John Halfman’s 2019 Water Quality Monitoring Report for Owasco Lake is now available on-line at http://people.hws.edu/halfman/Data/2019%20Owasco%20Water%20Quality%20Report.pdf. Portions of this project were funded by Cayuga County and the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance.
The Community Science Institute (CSI) has released its Fall 2019 edition of “The Water Bulletin: The Newsletter of the Community Science Institute” This newsletter highlights that work of CSI and the dedicated volunteers they partner with to monitor harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Cayuga Lake and the water quality of tributary streams in the Cayuga Lake Watershed. The newsletter is available at http://www.communityscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Water-Bulletin-Fall-2019-E-edition-1.pdf .
Written by Rick Nelson
Protecting and Restoring the Health of Owasco Lake:
Dr Adam Effler, Executive Director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC), will provide an introduction to the OLWMC and details about current watershed initiatives, recruitment, and public outreach activities on Wednesday November 6, 2019 at 7 PM at the Springside Inn. Free admittance. Public is welcome.
Nutrient and Sediment Control projects:
1) Directing the remaining funds from our 2015 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation grant to cost share with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) and the local property owner, the CCSWCD crew’s implementation is progressing on several important erosion control measures along the lower section of Veness Brook. The Veness Brook watershed provides the fourth largest inflow into Owasco Lake.
2) Also, in concert with the CCSWCD, OWLA has pledged $50,000 to provide funding for hydroseeding and rock lining for many miles of public roadside ditches. Often, watershed municipalities do not possess the funds to hydroseed and stabilize their ditches – necessary after their periodic scraping, clean out procedures. Roadside ditches are estimated to contribute up to 22% of the nutrients and sediment entering our waterbodies. OWLA’s fundraising is currently at $45,000 and the CCSWCD has treated several miles of ditches.
3) Additional fundraising is currently being solicited from various private foundations to hopefully provide funds for other high priority areas. Utilizing the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection and Protection Division (OLWIPD) staff’s familiarity with the landscape to locate these high erosion locations and the OLWIPD’s expertise for appropriate remedies, planning is underway to collect the needed design and cost estimates along with the adjoining property owner(s)’ cost-sharing agreements. Cost sharing is a vital ingredient to accomplish these joint projects. If you think your fire lane ditch or nearby stream that flows into Owasco Lake needs erosion control, contact the OLWIPD at owascoinspection.org or the CCSWCD at 315-252-4171.
4) We want to thank Fox Toyota and Toyota National for their 2016 joint donation that allowed us (with cost sharing), under the supervision of the OLWIPD, to stabilize two fire lane ditches, to rebuild one fire lane culvert, to help purchase an emergency response trailer for the OLWIPD, and to provide the initial matching funds for the CCSWCD’s current ditch program. All of these individual and planned future measures will add up to better water quality for us all.
This is an urgent request – please reply if you can assist!
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network needs your help checking shoreline and dock areas for hydrilla, around Cayuga Lake, from October 19 – 31.
In recent weeks, hydrilla infestations have been found at new sites around the southern third of the lake, most recently at the marina in Lansing and near the mouth of Cayuga Inlet in Ithaca.
Right now is the time hydrilla makes its presence known visibly at the water surface. They need a team of people checking the shoreline, around their docks and launches, and in shallow water from October 19-31 (or later, if interested).
Could you help? It would take one to two hours of your time on one or two dates of your choice. The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network will provide you with lake rakes and hydrilla i.d. kits and collection bags and give you simple instructions on how to report suspects to invasive plants experts.
If you are interested, please let them know – quickly! Contact Jenn at programs@cayugalake.org
This is a serious situation – hydrilla is beginning to show up in new and unexpected places. We do not want to it to spread. Help find it early, before it takes hold and expands rapidly.
PLEASE help – just this once, or on a regular basis.
More information about hydrilla, the top aquatic invasive plant: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/hydrillafs.pdf
For more information on the Cayuga Watershed Nework: www.cayugalake.org
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the opening of a 30-day public comment period on the Proposed Plan to address the cleanup of contaminated groundwater in a portion of the Cayuga County Groundwater Contamination Superfund site in Cayuga County, New York. As part of the public comment period, EPA will hold a public meeting on August 8, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., at the Union Springs High School located at 239 Cayuga Street, Union Springs, New York. The meeting will address the proposed cleanup plan and will allow community members to comment on the proposed plan to EPA officials.
Based on the results of the supplemental Investigation Study Report, EPA recommends monitored natural attenuation as the preferred alternative in the Proposed Plan. The preferred alternative includes a long-term monitoring plan and implementation of institutional controls limiting groundwater use.
The proposed plan is available at www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/cayuga and at the Seymour Public Library, 176 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY and the EPA Records Center, 290 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY.
Comments regarding EPA’s preferred remedy must be submitted by August 27, 2019, to Isabel R. Fredricks, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866, rodrigues.isabel@epa.gov
The Cayuga County WQMA hosted two iMapInvasives classes and an invasive species identification presentation as part of NY Invasive Species Awareness Week. Five people were trained during the first iMapInvasives class and four were trained during the second. These classes also included a presentation on invasive species identification. One person thought they may have found jumping worm in Cayuga County, which would be the first report of this species in the county.
The invasive species identification presentation for the first iMapInvasives class was scheduled so it was also given to the Cayuga County WQMA.
Thank you to the Finger Lakes PRISM for providing educational materials. Portions of this project were funded by a grant from the NYSDEC EPF to the Finger Lakes – Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance. Thank you also to the IMapInvasives Trainers Network for their assistance.
