Water Chestnut Alert!

Water Chestnut Alert!

Water Chestnut is an invasive aquatic plant that:

-Grows and spreads rapidly

-Is already in the Seneca River

-Forms dense surface mats

-Impacts beaches, rivers, streams

Learn more here: http://www.owla.org/waterchestnutalert.pdf

Invasive Species - Learn more about them!

We are hearing more and more about Invasive species affecting our lakes and streams.The Cayuga County Planning Department is sponsoring a series of training classes to help folks identify and deal with various aquatic invasive species. The five sessions are being held at various locations around the finger lakes.

• 6 p.m. Monday, July 22, at the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Offices (2nd floor, Zabriskie Hall), Wells College, Aurora

• 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in Meeting Room A of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the Finger Lakes Institute, 601 S. Main St., Geneva

• 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, in the auditorium of the Yates County Office Building, 417 Liberty St., Penn Yan

• 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at First Presbyterian Church, 97 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Get more details at:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/cayuga-county-to-hold-aquatic-invasive-species-training/article_87f9982f-462f-5ab1-8092-0cfde014ccfb.html

Learn about invasive plant species too: http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/eco-talk-get-to-know-invasive-plant-species/article_8f357c53-074d-5b62-9cfd-4d04ccb170d8.html

Hydrilla - a new threat to upstate NY waters

Hydrilla was discovered in the Cayuga Lake Inlet in Ithaca in late August of 2011. There have also been several possible recent detections in other upstate waters. Folks in the Fingerlakes need to be vigilant and use best practices to prevent the spread of yet another invasive plant.

Rooted in the bottom sediment and growing up to an inch a day, Hydrilla verticillata, quickly out competes native vegetation and creates a dense mat of vegetation at the surface of the water. This dense mat inhibits boat traffic, displaces natural habitat, and discourages recreational uses of the water. Spread by seed, buds (turions), tubers and vegetative fragments; this plant is often referred to as one of the worst invasive aquatic plants in the world.  

Boaters and other water recreation users can help prevent the spread, see recent guidance from NYS Sea Grant:  http://www.owla.org/Hydrilla%20Marina%20Factsheet.pdf


Additional Hydrilla information on the Tompkins County CCE website:
http://ccetompkins.org/environment/invasive-species/hydrilla

Can you help?

Owasco Lake is a beautiful place to visit or spend time on. Those of us who live near or recreate on it, know first hand how special it is. It not only is a recreational asset, but it is also a growing asset for tourism in our region. Sadly, the condition of the lake is deteriorating and the pressures from invasives, development and agriculture are mounting each year.

Invasive species have been a growing problem on the lake and the growing weed population has been an issue here for many years. Our county government and lake associations have worked for years to control the weed population in Cayuga County lakes. Unfortunately, funding, equipment and labor has been greatly reduced from what it was 10-15 years ago. In 2012 the Cayuga County budget for weed harvesting was cut again. Presently the weed harvester needs repair and with out immediate funding could miss doing any weed cutting in the county this summer. If you care about this important program, please contact your Cayuga County Legislator and tell them that we need to support the present program and also look at enhancing it in coming years. Read more about this issue at: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/needed-to-fix-weed-cutting-boat/article_8ac12410-56be-11e1-ad50-001871e3ce6c.html

If you are looking to learn more or get involved with the protection of Owasco Lake, there is an upcoming seminar developed especially for you. On Saturday March 3rd The "Owasco Lake... OWN-IT" workshop will include the current condition of Owasco Lake, nutrients entering the lake, invasive species and opportunities for citizen involvement.


The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3. If you’re interested in attending, please register by calling 252-8669 or visiting www.owascolake.org.


 Learn more about the event in this article: http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/dive-into-owasco-lake-facts-march/article_bb538e9e-59dc-11e1-9ddf-001871e3ce6c.html

I hope you will consider getting involved with the protection of Owasco Lake.

......and don't forget our monthly OWLA meetings....the next one is Wednesday March 7th, 7pm at the Springside Inn on Rt. 38 in Fleming. We hope to see you there!


Take care - Lakeman

Weeds, Weeds, Weeds....

It is amazing how fast the weeds have come upon us this year. Many areas around the lake are experiencing record setting weed growth, along with more varieties. The Cayuga County Soil and Water district weed harvester has been on Owasco Lake the last 2 weeks and will be heading for Cayuga Lake at the end of this week. They hope to be back on Owasco in late August for a follow up cutting.

In discussion with the weed harvester operator, he did have a few requests for lakeside owners. It would be a big help if more people would mark their water lines and other under water accessories so they can be easily seen and avoided by the weed cutter bar. Not only is your water line or other object damaged, but the weed cutter can also be damaged. Since the county has only one weed harvester, any downtime for repairs cuts into the weed team's progress in controlling weeds on our lake.

