High water on Owasco - missing a dock?

Owasco Lake was at 713.91' this morning. We have received over 3.5" of rain over the last week.

If anyone is missing a complete "L" layout dock this morning, e-mail us at OWLANEWS@gmail.com and we can point you to its location.

Funding awarded for Owasco Flats

 The Owasco Flats restoration project became a reality yesterday. A grant of $712,500 from the Green Infrastructure Program of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation was awarded to Cayuga County. The funding will be used to stabilize the banks of the Owasco Inlet and also restore much of the wetlands in the Owasco Flats at the south end of Owasco Lake. The overall intent of the project will be to restore the filtering ability of the Owasco Flats in high water events.

This is an important project to improve Owasco Lake water quality. Congratulations to all the government agencies involved in putting together this grant application!

Link to the Auburn Citizen article: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_4f8df484-6fb2-11e0-8c10-001cc4c002e0.html

Owasco Lake loses it's biggest advocate

I regret to report the untimely passing of OWLA's President - Joe Wasileski. Joe passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. 


Joe had been one of the strongest advocates for Owasco Lake.  He was a founding member of the association and served as either a board member or officer since OWLA's formation in 1988. Joe always had a smile for everyone and his passion for life was contagious. 


Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Joe will be sorely missed!

The calling hours are on Friday, April 22 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm at White Chapel Funeral Home located at 197 South Street in Auburn.

The funeral sevices will be on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 1:00 pm at Sacred Heart Church located at 90 Melrose in Auburn, New York. 

Link to Auburn Citizen article: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_726c556e-6b06-11e0-ace5-001cc4c03286.html

New Lake George Asian Clam web site

Asian clams were found in Lake George last August. The Lake George Asian Clam Rapid Response Task Force was quickly formed by a number of local, regional, and state agencies and organizations. The Task Force’s main goal is to coordinate efforts to eradicate this new invader from Lake George before it has a chance to establish a permanent population. 

The Lake George Asian Clam Rapid Response Task Force (LGACRRTF) has created a new web site to educate and keep people informed about the Asian clam response in Lake George. The LGACRRTF has organized an eradication plan for the Asian clam planned for April - July of 2011.


With Owasco Lake now facing a similar challenge, we should all learn more about the Asian Clam and the complexities involved with managing the infestation. Check it out:

Lake George Asian Clam Rapid Response Task Force (LGACRRTF) web-site:
http://www.stoptheasianclam.info/

Owasco Flats

It's spring and with the recent warmer temperatures we are all thinking about getting outside for some recreation. One pretty neat place to visit to fish, hike or canoe/kayak is the Owasco Flats Preserve at the south end of Owasco Lake. If you go you may see heron, muskrat, beaver, deer or turkey. The Owasco Flats is a unique area that you really need to get out and see. The Owasco Flats are located off of Rt. 38 north of Moravia - see the directions below:

Directions:
From Rochester or Syracuse: Take the New York State Thruway to Weedsport (Exit 40). Take Rt. 34 South to Auburn. Follow Rt. 34 & 38 South (South Street) to Swift Street (Rt. 38 South). Take Swift Street East to Lake Ave. Turn right and continue South on Rt. 38 past the High School to the traffic circle. Continue around the traffic circle and to Route 38, to Moravia. Turn left on Fire Lane 2A, veer to the right at the bottom of the hill and take the dirt road in to the Cayuga County Park. The launch is at the end of the road. 

From Ithaca: Take Rt. 34 North to Route 90-East to Route 38-North. Take Route 38 through the Village of Moravia. Turn left on Fire Lane 2A, veer to the right at the bottom of the hill and take the dirt road in to the Cayuga County Park. The launch is at the end of the road.


Check out the links below to learn more about the Owasco Flats:

Owasco Flats blog:  http://owascoflatsnaturereserve.blogspot.com/

Cayuga County Parks and Trails web site:
http://www.cayuganet.org/canoe/owasco_inlet/index.html

Link to the Owasco section of the I Love the Fingerlakes web site:
http://www.ilovethefingerlakes.com/lakes/Owasco.htm

Link to proposed NYSDEC Owasco Flats Management Plan:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/regions_pdf/owasco.pdf

Link to CNY Regional Planning Owasco Flats study:
http://www.cnyrpdb.org/fingerlakes/docs/2007-07-05_OwascoFlatsReport.pdf

Guidebook to hiking Owasco Flats Trail:
"Take A Hike - Family Walks in New York's Finger Lakes Region"
http://www.footprintpress.com/FingerLakes/TAHfingerlakes2Preview.htm
Guidebook to paddling Owasco Inlet through Owasco Flats :
"Take A Paddle - Finger Lakes New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks"
http://www.footprintpress.com/paddling/TAPfingerlakesPreview.htm

Upcoming electronics recycling event

The first Cayuga County recycling event of 2011 is coming up soon. 

Earth Week "Electronics Plus" Collection Event takes place on May 14th.


This spring all residents of Cayuga County and the City of Auburn are invited to participate in the 2011 Earth Week "Electronics Plus" Collection Event. The event presents an excellent opportunity to discard materials in a safe manner. Proper disposal protects human health, our community and the environment. The materials collected at this event will be recycled to the fullest extent possible by our contractors.

Date, Time, Place:

• Saturday, May 14, 2011.
  
• Running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  
• Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Campus located at 1879 W Genesee Street Rd, Auburn.

Fees:

• $5 fee per large floor model copiers.
  
• $5 fee per small Freon appliance such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers and dorm-sized refrigerators. No freon appliance weighing more than 40 pounds will be accepted. Click here for information on disposing of freon appliances weighing more than 40 pounds.
  
• Charges may apply for equipment from businesses with more than 50 employees at the contractor's discretion.
  
• All other household electronics are free.
  
• Propane tanks, bulbs, and battries accepted for free.

Learn more at :

http://www.cayuganet.org/hazwaste/electronics11spring.htm

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 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cayuga County and Nucor Steel-Auburn.

Recent recycling article from the Auburn Citizen:http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/article_74039c8c-61da-11e0-ac3e-001cc4c002e0.html

OWLA April meeting change

The OWLA meeting has been changed to, Wednesday 4.13.11. We are most fortunate to have David Decker (Director of the Lake George Coalition) speaking at the OWLA’s April meeting on April 13th.  The Lake George Watershed has long been supported by active watershed stewardship, and the Lake George Coalition is currently mounting an active response to a significant increase in that Lake’s Asian clam  population. Come learn about how Lake George is responding to this new invasive that has also been recently found in Owasco Lake.

Please note the change - April OWLA meeting will be at the Springside Inn on 4.13.11 at 7pm.