Potentially toxic algae found in Owasco Lake

Blue-green algae was found in Owasco Lake in late September according to the Cayuga County Health and Human Services Department. Samples taken from the north end of the lake were tested by the NYS Health Department and were confirmed to be the potentially toxic Blue-green algae. The Cayuga County Health Department is cautioning people to not swim, cook or wash with water that has algae in it.

For more information on Blue-green algae go to this NYS Department of Health web-site http://www.scribd.com/doc/40201631/NYS-Health-Department-Blue-Green-Algae
 or call the Cayuga County Helath Department at 315-253-1405.


For more details, see the news story at the following links:

WSYR Channel 9: http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Potential-harmful-algae-identified-in-Owasco-Lake/DYzM4-cyf0ORSXr1pgqD2g.cspx

Auburn Publications: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_ad8ef46c-e17c-11df-9237-001cc4c03286.html?print=1

Owasco River Trail - City awarded grant to study feasability

Local newspapers are reporting this week that the City of Auburn has been awarded a grant to study the feasibility of building an Owasco River trail from Downtown Auburn to Owasco Lake. The grant of $590,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation will be used to hire a consultant to begin the planning for a multi-use trail.

The idea for this trail goes back over 40 years and has been studied several times. This idea has always excited me as a great recreation idea for our community. So I took a few minutes this morning to dig back in my files and find some history on the idea. The first reference I found to an Owasco River plan goes back to 1954. The next was the 1968 Master Plan for Emerson Park that referenced development of recreational areas along the river north of the Emerson Park. In July 1971, the Cayuga County Planning Board published a development proposal which included a plan called "Rediscover the Owasco River". In 1972, the board published a more detailed proposal entitled the "Owasco River Plan. I am not sure what happened with that plan, but I believe it remained on the shelf for another 20 years.

In 1996, The Owasco River Alliance was formed by several community leaders. The purpose of this group was to promote tourism and recreational development along the Owasco River. The idea was to start with the 1972 plan and update it to meet the ideas of the community. In the end, I believe funding became the obstacle to the progression of this effort, although I think this groups efforts helped to drive funding for the rebuilding of the seawall and bridges in Emerson Park.

These recent trail efforts have been an outcome of the development of the City of Auburn's Comprehensive Plan. The plan was a community wide effort to come up with ideas and plans for future development desires of Auburn residents.

We have a great start already with the seawall and rivers trails all the way north to Auburn High School. It would be great to develop bicycle/walking trails that would allow us to enjoy the river from downtown to the lake. Presently, my wife and I "cart" our bikes to Onondaga Lake Park, the Erie Canal trail east of Rochester or the old Erie canal trail between Manlius and Rome to enjoy these types of trails. We typically enjoy a meal and visit local shops while on these trips. It sure would we be nice to stay and spend  in our own county as well as enjoy Auburn's "hometown" beauty.

I really hope that this time, the Owasco River trail from Auburn to Owasco Lake becomes a reality. I know OWLA will be behind the effort 100%. What do you think? Please let us know by posting a comment here.

- Lakeman

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

Household Hazardous Waste and Home Electronics & Propane Tank Recycling event

Cayuga County's Household Hazardous Waste Day and Home Electronics & Propane Tank Recycling event will take place on Saturday, October 16th. The event provides all City of Auburn and Cayuga County residents the opportunity to dispose of these materials in a safe manner.


This is a great opportunity to properly dispose of those old paints, chemicals and cleaners in your garage or basement! 


Date, Time and Registration:

• Saturday, October 16, 2010.
  
• Everyone Must Register with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County. Please call 315-255-1183.
  

Acceptable Household Hazardous Wastes Include:

• Products containing chemicals
• Oil based paints
• Turpentine, paint thinners, brush cleaners
• Pesticides (weed killers, insect sprays, fungicides)
• Mercury thermometers and barometers
• Liquid mercury (quick silver)
• Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (contains mercury)
• Compact fluorescent bulbs (contains mercury)
• Liquid Driveway sealer
• Household cleaners
• Gasoline
• Gas/oil, oil/water, gas/water mixtures
• Antifreeze
• Mothballs
• Pool Chemicals
• Photograph developing chemicals

Look for warnings on labels such as danger, caution, toxic, flammable, corrosive, and reactive. These are hazardous materials that can cause water pollution and human injuries if they are poured on the ground, down the drain, or placed in the trash.

Home Electronics and Propane Tanks

Home electronics*, televisions*, computers*, digital cameras, propane tanks (up to 40 pounds) and small freon appliances* are also accepted.

*$5 fee for each television (limit 2 televisions), and each small freon appliance.


Get more information at the following link:
http://www.cayuganet.org/hazwaste/hhw10.htm


or call CCE at 315-225-1183 with your questions.

