Thursday, February 10, 2011

Learn more about Algae Blooms - Lake Algae Symposium - April 9th

A Lake Algae Symposium will be held on Saturday, April 9, 10:00am  - 12:00 pm, in the Honeoye Central School Auditorium.

The Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Finger Lakes Community College's Muller Field Station, and Honeoye Valley Association will host a public outreach program focused on algae blooms and their ecological consequences to drinking water and recreation on Saturday, April 9, 2011 10:00am - 12:00pm.

The event is intended to be a proactive educational opportunity for homeowners and water users of Honeoye Lake and the remaining Finger Lakes to gain knowledge and understanding as the 2011 season approaches. The agenda for the day will include three speakers, Dr. Bruce Gilman (FLCC), Dr. Greg Boyer (SUNY ESF), and Jim Hyde (NYSDOH) presenting on the general background of algal blooms and types of algae; current research and what is known of the risk assessments for homeowners, businesses, and visitors; and the recommended treatment strategies and their effectiveness. The audience of this event will be home/cottage owners from the western Finger Lakes region, specifically Honeoye Lake.

The event will take place in the Honeoye Central School Auditorium located at 8528 Main Street Honeoye, NY 14471. For questions, please contact Finger Lakes Institute Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah Meyer, at smeyer@hws.edu.

- this information taken from the FLI - February 2011 "Finger Lakes Institute Happenings" newsletter.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Interesting new blog: New York Water Law

Would you like to learn more about laws protecting water usage and quality in NY State? If so, check out a new blog started last month by Laura Treichler, a Fingerlakes area environmental attorney.

The New York Water Law blog covers news on laws and legal actions in New York State, as well as other parts of the the country. New York Water Law also contains links to many other interesting water law resources.

Link: http://nywaterlaw.com/index.html

Let us know what you think of it, by leaving a comment on this post.

- Lakeman

Friday, January 28, 2011

OWLA Board Of Directors Meeting Wed. Feb. 2nd

Our next OWLA Board Of Directors Meeting will be held Wed. Feb. 2nd , 7pm at the Springside Inn in Fleming.

Hope to see you there!

Friday, January 7, 2011

New invasive discovered in Owasco Lake

The Chinese Mystery Snail is the latest invasive species to be identified in Owasco Lake. At Thursday's Water Quality Management Agency meeting there was a discussion on the snail and it's possible effects to the Lake. The snail was discovered in the lake in late 2010, but the positive identification was only recently confirmed. The Owasco Watershed Inspector; Jessica Reinhart, has requested that anyone who spots the snail to report the siting by calling her office at 315-252-4171 ext. 120.

The Chinese Mystery Snail has spread to many parts of the country and has been reported in the Great Lakes for many years. The snail is fairly large, about the size of a walnut or golf ball and is olive green in color. They spend most of their life in partially buried in the bottom sediments. When the snail dies, it washes up on shore and and can be easily seen(...and smelled). Long term effects of the snail are not completely understood. As more information becomes available we will post updates on the Owasco Lake News blog.



(photo from USGS)




Learn more about the Chinese Mystery Snail by visiting these links:

link to USGS fact sheet on the Chinese Mystery Snail:
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=1045

link to the Auburn Citizen article:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_3cf8b992-1a0f-11e0-b701-001cc4c03286.html

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

What's Happening from the Finger Lakes Institute

Upcoming seminars in the Finger Lakes:


IMPACT OF CHANGING OPEN SPACE
The Impact of Changing Open Space seminar to be held on Thursday, January 20, 2011 1:00-4:00 pm at the Ovid Federated
Church, 7137 N. Main St. Ovid, NY will focus in the impact of sporadic development in rural communities, land conservation, funding
opportunities for municipalities and private property owners, and cost of community services. The meeting is sponsored by Cornell
Cooperative Extension Seneca and Yates Counties. Cost is $20 per person with reservations due January 12th
and should be sent to
CCE Seneca Co., 308 Main Street Shop Centre, Waterloo, NY 13165. Municipal education credits will be available. For more
information or to express need for accommodations, contact Bobbie Harrison at 315/539-9251. Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Seneca and Yates Counties provide equal program and employment opportunities.


Happening by a Lake Near You - Farms, Folks, and Funding: Cultivating Leadership Through Research and Practice

February 2, 2011
Inn on the Lake, Canandaigua NY

Download the Call for Presentation Abstracts.
Download the registration form and flier, or register online.

This one-day conference will be focused on local agricultural best management practices, especially concerning water quality as it pertains to agriculture and municipal systems. Ranging from everyday human actions to long-term infrastructure issues, workshops 
and research sessions will be informative of how changing behavior and technology aids local agricultural processes; in particular 
addressing water quality for food sources, drinking, waste management, and the water cycle. Workshop and presentation topics 
will include:
- Municipal water system implications
- On-site wastewater management
- Composting
- Organic farming
- Agricultural BMPs
- Nutrient Management
- Innovative Farm Practices/Technologies (methane digesters, etc.)
- Local food distribution
- Software involving Agriculture/ Water Quality
- Social/Human Dimensions
- Biomass Crops
- Downstream innovations
- Agricultural water reuse
For more information on presentations, or other aspects of the conference, please contact Khris Dodson at 315-443-8818. 
Conference cost is $40, which includes continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and all programs. Register here.


