SECOND ANNUAL “RING OF LIGHTS”

SECOND ANNUAL “RING OF LIGHTS” SET FOR 9:30 PM SATURDAY, JULY 3rd

 CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY: LIGHT AN LED FOR OWASCO LAKE

Last year many residents started a new tradition called “Ring of Lights” as a way to celebrate the 4th of July and our community-wide commitment to restoring and protecting Owasco Lake. This year this annual tradition will continue on Owasco Lake and region.   Residents and visitors to the region for the holiday are asked to light at least one LED light on Saturday, July 3 at 9:30 p.m., coinciding with the annual fireworks display at Emerson Park. The “Ring of Lights” event is promoted by Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA), and a limited supply of LED lights will be sold on “Owasco Lake Day” at Emerson Park Pavilion, Thursday July 1st during the Resource Fair as part of “Lake Day 2010” that runs from 4 pm – 6:30 pm.   There are a variety of other ways to participate in “Ring of Lights” that are environmentally safe, including: a string of LED Holiday lights, a nylon solar powered LED patio lantern, or a solar LED camping lantern.
Joe Wasileski, OWLA President, said, “We hope that this event will bring greater awareness to improving the quality of Owasco Lake, and while enjoying the Ring of Lights, recognize the enjoyment and pleasure that we all have because of our lake.
The “Ring of Lights” is based on the Native American tradition of lighting fires around the lake to promote unity and celebration of community.    In many lakeside communities, there has been a long-standing tradition of using emergency flares and bonfires to create a ring of fire. The Finger Lakes Institute recommends using LED lights to reduce the significant phosphorus pollution that has been found to result from using fires and flares.  Owasco Lake is the first in our region to promote creating a “Ring of Lights” with environmentally safe alternatives such as LED and solar lights.
 “Whether you live on the lake, drink the water from the lake, or enjoy it recreationally, we hope that this tradition will continue to grow as one unique way to show our community spirit and commitment to Owasco Lake” said Joe Wasileski, President of Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA).
 “We want Owasco Lake to be recognized for creating a new environmentally friendly tradition throughout the region and state.  This is one fun way to demonstrate our commitment to our community, our environment and to working together to improve water quality,” said Wasileski. “Owasco Lake is one of our area’s greatest assets, and we hope this new tradition will continue to grow in future years.”

Come out to Owasco Lake Day - July 1st!

If you are concerned about the quality of Owasco Lake or the taste of your drinking water, you really need to come out to Emerson Park this Thursday. OWLA and the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency our sponsoring the Third Annual Owasco Lake Day.

The resource fair starts at 4pm and should be quite informing. Various agencies will have displays covering environmental topics and Owasco Lake.  Bob Menapace will be there with his SCUBA team and weed harvester among others. Several speakers will discuss lake issues beginning at 5pm.

Please come out and learn more about Owasco Lake and show your support for the long-term protection of this jewel!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

4 - 6:30 p.m.

Emerson Park Pavilion

Updates from:

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio

City of Auburn and Cayuga County Officals

and

John D. Halfman, Ph.D., Finger Lakes Institute

Resource Fair 4 - 5 p.m.

Speakers 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Free Admission . Free Parking

For questions or more information:

OwascoLakeDay2010@gmail.com

www.OWLA.org

Hope to see you on Thursday!
- Lakeman

Owasco Lake Day!

Come out and show your support for Owasco Lake!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

4 - 6:30 p.m.

Emerson Park Pavilion

Updates from:

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio

City of Auburn and Cayuga County Officals

and

John D. Halfman, Ph.D., Finger Lakes Institute

Resource Fair 4 - 5 p.m.

Speakers 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Free Admission . Free Parking

For questions or more information:

OwascoLakeDay2010@gmail.com

www.OWLA.org

Get Informed - Get Involved

It’s Your Drinking Water

AUBURN TO HALT OWLA WATER TESTING PROGRAM

Letter to the Editor from OWLA President, Joe Wasileski:

AUBURN TO HALT OWLA WATER TESTING PROGRAM

     For the last 20 years OWLA (Owasco Watershed Lake Association) has been testing 26 sites around Owasco Lake for fecal coliforms and turbidity.  Twenty volunteers performed this important work.  This was extremely useful information to many people and agencies including the Cayuga County Health Department and Parks Department and the Finger Lakes Institute.  The actual lab work was performed by the city of Auburn. 

     In July, 2009, the Auburn City Manager sent OWLA a letter which was a termination notice.  Various meetings followed, and it was indeed true.  We were devastated and in a state of disbelief.  It was also noted, that the city manager wanted to re-negotiate the watershed inspector contract.  Auburn and Owasco who are the sole suppliers of drinking water for 50,000 people in this area have the Legal Responsibility for performing inspections of the Watershed of Owasco Lake. 

     Almost a year has passed, along with multiple letters and meetings, and the testing season is now here.  We have met with all four Auburn councilors and the mayor and they unanimously support our position that testing be continued and expanded along with the Watershed Inspector position.  They promised to take action.

