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December 29, 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. 
Dear Friends of Skaneateles Lake-

As 2022 comes to a close and we take stock of our past experiences as we enter a new year, we thought to share various photos from around the lake that represent good works for the future. 

In this special "Year in Review - 2022 Snapshot" issue, SLA takes a look back at some highlights surrounding core program areas including:
  • Invasive Species - protecting hemlock forests, preventing new aquatic invasive plants, and managing milfoil.
  • Research & Monitoring - 2022 as the year of "The Bob", ESF Turbidity Satellite Study, SU Lake Sediment Sampling, and Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring
  • Watershed Improvement Projects- upper and lower Willow Creek improvement projects
  • Community Outreach & Education - Lake Friendly Living, Landscape Design Workshops, Libraries Love Lakes, & Skaneateles Lake Emerging Watershed Scientists program
Additionally, as we consider New Year's resolutions, SLA and fellow members of the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes developed some Lake Friendly Living Resolutions for throughout the year!

Lastly, it's still not too late to consider making an end of the year gift to the Skaneateles Lake Association through membership or through support of SLA's Legacy Fund dedicated to water quality improvement. 

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2022!

Please enjoy and Happy New Year to all!
SLA 2022 SNAPSHOT - YEAR IN REVIEW
COMBATTING INVASIVES
PLANNING FOR HEMLOCK PROTECTION - (R2L) - Volunteer Hemlock protector Rose Ann Gay, ESF Grad Student Will McCall, and SLA Board VP Buzz Roberts meet atop 10 Mile ravine to discuss plans for 2022. SLA dedicated use of its Legacy Fund this year to support treatment of critical steep areas in 10 Mile Ravine, Spafford Landing, Glen Cove, and Firelane 16A in Niles.
PREVENTING AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANTS - SLA Boat Steward Jim MacLachlan helping protect the lake at Town of Skaneateles Launch in Mandana.
LOT FULL - Typical fair weather day at NYSDEC launch with a full parking lot. Most support of >$75K boat launch invasive species prevention program comes from SLA membership with an additional $5K from DEC. There were 7954 watercrafts surveyed by SLA stewards in 2022. Most boaters who indicated they were traveling from another lake noted that they came from Cayuga Lake.  Cayuga Lake is known for spending millions of dollars in managing the invasive plant Hydrilla.
MANAGING MILFOIL - Mifoil Control work being conducted by Aquatic Invasives Inc. - in 2022, 325 mats were deployed covering over 6 acres of Eurasian Watermilfoil. photo courtesy of Ty Denslow
RESEARCH & MONITORING
2022 - THE YEAR OF "THE BOB"
COMMISSIONING OF THE DR. ROBERT WERNER RESEARCH & EDUCATION BOAT - "THE BOB" - Friends, family, and supporters gather with SLA for the ceremonial maiden voyage of "The Bob" named after the late Dr. Robert Werner who dedicated much of his life to Skaneateles Lake and the SLA. Many thanks to Bob Werner's family, all the donors and the leadership of SLA Legacy Fund and Membership Chair Fran Fish, Lake Ecology Team Co-Chair Dr. Bill Dean, and Board President Dr. Paul Torrisi for their organizational and fundraising efforts to ensure the launching of "The Bob".
AT THE HELM OF THE BOB - (L2R) - Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat Pilot Kevin Donnelly and visionary volunteer boat architect and SLA Board member Dr. Bill Dean.
SLA HONORED WITH THE BOB IN GRAND LABOR DAY PARADE - (L2R) - Jo Werner (in Captain's Chair) with hers and the late Bob Werner's children: Kitty (Robinson) and Kurt Werner. Also, on board Andy Robinson and Dr. Bill Dean. Photo courtesy of Ty Denslow.
ESF WATER CLARITY SATELLITE STUDY - Photo (furthest to closest): ESF Graduate Students Andre Luo and Victor Igwe, ESF Professor Dr. Bahram Salehi, SLA Intern Nicole Kleinberg, and SLA Volunteer and Member John MacAllister training on water clarity data collection using a Secchi disc. Data collected is entered into satellites to train on how to measure water clarity readings from space. Research supported by SLA Legacy Fund.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LAKE BOTTOM SEDIMENT SAMPLING -
