Category: Uncategorized

Water Quality Data Jam

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

Water Quality Data Jam

Join Community Science Institute for a team exploration of YOUR water quality questions!

Friday, November 3, 10am – Noon
Tompkins County Public Library
BorgWarner Room
101 East Green St.

Do you have questions about the water quality in your watershed, such as:

  • Where on Cayuga Lake do Harmful Algal Blooms occur most frequently?
  • Which of my favorite swimming holes have the highest  colicounts?
  • How is the water quality on Six Mile Creek, the source of the City of Ithaca’s drinking water?

Community Science Institute (CSI) has been collecting water quality data in the Cayuga Lake Watershed for many years through our volunteer stream and lake monitoring partnerships. We invite you to come explore these data with us at our upcoming Water Quality Data Jam event hosted at Tompkins County Public Library. This event will give community members with questions such as those above an opportunity to delve into the data to find answers for themselves. CSI staff will be close at hand to guide teams to find critical information using our water quality database.

Attendees will work in teams to address their questions about water quality in the Cayuga Lake Watershed and beyond! At the end of the event, teams will come together to share their findings with the rest of the attendees.

Sign up and bring your water quality questions with you. Together, we can embark on a journey of data exploration!

Sign up using the following link: https://www.tcpl.org/event/data-jam-community-science-institute

If you have any questions, reach out to Community Science Institute at info@communityscience.org. We’ll be happy to clarify for you. We hope to see you there!

Septic System Survey Open Now

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

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.

Grant Tips

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

 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

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich
Helping our Hemlocks
Helping our Hemlocks

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.