WESTERN NEW YORK STORMWATER MANAGEMENT TRAINING SERIES'
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SEMINAR 7
The NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual has been updated and now includes Green Infrastructure practices as a
requirement in Chapter 3, 4 and 5. The major purposes of these practices are to increase pollutant removal from water runoff by
getting closer to the source and to reduce the amount of runoff by providing planning and treatment practices that enhance
infiltration and mimic pre-development hydrology. This course will take participants through the process and use of the practices on
site specific designs to achieve the goals established in the manual. Detailed sizing exercises of treatment practices will be
performed in design teams. All projects that will be approved after March 1st, 2011 must demonstrate that Green Infrastructure
practices are incorporated into the design phase. Note that some MS4s are already requiring designers to review and consider
some of these practices. This course offers municipal and design engineers, landscape architects, stormwater professionals and land
use planners and developers one of the best training on Green Infrastructure in Western New York.
This seminar will be taught by Don W. Lake Jr. PE, CPESC, CPSWQ aka the stormwater guru of New York. Don has presented over
1,400 lectures, seminars, and  training workshops in erosion and sediment control, hydrology, and stormwater management
throughout the country. He is the principal author of the "New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control",
the "New York Contractors Erosion and Sediment Control Field Notebook", and co-author of "Construction Site Erosion and Sediment
Controls - Planning, Design, and Performance." Don is a dynamic, enthusiastic presenter that oozes knowledge. If you have not
attended one of his seminars, it is a must. John Dunkle, PE, CPESC, CPSWQ with also be teaching segments of the class.
The workshop will be held on January 6th from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Henrietta Fire Training Center, located at 60 Erie Station
Road Henrietta, NY 14586. 7 LUs, 7 PDHs, and 7 CEUs are to be awarded for this course. The workshop is a one-day session with
a fee of $230.00 and will include handouts, refreshments, and lunch.
http://www.monroecountyswcd.org/index_files/Page1249.html


COMMUNITY TRAINING IN ECOLOGICAL DESIGN
February through April 2011
Montour Falls, NY
Are you a landowner, farmer, or gardener?
Do you want a more sustainable and abundant life?
Learn a design method to improve home scale food and forest production, to conserve resources, and save money.
Study basic ecological principles and permaculture methods and use them to solve problems on your own home and landscape.
Help make better choices for our land, families, and communities.
Create your own sustainable design for a backyard, garden space, vacant lot, field, forest, or even an entire village. Examples and
applications will be presented in both an urban and rural settings.
Design subjects include gardens, water management, earthworks, small woodlot management, buildings, energy, soils, compost,
animals, and more.
Schedule:
Weekend Workshop: February 12 & 13
Tuesday evenings: 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., February 15 - April 12
Instructors:
Steve Gabriel, Michael Burns, and Karryn Olson-Ramanujan with guest presenters
Tuition:
$200 - $400 (based on what you can afford) Thanks to the Schuyler County Environmental Management Council, and the Finger
Lakes Resource Conservation & Development Council, a limited number of half scholarships are available for residents of Schuyler,
Steuben, Chemung, Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties. A special thanks goes to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County
(EPO/EEO) for their support of this program.
Location:
Schuyler County Human Services Building, 323 Owego Street, Montour Falls, NY 14865
Contact: Call (607) 227-0316 or visit http://www.FingerLakesPermaculture.org for information and reg


Learn more from the FLI:
http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/2011/publications/january2011.pdf

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council formed

Wednesday night at Emerson Park, three municipalities voted to form the Owasco Lake Management council. The Cayuga County Legislator, City of Auburn and Town of Owasco became the founding members. They hope to add the other towns and villages of the Owasco Lake Watershed to the council very soon. The purpose of the council is to oversee watershed protection in the 208 square mile watershed. Owasco Lake is the major water supply for over 50,000 people in Cayuga County. The group also hopes to apply for grants and federal funding to address water quality issues in the watershed. The groups first efforts will be to create its by-laws and a budget.

The Owasco Watershed Lake Association has been pushing for a cooperative approach by all watershed municipalities for many years. We are very hopeful for active participation in the council by all of the government bodies in the watershed.

Read the Auburn Citizen article at the following link:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_6a05efae-034e-11e0-a844-001cc4c002e0.html

Saturday, November 27, 2010

County to seek help to protect Owasco Lake

On Tuesday night, OWLA President Joe Wasileski presented the Cayuga County Legislator with a 600 signature petition asking for help in protecting Owasco Lake. Joe detailed some of the issues that are impacting the lakes water quality. In the end, the legislator did vote to apply for a $750,000 grant to help reduce phosphorus and sediment loading in the Owasco Flats.


link to the Auburn Citizen article covering the meeting on Tuesday Nov. 23, 2010:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_e02333ea-f782-11df-a2fc-001cc4c03286.html

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Presentation of our Owasco Lake Petition to Cayuga County Legislator - 11/23

Please join Joe Wasileski, Jeff Trescott, and Terry Lattimore in presenting OWLA's (600)  member petition at the Cayuga County Legislature meeting on Tuesday November 23rd at 6 PM, on the 6th floor of The Cayuga County Office Bldg.
OWLA would like as many of you as possible to come and support us. Anyone is free to take your turn and speak about Owasco Lake. If you plan to speak, please contact Joe Wasileski (zorch26@hotmail.com), so we can organize the groups effort.  We need to show the legislator that this community cares about Owasco Lake, so a large turnout would be NICE!!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Formation of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council.

From Joe Wasileski - OWLA President:

Our OWLA December meeting will be held on Tuesday December 7th - 7pm at Emerson Park pavilion--in conjunction with the Town of Owasco, the City of Auburn and the Cayuga County Legislature's meetings. Other elected officials from surrounding townships around the Lake, will also be present. The purpose of the meeting will be the grand unvieling and ratification of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council. This is the plan and proposal, that OWLA has spearheaded, and we have been working on for the last 12 months. I have been attending meetings, formulating the plan  on a bi-weekly basis for the last 7 months. It is a Big Deal and unprecedented to say the least. Owasco Lake has it's problems, but this is a GIANT step to aid our efforts, and at last hold others accountable for determing it's future well being!!!

Stay tuned for more information on the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council in upcoming blog posts.