Sign our petition to Prohibit the application of liquid manure

New York State DEC: Prohibit the application of liquid manure on frozen and/or snow-covered soils.

Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) petitions the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to make the following modifications to the General Permit for CAFO operations, currently under review.

Prohibit the application of liquid manure:

On frozen and/or snow-covered soils,

When soils are saturated from rainfall or snowmelt, or

When a check of the 48-hour weather forecast predicts snowmelt or runoff conditions.

Below is a link to the OWLA petition website: "Joseph Martens: New York State DEC:  Prohibit the application of liquid manure on frozen and/or snow-covered soils."  Please help by signing the petition and by passing it on to your contacts.

  

The petition has been approved by the OWLA board. Our goal is to reach 1000 signatures, and we need your support. You can read and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/joseph-martens-new-york-state-dec-prohibit-the-application-of-liquid-manure-on-frozen-and-or-snow-covered-soils?recruiter=169926899&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

OWLA December 3rd meeting

OWLA December Meeting Notice

      

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  

7:00 pm at Springside Inn 

  

Welcome Members and Guests

  

Business Meeting:

Communications Report

Membership Update

Strategic Plan Update

Water Testing Update

March to Lake Day and Lake Day report

Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Report

Water Quality Management Agency Report

Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance Report 

  

Guest Speaker: William Cooke, Director of Government Relations, to share a brief history on CAFOs, including legislation, litigation, and funding.

  

We value your opinions and ideas regarding OWLA

and encourage you to participate in OWLA meetings.

  

Please check the OWLA web site for full meeting agenda

www.owla.org

OWLA meeting on Wed. November 5th

OWLA November Meeting Notice

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

7:00 pm at Springside Inn

Members and Guests Welcome

Guest Speaker Ed Wagner, Supervisor, Town of Owasco
"Update on Extending Sewer District in Owasco"

Business Meeting:

Communications Report
Membership Update
Report on Organization of Lake Sections
Water Testing and Algae Bloom Update
Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Report
Report on Lake Levels

We value your opinions and ideas regarding OWLA
and encourage you to participate in OWLA meetings.

Please check OWLA web site for more info

www.owla.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

Questions about Owasco Lake?

Do you have questions about the challenges facing water quality in Owasco Lake? If so the The Citizen will host a live question-and-answer session with Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) members at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23,2014 at auburnpub.com/live.

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

Learn more at:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/the-citizen-to-host-live-q-a-with-owasco-watershed/article_f80ff5ea-73d6-5c10-81a5-4b859f2d9d32.html

Owasco Lake Water Quality editorial

Editorial from the Auburn Citizen on Sunday, October 12th, 2014.

 I have been a member of OWLA (Owasco Watershed Lake Association) for eight years. It has been frustrating to observe the exasperation of the many hard-working people who have spearheaded it’s very important mission. It appears that their yeoman efforts are finally bearing fruit. Kudos and thanks to the Auburn Citizen for their many recent articles relating to the water quality of Owasco Lake. It is a much-deserved front-and-center issue!

 Last winter’s “factory farm” dispersion of large quantities of manure that ended up in Owasco Lake and the recent blue-green algae reports has spurred the interest of many lake denizens to step forward and engage in this grassroots effort to save our lake . The most recent OWLA meeting was highlighted with a very large crowd who expressed a very large concern relating to the ongoing problem of water quality of the lake. Eileen O’Connor, of the Cayuga County Health Department was the guest speaker, and she did a brilliant job of fending off the anger of the many people who demanded action.

 Action will only occur when the appropriate government representatives have been informed that their job future can be directly related to their legislation to curb toxic waste entering the lake and their enforcement of such legislation. There are approximately 1,000 landowners with Owasco Lake frontage, yet there are only 280 dues paying members of OWLA (http://www.owla.org/) . Clearly, to be more effective, OWLA needs a larger membership. The economic value of Owasco Lake to the surrounding communities is a value that is hard to quantify. The tourism factor will tumble; The Bass Pro Outlet might pull up stakes, etc. ad infinitum, if the lake’s water quality continues to deteriorate.  Do not be complacent regarding this powerfully important issue for Cayuga County citizens and Auburnians in particular; join OWLA ASAP and start a letter-writing crusade to elected officials.   

