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

Recycle a Xmas tree or maybe a musical instrument

Cayuga County is sponsoring a trade-a-tree program to recycle your Xmas tree, Jan 9th -13th at the Natural Resources Center on County House Rd. in Sennett, Read more at:

http://auburnpub.com/news/local/trading-trees/article_7754c574-39b0-11e1-a43c-0019bb2963f4.html

How about recycling an old musical instrument?............My wife and I recently were cleaning a closet and found an old clarinet from her youth. We set it out with the intent to find a new home for it, but never did. Over the holidays I stumbled upon a notice in the newspaper looking for used instruments to support music lessons for inner city youth. I called the number in the ad and was connected with Dick Ford at Signature Music in Syracuse. Dick has helped over 75 students since the programs inception in 2000. I had the pleasure of meeting Dick when I dropped off our clarinet donation last week. Dick is a passionate guy who had the vision and knowledge to put together this program for less fortunate inner-city kids. If you have an instrument or would like to learn more about this program, you can contact Signature Music at 315-478-7840.

Read more about this great program at:
http://blog.syracuse.com/neighbors/2011/12/cny_music_students_perform_at_community_events.html


To learn more about general recycling in Cayuga County, be sure to visit the counties recycling web-site for the latest information how you can recycle at :http://co.cayuga.ny.us/hazwaste/

- Lakeman

Reminder: No January OWLA meeting

There will not be a January 2012 OWLA meeting. Please join us as we 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.

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 Owasco Lake Water Quality Report

2011 Owasco Lake Water Quality Report

Dr, John Halfman of the Fingerlakes Institute at Hobart-William Smith College presented his latest findings at the  OWLA meeting this past Wednesday. Dr. Halfman emphasized the need to enhance our efforts to improve and protect Owasco Lake's water quality.

See the presentation:
http://people.hws.edu/halfman/Data/Halfman%20OwascoLake12-7-11.pdf

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/

New Lake report by Dr. John Halfman at Dec. OWLA meeting

OWLA MEETING NOTICE

New Lake report by Halfman on agenda

The December OWLA meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 7, at 7 pm, at Springside Inn, 6141 West Lake Road, Auburn.

The OWLA meeting will feature a presentation by Dr. John Halfman titled “Nutrient Sources to and their Impact on Owasco Lake: The 2011 Update.”

Dr. Halfman’s presentation will be preceded by an OWLA business meeting from 5:45 - 6:30 pm. Members and guests are welcome to have dinner during the meeting. If you plan to have dinner during the meeting, please call Springside at 252-7247 and arrive by 5:15 pm.

YMCA takes over Camp Rotary on Owasco Lake

Great news this week that Camp Rotary, the Boy Scout Camp on Owasco lake will remain accessible by young campers in Cayuga County. After several years of litigation, local interests negotiated the successful transfer of Camp Rotary to the Auburn YMCA. The camp will be added to the adjacent YMCA property in the Town of Niles.

This is an important property on Owasco Lake and keeping it as a camp, is a big win for the youth of Cayuga County and the future of Owasco Lake.

Thanks to the Owasco Camp Association and local leaders who have advocated for this important settlement with Boy Scouts of America Longhouse Council ( former Hiawatha Council).

Read more in the Auburn Citizen article: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_eefc7ace-1014-11e1-9b60-001cc4c03286.html

New USDA Report Shows Conservation Practices Reducing Sediment, Nitrogen and Phosphorus

A new USDA study shows that farmers using combinations of erosion-control and nutrient-management practices on cultivated cropland are reducing losses of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous from farm fields and decreasing the movement of these materials to the Great Lakes and their associated waterways.

“The Great Lakes Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) study confirms that good conservation planning and implementation have reduced loadings of sediment and nutrients to waterways throughout the region,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today. “The Administration appreciates the actions of every farmer who is stepping up to implement conservation practices, protect vital farmlands and strengthen local economies. At the same time, we also see opportunities for even further progress.”

OWLA supports these efforts in the Owasco Lake watershed and we hope more of these efforts can be continued in all of the FingerLakes watersheds. 

Read more at:   http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/?