Algae Bloom update

Good Morning Everyone, 10/3/2016

Last week, we had very few blooms of significant size. Unfortunately, the cyanobacteria cells were still present in the water column, but the weather conditions were not ideal for a bloom to develop at the surface. With the ability for the bacteria to migrate up and down in the water column, the toxin producing organism made their way into water intakes for the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco and eventually into the treated drinking water. Luckily, the toxins are at low enough levels that they are not a major health concern to children, pregnant women, or adult; but nevertheless, it is still a major concern for the water quality of Owasco Lake. The most recent results for the State Health Department have shown no detectable toxins in the drinking water for the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco. We will continue to monitor the situation along with the County Health Department.

Today marks the last day of the year for weekly surveillance of your zone.

I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to help us better understand the frequency and severity of blooms in Owasco Lake. In the next few weeks/months, the inspection Program, OWLA, Health Department, and the DEC will meet to discuss the next step and hopefully come up with a plan to help minimize the impact Cyanobacteria on Owasco Lake. I think we exceeded our expectations for the first installment of the “Owasco Lake HAB Program” and it was not possible without the help of our 24 zone volunteers. 

As always, if you have any questions or would like to report a water quality concern, please feel free to contact me at anytime.

Sincerely,

Tim Schneider

Watershed Inspector

Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program

7413 County House Road

Auburn, NY 13021

www.owascoinspection.org

Violations, & Technical Assistance:

ph(o): 315.252.4171 x-120

ph(c): 315.237.2066

Owasco Watershed Lake Association Meeting       

October 5, 2016

  

Owasco Yacht Club at 7:00 pm

  

DRAFT Agenda

Welcome Members and Guests

  

Call to Order:

  

PROGRAM FOCUS:  Watershed Restoration Projects:

  

7 PM:  Dutch Hollow Brook, Jason Cuddeback, CC Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)

  

Jason will review the nine projects in the Dutch Hollow Brook Sub-basin designed to reduce nutrient loading or sedimentation. This collaborative $200,000 program is being implemented by the SWCD as a result of NYS funds captured by OWLA in 2013.

  

7:30 PM the Fox Toyota Dealer Match Program, Rick Nelson, OWLA

  

Director Rick Nelson will summarize projects that have been proposed by the SWCD and the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program (OLWIP) with the goal of starting implementation in the fall of 2016. The projects proposed for this collaborative $20,000 program will be implemented by the proponents as a result of an award to OWLA in the summer of 2016, made possible by the generosity of Fox Toyota of Auburn, NY and the Toyota Corporation.

  

7:45 PM the Enhanced Watershed Action Program, Bob Brower, OWLA 

  

Bob Brower will review the status of this complex and collaborative program, focused on the Sucker Brook and Veness Brook Sub-basins designed to reduce nutrient loading or sedimentation. This collaborative $600,000 program is being implemented mostly by the SWCD as a result of NYS funds captured by OWLA in 2014.

         

  

  

8:00 PM 

  

I.        Roll Call Sheet

II.      Approval of Sept, 2016 Minutes - Gilda Brower

III.    Financial Report - Jeff Trescot

IV.    Committee Reports

A.  Lake Level Committee-Jim Beckwith

            B.  Ad Hoc Notification Group Update - Peter Rogers

             

V.      Old Business 

  

            D.  The Sluiceway at Emerson Park

            E.  Communications - Carolyn Hiza

            F.  Membership - Rosemarie Romano

 

VI.    New Business

G. Amend and Re-Confirm the Fox/Toyota Award Process and

H. Establish the Fox/Toyota Award Committee   

8:30 PM Adjourn

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

Blue-green algae found at Adams Point

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said test results on a water sample at Adams Point on Owasco Lake showed high toxin levels associated with blue-green algae, according to the Cayuga County Health Department on Friday.

Full story: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/health-department-blue-green-algae-found-at-adams-point-on/article_891ad1ca-cb9d-5219-9c8e-13e8fbd5902b.html#utm_source=auburnpub.com&utm_campaign=%2Femail-updates%2Fbreaking%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A7ABE91B4AB87725FEC03F56B65C6C326743857B

Owasco Lake Water Quality Notification Program - 8/29/16

Owasco Lake- Week 8 (August 29th) Summary

Hello Everyone,

As we enter into September, the life cycle of cyanobacteria that cause Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) starts to peak and blooms can become more frequent.

On Saturday August 27th, we received a number of reports about a potential HAB developing. Blooms were seen on the East side of the lake at Burtis Point, Adams Point (Wide Waters Lane) and Seward Point (Firelane 24 East); and on the West side of the lake at Cascade (Firelane 1-4 West) and near Firelane 26 West. A sample was Collected at Adams Point and Laboratory results indicated that the bloom did contain high cyanobacteria levels (281ug/L, above the WHO/DEC Threshold of 25-30ug/L), and toxins results have not yet been completed. Luckily the wind picked up on Sunday August 28th and the blooms have dissipated. Additional information can be found at owascoinspection.org regarding current conditions of the lake and any supplemental information.

Reports from weekly surveillance have indicated no evidence of a bloom this week. As always, if you suspect a bloom, please feel free to call me at 315-237-2066 or Drew Snell at 315-427-5188.

