Tag Archives: plattsburgh

Plattsburgh City Marina Plans

Plattsburgh City Marina PlansThis spring the city of Plattsburgh, NY will have some international help to open a marina.

Despite the chill of mid-winter, Plattsburgh is already planning for the upcoming boating season on Lake Champlain with a new Plattsburgh City marina plan. City councilors recently accepted a proposal from Navtours USA to staff the decks this summer for the city.

A year ago the City Council rejected a plan that would have turned over the entire operation of the marina to Navtours, a Montreal-based marina company that also rents boats on Lake Champlain. The newly approved plan calls for the marina at the Dock Street Landing to be run by the Plattsburgh recreation department with staff at at contracted through Navtours.

“This is a brand new arrangement, it’s a brand new facility, the city’s never operated a marina before. We have had the space on the water for a very long time… What we’re striving for is world class customer service, to be able to give the best impression of our city possible.” ~ Steve Peters, Plattsburgh City superintendent of recreation.

Plattsburgh City Marina Plans

Lake Champlain off the Dock Street Landing in Plattsburgh, NY

The Navtours staffers will provide bilingual service to all customers since each employee is required to speak both french and English. By hiring Navtours USA to run the decks, the city expects to provide the best service to both local customers and visitors from Quebec.

“Navtours USA was going to be on the docks anyway, so really we reached an agreement so their deckhands would be our deckhands, and their supervisor will also be our supervisor. But it’s a much different operation that what we contemplated last year.” ~ Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon

The New Plattsburgh City Marina

The City Council agreed to spend $650,000 for the new docks. The project will be funded through a $100,000 grant, received last year; the balance to be borrowed. An existing building will be renovated to feature a welcome desk, as well as other conveniences for customers.

The city will install docks with 34 boat slips, able to accommodate boats up to 40′ long, and 25 moorings. The rate for boat slips at the new Plattsburgh City marina is $82 per lineal foot of boat length.

Plattsburgh City Marina Plans“If Lake Champlain’s a super highway, this is the off-ramp. We don’t provide gasoline, we don’t provide a ship store, we don’t provide a full service restaurant, we don’t provide a whole bunch of things that a normal marina might. We really just want to be the destination,” ~ Mayor James Calnon

Navtours will operate the marina during the established boating season, May 15 to Oct. 4. In addition to staffing the marina, Navtours will also provide 12 charter sail boats available for use by the general public.

Although the marina will be operating near another local boat deck, Mayor Calnon hopes that the arrangement will bring more business to the city rather than compete with existing businesses. 

City officials expect the marina will be ready in mid-May, although the official season begins in June.

More Lake Champlain News:

‘The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep’ is a casebook and field guide to the world’s mysterious sea creatures offers insight into pop culture and scientific beliefs, as well as advice on how to investigate such phenomena firsthand.

Imperial Dam Modifications to Improve Fish Habitat

Imperial Dam Modifications

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is taking public comments on plans to modify a dam on the Saranac River a few miles upstream from Lake Champlain.

Imperial Dam Modifications to Improve Fish Habitat

Imperial Dam behind the Plattsburgh High School

The proposal for the Imperial Dam in Plattsburgh calls for decreasing the height of the spillway by 8-½ feet and building a concrete fish ladder to allow salmon and trout to swim nine miles upstream to spawn.

Anglers and conservationists have asked that the dam to be removed or modified for years, saying that it serves no purpose and is a barrier to spawning fish. Derrick Miller, President of the Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, says the dam proposal is great news.

The Saranac River is also part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

A public information meeting is planned Wednesday evening at Plattsburgh Town Hall.

 

‘Lake Champlain’ is a new pictoral history of Lake Champlain compiled by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and a part of the Images of America series from Arcadia Press.

‘The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep’ is a casebook and field guide to the world’s mysterious sea creatures offers insight into pop culture and scientific beliefs, as well as advice on how to investigate such phenomena firsthand.

Lake Champlain Ferries Fares Increase

Lake Champlain Ferries fares went up yesterday

Lake Champlain Ferries fares

Lake Champlain Ferries

Lake Champlain Ferries Fares Increased . The Lake Champlain Transportation Company says because of increases in fuel prices, the fuel surcharge will increase from 1.75% to 3.5%.

Traveling from both the Grand Isle, Vt. to Plattsburgh, N.Y. and Charlotte, Vt. to Essex, N.Y. ferries, a driver & vehicle <19′ would pay $9.50. A passenger would cost $3.75 to ride. Full list of Lake Champlain Ferry Ride Rates.

According to the Lake Champlain Ferries website, when the cost to Lake Champlain Transportation falls below $3.00 a gallon, the surcharge will be removed.

As a point of reference, in 1825 a one-way fare between Burlington and Port Kent on the steamer ‘General Greene’ was $2.00 for a “four wheel pleasure carriage on springs, drawn by two horses, including the driver.” An ox, horse, or person traveling alone paid only 50 cents. (Source: Steamboats on Lake Champlain)

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Fishing In A Winter Wonderland

 

Fishing In A Winter Wonderland

By Captain Mickey Maynard of Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters

 

 

The Lake Champlain ice fishing season usually begins around early December when bays and passages on the north end of the lake first freeze. Fishermen gather at some of these early spots like the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge connecting Rouses Point, New York and Alburg, Vermont. Other early spots include Missisquoi Bay, the bridge at Hog Island, and Kings and Catfish Bays on the New York side. Keep in mind that the best fishing occurs on newly frozen areas, so wise anglers will follow the ice as it progresses. All of these spots will freeze before the adjacent broad lake, creating excellent perch fishing conditions. Of course care should be taken when fishing on the relatively thin ice in these circumstances.

