January 26, 2023 - Welcome to the Skaneateles Lake Association's (SLA) monthly e-newsletter distributed the last Thursday of each month.
Clear Lake.Pure Water.promotes watershed wide protection of Skaneateles Lake by sharing news on SLA's and community partner work around the watershed along with tips and takeaways on how we can all play a part in lake protection through Lake Friendly Living efforts.
Dear Friends of Skaneateles Lake-
Hoping you've had a great start to the New Year! The SLA hit the ground running with a meaningful Skaneateles Lake Ecology Team meeting and has been busy planning for the year ahead in lake protection efforts.
In this issue, please find the following:
Skaneateles Lake Ecology Team Takeaways - highlights from the January 4, 2023 meeting with links to past presentations.
For the Love of Your Lake - ways to show you care for Skaneateles in time for the Valentine's Day holiday.
Upcoming Events including Helping our Hemlocks and Owasco Watershed Lake Association's Bob Brower Symposium.
Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes - January Winter Tip on dealing with ice and snow on your walkways.
Please Enjoy!
In response to the 2017 Skaneateles lakewide Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB), the SLA along with key community stakeholders met and established a 4 Pillar Plan to Address HABs:
Promote a Watershed Wide Intergovermental Organization
Empower Lake Protection through Community Outreach & Education
Establish a Water Quality Protection Fund that helps address HABs - the SLA Legacy Fund
Form a Nutrient Management Committee to reduce impacts of HABs - now called the Skaneateles Lake Ecology Team
The Lake Ecology Team (LET) is an "All Hands on Deck" approach to better understand and respond to the burgeoning threats to Skaneateles Lake's ecosysytem and water quality.
The LET includes local, county, state and federal representatives and agencies, academic institutions, non-profits including land trusts, private environmental and engineering professionals, and community volunteers. (List of January 2023 attendees below).
Lake Foam on Skaneateles Lake - 9-16-22 - photo courtesy of Ty Denslow
At the January 4, 2023 meeting updates were given on:
Invasive Species Prevention & Management - 7954 watercrafts surveyed in 2022
Watershed Improvement Projects -
i. Working with Winding Way and sub-contractor on nutrient reduction strategies in design phase being supported through Onondaga County.
ii. Exploring Fisher Brook as upcoming candidate for a nutrient reduction project based on data provided by Syracuse University showing comparatively higher levels of phosphorous.
iii. Receiving $45,000.00 from Great Lakes Commission for sediment & nutrient reduction efforts on Willow Creek.
iv. Identified $66 million in potential projects and submitted as part of Clean Watershed Needs Survey hosted by the Environmental Facilities Corporation
Nine Element Plan Updates - memo is being drafted to be provided to the Watershed Advisory Committee that will provide an overview of best management practice scenarios in watershed management
January 4, 2023 - Attendees: Joan Jayne, Town of Niles Supervisor; Skeeter Martin, Town of Scott Supervisor; Kathy McGrath, Cortland County SWCD; Aaron McKeon, CNY Regional Planning & Development Board; Aimee Clinkhammer, NYS DEC; Camille Marcotte, Onondaga Cornell Cooperative Extension; Brandeis Neveldine, SUNY-ESF Restoration Science Center; Dr. Bahram Salehi, SUNY-ESF Salehi-Geolab; Dr. Tony Eallonardo, Ramboll; Jasmine James, Ramboll; Liz Moran, EcoLogic; Tim Johnson, Anchor QEA; Brian Madden, Community Consultant; Dr. Neil Murphy, SUNY-ESF/Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA); Dr. Dana Hall, SLA; Mark Schwab, Winding Way-SLA; Dr. Bill Dean, SLA; Dr. Buzz Roberts, SLA; Dr. Jim Tifft, SLA; Fran Fish, SLA; Dr. Paul Torrisi, SLA; Frank Moses, SLA
Consider counting the ways to show you care for Skaneateles Lake in time for Valentine's Day.
As you shop for someone special, February will be the last month to take advantage of giving to SLA through Amazon Smiles. Info on how to give while online shopping HERE.
Join us for a presentation 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. The NYS Hemlock Initiative will share research updates on HWA, including the different biocontrol options. This program will also provide an update on the independent work of both Skaneateles Lake Association and Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District to treat 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. Come learn about HWA identification, management, and biological control research to find a long-term solution for hemlock conservation in New York.
2023 Bob Brower Scientific Symposium Effects of Climate Change on Owasco Lake
March 11, 2023, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Auburn Public Theater, Auburn, NY
and virtually through Zoom
Resiliency and adaptation are key in adjusting to the impacts of climate change. Plan to attend this Scientific Symposium in Plain English as the professionals touch on a variety of key issues:
Climate Change basics;
The status of Owasco Lake from 2022 monitoring data;
Adjusting behavioral and attitudinal practices towards advancing agricultural methods;
The importance of long term monitoring of human activities;
Invasive species and emerging contaminants that impact our water quality.
Please register in advance for this Free event. NOTE: Those seeking NYAWWA CEU’s MUST register for the Symposium