Learn more about weeds at the following links:
http://www.co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/weedswatchout/index.html
http://www.co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/lakeissues/Aquatic_Weeds_Nuisance_and_Necessity.pdf

Library of Information on Invasive Species

The Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) at Hobart William Smith College has compiled a nice library of information on Aquatic Invasive Species Management. Resources covering milfoil to zebra mussels are available on their web site. There are brochures to aid in in plant identification as well as background research covering invasive species in upstate NY.

Check it out at the link to the FLI web site below:
Link:http://fli.hws.edu/aquatic_guidebook.asp

Also be sure to check out other Finger Lakes environmental activities at FLI by going to their October calendar at :http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/2010/publications/october2010.pdf

Weeds Watch Out!

Want to help identify and limit the spread of nuisance weeds in the Finger Lakes? Well then check out the Weeds Watch Out program. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County has started a program to train volunteers on how to identify and remove invasive weeds on area waters. Training is happening in three area locations this month. For more information check out a recent Auburn Citizen article or the Weeds Watch Out web-site. Better yet, contact Irene Holak at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 315-255-1183.

Article link:

http://www.auburnpub.com/lifestyles/article_b5b93b80-6f7a-11df-81b2-001cc4c03286.html

Weeds Watch Out Web-site link:

http://www.co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/weedswatchout/index.html

Weeds Watch Out! Training Workshops

Training workshops are available to teach volunteers how to:
 - Identify invasive plant varieties, as well as native look-a-likes
 - Monitor the presence or spread of invasive plants along a lakeshore, river, swimming area, or other favorite water body
 - Report the presence of a new infestation early
 - Participate in control measures, such as hand-pulling

Cayuga County Training Dates:
 - June 14th, 2010: 6-7pm at Sterling Nature Center
 - June 18th, 2010: 5:30pm-6:30pm at Emerson Park (within park, $2.00 parking fee)
 - June 19th, 2010: 9-10am at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, 248 Grant Ave., Auburn

For more information, contact Irene Holak at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 315-255-1183.

Interesting Guide to Weed Management

An interesting guide to weed management was written last summer by a group of Finger Lakes Agencies involved in protecting Water Quality. The guide; "Aquatic Weeds: Nuisance and Necessity; Managing Waterweeds in Cayuga, Owasco and Seneca Lakes" is a must read for Fingerlakes shoreline owners and users. The 28 page PDF guide was published by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. It does a nice job of explaining the life cycle of weeds, as well as many options available to combat them.

Here is an excerpt from the Introduction and a link to the full PDF document:

"Lakeshore property owners have concerns that most other landowners do not face. Mighty waves erode the shoreline, fluctuating water levels threaten drinking water wells, activities in the yard can have an immediate effect on water quality – and excessive water weeds can ruin the enjoyment of the property. An overabundance of aquatic plants can prevent swimming, foul boat propellers, stink as they rot along shorelines and reduce property values. Lakeshore residents expect reasonable access to, and use of, the lake. For many this includes the need for weed management, used here to mean activities intended to reduce the abundance or species of aquatic plants in a specific area.

Weed management requires knowledge, time, patience and money. There is no magic bullet that will eliminate excess weeds without continued effort and without harmful side affects. Some management attempts can even make the problem worse. A lake, after all, is not a swimming pool but a dynamic, complex system and expectations should be realistic.

The goal of this booklet is to support weed management in Seneca, Cayuga and
Owasco Lakes that takes into account all of the lake's users, emphasizing a watershed approach."

Link to the WQMA web site and PDF guide:http://co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/projects/Aquatic_Weeds_Nuisance_and_Necessity.pdf

Take a look and tell us what you think!

- Lakeman

Senator Schumer concerned about weeds in the Fingerlakes

Most of us Lake users are more than concerned about weed growth in the Fingerlakes. According to today's Syracuse Post-Standard so is U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. The article describes the battle Skaneateles residents have been fighting with weed growth over the last few years. The senator indicates in the article that he will seek to involve The Army Corp of Engineers to help fight weeds in all 10 Fingerlakes.

Another interesting comment in the article is that the Army Corp of Engineers has been already working to eradicate weeds in Northern and Western New York. Maybe we can get some added help from them here.

Stay Tuned.............I hope we hear more very soon. Better yet, drop Senator Schumer a line and tell him we need his help on Owasco Lake. Remember the old saying; "The squeaky wheel gets the grease"

Link to Syracuse Newspaper article on Weeds in Skaneateles Lake:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/schumer_wants_army_corps_of_en.html

If you are interested also take a look at a related article on weeds in Otisco Lake.

Link to Syracuse Newspaper article on Weeds in Otisco Lake:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/otisco_lake_also_faces_milfoil.html