Drinking water tests improving!

The Auburn citizen is reporting today that the latest results from Thursday, Oct. 6 samples of water from the town of Owasco and city of Auburn's treatment plant showed no detectable levels of blue-green algae toxins. This is very good news after several days of rising levels of toxins found in testing.

Read more at:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/auburn-owasco-thursday-water-samples-detect-no-algal-toxins/article_287fd88e-45e4-5881-b94e-5f8074b3e49b.html

Detectable Toxin levels continue......

Cayuga County Health Department is reporting that treated drinking water for the town of Owasco and the city of Auburn showed detectable levels of blue-green algae toxins in the latest round of tests — Owasco seeing the highest levels to date.

From AuburnPub.com:
"Owasco water tests show highest algae toxins yet, Auburn levels still detectable" Link:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/owasco-water-tests-show-highest-algae-toxins-yet-auburn-levels/article_ef90bb02-e335-505e-868e-fd39830b3f3b.html#utm_source=auburnpub.com&utm_campaign=%2Femail-updates%2Feedition%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A7ABE91B4AB87725FEC03F56B65C6C326743857B

Algae Bloom update

Good Morning Everyone, 10/3/2016

Last week, we had very few blooms of significant size. Unfortunately, the cyanobacteria cells were still present in the water column, but the weather conditions were not ideal for a bloom to develop at the surface. With the ability for the bacteria to migrate up and down in the water column, the toxin producing organism made their way into water intakes for the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco and eventually into the treated drinking water. Luckily, the toxins are at low enough levels that they are not a major health concern to children, pregnant women, or adult; but nevertheless, it is still a major concern for the water quality of Owasco Lake. The most recent results for the State Health Department have shown no detectable toxins in the drinking water for the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco. We will continue to monitor the situation along with the County Health Department.

Today marks the last day of the year for weekly surveillance of your zone.

I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to help us better understand the frequency and severity of blooms in Owasco Lake. In the next few weeks/months, the inspection Program, OWLA, Health Department, and the DEC will meet to discuss the next step and hopefully come up with a plan to help minimize the impact Cyanobacteria on Owasco Lake. I think we exceeded our expectations for the first installment of the “Owasco Lake HAB Program” and it was not possible without the help of our 24 zone volunteers. 

As always, if you have any questions or would like to report a water quality concern, please feel free to contact me at anytime.

Sincerely,

Tim Schneider

Watershed Inspector

Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program

7413 County House Road

Auburn, NY 13021

www.owascoinspection.org

Violations, & Technical Assistance:

ph(o): 315.252.4171 x-120

ph(c): 315.237.2066

Owasco Lake Water Quality Buoy

Photo by John Halfman - FLI

For the second year in a row Owasco Lake has had a water quality monitoring buoy recording important water quality data. If you are on the lake you can't miss the yellow platform located about half way down the lake between Burtis and Koenig points. The buoy that was placed and maintained by the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart William Smith College, provides seasonal monitoring of several key water quality parameters.

Owasco Lake has been facing more water quality impairments in recent years. The water quality buoy provides much-needed daily measurements critical to understanding the environmental processes within the lake. This information will be used to recommend best management practices and develop watershed management strategies focused on improving water quality in Owasco Lake.

Read the complete buoy story at:  https://flihappenings.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/exploration-and-education-water-quality-monitoring-goes-high-tech-on-owasco-lake/

Watershed Restoration Project stalled

The Auburn Citizen is reporting today that Dutch Hollow Brook Watershed Restoration Project has been stopped pending release of funds by NY state. This project is hoped to have significant effect in preventing nutrients from entering Dutch Hollow Brook and Owasco Lake. We hope our state Leaders will act quickly to complete the funding for this important project.

Read the full article here:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/dutch-hollow-watershed-restoration-project-stalled-until-state-funding-appears/article_9dfa5b28-212c-5d2c-928b-cd08d6490324.html

Link to the original project funding announcement article from April 2014:
http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/seward-visits-owasco-announces-grant-for-dutch-hollow-brook-restoration/article_1d2813f3-0ef8-51e2-9841-aefa82b78fae.html

March to Lake Day

March to Lake Day

Saturday, March 7, 2015, 9 am-12:30 pm

 

Symposium and Workshop

The Bisgrove Theatre

Cayuga Community College

197 Franklin Street

Auburn NY, 13021

 

Dr. John Halfman of the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges will present a description of the condition of Owasco Lake, based on new data collected in 2014, and compare its condition to the other Finger Lakes.

Dr. Greg Boyer, Director Great Lakes Research Consortium, Professor of Biochemistry and Chair, Department of Chemistry SUNY- College of Environmental Science and Forestry will present an overview of the relationship between phosphorus levels and algae blooms, including attention to cyanobacteria.

