Do you have talent and/or experience with web page development or maintenance?
The Owasco Watershed Lake Association is looking for help to give our OWLA.org web-site a "refresh".
OWLA has had a web-site for over 10 years. The folks who originally put it together did a great job and we always had a lot of comments on how useful the information was that we hosted there. Unfortunately we have not dedicated a lot of time to evolve the site as the organization has grown. We are now looking for help to give our OWLA web-site a "refresh".
We have volunteers available to help guide an experienced person build the content for a more evolved OWLA.org web site. So if you are one of those interested folks or know someone who is, please contact me at owlanews@gmail.com.
- Lakeman
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Nuisance Invasive Species
In recent years, Nuisance Invasive Species have become a growing threat in New York State. They cost taxpayers millions of dollars in damages to our environment each year and and some can even harm our health.
What is an Invasive Species? According to the NY Invasive Species web site; “An invasive species is a species that is not native to the ecosystem under consideration, and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health which outweighs the species' benefits.
Most of us are familiar with some of the aquatic invasive species like the Zebra mussel, but terestrial invasives are becoming even a bigger threat to our yards, gardens, farms and forests in upstate NY. Experts are growing very concerned with our newest threats the Asian long-horned beetle and the Emerald ash borer.
Aquatic invasives are still a big concern for all of us here in the Finger Lakes. Folks who live and recreate on Owasco Lake are all familiar with invasives like eurasion milfoil and zebra mussels. Other invasives like the water chestnut, spiny water flea and japanese knotweed are becoming more widespread and we should all be aware of what to look for and how to properly remove them.
I encourage you to learn more about the threat from some of the newest invasive species through the links I have listed at the end of this blog. In the future, we will also try to keep a seperate "sidebar" of Invasive links on this blog.
http://nyis.info/
Fingerlakes Prism aquatic invasive species site:
http://www.nysgextension.org/ans/fl-prism/FL-PRISM-Aquatics.html#
link to: SeaGrant NATIONAL AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES CLEARINGHOUSE
http://www.aquaticinvaders.org/nan_ld.cfm
What is an Invasive Species? According to the NY Invasive Species web site; “An invasive species is a species that is not native to the ecosystem under consideration, and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health which outweighs the species' benefits.
Most of us are familiar with some of the aquatic invasive species like the Zebra mussel, but terestrial invasives are becoming even a bigger threat to our yards, gardens, farms and forests in upstate NY. Experts are growing very concerned with our newest threats the Asian long-horned beetle and the Emerald ash borer.
Aquatic invasives are still a big concern for all of us here in the Finger Lakes. Folks who live and recreate on Owasco Lake are all familiar with invasives like eurasion milfoil and zebra mussels. Other invasives like the water chestnut, spiny water flea and japanese knotweed are becoming more widespread and we should all be aware of what to look for and how to properly remove them.
I encourage you to learn more about the threat from some of the newest invasive species through the links I have listed at the end of this blog. In the future, we will also try to keep a seperate "sidebar" of Invasive links on this blog.
- Lakeman
link to NY State Invasive Species web site:
http://nyis.info/
Fingerlakes Prism aquatic invasive species site:
http://www.nysgextension.org/ans/fl-prism/FL-PRISM-Aquatics.html#
link to: SeaGrant NATIONAL AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES CLEARINGHOUSE
http://www.aquaticinvaders.org/nan_ld.cfm
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Documentary on the Global Water Crisis at APT
The Auburn Public Theater will be presenting the movie "Flow" on Friday February 27, and Saturday February 28. This is a documentary about the global water crisis that covers a variety of topics including politics, pollution, and human rights.
Come out and become informed through Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Show times are at 8pm both nights, cost is $5, $4 on the APT web site (scroll down for information about "Flow"):
http://www.auburnpublictheater.com/cinema.html
link to the movies web-site:
http://www.flowthefilm.com/
Come out and become informed through Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Show times are at 8pm both nights, cost is $5, $4 on the APT web site (scroll down for information about "Flow"):
http://www.auburnpublictheater.com/cinema.html
link to the movies web-site:
http://www.flowthefilm.com/
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Upcoming OWLA Board Meeting - Strategy Session
Board of Directors & Members,
Spring is on the way, and now is the time for the OWLA Board and interested members to develop a 2009 Plan of Action for special events and activities to celebrate and protect Owasco Lake.
