The Cayuga County WQMA held their September meeting at Colloca Estate Winery. After the meeting, attendees were able to tour the West Barrier Bar and Sterling Nature Center.
Cayuga County WQMA Visits Fair Haven and Sterling
Author: Michele Wunderlich
Septic System Survey Open Now
Calling all Septic System Owners in CNY. The SUNY College of Environmental Science (ESF) in Syracuse, NY would like to hear about homeowner septic experiences for a DEC-sponsored research study on septic system management. ESF professor Sharon Moran and student Mackenzie Gregg’s project seeks to learn more about how septic systems are managed in the area to help clarify any problems with septic system management and what could be done to improve it. Responses are encouraged from residents of Cayuga, Cortland, and Onondaga counties. Complete ESF’s online survey available by clicking here, which takes only about ten minutes. Names are entered to win a gift card.
If you’re interested in further discussion, contact nysepticstudy@gmail.com to register for an in-person or virtual focus group.” A Septic System Survey Flyer is available and this info is also posted on the New York Septic Study website.
iMapInvasives Training and Invasive Species Walk
Due to issues with the iMapInvasives app and the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the iMapInvasives training that was scheduled as part of New York State Invasive Species Awareness week was cancelled. However, Michele Wunderlich was able to provide an impromptu iMapInvasives training earlier in the week to Ann Robson, OWLA president and Ally Berry, Owasco Lake Watershed Inspector. They learned how to use the iMapInvasives app and were given a brief invasive species identification training in the field.
If you would like iMapInvasives app training, please contact Michele Wunderlich at mwunderlich@cayugacounty.us.
Photo is of common buckthorn, an invasive species.
Visit our New YouTube Channel
The Cayuga County WQMA has created a YouTube Channel to showcase presentations on water quality. This channel is located at https://www.youtube.com/@CayugaCountyWQMA. The channel currently has two videos available for viewing. One is Grascen Shidemantle’s presentation “Community Science Institute Partnering with communities to monitor water quality in Cayuga County” from the May 2023 WQMA meeting. The other is Kate Black and Greg Hutnik’s presentation “Project Development, Grant Management, and Funding Opportunities” from the April 2023 CWIO meeting.
Grant Tips
By Aaron McKeon and Michele Wunderlich
On March 1, 2023 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water held a webinar on “Navigating Grant Funding: Municipal Success Stories”. The presentation featured municipal officials from around New York State discussing their success strategies for applying for and managing grant funds. Access a recording of the webinar here: https://bit.ly/3Msg2kH
Subjects discussed in this 90-minute webinar include:
- Using multiple grants to fund a project,
- Developing local support for a project,
- Building relationships with local partners,
- Using in-kind services to meet match requirements,
- Using grant funds to pay for staff, and
- Tips for first-time grant applicants.
On April 19, 2023, Kate Black and Greg Hutnik gave a presentation at the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization (CWIO) on project development, grant management and funding opportunities.
- Kate (Hogle) Black, a Coastal Resource Specialist with the NYS Department of State (DOS), Office of Planning, Development & Community Infrastructure spoke about DOS grant funding opportunities, and tips on successful grant applications and management.
- Greg Hutnik, a Senior Planner & GIS Analyst with the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development spoke on project development, grant writing, grant administration, and how the county assists municipalities with grants.
This presentation is available for viewing on the new Cayuga County WQMA YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@CayugaCountyWQMA.
Helping our Hemlocks: An Update on Research and Actions to Protect Hemlocks in Skaneateles
Onondaga Cornell Cooperative, with support from the City of Syracuse, hosted a presentation on February 22nd sharing research and actions focused on protecting Hemlock trees in the Skaneateles watershed and across NY State from Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect that kills Hemlocks.
Link to presentation:https://youtu.be/pjGdTfdnpwU
The NYS Hemlock Initiative shared research updates on HWA, including different biocontrol options. The program also provided an update on the independent work of both Skaneateles Lake Association, and Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District in treating Hemlocks in high priority steep ravines in the Skaneateles watershed, on both public and private property.
As a “foundation” species, hemlocks play a critical ecological role, providing many ecosystem services including protection of water quality. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is an insect native to Asia that lives and feeds on Hemlock trees. HWA infested trees typically die about 6-20 years after infestation.