Owasco Lake advocates were jubilant Friday over the state Department of Environmental Conservation's announcement that it plans to require reduced phosphorous discharges from the village of Groton wastewater treatment plant into the lake's inlet.

The DEC announced its plans Friday, taking the unusual step of issuing a press release ahead of issuing the actual draft permit. That document will be made public July 2 in the agency's Environmental Notice Bulletin.

“This action will improve the aquatic health of the water body while protecting drinking water supply for more than 40,000 New Yorkers,” the agency stated.

Owasco Lake has suffered in recent years from substantial algae and plant growth brought on by higher phosphorous levels. The lake's water clarity and oxygen levels have suffered as a result.

Owasco Lake supporters have pointed to the Groton plant as a major part of the problem. Under the DEC draft permit, the plant would be required to reduce phosphorous discharge from four pounds per day to two. Four years ago, levels were six to eight-times higher than the proposed new minimum.

“I think this is huge,” said Jessica Miles, the Owasco Lake watershed inspector, a position established less than a year ago to help combat the lake's problems. “Without our water, we can't survive around here.”

The decision was a reversal for the DEC, which a year ago was indicating it would keep the discharge level at four pounds. After extensive studying and heavy advocacy from lake supporters, government officials and state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, the agency went with a lower level.

“This is a tremendous victory for Owasco Lake and for the thousands of people in our region that depend on the protection of the lake,” Nozzolio said in a press release. “This is a true success for everybody concerned with the water quality of Owasco Lake and I was pleased to work on behalf of my constituents to ensure that the DEC take the appropriate steps to limit the amount of phosphorous discharge. This is a great day for Owasco Lake and our region.”

The draft report, however, is still subject to a public review period. It remains to be seen how the village of Groton will respond.

Ken Thompson, the village's director of public works, said he would need to see the actual draft permit before offering detailed comment, though he was pleased that the DEC has finally moved forward on the issue. He said the plant will need to make some extensive upgrades to get to the two-pound-per-day limit.

The DEC emphasized that the Groton plant is not the only source of phosphorous entering the lake. It said effective land-use planning that looks at human and animal waste, fertilizers, street runoff and construction site runoff will be crucial to a complete turnaround for the lake.

Lake advocates agreed with that assessment. Alan Kozlowski, board member and past president of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, said a big focus going forward will be restoration of the Owasco Flats area at the southern end of the lake. That land should be functioning like a natural sponge to filter out contaminants before they enter the lake itself.

“At this point the lake still certainly has many issues that are significantly affecting water quality,” he said.

OWLA and Nozzolio have organized a public meeting to discuss lake preservation from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, at the Emerson Park Pavilion in Owasco. OWLA plans to outline an action plan for the lake, and updated data on lake quality will be presented.

In addition, the DEC plans to establish a Web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44965.html that will be dedicated to the Owasco Lake watershed.