Community Improvement Project Fund / 2007 Membership

The Boat Club’s Community Improvement Project (CIP) Fund is headed into it’s second year with over $5,500 available for worthy projects. Four projects were completed in 2006 as noted in the Fall Newsletter. Two additional projects are in the feasibility / planning stages. A small Water Overlook Pavilion for the Town of Clifton Beach Park that would cost $5,000 to $8,000 if approved and a Boat Wash Station for the Colombian Road Boat Launch.

Attached to this newsletter is the annual membership renewal form and included on that form is a place where you can make an additional donation to the CIP Fund. There is also a place to list your Community Improvement Project ideas.  Link to Printable version of 2007 Membership Renewal and Community Improvement Project Fund Donation Form

Waterfront Revitalization Strategy, Towns of Clifton and Fine

In early 2006 the Towns of Clifton and Fine received a $35,000 planning grant from the State of New York to help decide what projects we’d like to see happen along our waterfronts. The planning activity, lead by a team from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) under the leadership of Zoë Smith and a Waterfront Advisory Committee (WAC) made up of local residents, conducted three public hearings to gather input and prioritize projects. Following these hearings the WCS and the WAC met through the Winter of 2006/2007 to refine and organize this data into a Strategy document; a plan for the two Towns. A draft Strategy was presented to, and preliminary approval given by, the two Town Boards in February of 2007. A public information session is being scheduled for late April 2007 to present the draft Strategy and gather final feedback on the recommended projects.

Note:  Those wishing to review the Draft Strategy for the Waterfront Revitialization for the Towns of Clifton and Fine may do so at www.wcs.org/adkwaterfront .  (This Note update added on 05/31/2007.)

Fish and Game Report – 2006 by Wes Marsh

Fishing – AHH!  What a difference a year makes. If you’ll recall, the 2005 summer weather was spectacular. 2006 was cool, wet, and windy. My first trip to fish a pond ended up as a 2 hour walk in a cold rain. This set the tone for several trips, as well as the July Fishing Derby. Most boats were off the lake by noon that day. Rumor has it that ESPN will be filming a derby this coming summer. Despite the weather, the lake remains a prime fishing location for both large and small mouth bass. Unfortunately, the Northern Pike population continues to grow in both size and numbers. There were reports of an early spring pike near the village weighing 24 lbs. and one reported mid-summer of over 36 inches. A 24" pike was taken and released (unfortunately) near Chair Rock Island. It appears that they have found every bay on the lake. Very few brook trout reports this year.

Hunting – Good news-the number of deer seen and bucks taken this past hunting season was encouraging. There were reports of several bucks taken, however, I won’t give away the areas! When it comes to a successful hunt, my camp has a different story however. Five bucks were seen, three were shot at, but none were harvested. The track soup was thin! In addition, a first year hunter from Georgia missed a bear three times! I guess "buck fever" and "bear fever" are similar. My greatest outdoor thrill this past summer came when we discovered moose tracks 300 yards from our camp on the south shore.

My camp has grown from four guys in a tent in the 70’s to this year with 23 hunters representing six states. First came sons, then their friends, then grandsons and their friends. Throw in a few neighbors, and it has outgrown itself, both in the amount of work and in safety. The old-timers can’t find a fair way to scale back, so we’re ending a 75 year tradition. It’s been fun.