Learn more about Owasco Lake

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a website with interesting recreation and water quality information about Owasco Lake. The site also has links to an assortment of other sites and documents concerning Owasco Lake.

Check these web-sites out at the following link:
DEC Owasco Lake Recreation website:
DEC Owasco Mangement website:

OWLA strategic planning event

OWLA Strategic Vision and Development of Action Plan for 2013-2016

Springside Inn, 6141 West Lake Road Auburn

Saturday, November 10, 2012

9 am – 12 noon

You are invited to join the Board of Directors of OWLA for a Saturday morning session to engage in a series of conversations about what we can do together to protect and restore Owasco Lake and its watershed.

Everyone is encouraged to participate and to attend all or any parts of the sessions. 

 Goals and Objectives of the Meeting:

Affirm OWLA History, Vision, Mission, and Values 

Agree on Strategic Plan Long Term Vision of Restoring Owasco Lake and its watershed

Development of Action Plan 2013-2016 

Identify key goals, partners, and strategies to improve the Owasco Lake and its watershed 

Forge agreements on next steps to complete and start OWLA Action Plan by January 2013 

For the full agenda and details of the meeting,

click here :http://www.owla.org/Revised%20Final%20Draft%20OWLA%20Meeting%20Agenda%20November%2010,%202012.pdf

Household Hazardous Waste Day - Oct. 27th

Household Hazardous Waste

Drop-Off Event

October 27, 2012

This fall Cayuga County's Household Hazardous Waste Day provides all City of Auburn and Cayuga County residents the opportunity to dispose of household hazardous waste in a safe manner. Proper disposal protects human health, our community and the environment.

Date, Time and Registration:

Saturday, October 27, 2012.

This event is FREE! But 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, oil based stains

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

Propane tanks

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.

Small freon appliances will also be accepted for FREE, with a 40 pound weight limit.

Learn more at:
http://co.cayuga.ny.us/hazwaste/hhw12.htm

OWLA Meeting Notice - October 3rd

OWLA Meeting Notice:

The next OWLA meeting  is Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 7 pm at Springside Inn, 6141 West Lake Road.

Guest speaker will be Eileen O’Connor, PE, Director of Environmental Health, speaking about “Blue-Green Algae and how to report it.”

--------------------------------

SAVE THE DATE!

OWLA

Strategic Planning Session

Saturday, November 10, 2012

9:00 am - 12:00 Noon

Springside Inn

All OWLA members invited.

Prescription Drug Take-Back

Prescription drugs entering our waters has been a recent hot topic in the news. Kinney Drug's is sponsoring a Prescription Drug Take-Back event in Moravia next Saturday.

Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012

10 am - 2 pm

Kinney Drugs, Main St., Moravia N.Y.

Bring unwanted, unused drugs for safe disposal.

Help keep drugs out of  our water supply.

Blue – Green Algae is confirmed in Owasco Lake

Press Release on Blue Green Algae:

Cayuga County Health and Human Services

160 Genesee Street

Auburn, NY 13021

For Immediate Release: Wednesday September 12, 2012

Contact: Eileen O’Connor, P.E.

Director of Environmental Health

Phone (315) 253-1405

Fax: (315)-253-1478

Blue – Green Algae

The Cayuga County Health Department has recently received phone calls from County residents reporting that there are algae blooms on Owasco Lake. Residents are concerned that these blooms are blue-green algae. A water sample was taken from a bloom which was located at the south end of the lake. The sample was sent to the New York State Department of Health and they confirmed the presence of blue-green algae.

The Cayuga County Health Department would like to advise people that at any time surface water is visibly discolored or has surface scums from algae, they should suspect the presence of blue-green algae and avoid contact or consumption.

Blue-green algae is of concern as it can produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large enough quantities. Adverse health effects could occur when the blooms are swallowed while swimming or through contact with the skin.

A good website that has pictures of various types of algae can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81962.html.

The Cayuga County Health Department has the following advice:

1. People and pets should not swim in 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.

2. Avoid bathing, showering, or washing dishes in untreated water that is experiencing an algae bloom.

3. Do not let your pet drink water experiencing blue-green algae blooms.

4. People are encouraged to call the Environmental Health Division at 315-253-1405 if they suspect a blue-green algae bloom. 

more info at:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html

OWLA Meeting - Wednesday Sept. 5th

The next OWLA meeting will be this Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at 7 pm at Springside Inn, 6141 West Lake Road.

Guest speaker at this meeting will be Jason Cuddeback, District Grazing Specialist and Certified Crop Advisor from the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District

Cuddeback will speak about “Agricultural Best Management Practices and What They Mean to Owasco Lake.” He will discuss the proposed implementation of the $600,000 grant that the County was recently awarded by the New York State Agricultural Non-Point Source Grant program and its potential positive impact on Owasco Lake and the watershed.

We hope to see you there!

- Lakeman

Recycle this fall!

We have three recycling events coming up this fall in Cayuga County. It is a great time to clean up that basement or garage and take advantage of these well run events hosted by our local government entities. One of the events  is a household hazardous waste return that allows you to get rid of those old chemicals, cleaners, etc. in a safe, controlled manner. We hope you find the time to clean out and recycle!

Fall 2012 Recycling Events:

• September 22nd:
  Fall-E Electronics Collection Event: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, propane tanks, button cell batteries and E-waste 
• October 27th:
  Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
• November 17th:
  America Recycles Day: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, button cell batteries and E-waste 

Learn more about these events in this excellent ECOTALK article from the Auburn Citizen:

http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/as-summer-ends-sweep-away-the-waste/article_539a616c-149a-54e5-ac3f-d01cdecfa1b9.html

More about Invasives: The Water flea

Everyday it seems, we hear about another invasive species affecting our water quality or recreation in the Finger Lakes. Another fairly recent invader; the water flea is significantly affecting recreation on lakes all over NY state. Presently it is mainly affecting fishing, but it is another story that highlights the need to clean and inspect for invasives on our equipment before we move them from lake to lake. Learn more about the water flea at these resource links:

Auburn Citizen article:
http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/why-the-water-flea-makes-life-miserable-for-lake-fish/article_6b5c6737-b8cb-58d2-a7af-d7b32d4a5ed6.html

NY Invasives:
http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=35

Info from Sea Grant program:
http://www.iisgcp.org/exoticsp/fishhook.html

Learn about Hydrilla:
http://owascolake.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231