As the colder weather sets in, the ice makes its way south. Some of the next good areas to consider include the bridge at Isle La Motte and the cliffs at Alburg. By this time Monty’s Bay with its several holding areas and Deep Bay at the Point Au Roche State Park are heating up. On the Vermont side the “Gut” is now holding fish too. By the time Algonquin Bay is frozen on the New York side most of the lake north of Malletts Bay has closed on the Vermont side as well. Areas to the south like the narrows at Ti, Bulwagga Bay, Port Henry, and Whalons Bay also begin to freeze at about the same time. Converse and Arnold Bays are now worth checking on the Vermont side. Many of the spots mentioned thus far are good perch or pike locations.

As the deeper water freezes, the smelt fishing heats up. Port Henry, Westport and Willsboro Bay are all good smelt fishing locations. Shanties are available for rent out of Port Henry and Westport and at Port Henry a taxi operates to usher the fishermen on and off the ice or from one to another of the numerous shanty towns that cluster over the hot spots.

If cold weather persists, the lake on occasion will close over at its deepest and widest spot, between Burlington and Port Kent. When this happens everybody’s favorite perch spot is open for business: Plattsburgh Bay. Areas around Valcour Island, accessed from Peru Dock, can also be productive. The sand bottom south of the lower mouth of the Au Sable River is a good area to fish for salmon and big perch. Willsboro Bay is also a good location for these species. On the Vermont side, Shelburne and Malletts Bay are great spots to pursue big perch and salmon.

US Coast Guard Captain Mickey Maynard has over 40 years of experience fishing and guiding on Lake Champlain. His charter service, Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters, caters to New York and Vermont anglers alike with numerous points of rendezvous across the wide expanse of this 120 mile-long world class fishery.  The Captain welcomes one and all to join him aboard his fleet of specialized vessels to tackle a long list of cold-water or warm-water species that inhabit Lake Champlain. For more information and to book trips, contact Captain Mick at (518) 578-9273 or www.lakechamplainangler.com.

This post originally appeared on Eric LaMontagne’s Think You Know Champlain? blog for Lake Champlain International (LCI). Support them in their efforts to protect our lake!

Campout to mark Pike’s Cantonment in Plattsburgh

This article featuring the schedule of events for the celebration of the 200th anniversary celebration of Pike’s Cantonment in Plattsburgh originally appeared in the Press-Republican.

Campout to mark Pike’s Cantonment

PLATTSBURGH — The Battle of Plattsburgh Association is planning to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Pike’s Cantonment with family events for everyone.

In the summer of 1812, a large army of American soldiers were sent to Northern New York to conduct operations against Canada. After a half-hearted campaign in the fall that barely made it over the border, the American army settled in for winter quarters.

General Dearborn left for Greenbush near Albany, and the 9th, 11th, 21st and 25th U.S. Infantry Regiments headed for Burlington.

That left the 6th, 15th and 16th Regiments in Plattsburgh, under the command of Col. Zebulon Pike.

HUNDREDS DIED

The troops had to build their own shelters, sleeping on the frozen ground until their huts were completed after Christmas. The army had shortages of supplies, and Pike complained about the poor quality of what was available.

Due to disease and exposure, about 200 of the 2,000 men who initially inhabited the cantonment died. To this day, the exact location where these soldiers were buried is unknown.

During this period, the army was responsible for keeping the North Country secure, which included attempting to interrupt the rampant smuggling that was occurring along the Canadian border. The problem had become so bad that Pike was obligated to print the Articles of War in the local paper and patrols were dispatched to deal with the situation.

CAMPOUT

In memory of the men who served during this troubled time, the Battle of Plattsburgh Association is inviting the public to a special Pike’s Cantonment Campout, to be held Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16, on the grounds of the Battle of Plattsburgh Association, located on Washington Road on the former Air Force Base.

Re-enactors are being encouraged to join the campout.

Children’s activities will be provided inside the Battle of Plattsburgh Museum throughout the day, including making a soldier’s journal, coloring a period flag, trying on period clothing and a scavenger hunt.

Here’s the schedule of events:

SATURDAY, DEC. 15

10 a.m.: Re-enactment camp opens.

10:45 a.m.: First formation.

11 to 11:30 a.m.: Skirmish.

Noon: Wreath laying at Old Post Cemetery (the resting place of 1812 unknown soldiers).

12:30 to 12:55 p.m.: Reception for visitors and participants of the wreath laying.

1 to 3 p.m.: Dr. Timothy Abel and Keith Herkalo will speak on the history of Pike’s Cantonment and the current archaeological dig.

4 p.m.: Camp closes, evening gun, museum closes.

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

10 a.m.: Re-enactment camp opens.

11:45 a.m.: First formation.

Noon: Skirmish.

3 p.m.: Camp closes and afternoon gun.

4 p.m.: Museum closes.