The Fulton Chain of Lakes Association is celebrating its 45th anniversary as advocates for keeping the waters of the Fulton Chain healthy and clean with a special two-hour cruise aboard the Clearwater.
The anniversary event will be held Friday, August 2 at 5 p.m.
The cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members and includes the annual meeting, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
The fee for non-members includes a membership to the organization.
The Association began in 1968. Spurred by concerns over poor water quality in the Fulton Chain, a group of concerned residents formed the Fulton Chain of Lakes Improvement Assoc-iation, as it was known at the time.
With the testing of septic systems and homeowner efforts to fix faulty septic piping systems, the water quality improved dramatically within a few years.
Since then, the Association has regularly educated landowners on navigation of the Fulton Chain and the effects of lawn fertilizers.
For twenty years it has been a member of the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program, a volunteer lake monitoring and education program that provides data to the Department of Envi-ronmental Conservation.
Today, the FCLA’s biggest concern—and where it spends most of its time—is on the eradication of invasive aquatics, said board member Phil Sanzone.
The FCLA has spearheaded a program to eradicate Eurasian Milfoil and has raised grant funds that have been matched by the Towns of Inlet and Webb.
Board member Ron Smith assembles groups of divers to carry out their removal and monitoring initiatives.
“Currently, we’re really happy with the clarity of the water and that the Towns of Webb and Inlet have been so cooperative…it has truly been a partnership that has benefited both towns and the economy,” Sanzone said.
All are invited to join the anniversary cruise. Space is limited and those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Heather Stafford at (315) 369-6489.
