, low-cost plant control and the production of harvestable fish (Sutton 1965, Sutton and Vandiver 1986). www.wvu.edu/~agexten/aquaculture/triploid.htm#Grass Grass carp, like most fishes, are diploid. They possess two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent) and are capable of sexual reproduction. Triploid fish, however, have three sets of chromosomes and are incapable of normal sexual reproduction and the production of viable offspring. The use of triploid grass carp would severely limit the likelihood and magnitude of any negative impacts, but still allow benefits of its use, that is, long-term, low-cost plant control and the production of harvestable fish (Sutton 1965, Sutton and Vandiver 1986).

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/aquaculture/triploid.htm#Grass

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by S. anon http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1302 S. anon Fri, 15 May 2009 13:26:09 +0000 #comment-1302 Anom23 I think we are certainly in agreement more than we are not. I have been the one in the above posts complaining of the rampant pickerel and I mentioned above about the article that appeared in the Gazette about using carp as weed control. I have been mentioning this for years unfortunately not to the right people. I posted a comment about the Gazette article on the Associations website after they announced the barley straw test. Not sure if anyone is reading that. Obviously your position as a biologist certainly would make you more qualified to speak on the carp issue than me but I don't really see a downside to trying it. Yes carp get big (which is good if they are getting fat on weeds :)) and they are ugly (to some) and don't offer much of a tempting meal (for most people, in Asia a delicacy) but I don't believe that they would out compete any other species (save for maybe bullhead). They would be relatively expensive to introduce into a 500+ acre lake but I would assume (and anom you could probably answer this) they would reproduce. Another assumption is that the carp would be a long term solution and not a results quick band aid style fix. This is probably why the association has not attempted it. That or no one has produced a viable, workable blueprint for instituting it. I certainly apologize for stereotyping anyone and or insulting anyone. I would love to see more comments on the biological issues at the lake. Anom23 I think we are certainly in agreement more than we are not. I have been the one in the above posts complaining of the rampant pickerel and I mentioned above about the article that appeared in the Gazette about using carp as weed control. I have been mentioning this for years unfortunately not to the right people. I posted a comment about the Gazette article on the Associations website after they announced the barley straw test. Not sure if anyone is reading that.

Obviously your position as a biologist certainly would make you more qualified to speak on the carp issue than me but I don’t really see a downside to trying it. Yes carp get big (which is good if they are getting fat on weeds :) ) and they are ugly (to some) and don’t offer much of a tempting meal (for most people, in Asia a delicacy) but I don’t believe that they would out compete any other species (save for maybe bullhead). They would be relatively expensive to introduce into a 500+ acre lake but I would assume (and anom you could probably answer this) they would reproduce. Another assumption is that the carp would be a long term solution and not a results quick band aid style fix. This is probably why the association has not attempted it. That or no one has produced a viable, workable blueprint for instituting it.

