In 2002, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation listed Lake George as an impaired water body due to sediment deposition at stream beds that has impaired recreation and aquatic habitats. 

In 2001, DFWI discovered several new sites with fecal coliform contamination in addition to many sites that are chronic problems. A total of 68 sites were monitored throughout the watershed and 16 sites were found to have levels of fecal coliform beyond that acceptable for contact recreation (http://www.thefundforlakegeorge.org/). 

Chloride levels are associated with stormwater runoff from land development, sewage effluent and road salting. These levels have increased throughout the lake in a linear manner over 20 years with a doubling from 5.7 ppm in 1980 to 11.7 ppm in 1999. This represents a significant trend for other related nutrients such as phosphorus and is a clear sign of a decline in water quality. Increased levels of chlorophyll (algae), and N:P ratios that indicate higher phosphorus availability in the south basin support these findings. (excerpt from  http://www.thefundforlakegeorge.org/)