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Welcome to the
Star Lake Protective Association
The SLPA has been dedicated to the preservation of Star Lake
since 1901.
The Star Lake Protective Association's
mission is "to promote the protection and improvement of Star Lake and the surrounding property and environment".
We are a non-regulatory, non-profit organization which conducts meetings
twice a year and sponsors recreational events and activities for lake
residents and visitors. See
About the SLPA
for more information.
Star Lake, located in northern New York State, is a small, pristine lake situated in the western
foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.
Star Lake shares its borders with a
hamlet of the same name. About half of its
lake residents live here year-round in winterized homes, enjoying four true
"north country" seasons. Others
come to Star Lake on vacations,
week-ends or "for the summer" to visit their vacation cottages,
some of which are well over 100 years old, built in the true Adirondack
camp fashion. All enjoy the
cool, crystal-clear lake water in a
great variety of ways. Fishing, swimming, and all types of water sports
and boating are popular. There is a Star Lake Regatta every year for
sailing enthusiasts. Canoes and kayaks are in abundance.
Many
consider their "rafts" the vehicle of choice as they slowly
motor around the lake in relative luxury and comfort. Motor boats
and jet skis are also popular for tubing, knee boarding and water
skiing. No matter what your favorite watercraft, you can enter the
annual Poker Run. Star Lake has a sandbar that has been referred to as the
"village green," where Star Lakers get together to socialize. There is something for everyone on this very special
little lake.

This site was developed in March, 2007
and is constantly evolving as new new content
is being planned and articles are revised. You are invited to browse around
and come back often for updated or new information. If you are a
member, look for Association news, particularly in the
Members' Area (you will need to be a
member with a
username and password). If you are not a member, please consider
joining us in our endeavor to keep Star Lake beautiful, clean and safe
for all to enjoy for generations to come. Please feel free to use
the multi-purpose
Feedback form to comment on the site or ask
for information. |
Two Loon Injuries in One Week!
Read about them in
the Members' Area (Username and Password Required)
8/28/2023 Another Sad Day...Yesterday,
it was reported that an adult loon was acting sickly and had beached
itself, indicating that it was in distress. On closer inspection,
it was the loon initially rescued and tagged. Today, it was
captured to be treated by Dr. Nina Schock and crew from the Adirondack
Center for Loon Conservation; but sadly, it did not survive the trip to
Saranac Lake.
Necropsy (cause of death) reports can be seen
here. (Username and Password Required) 7/18/2023 It's a
Very Sad Day on Star
Lake. One of the baby loons was found
dead next to our dock. It was last seen alive
yesterday.
It is not clear whether the sibling attacked it, another
predator killed it, or it got hit by a boat. Its body will be sent to the
Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation for examination.
One Member's Rant Regarding the Loon Injuries...
It goes without saying that
all this drama and suffering is the result of human
carelessness. I am spitting nails as I observe the
careless, reckless operation of jet skis by mostly young and
too-young drivers who apparently lack the mental maturity to
watch where they are going and can't think of others because
they are so wrapped up in their own fun. I'm sick to
death watching these machines barreling into narrow bays
around the lake that clearly are 5 mph/no wake areas where
people are swimming. I'm livid when I see a
jet ski going around in circles, jumping its own wake, when
there are people nearby in canoes or kayaks, or loons or
ducks swimming nearby. I hate seeing tubers or water
skiers with or without spotters when the driver is turned
around watching the tuber or skier instead of watching where
they are going. We own a jet ski, but it does none of
those things. It's not the machines' fault. I'm
clearly talking about operator error. It's the result
of human carelessness, disregard for the law and disrespect
for the Lake!
C'mon folks. Respect the lake and
ALL its residents. Educate yourselves as to the laws and
rules of the lake. Then, supervise and educate your
kids. Show some empathy for those who just want to
quietly enjoy the lake. Read about how to behave
around loons
here. And, "if you see something,
say something". --Bo R.
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It's Ice-Out, 4/13/2023!
April started with mild,
breezy days in the 60's--conditions ripe for ice-melting.
4/10/23 A beautiful sunny warm 7-day forecast provided us
hope for a quick ice-out. Ice had
receded around the shoreline and during the day, it became darker
and more open water became visible.