I certainly apologize for stereotyping anyone and or insulting anyone. I would love to see more comments on the biological issues at the lake.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by anom23 http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1301 anom23 Fri, 15 May 2009 12:42:49 +0000 #comment-1301 I am not suggesting all camps are not maintained, however many are not and neither are the septics (nor are they reading this blog, most likely). That was my only point, sorry for the confusion. Nor do i wish the entire lake be developed, as a 3rd generation galway native, I certainly enjoy the solitude of this beautiful place, or i would not have built here despite my long commute to work everyday (i am not a millionaire unfortunately). I am only suggesting that maybe we should not waste our time putting each other into "categories" by who's family has been here longer and what grove is best and what the lake was or was not 50yrs ago - but lets use this to make suggestions and work together on real issues. I for example would like to use my biology background and resources to research the use of carp for weed control. Speaking of biology, are any members of the lake preservation committee biologists? Don't you think there should be? I have offered to volunteer before, i will try again. How about we talk about the fact that we should use the website to vote on GL spending and other issues? I for one think we should have more input on lake spending. Was the survey really worth spending all that money and look what it has done? I want to know how much these new weed control methods cost and what research was done before we spent all of this money, OUR money. What are we going to do about the growing geese problem? What is the process of electing the board members and how long is the term? Can we vote via the web on this too? To all my fellow fishermen and women out there - how about those pickerel? ugh! Are we stocking more walleye? How about those sailors? How can we get more young people involved in sailing? Anyway - these are just some thoughts. Really not trying to offend anyone, just think we can make better use of our time. I am not suggesting all camps are not maintained, however many are not and neither are the septics (nor are they reading this blog, most likely). That was my only point, sorry for the confusion. Nor do i wish the entire lake be developed, as a 3rd generation galway native, I certainly enjoy the solitude of this beautiful place, or i would not have built here despite my long commute to work everyday (i am not a millionaire unfortunately). I am only suggesting that maybe we should not waste our time putting each other into “categories” by who’s family has been here longer and what grove is best and what the lake was or was not 50yrs ago – but lets use this to make suggestions and work together on real issues. I for example would like to use my biology background and resources to research the use of carp for weed control. Speaking of biology, are any members of the lake preservation committee biologists? Don’t you think there should be? I have offered to volunteer before, i will try again. How about we talk about the fact that we should use the website to vote on GL spending and other issues? I for one think we should have more input on lake spending. Was the survey really worth spending all that money and look what it has done? I want to know how much these new weed control methods cost and what research was done before we spent all of this money, OUR money. What are we going to do about the growing geese problem? What is the process of electing the board members and how long is the term? Can we vote via the web on this too? To all my fellow fishermen and women out there – how about those pickerel? ugh! Are we stocking more walleye? How about those sailors? How can we get more young people involved in sailing? Anyway – these are just some thoughts. Really not trying to offend anyone, just think we can make better use of our time.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by S. Anon. http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1288 S. Anon. Thu, 14 May 2009 19:25:16 +0000 #comment-1288 anom23 I certainly did not mean to offend anyone, just a general observation that I have made based on a series of conversations and interactions I have had with several different property owners. You obviously don't sound like one of the individuals I referenced. I am certainly thankful to anyone that cares enough about the lake to reply as you did. In response to your taking issue with my reference to "camps" you certainly don't need to build a palace to have a modern and efficient structure. I recently stayed in a cabin in the Catskills that was recently constructed but you would have thought it was there for 100 years aesthetically speaking. It was smaller than most of the structures on the lake but had all the amenities and was a true "camp". It was certainly a structure that most anyone would admire and it certainly would not detract from the close quartered atmosphere that is Galway Lake. Let's talk about the roads for a minute in and out of the groves. I don't know of any of the inner grove road systems that are built to handle being plowed and driven on in the winter months, or made to sustain the heavy construction traffic that I have personally seen do major damage to drainage and road design. As far as the newer structures driving up the values of the smaller "camps" is concerned I am sure there is some fact to that. However, as is the case with the current legal morass that we are all familiar with, the more construction, surveying, dividing etc. that takes place, the more legal issues that will take place. The publicized issues we all know about cannot be doing anything for the value of the lake. I have watched a deterioration of one of the groves (I will leave it nameless) over the last 25 years, and the way the occupants of that grove interact. My family has been on the lake for well over 60 years and from hearing stories and seeing photos (I am fortunate enough to have a series of postcards from the early 1900's that are actually real photos of scenes around the lake) of Galway Lake back then (& earlier even) it started as a place for hard working families (many from Schenectady in its prime) to get away from the city. Even growing up in the eighties I remember it as being a place to "get away" and it felt a little like camping. I admire some of the newer structures greatly and appreciate some of the architecture as much as the next person but can you imagine if everyone of the 500+ buildings gets replaced with some of the year round homes that have been constructed. People without lakefront homes will start feeling as if they are not even near a lake. I simply do not believe that Galway Lake as I have known it is big enough to support 550 full sized 2+ story homes.To play devil's advocate I cannot in good conscience say to someone they don't have a right to update their property. I guess I just think there has to be a compromise. Hopefully my family will be updating in the not too distant future. The whole entire point to my original post was that Galway Lake in my parents and grandparents generation was not a place to worry about your "home value" it was about getting away, doing some fishing and relaxing. I suppose I am being more nostalgic than anything but I feel there are some real issues here. Galway Lake is not Saratoga Lake and it is certainly not Lake George. Galway Lake used to be a place that a hard working person could strive to have a place on. I hate to see it in my lifetime become a place only millionaires can take part in. To Jeremy and ML, I have spent some time in Maywood (had friends there in the past) and it definitely always seemed to me to have a great secluded atmosphere. I especially like the area near the dam. anom23 I certainly did not mean to offend anyone, just a general observation that I have made based on a series of conversations and interactions I have had with several different property owners. You obviously don’t sound like one of the individuals I referenced. I am certainly thankful to anyone that cares enough about the lake to reply as you did.

In response to your taking issue with my reference to “camps” you certainly don’t need to build a palace to have a modern and efficient structure. I recently stayed in a cabin in the Catskills that was recently constructed but you would have thought it was there for 100 years aesthetically speaking. It was smaller than most of the structures on the lake but had all the amenities and was a true “camp”. It was certainly a structure that most anyone would admire and it certainly would not detract from the close quartered atmosphere that is Galway Lake.

Let’s talk about the roads for a minute in and out of the groves. I don’t know of any of the inner grove road systems that are built to handle being plowed and driven on in the winter months, or made to sustain the heavy construction traffic that I have personally seen do major damage to drainage and road design.

As far as the newer structures driving up the values of the smaller “camps” is concerned I am sure there is some fact to that. However, as is the case with the current legal morass that we are all familiar with, the more construction, surveying, dividing etc. that takes place, the more legal issues that will take place. The publicized issues we all know about cannot be doing anything for the value of the lake.

I have watched a deterioration of one of the groves (I will leave it nameless) over the last 25 years, and the way the occupants of that grove interact. My family has been on the lake for well over 60 years and from hearing stories and seeing photos (I am fortunate enough to have a series of postcards from the early 1900’s that are actually real photos of scenes around the lake) of Galway Lake back then (& earlier even) it started as a place for hard working families (many from Schenectady in its prime) to get away from the city. Even growing up in the eighties I remember it as being a place to “get away” and it felt a little like camping.

