Recycle this fall!

We have three recycling events coming up this fall in Cayuga County. It is a great time to clean up that basement or garage and take advantage of these well run events hosted by our local government entities. One of the events  is a household hazardous waste return that allows you to get rid of those old chemicals, cleaners, etc. in a safe, controlled manner. We hope you find the time to clean out and recycle!

Fall 2012 Recycling Events:

• September 22nd:
  Fall-E Electronics Collection Event: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, propane tanks, button cell batteries and E-waste 
• October 27th:
  Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
• November 17th:
  America Recycles Day: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, button cell batteries and E-waste 

Learn more about these events in this excellent ECOTALK article from the Auburn Citizen:

http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/as-summer-ends-sweep-away-the-waste/article_539a616c-149a-54e5-ac3f-d01cdecfa1b9.html

More about Invasives: The Water flea

Everyday it seems, we hear about another invasive species affecting our water quality or recreation in the Finger Lakes. Another fairly recent invader; the water flea is significantly affecting recreation on lakes all over NY state. Presently it is mainly affecting fishing, but it is another story that highlights the need to clean and inspect for invasives on our equipment before we move them from lake to lake. Learn more about the water flea at these resource links:

Auburn Citizen article:
http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/why-the-water-flea-makes-life-miserable-for-lake-fish/article_6b5c6737-b8cb-58d2-a7af-d7b32d4a5ed6.html

NY Invasives:
http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=35

Info from Sea Grant program:
http://www.iisgcp.org/exoticsp/fishhook.html

Learn about Hydrilla:
http://owascolake.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231

Boating Safety

Recent serious boating accidents in New York State, remind us that we need to always be aware of safety on the water. You should be familiar with all your boats safety equipment and procedures.  Children and non-swimmers should always wear life jackets. Take a minute today, to stop and review safety around your boat, beach and dock.

U.S. Coast Guard Boater Safety web page: http://www.uscgboating.org/

Read another reminder from the Auburn Citizen below:

Link to Auburn Citizen editorial:

http://auburnpub.com/news/opinion/editorial/our-view-boating-safety-can-never-be-overlooked/article_4bd76225-44f5-5563-b786-b2af4d38943f.html

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)

Boater Safety Courses

 Upcoming Boater Safety Courses in Cayuga County:


Friday, May 18, 2012

Bass Pro Shop, Finger Lakes Mall, Auburn (Cayuga)Gray, Ralph (315)258-2700This class is for adults and children, register with customer serviceThe instructor charges a fee for this course. If you are 18 or older in addition to the class fee you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, June 09, 2012
Montezuma Town Hall, 8102 Dock St, Montezuma (Cayuga)Malenick, John (315)729-6611This course is for adults and children.The instructor charges a fee for this course. If you are 18 or older in addition to the class fee you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, June 09, 2012
Town of Summerhill, 13606 Rt. 90, Locke (Cayuga)Nedza, John (315)364-7251This class is for adults and childrenThere is no cost for this class. If you are 18 or older you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Fair Haven State Park, 14985 State Park Rd., Fair Haven (Cayuga)Woodard, Ro (315)947-5205This course is intended for students 18 years of age and olderThere is no cost for this class. If you are 18 or older you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, June 16, 2012
Scipio Fire Dept., 3850 St. Rt. 34 Scipio (Cayuga)Nedza, John (315)364-7251This class is for adults and childrenThere is no cost for this class. If you are 18 or older you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, June 23, 2012
Montezuma Town Hall, 8102 Dock St, Montezuma (Cayuga)Malenick, John (315)729-6611This course is for adults and children.The instructor charges a fee for this course. If you are 18 or older in addition to the class fee you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, June 30, 2012
Ira Fire Station, 12195 Rt. 176, Cato (Cayuga)Nedza, John (315)364-7251This class is for adults and childrenThere is no cost for this class. If you are 18 or older you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Owasco Fire Dept., 7174 Rt. 38A, Auburn (Cayuga)Nedza, John (315)364-7251This class is for adults and childrenThere is no cost for this class. If you are 18 or older you will be required to pay NYS Parks a $10.00 fee for your boating safety certificate.

Save the date!

Lake Day 2012

Wednesday, June 27

Emerson Park, Auburn NY

3:00 - 6:30 pm

Planned Events Announced

Save the Date and Be There!

          Owasco Lake Day 2012 will feature guest speakers and information for adults as well as activities for children, pontoon boats rides, and other events for families.

          Owasco Lake Day 2012 will feature a keynote address by Distinguished Fellow Frederick L. Kirschenmann, of the Leopold Center at Iowa State University.  

Following the keynote address, a “Status of the Lake” panel will present information related to Owasco Lake; the speakers will include
Dr. John Halfman, of the Finger Lakes Institute, and Bruce Natale, from WQMA.

          In addition to the speakers, Owasco Lake Day 2012 will feature activities and games designed for children. Activities will also include learning about Owasco Lake and the importance of preserving and protecting and games and events just for fun.

          The popular resource fair and guided pontoon boat rides will again be held this year, along with a number of other activities.

          Additional updates on Owasco Lake Day 2012 will be posted here as they become available.

OWLA meeting this Wednesday!

Don't forget the OWLA meeting this Wednesday, May 2nd - 7pm, at the Springside Inn on West Lake Rd. in Fleming.

The public is invited!

Hydrilla - a new threat to upstate NY waters

Hydrilla was discovered in the Cayuga Lake Inlet in Ithaca in late August of 2011. There have also been several possible recent detections in other upstate waters. Folks in the Fingerlakes need to be vigilant and use best practices to prevent the spread of yet another invasive plant.

Rooted in the bottom sediment and growing up to an inch a day, Hydrilla verticillata, quickly out competes native vegetation and creates a dense mat of vegetation at the surface of the water. This dense mat inhibits boat traffic, displaces natural habitat, and discourages recreational uses of the water. Spread by seed, buds (turions), tubers and vegetative fragments; this plant is often referred to as one of the worst invasive aquatic plants in the world.  

Boaters and other water recreation users can help prevent the spread, see recent guidance from NYS Sea Grant:  http://www.owla.org/Hydrilla%20Marina%20Factsheet.pdf


Additional Hydrilla information on the Tompkins County CCE website:
http://ccetompkins.org/environment/invasive-species/hydrilla