Sincerely yours,

Allen Morris


(see some of the articles Allen refers to here on this blog listed under "Recent news stories about Owasco Lake:")

Information session on manure spreading on frozen ground - October 29th

A community discussion to focus on manure runoff in Cayuga County watersheds is being held later this month. This is a serious problem in not only Cayuga County, but across the entire Finger Lakes region. This is an excellent opportunity for the community to give their opinion on this growing problem.

This event is in response to several incidents that happened last winter in the Owasco Lake watershed. The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES campus on Genesee Street Road in Aurelius, NY.

Details here: http://www.owla.org/manure%20Forum%20poster-1.pdf

Read more about this at:http://auburnpub.com/news/local/cayuga-county-legislators-plan-community-discussion-on-manure-runoff/article_262ecdff-637b-58ce-a1f9-2eb35dab1b7d.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

Water Quality Agency split on vote to enact stricter manure regulations

The Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency met this past Thursday and were split on possible changes to state regulations for big farms. The agency nearly passed a resolution to recommend language changes to the state regulation concerning Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

The resolution stems from problems in recent years with manure spread on frozen ground and the run-off in late winter early spring into Owasco Lake. This year a local farm was fined for one specific instance, but this problem has worsened in recent years with the growth of larger dairy operations around Owasco Lake.

Owasco Lake is suffering from many influences, but this is one of the more impactful threats that should be addressed quickly. If this concerns you (...and I hope it does!) - please contact one of the WQMAgency members (listed at the link below) as well as your town, county and state government leaders and demand action. 

Read more about this recent meeting at: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/cayuga-county-water-agency-split-on-possible-changes-to-regulations/article_09e61c56-f9ed-5596-862d-3214ed081f41.html

WQMA agency website link:
http://www.cayugacounty.us/DoingBusiness/WaterQualityManagementAgency.aspx

WQMA members:
http://www.cayugacounty.us/DoingBusiness/WaterQualityManagementAgency/WQMAInformation/Members.aspx

October 1st OWLA meeting

OWLA October Meeting Notice:

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
7:00 pm at Springside Inn - Rt 38 Fleming, NY

Members and Guests are invited!

Guest Speakers Eileen O'Connor, PE, and Nick Topichak

Eileen O'Connor, PE, Director, Environmental Health Division,
Cayuga County Health Department, will speak on:
Water Testing
Manure Update

Presentation on Land Value Analysis in the Owasco Lake Watershed
by Nick Topichak and Bob Brower

Business Meeting:

• Membership Update
• Report on Organization of Lake Sections
• Report on Water Testing and Algae Bloom
• Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Report
• Update on Strategic Plan
• Report on Lake Levels

Note: Meeting will be longer than usual

Please check OWLA web site for more info:
www.owla.org

Health Department: Algae Bloom on Owasco Lake

The Cayuga County Health Department issued a statement last week notifying residents of the likely presence of toxic blue-green algae blooms in the northern part of Owasco Lake.

Read more here:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/health-department-avoid-swimming-near-suspected-blue-green-algae-bloom/article_d61391fb-2b88-57e3-a591-fc0ec7d01155.html

North end Owasco Lake algae bloom - photo by:  Bill Hecht

What to do when blue-green algae is present...........

The Cayuga County Health Department has the following advice:

• People should suspect that blue-green algae could be present in surface water that is visibly discolored or that has surface scum.

• People and pets should not swim in surface water that is discolored or has surface scum. If contact occurs, 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.