Dr. Elizabeth Moran of EcoLogic will present an overview of her current efforts to update the Owasco Lake Management Plan (2000). She and colleagues will also help Interactive breakout groups discuss and provide input to this work.

 

Update on Enhanced Watershed Action Program "The Ask"

(letter writing campaign to NYS Representatives)

Free and open to the public.

Additional information:

www.owla.org  www.owascolake.org.

Recap: Live Q&A with Owasco Watershed Lake Association

The Citizen hosted a live question-and-answer session with Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) members on Thursday, Oct. 23,2014 at auburnpub.com/live.

Answering questions during the one hour live on-line session were: OWLA President Jim Beckwith, along with vice president Bob Brower and former president and Town of Niles Supervisor Charlie Greene.

Read the actual Re-cap notes from the session at: http://owlanews.blogspot.com/p/6-hours-ago-good-morning-welcome-to-our.html

Health Department blue-green algae warning for Owasco Lake

The Cayuga County Health Department has issued an advisory to use caution with blue-green algae blooms in Owasco Lake.

On Friday the Health Department warned the public that users of Owasco Lake should use caution around worsening algae blooms in Owasco Lake. The problem originally reported in August worsened with the recent warm weather in Septmeber.

The county health department offers the following advice:

• People and pets should not swim in surface water that is discolored or has surface scum. If contact does occur, wash with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove algae.

• Avoid bathing, showering, or washing dishes in untreated surface water that is experiencing an algae bloom.

• Do not let your pet drink water experiencing blue-green algae blooms.

• People are encouraged to call the Environmental Health Division at (315) 253-1405 if they suspect a blue green algae bloom.

People with questions may call the Environmental Health Division of the Cayuga County Health Department at (315) 253-1405 or log onto  the Cayuga County Health Department website www.cayugacounty.us/environmental.


Read more at:  http://auburnpub.com/news/local/cayuga-county-health-department-advises-caution-with-blue-green-algae/article_703084e8-e716-51f2-baec-c79e8b5bea50.html#utm_source=auburnpub.com&utm_campaign=hot-topics-2&utm_medium=direct

March To Lake Day

Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Cayuga Community College

Bisgrove Auditorium

199 Franklin Street, Auburn, New York

The State of the Lake

A Scientific Symposium in Plain English

Speakers:

The Trophic Status of Owasco Lake

John Halfman, Ph.D., Finger Lakes Institute

The Trophic State

within the Context of Public Water Supply and Recreation

Clifford W. Callinan, P.E., NYS DEC Division of Water

The Trophic State

within the Context of Invasive Species and Blue Green Algae

Scott Kishbaugh, NYS DEC Division of Water

Water Chestnut Alert!

Water Chestnut Alert!

Water Chestnut is an invasive aquatic plant that:

-Grows and spreads rapidly

-Is already in the Seneca River

-Forms dense surface mats

-Impacts beaches, rivers, streams

Learn more here: http://www.owla.org/waterchestnutalert.pdf

Electronics Recycling event

Local agencies are sponsoring an Electronics Recycling event on Saturday May 18th.

Spring Electronics Recycling Event

Saturday May 18th 9:00-2:00

Cayuga Onondaga BOCES 1879 West Genesee Street Rd Auburn

  

It’s time for the annual spring electronics recycling event! On Saturday May 18th load up your old or broken electronics and drive over to the Cayuga Onondaga BOCES at 1879 West Genesee Street Rd in Auburn. Our crews will unload your vehicles for you and take your electronics be recycled. We use a company based out of Rochester NY, so your electronics will be recycled locally in the US!

                We take almost any electronic device you can think of, some examples are:

Computer equipment

Fluorescent light bulbs

Video game systems

TVs

Propane tanks

Freon appliances (50 pound limit)

Button Cell, lithium and rechargeable batteries

Cell phones

And any other electronic items!

If you have very large items or are not sure if an item can be recycled at this event, please call (315) 255-1183 or e-mail Cayuga@cornell.edu

This event is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, Cayuga County Solid Waste Management Program Office, Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development and hosted by the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. 

Funding for the event is provided by Cayuga County and Nucor Steel-Auburn.

Learn more at the Cayuga County Recycling web-site:http://co.cayuga.ny.us/hazwaste/electronics13spring.htm

Don't forget Lake Day!

It's just a week away from Owasco Lake Day! We hope you will take time to come out to hear the interesting speakers and to see the interesting exhibits.