     The budget will be decided within the next 10 days.  Please call or write your councilor and the mayor and urge them to reverse this decision and re-instate OWLA water testing and strengthen the Watershed Inspector position.  The monetary amount is indeed minor; as most of it is paid by a pass-through to water users. 

     A penny-wise is a pound foolish when Owasco Lake is concerned.  Our drinking water is indubitably our most precious resource. 

                                                                                                 Sincerely yours,

                                                                                                 Dr. Joseph Wasileski

                                                                                                 (President OWLA)  

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.

Boater Safety Classes in Cayuga County

Two boater safety classes are being offered by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department:

Saturday June 12th, 8am - 4pm, Owasco Firehouse #1, 7174 Owasco Road, Owasco

Saturday June 19th, 8am- 4pm, Scipio Firehouse,  3550 State Rt. 34, Scipio.

Both class offerings are free, but you must pre-register by calling Deputy John Nedza at 315-294-8145

Beautiful Memorial Day! (Be safe!)

Wow! What a weekend so far!

The is nicest weather for memorial day weekend in many years. I was out on Owasco Lake the past two days and can't believe all the folks who are out on the water. I even went for a swim saturday, a little cool (a passing boater said it was around 68F), but very refreshing with the air temperatures in the 80's.

I did want to make a comment about safety on the water. There are lots of people out in boats, kayaks, jet ski's etc. Make sure you safety gear is all on board and that young people are WEARING life jackets. Please use caution, most people are just getting on the water for the first time this season and may not be at their peak boating potential.

One other CAUTION to those who may be on Owasco after dark: The lighted point marker buoys HAVE NOT been installed yet! Please use extreme caution until they are placed. Hopefully NYS will be out very soon to remedy this situation.

Lastly, Please take a moment to reflect on this very important holiday. Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor those who have given their lives for freedom as well as those who have served in all of the armed services.

Well get out and enjoy this beautiful day!

Have fun and be safe! - Lakeman

OWLA meeting this Wednesday June 2nd

Messsage from Joe Wasileski - OWLA President:

Hi OWLS,

There will definitely be a meeting this Wednesday, June 2nd at Springside Inn at 7PM.  There is a lot to decide concerning Owasco Lake Day and its particulars.  We are still considering a forum possibility but it will be modified per your suggestions.  THIS COULD BE OUR MOST IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE YEAR!!---so please come and bring your friends.

We also will need your help, DURING the meeting so please come early.  We will be folding 1010 letters to potential members around the lake for our current membership drive.  Please come and help us.  This is the BIG KAHUNA MEETING.-----


                                                                     Thanks,  Joe Waz

Nice Editorial's in today's Auburn Citizen

There are three nice editorials dealing with Owasco Lake in the Auburn Citizen tonight. One deals with the expansion of the watershed inpsection program in the Owasco Lake watershed. The Owasco Watershed Lake Association is advocating for expansion of the inspection program. 


What do you think? Please leave us your comments on the proposal to have lake water drinkers and users pay a little bit more to protect Owasco Lake.


More Lake Watchers Needed - Guy Consentino (The Auburn Citizen 5/19/10)

If you could call the protection of Owasco Lake a continuing saga, the newest chapter is again about money and how to pay for keeping the lake that has some 45,000 people drinking from it, not only clean, but protected in the long term. It seems clear that we are going to again get to the brink of the lake deteriorating, before we can get local leaders to ensure long term funding to protect it.

In question are letters sent by Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh to local officials about the city’s commitment to the current program, not only of inspections, but also creating a stable funding stream that started with a deal in 2007. Three years ago, state Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio put on the table a one-time funding opportunity to pay for inspections for one year. His condition, after being burned by Cayuga County a few years before on an economic developer position, was that permanent financing for the following two years had to be in place before the state’s money was released. The result was a deal between the City of Auburn and Town of Owasco, both of which draw water from Owasco Lake, to add a surcharge to their billings for users to pay for a single watershed inspector #— far short of what is needed.

This year the deal runs out and while it looks as if the city will still stick with its fee on water, the Town of Owasco is looking to increase their surcharge if the City of Auburn does, in order to add a part-time inspector #— far short of what is needed. With a 208-square-mile watershed, which is larger than neighboring Skaneateles’s which has several more inspectors, the need for more personnel resources is clear.

In question is whether the city, the largest drawer of water, should get more from its citizens, and as one should expect, those it sells water to (i.e. Aurelius, Montezuma, Weedsport, etc). Yet, one key player who has not been involved financially from day one and should be is the county. They slipped through the financial commitment process by instead providing “oversight” and space for the sole watershed inspector (some have felt that the only reason they went that far was that they wanted to keep tabs on the inspector and make sure they didn’t go after some legislators’ constituents).

What has to be remembered is that more than these two municipalities have an interest in a clean watershed. For example, those who draw their water from the lake directly in Moravia, Niles and Scipio, among others, require clean water and should be covering part of that cost. It is time for a permanent, long term, inclusive financial plan to be implemented that includes the county.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com

link to the editorial:http://www.auburnpub.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_8cea5ad6-62f0-11df-8dc0-001cc4c03286.html