I admire some of the newer structures greatly and appreciate some of the architecture as much as the next person but can you imagine if everyone of the 500+ buildings gets replaced with some of the year round homes that have been constructed. People without lakefront homes will start feeling as if they are not even near a lake. I simply do not believe that Galway Lake as I have known it is big enough to support 550 full sized 2+ story homes.To play devil’s advocate I cannot in good conscience say to someone they don’t have a right to update their property. I guess I just think there has to be a compromise. Hopefully my family will be updating in the not too distant future.

The whole entire point to my original post was that Galway Lake in my parents and grandparents generation was not a place to worry about your “home value” it was about getting away, doing some fishing and relaxing. I suppose I am being more nostalgic than anything but I feel there are some real issues here.

Galway Lake is not Saratoga Lake and it is certainly not Lake George. Galway Lake used to be a place that a hard working person could strive to have a place on. I hate to see it in my lifetime become a place only millionaires can take part in.

To Jeremy and ML, I have spent some time in Maywood (had friends there in the past) and it definitely always seemed to me to have a great secluded atmosphere. I especially like the area near the dam.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by Jeremy http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1277 Jeremy Thu, 14 May 2009 01:39:20 +0000 #comment-1277 And to concur with ML - Maywood is possibly the most peaceful place on earth. I am located there, and believe the topography is the best on the lake. My dock sits atop 12' of water, and we remain entirely secluded on the waterfront. It is, of course, simply a matter of personal preference. And to concur with ML – Maywood is possibly the most peaceful place on earth. I am located there, and believe the topography is the best on the lake. My dock sits atop 12′ of water, and we remain entirely secluded on the waterfront. It is, of course, simply a matter of personal preference.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by Jeremy http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1276 Jeremy Thu, 14 May 2009 01:31:45 +0000 #comment-1276 This discussion may be taking a turn for the worse - As just a "camp" owner (you'll call it run down if its not up to your standards) who's septic also does not leak -I will agree that we all must be here for the good of the lake. It is those of us who remain vigilant that will ultimately preserve its fate, good or bad. Of concern, however, is that of the 500+ camps on the lake, and the many issues we have faced in the last year, how many of them have posted the 175 messages on this blog we watch? I do hope that those coming into the lake community - new home or old camp - are made aware of the great responsibility in their hands. That responsibility to the Lake, and the rest of us. This discussion may be taking a turn for the worse – As just a “camp” owner (you’ll call it run down if its not up to your standards) who’s septic also does not leak -I will agree that we all must be here for the good of the lake. It is those of us who remain vigilant that will ultimately preserve its fate, good or bad. Of concern, however, is that of the 500+ camps on the lake, and the many issues we have faced in the last year, how many of them have posted the 175 messages on this blog we watch?

I do hope that those coming into the lake community – new home or old camp – are made aware of the great responsibility in their hands. That responsibility to the Lake, and the rest of us.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by anon http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1271 anon Wed, 13 May 2009 20:38:29 +0000 #comment-1271 anon23, you have to remember that it is the "campers" with the "run down camps" that are responsible for the take over of the lake fom the 5 amsterdam mills, and are responsible for the clean, cared for lake you are now enjoying. for one thing, the lake used to be so full of weeds you couldn't fish.you couldn't get within 200 yards of the north shore because of the weeds on the surface. The "run down camp owners" have done a super job of handeling the lake.and by the way, my camp is not run down nor does the ceptic tank leak. anon23, you have to remember that it is the “campers” with the “run down camps” that are responsible for the take over of the lake fom the 5 amsterdam mills, and are responsible for the clean, cared for lake you are now enjoying. for one thing, the lake used to be so full of weeds you couldn’t fish.you couldn’t get within 200 yards of the north shore because of the weeds on the surface. The “run down camp owners” have done a super job of handeling the lake.and by the way, my camp is not run down nor does the ceptic tank leak.

]]> Comment on Galway Lake Blog by anom23 http://galwaylakecamp.com/blog/2008/06/20/hello-world/comment-page-4/#comment-1268 anom23 Wed, 13 May 2009 17:46:53 +0000 #comment-1268 As a avid swimmer, fisherwoman, wife of a GL sailor, a biologist and also a "year rounder" I felt it was necessary to mention that we feel VERY strongly about preserving the lake and the above comments are a bit insulting. But that being said, the "year rounders" tend have newer homes, NEWER SEPTICS, and a lot more invested and therefore have greater concern over their homes then a "camper" with a run down camp and a leaky septic. The new year round homes also add value to your "camps" so lets try to be ALL galway lakers instead of one or the other. As a avid swimmer, fisherwoman, wife of a GL sailor, a biologist and also a “year rounder” I felt it was necessary to mention that we feel VERY strongly about preserving the lake and the above comments are a bit insulting. But that being said, the “year rounders” tend have newer homes, NEWER SEPTICS, and a lot more invested and therefore have greater concern over their homes then a “camper” with a run down camp and a leaky septic. The new year round homes also add value to your “camps” so lets try to be ALL galway lakers instead of one or the other.

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