Municipal Approaches to Water Quality Protection

THE CORTLAND-ONONDAGA FEDERATION OF
KETTLE LAKE ASSOCIATIONS


Monday, May 24, 2010
7:00 PM

Tully Town Hall
5833 Meetinghouse Road, Tully, NY

All are Welcome!

Municipal Approaches to Water Quality Protection
& Restoration

Presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Moran

Dr. Moran is a water quality specialist with more than 30 years of experience in water resources and environmental assessment. During her tenure as Cazenovia Town Supervisor, the town adopted a comprehensive lake management plan, rewrote its zoning and subdivision code, and implemented a successful chemical treatment program to control Eurasian watermilfoil in Cazenovia Lake.

This 20 minute presentation will be followed by 10 minutes for questions
The C-OFOKLA general meeting will follow

The Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project

THE CORTLAND-ONONDAGA FEDERATION OF
KETTLE LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, INC.

Tully Town Hall
5833 Meetinghouse Road, Tully, NY
Monday, March 22nd 2010
7:00 PM

All are Welcome!

Topic of Discussion: The Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project
Presentation by Eric Murdock, P.E.

Eric Murdock was Project Manager for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project. The objective of this project was to research, select, and install alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed. Most of these systems were the first of their kind in New York State and/or the United States. Eric will present on the watershed protection work he performed in and around Skaneateles Lake.
_______________________________________________________________
This 20 minute presentation will be followed by 10 minutes for questions
The C-OFOKLA general meeting will follow

C-OFOKLA Meeting

THE CORTLAND-ONONDAGA FEDERATION OF
KETTLE LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, INC.

Tully Town Hall
5833 Meetinghouse Road, Tully, NY
Monday, February 22nd 2009
7:00 PM

All are Welcome!

Topic of Discussion: An Introduction to “Project Watershed”
Presentation by Mat Webber, Project Watershed Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. This award-winning environmental education and community outreach program has engaged Central New York student and adult volunteers in monitoring water quality and conserving local streams since 1994.

This will be a short presentation with a discussion on local stream monitoring.
We will hold our regular meeting after the presentation.

Feel free to stay and find out more about C-OFOKLA.

Radon and Song Lake Residents

National Radon Action Month

Radon In Our Area...
The red regions on this map indicate the zones where the highest predicted levels of radon are found. In these regions, the average indoor radon screening level is greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter). As you can see, we live in the red zone.

What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, claiming about 20,000 lives annually.


How to Test...
Cortand County residents can obtain free test kits through the Cortland County Department of Health. You must go to their offices and produce proof of residency and home ownership. For more information, call 607-753-5035
New York residents can obtain a radon test kit from the New York State Department of Health for $8.50. The cost includes shipping, handling and analysis. Test results are sent directly to the person who submitted the kit. To purchase a radon test kit, call the state’s Radon Program at 1-800-458-1158 extension 27556 or download an application at http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/radiological/radon/testkit.htm
Test kits are also available in some local hardware stores.

What Next?
Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems in their homes. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs; check with one or more qualified mitigators. Call NYS DOH Radon Hot line: 1-800-458-1158 x27556/(518) 402-7556 for help in identifying qualified mitigation contractors. Or go to: http://www.nyradon.org/
If you are a Cortland County resident homeowner, you are eligible for a $100.00 mitigation rebate. Applications are available with proof of repair costs, at the Cortland County Health Department.

For More Information on Radon:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguide.html

Alert on Algae

Song Lake and Cyanobacterial Blooms
These blooms have been visually identified by experts as blue-green algae in bloom. This picture was taken Sept. 6th 2009 on the north end of the lake.