4/12/23 Ice was becoming very dark, showing the results of
some very warm (for here) temperatures and a light breeze.
More and more open water appeared as the day went on, but there
still was significant ice on third lake, in the middle. Maybe
tomorrow?
4/13/23 It's officially "ice-out" when a raft can make it
to and through the cut. So, we can say the ice was out on 4/13/2023.
Team Sovay/Ritchings made our first attempt at the crossing around
10 am; but failed due to the thickness of the ice around the cut.
We decided to retreat for a couple of hours, have lunch and try
again later. By 11:45, we tried again and this time, it was
clear sailing through the cut.
Let
the 2023 lake season begin!
Click a
picture for a larger view; click the browser's "back" button to return.
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4/13/2023, 1:42 pm The south
end of 3rd lake has the most ice left. Most of the
lake is open. |
4/13/2023, 1:38 pm Only
small patches of ice remained in the shaded bays around
the lake. |
4/13/2023, 1:35 pm On our
return through the cut, we had to move some ice out of
the way. |
4/13/2023, 1:33 pm The cut,
looking toward 3rd lake and Maple Mountain. |
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4/13/2023, 1:27 pm There was
a patch of ice over the sandbar. |
4/13/2023, 1:17 pm Post
Office bay was pretty clear by afternoon. |
4/13/2023, 11:57 am Looking
back at the cut, ice was piling up at the opening--might
be a difficult return. |
4/13/2023, 11:20 am We had
to break through some ice on the other side of the cut. |
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4/13/2023, 11:18 am There
was open water in the cut, as we rafted through to
second lake. |
4/13/2023, 11:14 am Less
than two hours later, there was a clear path to the cut. |
4/13/2023, 10 am It looked
like there was a path through the ice, so we made our
first attempt, which failed. |
4/13/2023, 5:36 am We
thought the ice would disappear overnight; but there was
still significant ice. |
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4/12/2023, 3:46 pm You can
see how much the ice has darkened, signifying that the
ice is very thin. |
4/12/2023, 3:45 As more ice
receded, it was clear that the next step was to put the
motor on the raft. |
4/12/2023, 10 am There is
far more open water two days later, with sunshine and
warm temps. |
4/10/2023, 2:20 pm Ice is
breaking up around the shoreline; but it is still white
and solid in the middle |
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Visit
Us Through the Star Lake Handbook
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Postcard
Gallery--Take a Historical Tour
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The Star Lake Handbook is a 20-page color
booklet describing scenic
Star Lake and the Star Lake Protective Association.
Contents include historical facts about the lake,
pictures, a map and fishing and boating information. The
Handbook is a compilation of many people's efforts and is
provided to inform and entertain.
Click
here
to access and read the most recent
edition of the Handbook. Use the
feedback link to order printed copies, if
you like. Past editions are available for viewing in PDF
format.
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2/5/2017
The
Postcard Gallery has been recently
updated with 36 new (old) postcards in the
Members' Area. Take a
tour of Star Lake as our
great-grandparents knew it. Many of the postcards date back to the
early 1900's, when Star Lake was a thriving recreational summer retreat. Visit "Post Cards" to see Star Lake in a
totally different way. (A username and password is required) |
2024 SLPA Meetings and Events
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Date |
Event |
Place |
Time |
Sat, June 29 |
Regular Meeting, socializing/meeting to
follow |
SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center |
10:00 am |
Weds. July 10 |
First Lake Road Clean-up |
Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot |
9:00 am |
Sat, July 27 |
18th Annual Poker-Run |
Meet at the sandbar to register |
12:00 noon |
Weds. Aug 14 |
Lake Shoreline Clean-up |
Meet at the Sandbar |
10:00 am |
Sat. Aug 31 |
Annual Meeting, socializing/refreshments; meeting to
follow |
SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center |
10:00 am |
Sat. Aug 31 |
Potluck Picnic ? To be determined |
To be determined |
4:00 pm |
Weds, Sept 11 |
Second Lake Road Clean-up |
Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot |
9:00 am |
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Boating
Safety Class Now On-line
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Please Use the New DEC Boat Washing Station
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The
NYS Parks and Recreation people have announced that anyone can
now receive a boating safety certificate by taking the course
on-line. This course is equivalent to the 8-hour classroom
course offered locally in the past. Once the course has
been successfully completed, a written certificate is issued and
boaters can, at their option, have the certification stated on
their driver's license, learning permit or non-driver ID, much
like motorcycle certification is indicated on the license.
