Author: Michele Wunderlich

Hydrilla Hunt 2019

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

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.

Hydrilla Hunter

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

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to Hold Public Meeting for Cleanup of Groundwater at the Cayuga County Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site, Cayuga County, New York

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

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

Invasive Species Awareness Week Activities

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

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.

Educational material from the Finger Lakes PRISM
Invasive species identification

 

Update on former Powerex Site

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

For the next four weeks, you may see activity at the former Powerex site as the pilot remediation project to treat contaminated groundwater is entering another phase. Workers at the facility, which is located just outside of the City of Auburn on West Genesee St, will be continuing the remedial work that was begun in 2018 by injecting treatment chemicals into the groundwater which should help to break down the contaminants that are present. Please see the Auburn Powerex Fact Sheet from the United State Environmental Protection Agency regarding this project.

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/