Welcome to Pilot Knob
Bay-by-Bay visited Pilot Knob! Although Pilot Knob is not technically a Bay, it is one of the area’s the LGA has identified as a “High Priority Area” with significant threats facing its shoreline. View the presentation below to gain insight into its unique makeup, the greatest threats facing the water quality, and how you as homeowners, business owners, or Lake users can help protect it. Learn about:
- Minimizing stormwater and wastewater impacts of nutrients that potentially feed Harmful Algal Blooms
- Preventing and controlling the spread of invasive species
- Reducing road salt use
Pilot Knob Profile
Located in the Town of Fort Ann in Washington County, the Pilot Knob watershed flows into the Dome Island sub-basin of Lake George. This sub-basin is named for the famous dome-shaped island and contains the deepest location in the lake.
The Critical Environmental Area (CEA), a band of land extending back 500 feet from the shoreline and considered the most influential land to the lake's water quality, makes up 9% of the watershed (285 acres).
- Properties: 80% of the properties in the watershed are within the CEA (280 of 347).
- Streams: There nearly 8 miles of DEC regulated AA-Special streams. There are almost 33 miles of intermittent streams that only flow during portions of the year (Spring runoff or rain events) or run year-round and are unregulated by DEC at this time.
- Roads: 8 miles of roads: including 3.5 miles of Private roads, 3 miles of County roads, and 1.3 miles of Town roads. Of the 8 miles, 0.3 miles are within 100 feet of the shoreline and at a greater risk for introducing salt and other runoff to the lake.
Impervious Surface Is Impacting Water Quality
10% of the land in the CEA is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, roofs, or driveways. Impervious surfaces covering more than 10% of the CEA will have an impact on water quality. You can improve your water quality by avoiding further impervious surface development, capturing any stormwater runoff between these surfaces and streams or the lake shore, and converting existing surfaces into something that water can sink into, like permeable pavers. Consider planting a shoreline buffer as a protective cushion for the lake.
Septic Systems
87% of the properties (251) in the Pilot Knob area are on private septic systems. Improperly treated wastewater from aging, failing or inadequately designed septic systems is impacting Lake George water quality, threatening human health with organic matter, bacterial and viral pathogens, and feeding algae growth with excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, that can potentially lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs). If you’re a septic system owner, Lake George needs you to contribute to water quality protection by taking the actions outlined in the link below to ensure your septic system is operating properly.
Areas to Protect From Development and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is already present in the Pilot Knob watershed, threatening the health of our Hemlock forests. Approximately 40% of the tree cover is Conifer (evergreen) trees, some of which are Hemlocks. More of the Hemlock stands within your watershed have the potential to become infested without proper monitoring and management. The confirmed infestation is located just south of Willet Boulevard and Butternut Brook. HWA is often spread via birds.
Ready to protect your bay?
Pilot Knob Events
Community Presentation: 7/26/22
Residents gathered to hear about the priority issues in Pilot Knob. You can view the presentation or the Lake Protector video from the event.
If you'd like to get notifications of future events in Pilot Knob, become a Lake Protector.
Eric Siy, President of the LGA, speaks to Pilot Knob residents at the 2022 Bay-by-Bay event.