5th Annual

Owasco Lake Day

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Emerson Park

Resource Fair and Family Activities

Displays, Demos, Brochures, Games

3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Speakers at the Pavilion:

5:00 pm    Opening Ceremonies:

State, County and City Officials

5:30 pm    Keynote: Frederick L. Kirschenmann, Ph.D
               Farms, The Watershed, and Owasco Lake

6:15 pm    “State of the Lake” Panel

John Halfman, Ph.D.: Status of the Lake
       Bruce Natale:  Invasive Species  Update

  • Free Admission         • Free Parking
     • Family Activities        • Children’s Games
       • Children’s Games      • Pontoon Boat Rides

Sponsors:
 Owasco Watershed Lake Association
 Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency
  Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County
  IAGT at Cayuga Community College

Lawn care and the lake!

 It's that time of year when most of us are busy caring for our lawns. The Owasco Lake Water Inspector Katie Jacob recently wrote an interesting column on lawn care in the Auburn Citizen. Please read more on what you can do to minimize our lawns impact on the lake.

 (link:http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/how-your-lawn-care-can-influence-our-lake-s-health/article_125a0bb4-40c7-50f8-afd5-13400fa38400.html)

Editorial on Invasives

With our early spring/summer weather this week, many people are thinking about getting the boat in the lake. As you begin to plan your season, please be aware of the invasive species we are working to control/eliminate in our local waters. Take a quick read of this recent article from the Auburn Citizen and also checkout a few of the links on invasive species at the bottom of this blog.

Enjoy the great weather!

Editorial:
http://auburnpub.com/news/opinion/editorial/our-view-don-t-let-invasives-hitch-a-ride/article_b1002be0-73cd-11e1-9f7e-0019bb2963f4.html
SeaGrant:
http://www.nyis.info/
FLI at HWS:
http://fli.hws.edu/aquatic_guidebook.asp

Workshop was a success

“Owasco Lake… OWN IT” was a great success this past Saturday. Over 50 people turned out for the workshop to educate and empower citizens in the protection of Owasco Lake. Attendees learned about the present state of the lake as well as the many influences to its deteriorating water quality.

Thanks to everyone who helped put this event together and the concerned citizens who participated.

Learn more in the Auburn Citizen article at:http://auburnpub.com/news/local/lake-advocates-taking-stock/article_eb8f36b6-65a4-11e1-9b99-001871e3ce6c.html

Can you help?

Owasco Lake is a beautiful place to visit or spend time on. Those of us who live near or recreate on it, know first hand how special it is. It not only is a recreational asset, but it is also a growing asset for tourism in our region. Sadly, the condition of the lake is deteriorating and the pressures from invasives, development and agriculture are mounting each year.

Invasive species have been a growing problem on the lake and the growing weed population has been an issue here for many years. Our county government and lake associations have worked for years to control the weed population in Cayuga County lakes. Unfortunately, funding, equipment and labor has been greatly reduced from what it was 10-15 years ago. In 2012 the Cayuga County budget for weed harvesting was cut again. Presently the weed harvester needs repair and with out immediate funding could miss doing any weed cutting in the county this summer. If you care about this important program, please contact your Cayuga County Legislator and tell them that we need to support the present program and also look at enhancing it in coming years. Read more about this issue at: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/needed-to-fix-weed-cutting-boat/article_8ac12410-56be-11e1-ad50-001871e3ce6c.html

If you are looking to learn more or get involved with the protection of Owasco Lake, there is an upcoming seminar developed especially for you. On Saturday March 3rd The "Owasco Lake... OWN-IT" workshop will include the current condition of Owasco Lake, nutrients entering the lake, invasive species and opportunities for citizen involvement.


The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3. If you’re interested in attending, please register by calling 252-8669 or visiting www.owascolake.org.


 Learn more about the event in this article: http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/dive-into-owasco-lake-facts-march/article_bb538e9e-59dc-11e1-9ddf-001871e3ce6c.html

I hope you will consider getting involved with the protection of Owasco Lake.

......and don't forget our monthly OWLA meetings....the next one is Wednesday March 7th, 7pm at the Springside Inn on Rt. 38 in Fleming. We hope to see you there!


Take care - Lakeman

Owasco Lake workshop

The registration is now open for “Owasco Lake… OWN IT” a two part workshop focused on the current condition of Owasco Lake and opportunities for citizen involvement. The workshop is being held in two parts and includes optional participation in a special training for citizens who want to participate in the long term protection of the Lake. Registration for the morning session will remain open until the day of the event, Saturday, March 3^rd.