Please mark your calendar, start thinking of ideas, and plan to come for a:
Strategy Session for OWLA Board and interested OWLA Members
Date: Saturday, February 28 (March 7 if we experience bad weather)
Time: 10 am – 12 noon (w/continental breakfast included, starting at 9:15)
Place: Springside Inn
Meeting Topic: "Planning A Summer to Remember"
Goal: Identify objectives, support activities, tasks and assignments, estimate costs, timetables, event activities, dates, and so forth.
During the session, each chairperson (or your representative if you can't attend) can have 5-10 minutes to outline 2009 goals and plans for his/her committee. Then we will all work together to outline a plan for upcoming events, such as: Owasco Lake Day (including speaker to invite), Ring of Fire, Welcome to Summer on Owasco Lake, Adopt a Shoreline, Membership, Finances, and any other informational meetings/special events.
The outcomes of this meeting include: A Summer Calendar of Events, Projects (including Project Leaders and Timetables for each), Distribution of information on Lake Care (such as How to Landscape and Still Protect the Lake and other environmental concerns).
Building on our successes, we need your active participation in leadership and guidance to engage the community in preserving and protecting Owasco Lake. Your help is essential for success.
This meeting will replace the regular OWLA March 4 meeting, and we will plan to roll out the 2009 Plan of Action at the April 1 OWLA meeting.
(This message was sent from Norma Leone who is setting up this exciting 2009 planning session, Please contact Norma Leone or Joe Wasileski if you have any questions.....)
Spring is on the way, and now is the time for the OWLA Board and interested members to develop a 2009 Plan of Action for special events and activities to celebrate and protect Owasco Lake.
Please mark your calendar, start thinking of ideas, and plan to come for a:
Strategy Session for OWLA Board and interested OWLA Members
Date: Saturday, February 28 (March 7 if we experience bad weather)
Time: 10 am – 12 noon (w/continental breakfast included, starting at 9:15)
Place: Springside Inn
Meeting Topic: "Planning A Summer to Remember"
Goal: Identify objectives, support activities, tasks and assignments, estimate costs, timetables, event activities, dates, and so forth.
During the session, each chairperson (or your representative if you can't attend) can have 5-10 minutes to outline 2009 goals and plans for his/her committee. Then we will all work together to outline a plan for upcoming events, such as: Owasco Lake Day (including speaker to invite), Ring of Fire, Welcome to Summer on Owasco Lake, Adopt a Shoreline, Membership, Finances, and any other informational meetings/special events.
The outcomes of this meeting include: A Summer Calendar of Events, Projects (including Project Leaders and Timetables for each), Distribution of information on Lake Care (such as How to Landscape and Still Protect the Lake and other environmental concerns).
Building on our successes, we need your active participation in leadership and guidance to engage the community in preserving and protecting Owasco Lake. Your help is essential for success.
This meeting will replace the regular OWLA March 4 meeting, and we will plan to roll out the 2009 Plan of Action at the April 1 OWLA meeting.
(This message was sent from Norma Leone who is setting up this exciting 2009 planning session, Please contact Norma Leone or Joe Wasileski if you have any questions.....)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
What is the WQMA?
Are you aware that there is a central agency in Cayuga County that watches over water quality in our watershed? The Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency oversees water quality issues in all areas of the county. The agency is made up of local, county and state agencies as well as Lake Associations in the county. The agency representatives and citizen volunteers provide a very important service in helping manage water quality in our county.
There is a lot more information on the WQMA at the web site link listed below:
Take care..............................Lakeman
Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency Description (from their web site :http://co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/description.htm)
Mission
The mission of the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency is to protect and improve the quality of water in Cayuga County.
Function
The Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency (WQMA) was established in November 1990 by the Cayuga County Legislature to provide a correlated approach to water quality management in Cayuga County. The agency's primary functions are to provide a vehicle for comprehensive planning combined with realistic implementation of goals for effective water quality management programs; to coordinate the efforts, activities and responsibilities of member agencies and organizations; and to increase public awareness and participation in water quality and quantity issues.
Goal
The goal of the County WQMA is to establish and implement a coordinated water quality program which identifies and addresses nonpoint source pollution and protection of groundwater resources in Cayuga County.
WQMA Meetings
The WQMA meets on a regular basis, on the 1st Thursday of the month throughout the year at 10 am. All meetings are scheduled for the Natural Resource Center at 7413 County House Road, Auburn.
WQMA Meeting Schedule 2009:
- Date - Time
January 8 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
February 5 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
March 5 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
April 2 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
May 7 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
June 4 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
July 2 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
August 6 - 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
September 3 -10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
October 1 - 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
November 5 - 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
December 3 - 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
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