The Raquette Lake Property Owners Association, Inc. (RLPOA) recently secured a grant from the Nature Conservancy in Keene Valley, NY to install a launch ramp monitoring system at the Village Boat Launch Site in Raquette Lake.

The system, installed over the Fourth of July weekend, is the first of its kind to be installed in the Adirondack Park, as well as the first in New York State.

Developed in 2006 by the Minnesota Company Environmental Sentry Protection, I-LIDS or Internet Landing Installed Device Sensors has had great success in monitoring boats for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

This tamper-proof technology offers an unmanned, stand-alone system that will continuously monitor boat launch activities through the use of a solar powered, wireless internet video camera that transmits the images to a local access point for review by enforcement officials.

According to Pat Deyle, Chairman of the Raquette Lake Property Owners Association, I-LIDS will go to work any time the launch is not staffed by a steward. Continue reading →