Last year, cyanobacteria ('bluegreen algae') were identified in our lake. This year, they bloomed. When the algae bloom they release a neurotoxin that has the potential to be very harmful
(even fatal) to humans and pets. They upset the food chain in the lake, killing desirable fish. These toxic algae will significantly degrade the quality of life on the lake, and diminish property values.
What this means for Song Lake is not clear, but given the higher phosphorus concentrations which are increasing all algae, their presence is cause for serious concern. When these blooms are seen, it is recommended that humans and pets stay out of the water.
See the CDC site for more information at http://www.cdc.gov/hab/
Why is This Happening?
For the past two years, Song Lake has participated in the New York State Citizen’s Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). The report for 2008 indicated that the water quality in our lake has declined since 1988. The main indicators of concern are reduced water clarity (mainly due to increases in algae) and higher phosphorus levels in the lake. The report states: “it is likely
that lake management activities directed toward increasing water clarity and reducing algal blooms in the lake should target nutrient loading to the lake. Indications are that the primary lake nutrients come from the watershed.” The report continues: “Given the moderately high lake productivity, management of water quality conditions in Song Lake should focus on reducing
nutrient loading to the lake, through maintaining septic systems, shoreline buffer zones, limited use of lawn fertilizers, minimizing land disturbances in the near-lake watershed, and localized stormwater management. The lake association is also advised to minimize introductions of exotic plants and animals from public and private launching areas into the lake, particularly
given their abundance in many nearby lakes.” The full content of the report is available in pdf form by contacting any of the Song Lake Watershed Planning Committee.
What Can We Do?
Understanding the impact we all have on our small watershed is the key to keeping our properties valuable, and our lake swimmable, fishable and enjoyed by all.
The Song Lake Watershed Committee is committed to working hand in hand with all those who have a stake in conserving our lake: property owners, renters, fisher folk, boaters, swimmers, birders and anyone who enjoys this unique lake.
This year’s cyanobacterial blooms make it clear that we have a problem.
The Waterhsed committee is working with NYSFOLA and they are working with the State Department of Health on our behalf. We are also working with scientists at ESF and continue to work with CCS&W. This is an extremely serious threat to our lake, our health, our pets’s health;
our fish population and our property values.

There are no magic bullets, but here are some things we can do.

Household Activities:
Clean and maintain your septic system.

Get it Pumped! Have your septic pumped regularly. Leaking septic systems can contribute to nutrients and bacteria getting into the lake. This can prevent the lake's use for recreational
activities. It can also cause over enrichment and algae blooms.
Use phosphate free cleaning agents.

Using detergents containing phosphorous to wash boats, cars, and pets in locations where the waste water can run off into the lake adds unneeded nutrients.
Never use phosphorus on your lawn and reduce or eliminate fertilizing.
Fertilizing at the lakeshore can also contribute excess nutrients to the lake. This can greatly affect water ecology and recreational activities. (Remember a green lawn creates a green lake.)
Keep a buffer.

The area between your house and the lake should be an area of beauty and stability. Healthy, native plants along the shoreline increase natural filtration and prevent erosion. By clearing vegetation near and on the lake shore you are actually removing the natural buffering system that helps absorb nutrients and sediment runoff.

Boating Activities:
Don’t churn the sediments. When the phosphorus is trapped in the sediments, it is not available for use. Unfortunately, when powerful outboard motors and jet skis are used in shallow areas, or at high speeds, they churn up nutrient laden sediments (phosphorus) that support algae growth and destroy aquatic life.
Share Your Observations:
Please call one of the watershed members below if you see something that is unusual in the water or around the watershed area.

For more information, please contact The Song Lake watershed committee at SongLakeIssues@aol.com.
Or call: Tony George -696-8045, Marjie Grillo -696-5963, Tarki Heath -696-5262, or

Gloria Wright -696-5524.

C-OFOKLA PICNIC!

Cortland-Onondaga Federation of Kettle Lake Associations

JOIN US FOR A PICNIC ON THE LAKE!

~ Saturday, September 12th ~
~ Noon to 3:00 PM ~

At the North Pavilion on Little York Lake (Facing Green Lake)
Enjoy good food and great neighbors.
Bring the family.
There will be yard games for children.
Drinks, chips and hot dogs will be provided by Little York Lake Assoc.
Please bring one dish to pass.
BYO for special drinks.

For more information on the Cortland-Onondaga Federation of Kettle Lake Associations, call: Tarki Heath -315- 696-5262, Karen Lang-607-423-4653, Tom Fox - 315-696-5457, Tom McLyman-607-749-5563 Tom Cappa -315-696-6668, Marjie Grillo-315-696-5963

Cortland-Onondaga Federation of Kettle Lake Associations Meeting

The Cortland - Onondaga Federation of Kettle Lake Associations, Inc.
Tully Town Hall
5833 Meetinghouse Rd Tully, NY
Monday August 17th, 2009
7:00 PM

All are Welcome!

Topic of Discussion: Fisheries
Dr. Randy Jackson, a Senior Research Associate at the Cornell Biological Field Station will present information, and take your questions about fisheries.

This will be a 20 minute presentation.
We will hold our regular meeting after the presentation.

Feel free stay to find out more about C-OFOKLA.