OWASCO -- They came from all over Cayuga County to the Emerson Park Pavilion on Tuesday to preserve Owasco Lake. More than 500 attended, including representatives of municipalities and organizations to support an action plan to safeguard and improve Owasco Lake's water quality.
A sign for the Department of Environmental Conservation stood alone, as no DEC representative came.
July 1 was proclaimed Owasco Lake Day and will be an annual event to celebrate the lake, create awareness and understanding, foster dialogue, educate the community about the lake's impact on lives and foster stewardship. It was also the 25th anniversary of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, Inc.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio spoke of community members who worked together to protect the lake.
"I'm happily surprised that the DEC made its decision to limit the amount of phosphorus being discharged into the lake," he said. "I don't believe any of us should be inebriated by this success. This meeting is already successful. It was like a Damocles' sword over the head of the DEC."
Nozzolio said DEC officials maintained the Groton plant's discharge was not the main reason for phosphorus in Owasco Lake.
"I know it's not the only reason, but it is a reason," he told the audience. "More reasons are going to be brought out today."
He pointed out the collaborative scientific Water Quality Study of Owasco Lake in 2007 by the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, headed by John D. Halfman, Ph.D. Copies of the study were available at the meeting. Nozzolio credited the study with providing the data that persuaded the DEC to lower the allowable phosphorus discharge levels for Groton.
Halfman presented the study's main findings, noting that water quality had improved this year, but there was not as much runoff because the season was drier than last year.
Nozzolio said the study came about when the president of Hobart and William Smith asked him what he thought of combining the scientific program at Hobart with the need for analysis of Owasco Lake.
Nozzolio secured $125,000 in funding for an Owasco Watershed Network (OWN) information exchange to be created by the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT) at Cayuga Community College. The network will allow residents to access data and information on Owasco Lake through a single portal to connecting websites, with electronic updates for those concerned about the lake's future.
IAGT already had a robotic buoy program in place to provide daily data on seven water quality characteristics.
Last year, Nozzolio secured a $60,000 grant to fund the position of a watershed inspector and Jessica Mills was hired. Mills now has two part-time assistants to help oversee the lake's protection.
For more, read Wednesday's Citizen
July 1 was proclaimed Owasco Lake Day and will be an annual event to celebrate the lake, create awareness and understanding, foster dialogue, educate the community about the lake's impact on lives and foster stewardship. It was also the 25th anniversary of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, Inc.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio spoke of community members who worked together to protect the lake.
"I'm happily surprised that the DEC made its decision to limit the amount of phosphorus being discharged into the lake," he said. "I don't believe any of us should be inebriated by this success. This meeting is already successful. It was like a Damocles' sword over the head of the DEC."
Nozzolio said DEC officials maintained the Groton plant's discharge was not the main reason for phosphorus in Owasco Lake.
"I know it's not the only reason, but it is a reason," he told the audience. "More reasons are going to be brought out today."
He pointed out the collaborative scientific Water Quality Study of Owasco Lake in 2007 by the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, headed by John D. Halfman, Ph.D. Copies of the study were available at the meeting. Nozzolio credited the study with providing the data that persuaded the DEC to lower the allowable phosphorus discharge levels for Groton.
Halfman presented the study's main findings, noting that water quality had improved this year, but there was not as much runoff because the season was drier than last year.
Nozzolio said the study came about when the president of Hobart and William Smith asked him what he thought of combining the scientific program at Hobart with the need for analysis of Owasco Lake.
Nozzolio secured $125,000 in funding for an Owasco Watershed Network (OWN) information exchange to be created by the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT) at Cayuga Community College. The network will allow residents to access data and information on Owasco Lake through a single portal to connecting websites, with electronic updates for those concerned about the lake's future.
IAGT already had a robotic buoy program in place to provide daily data on seven water quality characteristics.
Last year, Nozzolio secured a $60,000 grant to fund the position of a watershed inspector and Jessica Mills was hired. Mills now has two part-time assistants to help oversee the lake's protection.
For more, read Wednesday's Citizen