Best,

 Tim Schneider
Watershed Inspector

Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program
7413 County House Road
Auburn, NY 13021
www.owascoinspection.org

Violations, & Technical Assistance:
ph(o):   315.252.4171  x-120
ph(c):   315.237.2066

OWLA meeting - Sept. 7th

  Owasco Watershed Lake Association Meeting       

September 7, 2016

Springside Inn at 7:00 PM

Draft Agenda

Welcome Members and Guests

  

Call to Order

  

I.        Roll Call Sheet

II.      Approval of August 25, 2016 Minutes - Gilda Brower

III.    Financial Report - Jeff Trescot

  

IV.    Committee Report

  

            A.  OWLA's Testing for 2016 - Ken Kudla

            B.  Ad Hoc Notification Group Update - Peter Rogers

            C.  Cove Captains Update - Linda Vitale, Jean Cannizzo

            D.  Communications - Carolyn Hiza

            E.  Membership - Rosemarie Romano

V.      Updates

  

              A.  Update HAB Program - Tim Schneider

              B.  The ASK - Bob Brower

              C.  Toyota/Fox Grant - Bob Brower                                             

             

VI.      Old Business 

  

                Summary of Progress of OWLA 

  

VII.    New Business

VIII.  Wrap-up (next meeting; assignments; agenda planning items)

             

Adjourn

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

Special Meeting on Thursday August 25th

Owasco Watershed Lake Association

Special Meeting        

Thursday - August 25, 2016 

Auburn Public Theater at 8 Exchange Street

From 7:00- 8:30 PM

Agenda:

Welcome Members and Guests
Call to Order
 
Focused Meeting on Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB)
Telecommunications Conference with Dr. Rebecca Gorney of NYSDEC
 
A. Dr. Gorney (NYSDEC) will present a state-wide overview of the HAB issue, participating from Albany. Owasco Lake Watershed Inspector Tim Schneider will be attending and will offer a local perspective on the HAB circumstances in Owasco Lake, based on this year's sampling results.
 
B. Ad Hoc Notification Group Update-Peter Rogers will describe the current efforts to enhance presentation of information about HAB's in Owasco Lake. This focus is a part of the group's efforts to improve notification of all troubling issues identified through monitoring of the lake and watershed.
 
C. The Stream Identification/Information Program - Watershed Specialist Drew Snell, OLWIP will make an exciting announcement about the status of this new program.
 
There will be no OWLA business meeting at this special focus session. August minutes and financial reports will be approved at the regular September 7th OWLA meeting.
 
Adjourn

NEW DATE AND LOCATION August meeting

The OWLA August meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25, from 7 to 8:30 at the Auburn Public Theater at 8 Exchange Street, Auburn, New York 13021.

The August 25 meeting will include a focus on the Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) issue, with Dr. Rebecca Gorney of NYSDEC.  Dr. Gorney will teleconference in to the meeting from Albany. Owasco Lake Inspector Tim Schneider  will also be attending and will offer a local perspective on the HAB circumstances in Owasco Lake. A short business meeting will also occur, time permitting.

OWLA Meeting May 4, 2016

Owasco Watershed Lake Association Meeting

May 4, 2016

Springside Inn at 7:00 PM

DRAFT Agenda

Welcome Members and Guests

 

Call to Order

 

I.        Roll Call Sheet

II.      Approval of April 6, 2016 Minutes - Gilda Brower

III.    Financial Report - Jeff Trescot

 

IV.    Committee Report

            A.  OWLA's Testing for 2016 - Ken Kudla

            B.  Ad Hoc Notification Group Update - Peter Rogers

            C.  Cove Captains Update - Linda Vitale, Jean Cannizzo

            D.  Communications - Carolyn Hiza

                    1. Newspaper Articles - Nancy Hart

            E.  Report on Strategic Planning - Bob Brower, Kerry McElroy

            F.  Membership - Rosemarie Romano

V.      Updates

              A.  HAB Testing with DEC Scott Kishbaugh - Bob Brower

              B.  Lake Day- June 22, 2016 - Rick Nelson

              C.  The ASK - Bob Brower

              D.  Owasco Lake Management Plan Report Card - Jim Beckwith

                    1. Health Department Notification - Jim Beckwith

 

VI.      Old Business 

                  Lake Levels - Jim Beckwith

 

VII.    New Business

                  Report on NYSFOLA Conference -             

VIII.  Wrap-up (next meeting; assignments; agenda planning items)

Adjourn

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

OWLA meeting Wednesday April 6th - 7pm

Owasco Watershed Lake Association Meeting

April 6, 2016 

Springside Inn at 7:00 PM

Draft Agenda

Welcome Members and Guests
Call to Order

Topic: The Land Value Landscape 2015
Introduction: Community Mapping Program Bob Brower, CEO, I.A.G.T. and
RACNE, and David Carr, Principal, Resource Interpretations
Introduction and Background of Ashleigh's Project
Presenter:  Ashleigh Grossos, Intern at I.A.G.T.

I.      Roll Call Sheet
II.    Approval of March 2, 2016 Minutes - Gilda Brower
III.    Financial Report - Jeff Trescot

IV.    Committee Report

            A.  Ad Hock Notification Group Update - Peter Rogers
                  1. Cove Captains Update - Peter Rogers
            B. Communications - Carolyn Hiza
                  1. News Paper Articles - Nancy Hart
            C.  Report on Strategic Planning - Bob Brower
         
V.      Updates

              A.  Summary of March to Lake Day 2016 - Rick Nelson
              B.  Lake Day- June 22, 2016 - Rick Nelson
              C.  Nominating Committee Report - Ann Robson

VI.      Old Business
   
VII.    New Business
              A. Report from Consultant - Kerry McElroy, Jim Beckwith            
VIII.  Wrap-up (next meeting; assignments; agenda planning items)

Adjourn

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