Glenmere Lake Discovery Day attracts more than 100 people

FLORIDA - More than 100 residents of the Village of Florida gathered Saturday afternoon at the S.S. Seward Institute for the Glenmere Lake Reservoir Family Discovery Day. This event hosted by the Glenmere Conservation Coalition and other partner organizations. Many volunteers had games and activities for families. According to the organizers, Glenmere Lake is home to a diverse group of species. Dozens of insects, fish, plants, snakes and the endangered northern cricket frog all reside in the lake. Even the American bald eagle calls Glenmere Lake home. The Department of Environmental Conservation wants to utilize the herbicide fluridone, commonly known as SONAR, to combat weeds such as Eurasian watermilfoil. But the herbicide contains carcinogenic products and could be fatal to the lake’s inhabitants, opponents argue. The DEC funded a 68-page Wallkill River Watershed Study, which did not include Glenmere Lake. “The lake is a source of drinking water for Florida and Goshen” said Coalition member Jay Westerveld. “Glenmere Lake is the most bio-diverse community in Orange County. We’re outraged this was omitted from the Wallkill River Watershed Study.” The northern cricket frog exists in five places in New York and the ones found in Glenmere are the healthies and have the highest population out of all their habitats in the state. Herbicides have been known to be top reason for the disappearance of frogs. The DEC will decide to not use herbicides if the Village of Florida can prove that they are harmful. Glenmere Lake not only affects Florida and Goshen but Chester as well. A small portion of the lake extends into Chester and there’s been discussion about creating a beach for the town of Chester, with beaches and docks. Florida Village historian Gary Randal provided background about the history of Glenmere Lake, which dates to the glacial period. And then Howard Horowitz, professor of geography at Ramapo College, discussed the dangers of using herbicides to try and eliminate the weeds in the lake. Some of the breakdown products are known to cause testicular cancer, and the residue can remain in lake sediments for years. He also said there are more cost-effective methods, such as manual, mechanical and biological; these can be used in combination.