Author: Michele Wunderlich

Residential Guidelines to Protect Water Quality In Cayuga County

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

The Cayuga County Nutrient and Sediment Working Group of the Cayuga County WQMA prepared the Residential Guidelines to Protect Water Quality in Cayuga County. This document is a set of guidelines recommended for homeowners to follow in order to minimize the impact of stormwater from their properties.  This document was approved and adopted by the Cayuga County WQMA on February 6, 2020 and the Cayuga County Legislature on February 25, 2020.

The Cayuga County WQMA and Legislature encourages the adoption and implementation of these practices among all people.

These guidelines are available here.

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

AIS Surveys on Cayuga Lake, 2025

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

By Catherine Farrell and Claire McMahon

This summer, the Finger Lakes PRISM Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Field Team, hosted by the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, has been monitoring Cayuga Lake’s nearshore ecosystem. This science-driven team prioritizes early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to provide rapid response to emerging invasive populations to better inform management of invasives in the lake.

On Cayuga Lake, the AIS Field Team monitors six locations near popular boat launches. These sites are areas of high concern because AIS can attach to watercraft and be transported from one waterbody to another. From June to August, the team performs monthly sampling efforts from kayaks within a half-mile radius of each boat launch. At each site, the team samples up to 300 points by tossing macrophyte sampling rakes into the water and pulling up submerged plants for identification and measurement. Both native and invasive plants are recorded, and AIS are reported to iMapInvasives, an online, GIS-based data management system.

The team also collects water quality data near each launch to gain further insights into local aquatic macrophyte ecology. These data help reveal how Cayuga Lake’s ecosystem changes over the season and from year to year, how it compares to other lakes, and can help determine which areas are most vulnerable to new invasions. Invasive species can adversely impact aquatic ecosystems, including macroinvertebrate and fish communities, so it is important to mitigate existing AIS-related issues and prevent further infestations on Cayuga Lake and other Finger Lakes. These programs are essential to Cayuga Lake to ensure it remains healthy and accessible for residents, boaters, swimmers, and nature lovers.

The Finger Lakes PRISM AIS Field Team has new staff leaders this year including a new program manager and AIS field coordinator. Catherine Farrell is the program manager and previously worked with AIS within two other NY PRISMs and recently completed her master’s degree in community ecology at Binghamton University. Claire McMahon is the new AIS field coordinator and has a background in conservation, invasive species management, and aquatic ecology. She has assisted with AIS research in other PRISMs and recently completed a master’s degree in Lake Management at SUNY Oneonta.

The AIS Field Team is excited to continue their work gathering data on aquatic invasive species throughout the Finger Lakes. Any questions, or concerns about AIS can be directed to Catherine Farrell at cfarrell@hws.edu.

Cayuga County Strategic Plan Community Assessment Survey #1

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

By Evan Tuthill and Emily Antonacci, Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development

The Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development is currently working on developing the Cayuga Countywide Strategic Plan, the County’s first since 1969.

The Cayuga Countywide Strategic Plan is a long-term roadmap to help guide decisions about growth, development, housing, infrastructure, and quality of life across our communities. With input from residents, local leaders, and organizations, the plan will outline shared goals and practical strategies to build a stronger, more resilient future.

As part of Cayuga County’s ongoing Strategic Planning process, we are excited to announce the launch of our first Community Assessment Survey. This is a key step in our efforts to gather public input on existing conditions within the County and will help guide the long-term vision, goals, and strategies for the future of Cayuga County. The department will be conducting four surveys over the next year covering a range of topics. This initial survey focuses on questions which assess placemaking and identity within individual communities as well as the County as a whole. Additional surveys covering separate topics including quality of life, public services, and natural resources will be released quarterly throughout the year with the next one expected in early October.

We’re asking that all county residents, business owners, property owners and visitors take a few minutes to complete the survey and to share it with your family, friends, and neighbors to complete. Broad community input is essential to the success of this effort so we can ensure that the plan reflects the real needs and desires of Cayuga County residents. We will be collecting survey responses through end-of-day on August 12th, 2025.

The survey is available online on our project website here: https://cayugacountyplanning.wixsite.com/strategicplan/get-involved. Alternatively, physical versions of the survey can be made available upon request by contacting the department (planning@cayugacounty.us).

Thank you in advance for helping us reach as many residents as possible and for supporting this important initiative!

Skaneateles Lake Watershed 9E Plan for Phosphorus

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich
Skaneateles Lake Watershed 9E Plan for Phosphorus
Skaneateles Lake Watershed 9E Plan for Phosphorus

By Aaron McKeon, CNYRPDB

The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan for Phosphorus (9E Plan) was approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of State on June 5, 2025. As the unfiltered drinking water supply for the City of Syracuse and for residents of Skaneateles, Jordan, and Elbridge, Skaneateles Lake is a critical natural resource in Central New York. The watershed has been the focus of a robust, proactive, and effective water quality protection program for more than 25 years, led by the City of Syracuse and the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program. It is also a lake with a long history of conservation activities supported by municipalities, citizens’ groups, and non-profit organizations.

As a result of these efforts, Skaneateles Lake’s water quality is excellent; its summer average total phosphorus (TP) levels are consistently below 5 micrograms per liter. However, the effects of climate change and development are anticipated to increase TP loading to Skaneateles Lake by 820 pounds per year. Future conditions are also expected to result in higher levels of chlorophyll-a and higher levels of cyanobacteria (an 85% increase).

Working with a modeling team that included Ramboll and Upstate Freshwater Institute, the Watershed Advisory Committee developed a set of best management practice (BMP) scenarios, to simulate the effects of implementing different BMPs in the watershed. The modeling showed that the best way to guarantee that the lake’s TP levels remain at their current low levels is to implement a combination of agricultural BMPs, residential nutrient reduction, and filter strips along riparian corridors. The 9E Plan also includes a wide range of recommendations for invasive species management, public education, and residential and municipal actions to maintain the lake’s water quality.

The 9E Plan can be found online at: https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/Skaneateles%20Lake%20Watershed%209E%20Document%202025%20A.pdf

Invasive Species Awareness Week

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

By Natalie Stanton, Planner, Cayuga County Department of Planning & Economic Development

New York State’s annual Invasive Species Awareness Week is from June 3rd to June 9th, 2025. This annual campaign aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of invasive species and their detrimental impact by offering a diverse array of activities throughout the state and providing individuals with practical ways to prevent the spread of invasive species. To get more information on invasive species, and a schedule of Invasive Species Awareness Week events visit https://nyis.info/ny-invasive-species-awareness-week/.