Governor's Challenge fishing tournament on Owasco Lake on Saturday 8/23

Come out and see Governor Cuomo and various area celebrity's participate this Saturday morning in the Bassmaster Governor's Challenge fishing tournament on Owasco Lake. This is a great boost for area tourism and publicity for our beautiful gem; Owasco Lake.

Read more:
http://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/08/joanie_mahoney_derrick_coleman_and_others_fishing_in_governors_challenge_on_owas.html

http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/eye-on-ny-cuomo-s-governor-s-challenge-on-owasco/article_fc22f25c-2577-11e4-8f2d-0019bb2963f4.html

OWLA Meeting - Wednesday Sept. 3rd

OWLA Meeting - Meeting Notice

Wednesday, September 3rd, at 7pm

Springside Inn (Fleming)
6141 West Lake Road
Auburn, NY 13021

Business Meeting Agenda:

Welcome guest NYS Senator James L. Seward
Membership Update
Communication Report
Water Testing Report
Underwater Equipment Report
Report on Algae Blooms
Report: Governor Cuomo's visit to Owasco Lake
Invasive Species Advisory Report on Milfoil Removal on Skaneateles Lake
Presentation: Land Value Analysis in the Owasco Lake Watershed

Please check OWLA web site for more info www.owla.org

Other reports and updates
on OWLA activities and events

Members and Guests are invited to attend!

OWLA Meeting - Wednesday, August 6th

OWLA Meeting - August Meeting Notice

Wednesday, August 6, at 7pm

Springside Inn (Fleming)
6141 West Lake Road
Auburn, NY 13021

Business Meeting Agenda:

Final Report: Lake Day 2014
Membership Update
Water Testing Report
WQMA Update
Lake/Watershed Action Plan Update
Invasive Species Advisory
Weed Control Report

Other reports and updates
on OWLA activities and events

Members and Guests are invited to attend!

Fireworks at Emerson park July 3rd, 2014

There will be fireworks again this year on Owasco Lake!

The Emerson Park Fireworks start at dusk(around 9:30pm).  The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble will play on the porch of the Pavilion at 8pm. For your GPS; the park is located at 6941 Owasco Road in Auburn, 13021.

The charge is $5 a car and $1 for Seniors and Handicapped. See you there!

Owasco Lake Day 2014

Wednesday, June 25

3:00 - 7:00 pm

Emerson Park

Resource Fair and Family Activities

Displays, Demos, Brochures, Games

FREE Admission and Parking

FREE Pontoon Boat Rides

Picnic Food Available

Speakers at the Pavilion: 5:00 pm

John Halfman, Ph.D

“Status of the Lake”

Water Quality Improvement Solutions:

Debra McCormick

Owasco Watershed Management Council Chairperson

Auburn City Council member

Doug Kierst

Cayuga Co Soil and Water Conservation District Executive Director

Doug Young

Owner, Spruce Haven Farm Dairy

NYSERDA Anaerobic Digester Project

Bruce Natale, P.E.

Environmental Engineer, Cayuga County Planning Department

Owasco Flats Restoration Project

Charlie Greene, P.E.

OWLA President; Niles Township Supervisor

Dutch Hollow Brook Watershed Restoration

Followed by a Q and A Panel

Sponsored by:

Owasco Watershed Lake Association

Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Cayuga County

The Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology at CCC

Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency

Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges

OWLA June Meeting

OWLA June Meeting Notice

 Members and Guests are invited to attend.

 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 7 pm at the Springside Inn, 

6141 West Lake Road, Auburn 13021 (Fleming)

 

Business Meeting:

 - Election of OWLA Officers and Board of Directors

- Lake Day 2014, on June 25: update from Rick Nelson

- By-laws Committee Report

- Water Testing Report

- Water Quality Management Association Update

- Lake/Watershed Action Plan Update

- Manure Spreading/Pollution Update

 

Other reports and updates on OWLA activities and events

 

Please check the OWLA web site for more information....

......And after June 2 for report from Nominating Committee

www.owla.org

Water Quality buoy to deploy on Owasco Lake

Thanks to the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith College, Owasco Lake will have a water quality monitoring buoy this year.The YSI Water Quality Monitoring System will monitor and collect critical water column profile data, including temperature, salinity, and total algae, as well as hourly meteorological data such as temperature, humidity and wind speed.

Data from the buoy will give HWS researchers and colleagues a better understanding of the factors that define the limnology and water quality of the lake. The buoy will be deployed in north central part of the lake near the location of a previous monitoring buoy in use around 2005. Learn more about the project at HWS Finger Lakes Institute web site.

link to Finger Lakes Institute buoy article:
http://www.hws.edu/dailyupdate/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=17620

May OWLA Meeting

OWLA Meeting - May Meeting Notice

Members and Guests Invited

Wednesday, May 7, 2014
7 pm at Springside Inn
6141 West Lake Road,Auburn

Guest Speakers:
Bruce Natale, P.D.,
Environmental Engineer, Cayuga County
“Update on the Sediment/Phosphorus Project at Owasco Flats”

Anthony DeCaro, Chief Operator Water Purification Plant,City of Auburn
“Owasco Lake Levels”

Business Meeting:
Report on Watershed/Lake Protection Presentation to Auburn City Council

Report on manure spreading
on frozen ground

Lake Day 2014 Update

Other reports and updates on OWLA activities and events

Ongoing manure spreading issue on west side of Owasco Lake

There are many pressures to the water quality of Owasco Lake. One significant issue is the late winter, early spring spreading of large amounts of manure on land near the lake. This is not a new issue. OWLA members have tried to get attention brought to these practices several times in the last 3 years. This is a growing problem all around NY state and needs the attention of the NYSDEC and our local, state and federal officials. It's time to change some practices that are being done by large farm operations in this state. Many other states have enacted legislation to prevent these types of activities during late winter. Hopefully our local leaders and the Leadership of OWLA will lead the charge to get the DEC to enforce present laws as well as enact some better legislation to prevent the type of pollution that takes places under adverse weather conditions.

The Auburn Citizen had a good article on the topic in today's paper. See the article here:   http://auburnpub.com/news/local/owasco-lake-advocates-decry-runoff-of-manure-into-water/article_498bd2fe-a7ec-5994-b4ed-005111da2e89.html

April OWLA Meeting April 2nd

April Meeting Notice - Members and Guests Invited

When:  Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7 pm
Where: Springside Inn, 6141 West Lake Road,Auburn

Business Meeting Agenda:
- Lake Day Update
- WQMA Update
- Discussion of Manure Spreading on Frozen Ground
- Lake Levels
- Other reports from OWLA activities and events

Check here for updates: http://www.owla.org/index.html

March OWLA Meeting - 3/5

OWLA March Meeting Notice

Members and Guests invited

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

7 pm at Springside Inn

6141 West Lake Road, Auburn 13021

Business Meeting:

- Report from OWLA/City of Auburn meeting

- Update on Finger Lakes Regional Alliance meetings

- Update on WQMA meetings

- Report on manure spreading on frozen ground

- Other reports from OWLA activities and events

Details on agenda and other OWLA info: www.owla.org

Owasco Lake Symposium - March 1st

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

February OWLA Meeting

February OWLA Meeting Notice:

Wednesday, February 5, 2014. 

7 pm at Springside Inn

6141 West Lake Road, Auburn

Business Meeting:

Report from OWLA/City of Auburn meeting

Report on Finger Lakes Regional Alliance meetings

Report on WQMA meetings

Other reports from OWLA activities and events

(Members and Guests invited)

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

Happy New Year!

Another year gone by!

Thanks to all the OWLA volunteers and supporters who have worked hard to protect Owasco Lake.

No meeting in January but stay tuned for February and March meeting dates.