Owasco Watershed Lake Association
Owasco Lake lies at the heart of our Finger Lakes community. The lake anchors our sense of place and our economic and community health depends on the lake. Join OWLA Now!Renew Membership
“Speak on behalf of the lake for she cannot speak for herself”
About OWLA
The Owasco Watershed Lake Association exists to protect Owasco Lake. We are a citizen-based, 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation founded in 1988. Our guardianship extends beyond the lake basin across 208 square miles of watershed, the land area where every drop of falling, flowing water eventually reaches Owasco Lake.
OWLA commits itself to facilitating the strategies and activities that are designed to restore our watershed and improve water quality for both drinking and full recreational use of Owasco Lake and its watershed.
Owasco Lake is threatened!
We Need your help!! Harmful Alga Blooms and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid invasion is threatening our lake’s health!
Harmful Algal Blooms
The frequency and intensity of HABs are increasing
OWLA is Leading the Efforts
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
The tiny bug that’s a giant threat
OWLA is working with the Rotary Clubs of Auburn & Moravia to Inform and Involve the Public!
Participate! Volunteer! Become involved:
Why Join OWLA?
• OWLA works best with more members to raise our voice loud and clear.
• Owasco Lake, as an economic engine of our region, needs ALL of our support!
• Become part of the solution with an “annual” OWLA membership. You will be doing your part to protect the vitality of the region – water is vital to our economic success!
How well do you know OWLA?
- What is OWLA?
- What are OWLA’s Mission and Values?
- What Isn’t OWLA?
- What has OWLA done in the past?
- What new projects is OWLA looking forward to?
- What organizations are OWLA’s partners?
We’ve put together an informative article answering all of these questions!
The Latest News & Updates
Action Needed: Urge NY State Legislators to Advocate for Owasco Lake Rules and Regulations
Dear OWLA Members: Owasco Lake needs your help now! We are asking our members contact their state representatives and urge them to advocate for Owasco Lake Rules and Regulations. We are asking each person to reach out to each of their reps one time each week for a...
OWLA Citizen Article “Reflections on the Saturday March 9 Bob Brower Scientific Symposium” by Dana Hall
We all miss the community leadership and knowledge Bob Brower so willingly contributed to the betterment of our region. He was a mentor to many, patiently explaining Owasco Lake's behavior and its dependence on the health of its surrounding large watershed. Each year...
OWLA Citizen Article “Our Lake, Our Legacy” by Ann Robson
The 2024 Bob Brower Scientific Symposium "Our Lake, Our Legacy" People value lakes for a wide variety of reasons. Lakes can hold significant personal and cultural meaning, provide opportunities for recreation, bolster property values and even comprise people’s...
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Owasco Watershed Lake Association
We actively participate in ongoing strategies that are designed to protect Owasco Lake and watershed.
Good Morning Everyone,
The City of Auburn is reducing flow to around 625-650 cfs today. There is some rain coming in today but it doesn't appear to be too significant. Level is around 712.55 this morning and inflow is under 300 cfs so we are in good shape to handle the rain.
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Good Morning Everyone,
The City of Auburn is increasing outflow to around 850 cfs range today. Lake level is in the 712.70-712.75 range and still very slowly rising. The City is looking to level off the rise and even bring the level down some with some rain in the forecast later in the week.
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Good Morning,
The City of Auburn is increasing outflow from 400 to 500 cfs this morning. Lake level is around 712.25 and inlet is around 625 cfs and both are slowly rising. It looks to be a quarter inch or less of rain for today. If The City make any other changes over the weekend The City will let you know.
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OWLA gets things done!
- In response to OWLA’s urgent calls for action about the increasing presence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Owasco Lake, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launched a pilot citizen shoreline surveillance program on Owasco and Seneca Lakes in 2016. Today, this program helps monitor HABs in water bodies across New York State.
- OWLA works with other water protection agencies to gather public and political support of Cayuga County’s proposed new Watershed Rules and Regulations
We need your help!
Meet the OWLA Board of Directors
OWLA is a membership organization run by volunteers!
Research. Mitigation. Outreach.
OWLA works best with more members to raise our voice loud and clear. If you live near the lake, recreate on the lake, depend on it for your drinking water, or need water to keeping your business flowing, we need your membership and your voice!
OWLA supports our partners!
Take the Lake Friendly Living Pledge
Take action today to better care for Owasco Lake and its watershed! If you live in the watershed, tens of thousands of people who depend on Owasco Lake for drinking water need YOU to do your part. Auburnians, who live downstream of the Owasco Lake watershed, are part of the larger Oswego River/Finger Lakes watershed that other communities depend on for clean, safe water. Learn more about the Lake Friendly Living Pledge that people are taking across the Finger Lakes Region, and consider taking the pledge.
HABs Reporting in Owasco Lake
The OWLA HABs Program Volunteers monitor their assigned shoreline zones once a week from July through early October.
KNOW IT – AVOID IT – REPORT IT
Learn More about HAB reporting:
YOU Can Help OWLA!
DONATE TO OWLA
We need help funding our 2023 programs!
- HABs Monitoring and Testing
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment
- Community Rain Garden
- Ditch Stabilization Program
- Other projects to help protect Owasco Lake!