Category: Owasco Lake

Owasco Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan Project Coordination Committee Progress Report 2022-2025

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

By Michele Wunderlich, Principal Environmental Planner, Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development

The Owasco Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan for Phosphorus Reduction (9E Plan) was approved by the New York State Department of State and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in September 2022. This Clean Water Plan advances efforts to restore and protect the water quality of Owasco Lake and its watershed. This collaborative effort identified focused strategies to ensure the lake’s water supply, aquatic habitat, and recreational uses are protected.

A recommended practice in the 9E Plan was supporting the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council’s (OLWMC) central role in lake and watershed management. On November 15, 2022 the OLWMC Board of Directors approved of the creation of the 9E Plan Project Coordination Committee that prioritizes, coordinates, and facilitates project and programming implementation based on the recommendations of the 9E Plan.  The Owasco Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan Project Coordination Committee Progress Report 2022-2025 is an overview of the various programs and projects that have been implemented since the adoption of the 9E Plan. This report is now available here.

If  you have any questions or comments, please contact Michele Wunderlich at mwunderlich@cayugacounty.gov.

 

The Nature Conservancy Completes Sixth and Final Land Protection Project in Owasco Lake Watershed

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

By Olivia Green Olivia.green@tnc.org

Since 2018, The Nature Conservancy has taken a science-driven approach to protecting land in the Finger Lakes, preserving 6 properties in the Owasco Lake watershed. In total, the effort protects over 720 acres of headwater wetlands, forests, and farmland to keep runoff out of Owasco Lake, a drinking water source for over 44,000 people threatened by harmful algal blooms. To identify the lands most vital to protecting water quality in the lake, the Conservancy assessed and prioritized all 3,000 parcels in the watershed for attributes that are known to be beneficial for keeping water clean, such as the presence of freshwater wetlands, which can absorb and treat polluted water running off a neighboring property. We also factored in size, location, stream frontage, and slope. Protecting these lands—many of which are quite distant from the lake itself—highlights the outsized role of our headwater wetlands and streams in keeping a lake healthy for people and nature.

In addition to protecting land and water quality, we gifted 4 properties, one to Fillmore Glen State Park, two to the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, and one to the DEC for expansion of the Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area. Having these lands owned and managed by local stewards increases public access to nature, outdoor educational opportunities, restoration efforts, and importantly, local capacity to care for protected land. We’re also leveraging Owasco lands to test reforestation and assisted tree regeneration as natural climate solutions. This work has been funded by a $1.2 million Water Quality Improvement Project grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and matching private funds.
Olivia Green

Fillmore Nature Preserve Grand Opening

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

Fillmore Nature Preserve is a 161-acre property that is critical for protecting water quality in Owasco Lake. A study by The Nature Conservancy ranked the property within the top 10 parcels in the Owasco Lake watershed with the greatest impact on water quality. The land includes diverse forests and approximately 40 acres of freshwater wetlands. The Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC) closed on the property transfer from The Nature Conservancy in January 2023 and established the Fillmore Nature Preserve. The grand opening of the Fillmore Nature Preserve was held November 7, 2024 with promotional support provided by Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, Cayuga County WQMA and the Citizen Newspaper. Read more about it in our December newsletter.

Owasco Watershed Lake Association Update

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

Submitted by Rick Nelson

The Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) Board is busy with existing projects and developing new ones for water quality improvements and watershed awareness.

Trained Harmful Algal Bloom spotting volunteers started two weeks ago to check all around the lakeshore for HABs. Very few have arrived so far.

Our roadside ditch remediation program continues in cooperation with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District to reduce future sediment and nutrient loading into Owasco Lake.

In addition, the OWLA Board is in the initial stages of new efforts for the late summer into Fall:
• to increase awareness – interact with school teachers to incorporate water quality educational programs such as those available from the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges;
• install roadside signs highlighting the watershed boundaries, and important measures citizens can take to protect Owasco Lake.
• a tree planting program will hopefully blossom into a Lake wide effort with many volunteers; and
• a trash pickup day/week, hopefully Lake wide, to remove trash and debris from our shorelines, ditches, and streams.

For more info visit www.owla.org.

Photo credit: Rick Nelson

 

Owasco Lake Fish Advisory

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

The New York State Department of Health issues an annual advisory about consuming certain fish caught in specific New York State water bodies, because some fish contain chemicals at levels that could adversely affect health.    For the first time, this advisory includes some fish species from Owasco Lake.

Data from walleye and smallmouth bass collected in Owasco Lake by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation showed mercury levels that were higher than those previously found in smaller fish.   The fish collected in Owasco Lake tended to include larger, older fish than in other Finger Lakes

Mercury is a naturally occurring element, which can be released into the environment by sources like coal combustion. Elevated levels of mercury in fish have been documented in many New York State waters for many years, including lakes in the Adirondack and Catskill Regions of New York. Fish typically accumulate mercury from the food they eat. Smaller and younger fish within a species and fish lower in the food chain tend to build up fewer contaminants in their bodies, hence have a lower potential amount of mercury.

Based on the information from the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, walleyes collected and sampled from Owasco Lake in an earlier study were older than walleyes found in other lakes.  Fish that live longer and eat other fish, like bass and walleye, tend to have more mercury than do smaller or younger fish.  The Finger Lakes Institute plans on repeating their study in the next 18 months, depending upon funding, to see how the fish mercury levels are changing over time.

It is essential to know that the public drinking water from the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco, both who draw water from Owasco Lake, is still safe.  This drinking water is tested annually for mercury and to date, no mercury has been detected.

For specific recommendations on fish consumption go to www.health.ny.gov/fish/fl.

For information on the chemicals for which the City of Auburn and Town of Owasco test in their drinking water go to

http://www.cayugacounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/1383/Auburn-PDF

http://www.cayugacounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/1410/Owasco-PDF

For more information on the Finger Lakes Mercury Project go to

https://fingerlakesmercuryproject.wordpress.com/