For more information about fees and how to
enroll, follow
this link. If you are local and would like to
know more about enrolling in a classroom Boating Safety course
this summer, use our feedback form
and we will provide local instructor contact information.
Currently, it is a legal requirement for
all jet ski (pwc) operators and for all boat operators born
after May 1, 1996 to successfully complete the boaters' safety
course. For jet ski operation,
only children 14
and up can take the course and operate a PWC legally.
Children from 10 to 19 cannot
operate a boat alone unless they take and pass the course.
The SLPA supports any effort to keep our lake
and the people who use it safe and we encourage anyone who
operates a motorized boat or jet ski to take this course.
Hopefully this will lead to the safe, responsible operation of
watercraft.
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A
New Boat Washing Station is in operation
for the Clifton-Fine area as part of a pilot program by the
State to keep invasive species at bay. The site is located
at the corner of Rt. 3 and County Rt. 60, near J&L. The
wash station is manned by volunteers from Paul Smith's College
five
days a week from 7 am to 4 pm and will eventually be available
seven days a week.
The DEC advises boaters and anglers to check
their boats, trailers and other fishing and boating equipment
for any plants or animals that may be clinging to it. It's
the law: "Following
a thorough inspection, boats should be cleaned, drained and
dried." If you stop in with your boat, you will
receive a free careful inspection and a 140-degree power washing
to kill free-loading plants and creatures.
Lakes in the Adirondack Park are relatively
free of invasive plants and animals so far; but there has been a
recent push by New York State to insure that they do not get
introduced into our pristine lakes and streams. Invasive
species like milfoil, zebra mussels, clams, and water fleas can
be introduced to clean lakes by careless boaters and fishermen.
Invasive species generally come from Lake Ontario, the St.
Lawrence river or other contaminated bodies of water clinging to
boat bottoms, trailors and fishing gear. Boats, trailers,
livewells, and gear need to be properly inspected and
cleaned before launch into another body of water. This new
washing station should make it easier for those who move boats
from lake to lake. So, if you are heading across the Route 3
corridor, please stop in for this free inspection and washing.
And please, help us to keep our lakes and waterways free
of invasives. For
more info, go
here; click graphic to enlarge for viewing; press back to
return.
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New York State Boater's Guide
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SLPA Hosts
Cycle Adirondacks to Star Lake |
The
New York
State Boater's Guide, which we have made available
to members at meetings in printed form, provides a wealth of
boating information. Included in this guide are useful links to various New York
agencies and current legal requirements for boating
registration, licensing and operation in New York State.
"This guide provides basic boating safety information on such
topics as registration, operation, equipment and rules of the
road, however we strongly encourage every boater to sign up for
some formal boating instruction before venturing out on their
own."
If you are new to boating; or if you would like
to know more about New York boating regulations, you should read
this booklet. The free guide can be downloaded
here in .pdf form to
be read or printed.
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On
Sunday, August 23, 2015, 150 to 200 cyclists stopped in Star Lake,
one of six stops on their 450+ mile journey through the
Adirondacks. While in town, SLPA volunteers took
those interested on a raft ride, culminating in
a get-together on the sandbar where refreshments were served. One of Star Lake's
distinctive features is the more than 100 motorized rafts that
slowly cruise around the lake. Cyclists got to see
what makes this lake so special to all of us as they rode
on these unique water crafts. After being picked up at the
Star Lake Haven's shore, they rode over to the sandbar to partake of
some true Star Lake hospitality and socializing, sandbar-style. Many other
activities were planned by community leaders including a free
concert at the school. The raft ride was
just one of them, but as many said later, it was the most
memorable, pleasurable experience--much positive feedback was
received by the Cycle Adirondacks participants.
To read the article about Cycle Adirondacks
and Star Lake rafts in Vermont Sports, go
here. An article from Adventure Cycling Magazine can
be found here. To Learn more about Cycle Adirondacks, go to
their website
here. |
Articles
about Star Lake Rafts...
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2023 Poker
Run--Good Times, Foul Weather...