(L2R) Dr. Christopher A. Scholz, Jacqueline Corbett, Laura Streib, Dr. Charles Driscoll, and McKenzie Brannon of Syracuse University with SLA Boat Pilot Kevin Donnelly disembark to collect lake bottom sediment core samples. Research of sediment samples collected from both Skaneateles and Oneida lakes will help determine changes in the lake watersheds over the past 350 years.
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM MONITORING
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABs) - KNOW IT, AVOID IT, REPORT IT! - Photo - HAB observed on north end of lake on August 23, 2022 - non-regulatory toxin report conducted by SUNY-ESF indicated levels far exceeding safety levels if exposed directly to raw water surface bloom in lake - municipal drinking water remained to be at safe levels according to Department of Health and City of Syracuse.  There were nine total observations of HABs on Skaneateles Lake in 2022 that occurred from August 10th to October 3rd. 
WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY - UPPER WILLOW CREEK OFFLINE DETENTION BASIN - Log weir notch structure bottom left designed by Anchor QEA engineers to divert water and sediment to an expanded detention basin where algal bloom feeding nutrients can settle. Project was funded by SLA Legacy Fund with support from Brillo Excavating-Waste Disposal. Project was completed with re-vegetation in beginning of 2022.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE - LOWER WILLOW CREEK STREAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - Anchor QEA Engineers, Matchbox Excavation, and Woodsedge Landscape Design with support from local landowners, the Great Lakes Commission, and SLA's Legacy Fund executed a multi-faceted improvement project. Lake improvement design elements included widening and reinforcing the flood plain, stabilizing stream flow with log structures and root wads, and facilitating nutrient capture with re-vegetation of locally sourced native plants from The Plantsmen Nursery in Ithaca and within the Skaneateles Lake watershed from GoNative! Perennials.  Many thanks to those aformenationed, SLA Legacy Fund donors, and the leadership of Dr. Dana Hall as chair to SLA's Watershed Improvement Project committee.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION
LANDCSAPE DESIGN FOR THE LAKE - Landscape Architect Larry Weaner (left) and ESF Associate Professor and Restoration Science expert Sam Quinn lead a landscape design workshop at Doce Lume Farm. Alongside additional sponsors, such as the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the SLA Legacy Fund provided major financial support fpr landscape workshop series. Photo courtesy of Doce Lume Farm/Wiles.
LIBRARIES LOVE LAKES - Many thanks to SLA Youth Education Committee members Deb Hole and Deb Tifft and the staff at the Skaneateles Library in selecting and displaying water stewardship books as part of the national Libraries Love Lakes initiative. 
WORKING FARMS IN THE WATERSHED - Chris Fesko and grandson Everett Brayman of Fesko Farms help educate City of Syracuse students about best management practices in farming to help protect water quality as part of the Skaneateles Lake Emerging Watershed Scientists (SLEWS) program.
WATERSHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM TAKES FLIGHT - ESF Professor Dr. Bahram Salehi and PhD candidate student Sina Jarahizadeh demonstrate a drone flight for City of Syracuse students.
ALL BOATS RISE WITH THE TIDES - SLA Executive Director Frank Moses promoting Lake Friendly Living at New York State Federation of Lake Association's Conference in Lake George. SLA Co-founded the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes in 2021 and works with professionals and volunteers throughout the Finger Lakes and NY to engage and empower communities in making better choices for our lakes.
END OF YEAR GIVING & MEMBERSHIP
Support the Legacy Fund Today!
It's not too late to consider end of year giving to the Skaneateles Lake Association. You can join the SLA and donate to the Legacy Fund for Skaneateles Lake online at SkaneatelesLake.org or call Fran Rotunno Fish at 315-558-3142 for additional information and an SLA Member Registration Form.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
Lastly, as we enter into the New Year, SLA as part of the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes have put a "2023 Lake Friendly Living New Year's Resolution" together and hope you will join us. Each month of the year we will be providing some insights and resources on the following topics below. More to follow...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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