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October 10, 2009

Valcour Island recognized as history fossil reef

'It's quite impressive'

By JEFF MEYERS

VALCOUR ISLAND — Whitecaps moved swiftly atop the channel between Valcour Island and the New York shoreline as a brisk autumn breeze from the south fueled the churning water.

From Valcour Island Lighthouse, the waves seemed less intense. Lake Champlain was merely a backdrop to this setting, which has seen so much human history pass before it.

The lighthouse, a popular attraction for summer tourists as part of the island's rich connection to American history, now promotes the island's natural history, as well.

Valcour Island has recently been designated by the National Park Service as part of the 450 million-year-old Chazy Fossil Reef, and a plaque now hangs from a wall inside the lighthouse recognizing that unique characteristic.

REEF MOVED
"As president of the Clinton County Historical Association, it's nice to have this recognition as part of the Chazy Reef," Roger Harwood said as he secured the plaque on an interior wall near the stairway that leads up to the light itself.

"It's quite remarkable that this reef has moved around the world over the eons and has ended up here."

The Chazy Reef, which also includes locations on Isle LaMotte that have been preserved and protected as national historic treasures, was formed in a tropical sea far to the east of where Zimbabwe, Africa, sits today.

As continents moved across the globe millennia ago, the reef collected a plethora of sea creatures that became fossilized and now serve as a guidepost for scientists to study the planet's natural history.

The National Park Service designation also ensures that the public can enjoy the splendor that Chazy Fossil Reef provides.

'BEST OF CLASS'
"This site is really the best of class in North America," said Linda Fitch, a member of the Isle La Motte Preservation Trust, which oversees the public-access sites on the island.

"With this designation, we've received the national stamp of approval."

Members of the Preservation Trust, along with scientists from across the region, have been working on acquiring the designation for several years as they emphasized the importance of preserving the natural landmark.

"It took a great deal of communication with the National Park Service, but we've acquired some very significant documentation and comprehensive scientific analysis supporting what we already know," Fitch said.

"We've worked really hard, but it is nice to be able to preserve more of this site," she added.

"Now a big part of what we want to do is educate people about Chazy Reef."

Valcour Island, meanwhile, has always enjoyed protection from development on the Chazy Reef portions of the island through the state's acquisition of the island as part of the Adirondack Preserve.

CONNECTION
There are no plans to signal out the specific areas on Valcour that epitomize the Chazy Reef, but the plaque itself makes that connection to an era long before humans populated the region.

"It's quite impressive," Harwood said as he studied the plaque and thought about its significance to Valcour Island.

The facility had a steady stream of visitors throughout the year, he noted.

The lighthouse is open to the public on Sundays during the summer.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com

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