OWL (Owasco Watershed Lake Association) speaks out. We emphatically agree with State Sen. Michael Nozzolio that “The DEC should immediately restrict the amount of phosphorous that is allowed to be discharged by the Groton Waste Treatment Plant,” as reported in The Citizen on Feb. 29. Because it is Leap Year, the DEC will probably not respond until Feb. 29, 2012.
DEC spokeswoman Maureen Wren stated in the article that the daily allowance of four pounds of phosphorous was “something in a draft for a (state pollution discharge elimination systems, SPEDES) permit which we are continuing to develop. It's one we are working on currently and the draft hasn't been completed. The four pound figure is significantly lower than the 12.2 pounds that was discharged in 2003.”
She further said that, “a basin wide approach to the discharge of phosphorous into the lake has to be taken.” The DEC officials at the June meeting in Emerson Park stated that the permit should be done in two weeks.
What is going on here? This is not rocket science. This is a no-brainer!
Here are the facts (best explained in an approximate time line).
2000: OWL discovered and alerted authorities that there were extremely high phosphorous discharges emanating from Groton's Sewage Treatment Plant.
2002: OWL identified that the fish farm on Route 222 was discharging its effluent into the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant causing this increase of phosphorous and other materials (Phosphorous was actually measured at 12.2 pounds per day in 2003).
2003: OWL discovered that a group of Cornell Agricultural School professors were responsible for the development of this fish farm and some were the owners. They had obtained a permit to operate a fish hatchery.
2003: OWL alerted Sen. Nozzolio, U.S. Rep. Jim Walsh and the Cayuga County Health Department and Water Quality Management Agency and urged them to take action - which they did with OWL's help.
September 2004: One-hundred people attended a meeting at Cayuga County Soil and Water at which OWL alerted those present of the deteriorating condition of Owasco's water quality (according to OWL's test results obtained during the summer of 2003 and 2004). It was noted that one pound of phosphorous equals 500 pounds of weeds and an exponential amount of algae.
October 2004: “Letters to the Editor” appeared in The Citizen and Post-Standard from lake dwellers and fishermen complaining of the “weed growth at the end of docks and the smell of the drinking water.”
November 2004: Bruce Natale of the Water Quality Management Agency demonstrated by graphs that the 12.2 pound phosphorous spike occurred when the fish farm started discharging into the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant.
November 2004: Pressure was put on Groton and the DEC to reduce this phosphorous level.
2005: Groton reduced its phosphorous discharge to around two pounds/day (which is roughly the same as Moravia's is today).
2006 and 2007: Independent research done by Dr. John Halfman of the Finger Lakes Institute indicates that phosphorous released by the Groton Waste Water Treatment Plant made its way into Owasco Lake.
December 2006: The DEC announced that a new permit would be awarded to the Groton Treatment Plant based on research and further study. The new limit would be four pounds/day.
June 2007: Protesting this new four-pound limit, 400 citizens attended a meeting at Emerson Park demanding action from the DEC to lower the limit to two pounds/day. OWL advocated that the goal be set to zero which is feasible. DEC spokesperson, Mary Jane Peachy stated that an answer would be given, no later than the end of the summer. She didn't say which summer. Sen. Nozzolio pressed her for a decision.
July 2007: Due to OWL's persistence, the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco agreed to fund the position of watershed inspector and one was hired.
It is now March 2008. It is nine months later and no action has been taken by our State Department of Environmental Conservation, a group that supposedly is on our side. Can you imagine what is going on?
What to Do?
OWL has had enough. When will we who live here realize that we need to clean up and protect Owasco Lake? It is a wonderful jewel of God's creation that is at the epicenter of our existence here in Cayuga County. We need its pure water to drink, our industries need it to survive, and our city needs it to attract tourism and development. Without it we are nothing. We can't wait. Owasco needs us now. We demand action.
OWL is calling for and has planned a citizens forum at Emerson Park to:
1. Discuss the Groton phosphorous situation and demand a best available technology discharge phosphorous and coliforms policy.
2. Invite scientists to explain the best actions that can be taken for immediate relief and future maintenance i.e. an itemized game plan for clean up.
Stay tuned for details and visits us at our Web site at: www.owla.org. Please fill out an application for membership or send donations to help fund this endeavor to OWLA, P.O. Box 1, Auburn, NY, 13021.
You will be hearing from us. Soon.
Wasileski, of Owasco, is vice president of OWLA
She further said that, “a basin wide approach to the discharge of phosphorous into the lake has to be taken.” The DEC officials at the June meeting in Emerson Park stated that the permit should be done in two weeks.
What is going on here? This is not rocket science. This is a no-brainer!
Here are the facts (best explained in an approximate time line).
2000: OWL discovered and alerted authorities that there were extremely high phosphorous discharges emanating from Groton's Sewage Treatment Plant.
2002: OWL identified that the fish farm on Route 222 was discharging its effluent into the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant causing this increase of phosphorous and other materials (Phosphorous was actually measured at 12.2 pounds per day in 2003).
2003: OWL discovered that a group of Cornell Agricultural School professors were responsible for the development of this fish farm and some were the owners. They had obtained a permit to operate a fish hatchery.