The registration for the afternoon training that will follow the morning sessions will be on a first come first serve basis with only about 25 seats open. The afternoon workshop is a hands-on training program by iMapInvasives, a multi-state program focused on invasive species. Please see: http://imapinvasives.org/nyimi/map/

 The event is being sponsored by:

The Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA)

The Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT)

Cayuga Community College (CCC)

The Finger Lakes Institute (FLI)

Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency (WQMA)

Topics Include:

•         The Condition of Owasco  lake

•         The sources of nutrient entering the lake

•         Invasive Species in the lake

•         Opportunities for Citizen Involvement

•         iMap Invasives hands-on training

                        “Owasco Lake, OWN IT”

Time:               9am- noon and 1pm -3:30pm

Date:               March 3rd, 2012

Location:        Bisgrove Theater, Cayuga Community College

199 Franklin Street  

Auburn, NY 13021 

Sign up today to reserve your seat.  There is no registration fee for the morning or afternoon sessions. Pre-registration is recommended for both events however and in fact required for the afternoon invasive species training program. A brown bag lunch is suggested for those registering for the afternoon workshop.  

 To register by phone or for additional information call: 315.252.8669    

On-line registration opened on February 3^rd at: www.Owascolake.org

Guest Speakers:

Dr. John Halfman has been studying Owasco Lake for years and has recently completed synthesis of his data for the summer of 2011. His picture of phosphorus levels during the summer created concern when it was clear that high levels of phosphorus had again been discharged into the lake from the Groton Sewage treatment plant. He will present his findings in the morning session. His work is supported by the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency and the Owasco Watershed Lake Association.    

Dr. Barry Evans completed the only nutrient allocation model for Owasco Lake. This milestone work uses a combination of science and geo-spatial technology to identify and estimate the sources of nutrients entering the lake from throughout the watershed. Nutrients remain a primary if not the most significant threat to the condition of the lake. He will present his findings during the morning session. His work was supported by the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology at Cayuga Community College.

This workshop is a companion event to Lake Day 2012, to be held at Emerson Park on the shores of Owasco Lake on June 27th, 2012. SAVE THAT DATE!  

Gilda Brower, Chair, Owasco Lake Watershed Association (OWLA) Lake Day Planning Committee

Is Owasco Lake getting worse?

A recent article in the Auburn Citizen describes an interesting debate between two local experts about the water quality of Owasco Lake. Eilleen O'Conner, the Director of Environmental Health and Bruce Natalie, a Cayuga County Planning Engineer have opposite takes on this important issue. I feel most people that live on or spend much time on the lake would agree that it is getting worse. The various new invasives, weed growth issues, and continuing problems with phosphorus from sewage treatment plants and agricultural run off are influencing the water quality in Owasco Lake significantly.

We hope the debate continues with the WQMA in 2012. Hopefully, the new Chairman Keith Batman can focus a strong response on some of these issues. Owasco Lake definitely needs more attention.

Can you help? Come to the OWLA meeting this Wednesday Feb. 1st at 7pm at the Springside Inn in Fleming to learn more and maybe help spur some new solutions.

What do you think?  Leave us a comment..........

- Lakeman

Read the article: http://auburnpub.com/blogs/the_sixth_floor/is-owasco-lake-getting-worse/article_f1330a5c-37cd-11e1-9374-0019bb2963f4.html

A good year, but big issues remain for 2012

We wrap up the year 2011 with a some good news for Owasco Lake, but also some big challenges for 2012. The Asian Clam Task Force has reacted quickly to the discovery in late 2010 that the Asian clam had been established in Owasco Lake. An inventory of the clams, along with immediate action plans are all very positive movements to correct this serious threat to Owasco Lake water quality. Thanks to our volunteers and municipal officials who jumped in and reacted quickly to this problem.

Also the creation of the Invasive Species task force by the WQMA should help get more attention to the general invasives problem along with starting collaborative efforts on a regional basis.

There were also some very good dialogues between agriculture interests and the community concerned with water quality. Continuing these discussions and efforts to address the larger farms and their waste products are very important to improving water quality in the Fingerlakes.

In the meantime, historical water quality issues such as the Groton Treatment Plant and a specific farm continue to impact Owasco Lake. Going into 2012 we need a renewed effort to address some of the old issues as long as the new challenges.

 If you would like to get involved, or even just learn more about what is going on with Owasco Lake, feel free to join OWLA members as they kick off 2012 with our first meeting in February. The meeting will be at 7pm, Wednesday February 1st at the Springside Inn on West Lake Road in Fleming.

As we close 2011, OWLA would like to thank our membership and volunteers who support the protection and improvement of water quality in the Owasco Lake Watershed.
Happy New Year!

- Lakeman

2011 OWLA Water testing summary

A summary of the 2011 OWLA water testing data was released last week. The testing this year on Owasco Lake was conducted between June 28th and September 13th. The continued resources and financial support for this program from both the public and private sector is encouraging. The bad news is that water quality in certain areas continues to degrade.

Thanks to Dick Coalson for again helping to coordinate our water testing efforts and putting together an excellent summary of the 2011 data.

See the complete 2011 summary at:
http://flihappenings.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/the-owasco-watershed-lake-owl-2011-water-sampling-data-analysis-report/