Public Meeting on Hydraulic Fracturing Study

EPA’s Public Meeting on Hydraulic Fracturing Study to

Take Place in Binghamton, New York

                                Meeting Scheduled for September 13 and 15 at the Broome County Forum Theater

Contact (News Media Only): EPA: John Senn, (212) 637-3667, senn.john@epa.gov
                

New York, NY – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected a new venue and dates for the public meeting on EPA’s upcoming hydraulic fracturing study originally scheduled for August 12, 2010. The meeting will now be held at the Broome County Forum Theater in Binghamton, New York, on September 13th and 15th, 2010. 

Meeting Information:

EPA will hold four identical sessions during a two day session at the same location:

Date:  Monday, September 13, 2010

Location:  Broome County Forum Theater, 236 Washington St., Binghamton

Time:

            •           12:00pm – 4:00pm (pre-registration begins at 10:30am)

            •           6:00pm – 10:00pm (pre-registration begins at 4:30pm)

  

Date:  Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Location:  Broome County Forum Theater, 236 Washington St., Binghamton

Time:

            •           12:00pm – 4:00pm (pre-registration begins at 10:30am)

            •           6:00pm – 10:00pm (pre-registration begins at 4:30pm)

EPA looks forward to receiving more public input on the upcoming research study on the potential relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water.  

For additional questions or comments, please email hydraulic.fracturing@epa.gov or call 1-866-477-3635. Meeting information may be found on the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study website at http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_hydroout.cfm.

Recycling Event:

Home Electronics, Small Freon Appliances, Fluorescent Bulbs and
Propane Cylinder Recycling Event:
Natural Resource Center

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

This fall all residents of Cayuga County and the City of Auburn are invited to participate in the Fall 2010 Home Electronics and Propane 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, September 18, 2010.
  
• Running from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  
• Located at the Natural Resource Center, 7413 County House Road, Auburn, next to the jail and nursing home.

Fees:

• $5 fee per TV (limit of 2 TV's per household).
• $5 fee per small Freon appliance.
• All other household electronics are free.
• Propane tanks accepted for free.

Acceptable Household Electronics Include:

• Computer Equipment
• Computer Monitors
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs and CFL bulbs
• Typewriters
• Video Game Systems
• Universal Power Supplies
• Cell Phones
• Toner/Ink Cartridges
• Small Freon Appliances $5 each
• TV's (Limit 2 per household) $5 each

Also accepted will be:

• 1 pound to 20 pound propane tanks
• Hand held cylinders that contained such gases as oxygen, MAPP and helium

NO CHEMICALS ALLOWED

This is not our chemical collection event, which is on October 16th. 


For more information check this link:http://www.cayuganet.org/hazwaste/electronics10fall.htm

OWLA MEETINGS AUGUST 28 & SEPT 1

REMINDER: 

An OWLA business meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, August 28, from 9 until 10 a.m. at the Emerson Park covered picnic area nearest the Pavilion.

The regular OWLA meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 1, starting at 6 p.m. at Springside Inn. Ken Lynch from the DEC will present a brief update, and the remainder of the agenda will be announced soon.

And, we need several OWLA members to be present next Thursday, September 2, at 4:30 pm, when the more than 500 signatures on the petition started on Owasco Lake Day will be brought before the Auburn City Council.

Please try to attend both meetings; we will keep the meetings focused on the many issues to be addressed and look forward to seeing OWLA members and friends there.

Norma L. Leone

Upcoming Meetings!

Hi OWLS,  

First of all;
1.  Please come to the special business meeting at Emerson Park this Saturday August 28th from 9-10 AM. We must discuss Owasco Lake Day 2010. and strategy for the rest of the year.      All Board members are requested to be present. others are certainly welcome!!
2.  Our regular September meeting will be focused on conferring with Ken Lynch of the Dec, as to what could be done with Owasco Flats and Dutch Hollow Brook. It will be at 6 pm at Springside on Wed. Sept 1st.  Possibly Mayor Duffy and Andrew Cuomo might attend. The date could change however if necessary.
Please come to this-- to show them that we are indeed a large group. Bruce Natale will be presenting his plans for the areas.
 3. I hope that 5 or 6, or20 of you will volunteer to go with me to City hall on Sept 2nd at 6 PM to read and present our petition of over 500 signatures.  I could use the company.

Thanks in advance!

Joe Wasileski - OWLA President

Link to John Halfman's latest Owasco Lake Report

John Halfman from the Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) at Hobart & William Smith, presented an update on his recent Owasco Lake testing at this month's OWLA meeting. FLI has been a partner with OWLA in Owasco Lake water quality monitoring for the last 5 years. We have included a link to the Power Point presentation John used at the August 4th meeting below:

Link: http://people.hws.edu/halfman/Data/Halfman%20OwascoLake%208-4-10.pdf

Learn more about what is going on at the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart & William Smith College.
Link: http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/2010/publications/august2010.pdf