2003: OWL alerted Sen. Nozzolio, U.S. Rep. Jim Walsh and the Cayuga County Health Department and Water Quality Management Agency and urged them to take action - which they did with OWL's help.
September 2004: One-hundred people attended a meeting at Cayuga County Soil and Water at which OWL alerted those present of the deteriorating condition of Owasco's water quality (according to OWL's test results obtained during the summer of 2003 and 2004). It was noted that one pound of phosphorous equals 500 pounds of weeds and an exponential amount of algae.
October 2004: “Letters to the Editor” appeared in The Citizen and Post-Standard from lake dwellers and fishermen complaining of the “weed growth at the end of docks and the smell of the drinking water.”
November 2004: Bruce Natale of the Water Quality Management Agency demonstrated by graphs that the 12.2 pound phosphorous spike occurred when the fish farm started discharging into the Groton Sewage Treatment Plant.
November 2004: Pressure was put on Groton and the DEC to reduce this phosphorous level.
2005: Groton reduced its phosphorous discharge to around two pounds/day (which is roughly the same as Moravia's is today).
2006 and 2007: Independent research done by Dr. John Halfman of the Finger Lakes Institute indicates that phosphorous released by the Groton Waste Water Treatment Plant made its way into Owasco Lake.
December 2006: The DEC announced that a new permit would be awarded to the Groton Treatment Plant based on research and further study. The new limit would be four pounds/day.
June 2007: Protesting this new four-pound limit, 400 citizens attended a meeting at Emerson Park demanding action from the DEC to lower the limit to two pounds/day. OWL advocated that the goal be set to zero which is feasible. DEC spokesperson, Mary Jane Peachy stated that an answer would be given, no later than the end of the summer. She didn't say which summer. Sen. Nozzolio pressed her for a decision.
July 2007: Due to OWL's persistence, the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco agreed to fund the position of watershed inspector and one was hired.
It is now March 2008. It is nine months later and no action has been taken by our State Department of Environmental Conservation, a group that supposedly is on our side. Can you imagine what is going on?
What to Do?
OWL has had enough. When will we who live here realize that we need to clean up and protect Owasco Lake? It is a wonderful jewel of God's creation that is at the epicenter of our existence here in Cayuga County. We need its pure water to drink, our industries need it to survive, and our city needs it to attract tourism and development. Without it we are nothing. We can't wait. Owasco needs us now. We demand action.
OWL is calling for and has planned a citizens forum at Emerson Park to:
1. Discuss the Groton phosphorous situation and demand a best available technology discharge phosphorous and coliforms policy.
2. Invite scientists to explain the best actions that can be taken for immediate relief and future maintenance i.e. an itemized game plan for clean up.
Stay tuned for details and visits us at our Web site at: www.owla.org. Please fill out an application for membership or send donations to help fund this endeavor to OWLA, P.O. Box 1, Auburn, NY, 13021.
You will be hearing from us. Soon.
Wasileski, of Owasco, is vice president of OWLA
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Farmer's Gal wrote on Mar 19, 2008 11:55 AM:
Here's a website with more local info (Onondaga Lake): http://www.onlakepartners.org/p12031.html
Or anyone can look up info on Eutrophication, which is the technical term for phosphorus pollution. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Mar 19, 2008 11:24 AM:
Instead you need local government with the backbone to just say NO. No, we will not tolerate or allow ANY phospherous in our lake.
It's busy today and I am typing while stuffing my lunch in my mouth between meetings, so I haven't had time to do research on the dangers of phosphorus as a pollutant. But I just did a quick search and pulled up the very first site:
http://www.serconline.org/phosphorus/background.html
where I learned:
A heat wave and phosphorus nutrient pollution can (and has done in documented cases) cause enormous blooms of the algae, a form of cyanobacteria, which can produce neurotoxins (affecting the nervous system) and hepatotoxins (affecting the liver). These same toxins that killed the Wisconsin teen in 2002 can damage aquatic ecosystems, fisheries, water quality, and economic values.
So, this info doesn't show phosphorus causes cancer (though it doesn't say it DOESN'T either -- haven't gotten that far in my research), but it can be deadly toxic to people and wildlife, as well as encouraging the lake-choking weeds about which Owasco Lake residents complain.
That's just the very first article I found on a wide-open Yahoo search.... "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:55 AM:
Phosphorus is only one pollutant going into the lake, and not one I have studied closely, though I could find info on whether or not it's a carcinogen. However, cancer is not the only health problem caused by pollutants, though it is definitely a biggie. I'll see what I can find out, or maybe someone from OWL will pipe up with more info.
Erin Brokovitch indeed -- we need hundreds like her in every community across the country. "
cm wrote on Mar 18, 2008 10:22 PM:
that the DEC hasn't answered?
?? would it be because the DEC doesnt think the levels are harmful????
Sounds like everyone needs to go above the State level of DEC or the residents file a class action suit against the DEC? "
Andy B wrote on Mar 18, 2008 1:42 PM:
karl L wrote on Mar 18, 2008 12:18 PM:
What the hell is this doing to our health?
Where's Erin Brockovitch when we need her???
"