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Click
the picture on the left to read a June 27,
2010 article about Star Lake rafts in The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, OH,
written by Evelyn Theiss, recent visitor to Star Lake.
(press "back"
to return to this page).
Read another article in
Vermont Sports about Star Lake rafts and Cycle
Adirondacks' visit to Star Lake on 8/23/2015.
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8/12/2023 With a summer
less than perfect, the big question on this day was
"will the poker run happen or not". The day
started off cloudy, but then blue skies were welcomed
with optimism. 86 members and 6 non-members headed
out to the five stops to see what the cards had to say.
(more) |
Vessels of all sizes returned to
the sandbar to compare hands but the weather had
something else in mind... |
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Recent Meeting Minutes:
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Member Information & Logon
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If you're interested in what
happened at the last meeting, visit the recent
meetings link. While the archives are for members
only, we are providing minutes from the most recent meetings in order to
keep everyone in the community informed of SLPA activities and
events. Also, a copy of the latest
spring mailing is found here. If you are on the lake, perhaps you might come to
the next meeting?
(photo by Rod Miller)
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We maintain a members' area that is password-protected to
insure the
privacy of our members. If you already have your logon
info, feel free to visit the
Members'
Area. If you are a member and don't yet
have a username and password; or, if you would like
to join the SLPA, please use the feedback
form to contact us. Currently, dues are $20 per calendar
year.
(photo by Leon Zois)
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Local Star Lake Weather at a Glance...
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Live-view of Weather on Star Lake

The weather station on Swiss
Point came on-line August, 2012. Real-time
data is sent out to Weather Underground and Davis WeatherLink
(on the left).
An almost real-time view Star Lake is
provided by a webcam on Swiss Point, installed
in 2014. The picture above is
updated every five minutes to provide an up-to-the
minute view of the weather.
For more weather info, visit the
Star Lake Weather
Page.
(A username and password is required)
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(Follow the links above for more detailed
information; press "back" to return to this page) |
'Tis the Season...
Here are the most recent seasonal pictures of the lake,
in chronological order.
Go to the
'Tis the Season page to see more than
12 complete years of seasonal
pictures of Star Lake! To go to the
'Tis the Season page
in the Members' Area, a username/password is required.
Members can use the feedback link and fill out the form to request the
current username and password. (click on a picture for a larger
view; press "back" to return to this page).
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11/29/2023 'Tis the (last) season
for our good friend, known by many on the lake. Rest in
Peace, Sally. |
11/29/2023 November left us with
about 2" of snow; but we dodged the lake effect bands. |
11/26/2023 The "beaver moon" rises,
a day before full status. |
11/26/2023 This morning brought a
beautiful sunrise, complete with a rare sun pillar. |
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11/25/2023 Another view of first-ice
on the pond... |
11/25/2023 The lone baby loon (left)
is still on the lake and is hanging with a friend. |
11/25/2023 A very chilly night
forced these loons to swim around a skim of ice--the first of
the season. |
11/17/2023 A group of common
merganzers stopped by for breakfast. |
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11/17/2023 Another rainy afternoon
on the way. |
11/15/2023 'Tis the season for
splendid sunrises. |
11/13/2023 Another light
snowfall--it won't be long now! |
11/11/2023 More "snow birds" stopped
over for a couple of weeks. |
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11/10/2023 A hooded merganser and
two bufflehead ducks stop over on their way south. |
11/6/2023 The young loon is still
on the lake, enjoying a beautiful sunrise. |
11/5/2023 A "mirror lake" image on a
calm, chilly morning. |
11/2/2023 Yes...another gorgeous
sunrise! |
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11/1/2023 November started with a
bang, signaling the visual end of fall. |
11/1/2023 It's hard to delay the
inevitable--our first snowfall of about two inches and highs in
the 20's! |
10/30/2023 Where's the lake?
Cold temps left a layer of thick fog. |
10/27/2023 What a difference 9 days
make (see 10/18) as the bleakness of late fall settles in. |
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11/6/2010 A wintry panorama of Star Lake, looking east off
Swiss Point, kind of makes you shiver as cloudy sky and early snow showers
blanketed the lake in shades of gray, devoid of any remnants of
recently-departed fall colors.
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