Photo from Top Story - Lake Improvement Project Fights Harmful Algal Blooms
October 27, 2022 - 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.
In this issueplease find information on the following:
Willow Creek Improvement Project Fights Harmful Algal Blooms
SLA Board votes unanimously to endorse Environmental Bond Act to support lakes
Upcoming news to look out for - Invasive Species Milfoil Control & Survey Report - Boat Launch Steward Report and Harmful Algal Bloom Annual Report
Membership & supporting SLA through Amazon Smiles with Holiday shopping and Giving Tuesday.
Please enjoy!
WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
LAKE-FRIENDLY LIVING
Photo - L2R - Willow Creek Watershed Improvement Project Team (L to R) - Dr. Paul Torrisi, President of SLA; Noah Leubner, Matchbox Excavation & Landscaping, Dr. Dana Hall, SLA Board Member & Improvement Project Chair; Mike Conese, Anchor QEA LLC Engineer; Frank Moses, SLA Executive Director; Tim Johnson, Anchor QEA LLC Principal; Aimee Clinkhammer, NYSDEC representative for the Great Lakes Commission; Dan Pajak, Landowner; Arleen Bartels, Woodsedge Landscape Designer.
SKANEATELES LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
FIGHTS HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
Skaneateles Lake Association
Leverages Local Landowner Support & Legacy Fund to
Secure Stream Restoration Financing from the
Great Lakes Commission
SKANEATELES, NY – Since Skaneateles Lake experienced a lake-wide Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) in 2017, the Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA), made it top priority to take on a significant role in fighting HABs together with the community. HABs are made up of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins that cause health concerns for humans, pets, and wildlife.
Harmful Algal Bloom at mouth of Willow Creek in September 2020 - photo taken by neighboring resident Tacie Anderson who is "looking forward to positive results from the recent work done on Willow Creek to help Skaneateles Lake."
In a low-nutrient lake like Skaneateles, the availability of phosphorous, found in stream and lake sediment and other sources, can act as a food source for HABs. In response, SLA, and others such as the Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of Syracuse’s Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program are addressing sediment loading to better protect the lake and its ability to support quality of life and drinking water.
Sediment loading at mouth of Willow Creek
“SLA established the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Improvement Projects (SWIP) to work with willing landowners in key areas such as Willow Creek,” noted Frank Moses, Executive Director of the Skaneateles Lake Association, “Willow Creek was given high priority due to its location being south of one of the City of Syracuse’s drinking water intake pipes combined with a history of sediment loading and small algal blooms at the mouth of the stream.”
Willow Creek channel segment with examples of sediment and nutrient reduction elements - root wad on right side of stream for bank stability, habitat enhancement and nutrient capture, bank rocks to define and protect the expanded flood plain, and native plantings to absorb nutrients as water with sediments passes through and settles out - photo courtesy of James Peluso
The Willow Creek project was selected to receive $45K by the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as only one of eight funded projects through their 2022 Nutrient & Sediment Reduction Program. The federal grant supports an overall stream project that exceeds $200K.
“The Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program continues to assist communities across the Great Lakes basin as they improve water quality and tackle pollution,” said Todd L. Ambs, chair of the Great Lakes Commission. “We are looking forward to seeing this new cohort of 2022 grantees work toward a healthier Great Lakes.”
Once the design, provided by Principal Tim Johnson and team at Anchor QEA LLC, was “shovel ready” and financial support was committed from the landowner and the SLA Legacy Fund, the project was primed to garner support through GLC’s program.
Aerial view of Willow Creek Improvement Project site with Skaneateles Lake in background- photo courtesy of James Peluso
“With dedicated landowners like those on Willow Creek, SLA hopes that beacon projects like this can educate and inspire future stewardship on Skaneateles Lake,” said Dr. Paul Torrisi, President of the SLA Board.
Improvements on Willow Creek with best management practices in sediment reduction complement lake protection efforts from local land trusts, governments, residents, and efforts through City of Syracuse and Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural program.
“All hands-on deck will very much be needed with surmounting threats from HABs, climate change, and invasive species,” noted Torrisi.
“Support for lake protection programs like this through SLA and the Legacy Fund will help ensure a better Skaneateles Lake for future generations.”
CLICK HERE OR IMAGE ABOVE FOR PRESENTATION VIDEO
Jessica Ottney Mahar, Policy & Strategy Director for The Nature Conservancy of New York prersents to the Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Alliance on the 2022 Environmental Bond Act
Skaneateles Lake Association Boat Votes Unanimously to Endorse NYS Environmental Bond Act
On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, the SLA Board of Directors, present at the meeting, voted unanimously to encourage SLA members and anyone who cares for Skaneateles Lake to vote "Yes" on the CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS Environmental Bond Act of 2022
As noted in the summary below, much of the funding is clearly fitting to support natural resources like Skaneateles Lake.
The "Bond Act" is for the "purpose of making environmental improvements that preserve, enhance, and restore New York's natural resources and reduce the impact of climate change. If approved, the proposal would allow the State to borrow up to $4,200,000,000 to provide funding for capital projects for the following: restoration and flood risk reduction (at least $1,100,000,000), open space land conservation and recreation (up to $650,000,000), climate change mitigation (up to $1,500,000,000), and water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure (at least $650,000,000).
PLEASE VOTE "YES" ON PROP NO. 1 - CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS Environmental Bond Act of 2022
MEMBERSHIP
SLA Membership & Support
Please help share the word with your neighbors encouraging them to become members of SLA if they aren't already.
You can now support SLA as you shop. Consider locking in SLA as a default organization to support when you are doing your Holiday and Cyber Monday Shopping. Visit HERE for more details.
Also, be on the lookout for Giving Tuesday Information this November
Upcoming news to look out for in November- Invasive Species Milfoil Control & Survey Report - Boat Launch Steward Report and Harmful Algal Bloom Annual Report
