Committees

FLPOA has a very active membership and the best way to get involved is through participation in our seven, volunteer-led standing committees. The committees address multiple concerns and plan activities. It’s a great way to make a positive impact on issues related to the lake and the community and to meet neighbors who share your interests.  Want more information or ready to join one? Have ideas for additional projects or committees?

Communications/Technology Committee

Supports FLPOA’s  communication with our membership and technology:  the FLPOA website, social media (Facebook and Instagram),  maintenance of the membership database, welcome and orientation of new members and newsletters and emails and mailings to our members.

Dam Committee

The  earthen dam at the northern corner of the Lake maintains a water level to support the various recreational activities on the Lake, including fishing, boating and swimming.  The Dam Committee’s primary concern is to protect the dam’s structure from damage.  Committee members inspect and maintain the dam.  

The goal of the committee is to collaborate on  responsible development of lands around Friends Lake.  Responsible development not only relates to development of land around the lake but also to actively observe the drafting, enforcement and interpretation of laws and regulations regarding the ecology and quality of life on and around Friends Lake.

We monitor the actions of the state and local land use governing bodies including planning and zoning boards as they affect the lake community and attend such meetings at which property development issues are discussed and decided that affect the membership.

Development Committee  

The goal of the committee is to collaborate on  responsible development of lands around Friends Lake.  Responsible development not only relates to development of land around the lake but also to actively observe the drafting, enforcement and interpretation of laws and regulations regarding the ecology and quality of life on and around Friends Lake.

We monitor the actions of the state and local land use governing bodies including planning and zoning boards as they affect the lake community and attend such meetings at which property development issues are discussed and decided that affect the membership.

This committee serves:

  • As a conduit of information to inform the FLPOA and members to development activities that come to our attention.
  • To build awareness and stewardship related to protection of Friends Lake.
  • To suggest guidelines on developing properties (e.g. property development/changes including impact on septic, tree removal, including changes to yard/fertilizer usage, dock size and mooring)  

The Association has challenged efforts, in multiple forums, that would have provided much higher density development in previously undeveloped lakefront and adjacent properties.

Loon Friendly Lake/Wildlife Committee

Works to protect Adirondack Loons through partnership with the Adirondack Center For Loon Conservation. The Committee educates and involves the Friends Lake community to enhance understanding of loon natural history and behavior, eliminate loon injuries from fishing line and lead tackle, and improve loon nesting success by reducing human disturbance of loons, their nests, and chicks.  We participate in  lake-wide clean-ups during the summer as part of our Loon-Friendly Lake Certification. The FLPOA  proudly achieved certification as a Loon Friendly Lake in 2021 and has continued to meet the  annual requirements of the program.  The committee also participates in the NY Annual Loon Census, which provides a “snapshot” of the breeding loon population in the state. We have developed best practices to protect our precious loons and other wildlife.   

Nominating Committee

Encourages member participation in activities of the association, including service on the board and involvement on committees. Oversees the procedures outlined in the bylaws for the recruitment and nomination of the association’s board of directors and its officers.  Assesses the future needs of the board and works to develop connections within the lake community. The FLPOA Board Nomination Form may be found here.

Social Committee

Organize and host multiple social events to develop a greater sense of community among property owners and their guests.  Activities include brunches, a friendly, mini triathlon and an end of summer gathering at the Friends Lake Inn. 

Water Quality Committee 

Mission is to protect and enhance the water quality in Friends Lake. Water quality data dating back to the 1930’s provides proof that the quality of our waters has not diminished in these nine decades. We accomplish our work by A) Conducting a series of tests and observations each year on the lake and B) Providing the results of those tests to our membership, and sharing information and C) Best practices relative to protecting the ecology and quality of Friends Lake. The Water Quality members are especially trained in these areas and continue to safeguard the lake.

Some of the challenges we face each year are invasive species (invasive plants, invasive insects, invasive animals, invasive terrestrials), faulty septic systems, runoff from the surrounding roads and lawn fertilizers, excessive removal of trees and foliage on the lakeshore line, and algal blooms.

Best practices to protect water quality:  

Everyone can help and needs to be involved in protecting the lake. Please follow the Water Quality Best Practices. Please print them out and provide them to any renters of your property. Make sure your family, friends, guests and renters are educated.

Water Quality Reports 

We are happy to report that scientific data shows that Friends Lake water quality is excellent and no invasive plants or other quality issues have been found. 

We provide our membership with information as it becomes available which may be found here. The Association annually provides multiple water samples for scientific analysis which provides standardized proof of the unchanged water quality we enjoy.  The following reports are available: 

Water testing 

Our specially trained volunteer committee members are involved in four types of tests:

1. In partnership with the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP)  we test for total phosphorus, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, color, nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, transparency, chloride, sodium, and calcium. [Note, for a number of years, testing was done through the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). However, due to budget cuts, CSLAP was no longer testing for phosphorus, which we felt was important, so we made the change to ALAP.] We were able to combine the total CSLAP database with the three tests we performed last year using ALAP, with the goal of developing a comprehensive, long-term database of water quality conditions on Friends Lake. Again, so far, all the testing indicates that Friends Lake water quality is excellent! 

2.  We work with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) to conduct the second test. At GPS coordinates created by APIPP, committee members completed over 200 rake tosses around the lake shore, and will continue to do so at the same GPS coordinates yearly; this  enables us to determine the identity and density of the plants in the area being surveyed. Additionally, there is a team of people who have been surveying the lake for several years. So far, no invasive plants have been found in the Lake.

3.   Working with SUNY Adirondack Community College (ACC), we perform the last test, which monitors the lake for septic runoff through tests for chlorine (HOCl) and E. coli (bacterial cells). In 2022, we performed tests in 20 different shoreline locations three times. The three test results were inconclusive. The first test showed two locations that were identified as “areas of interest”. The next test showed two areas that were of interest, but not the same two as identified in test one. The last test showed two areas of interest, one of which was the same as in test one. When we inquired about why the results varied from test to test, we were told that there are many variables that have to be considered. These include wind speed, current, temperature, water level, and bird poop in the area being tested. ACC advised us to conduct the surveys again this year, build a database, and determine if the same areas of interest show up again. This will help us determine if further work needs to take place in that area. In 2023 we are performing tests at six additional locations, for a total of 26. To date, no action other than testing has occurred. We will evaluate the test results this year and compare them to last year’s test to determine what, if any, action should be taken. We inform members as test results come in.  

4.  In 2023 we began conducting a DNA test with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) which compares the DNA  of our lake to all known invasive plant species in the Adirondacks.  The test is new and exciting and will give us another tool in our box of tests. 

Test results and reports 

The Association annually provides multiple water samples for scientific analysis which provides standardized proof of the unchanged water quality we enjoy.  

The following reports are available: