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

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

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

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

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/?

Agriculture forums this month

On May 24th and 25th, 2011 The American Farmland Trust is hosting two public forums entitled "Strengthening Agriculture's Role in Protecting Water Quality in the Owasco Lake Watershed". This is an opportunity for officials, residents, farmers and others interested in agriculture's impact on water quality to discuss how all groups can work together to protect water quality in the Owasco Lake Watershed.


Tuesday, May 24th—Moravia Fire House
7:00 pm— 8:30p.m.
38 Keeler Ave., Off of State Rt. 38, Moravia

Wednesday, May 25th 2011— Owasco Fire House, Station #1
7:00 pm— 8:30p.m.
7174 Owasco Rd., Auburn

This forum will focus on agriculture’s role in protecting
Owasco Lake with an opportunity for input about
effective ways to protect water quality.

For more information or to register for
this free forum contact:
Judy Wright, at 315-730-4505
or email jlw4220@yahoo.com

Pre-registration requested by May 23rd
Light refreshments will be served


For more details visit:
http://www.owascolake.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224:american-farmland-trust-announces-two-public-forums&catid=63:news&Itemid=160