We need results now! -0WLA
Subject: Nozzolio Lake Meeting at Emerson Park
1.) Our lake's water quality has dramatically changed for the worse especially over the last 7 years and we will not put up with the weed, algae, smell, taste issues without a improvement plan any longer!  No more excuses, we need a intermunicipal coordinated water steward system now!
2.) Village of Groton phosphorus reduction system should be installed permanent, immediately, no more excuses or tests.  Use the lowest cost/high % reduction system recommended by Cayuga County Engineer & Health Department.  At least Phosphorus reduction needs to be included in the August SPEDES permit renewal too.  However this is just a good management practice not THE total Owasco fix.
3.) A WEB based GIs system using the WaLis model from NYC should be implemented and used by all institutes, agencies, municipalities, and educate average citizens to insure everyone who lives or operates in the watershed or uses the water is on the same plan with measurable improvements achieved. This will provide the effective, efficient communications, data sharing, creating real measurable resolutions, and further develop and implement the existing Owasco Lake management plan.  This is critical before burdening taxpayers with more layers or agencies.  This will enable and engage existing town, county, state and federal government, universities and institutes, on the same playing field at their funding and ability level within a realistic time frame.
4.) No new levels of bureaucracy!  Finger Lakes Institute, Upstate Fresh Waters Institute, NYState Water Resources Institute, Institute for Geospatial Technology, FL- LOWPA, Central New York Regional Planning and DEC need to coordinate and work together to improve Owasco Lake water quality.  There should be at least a quarterly report on what specifically and physically is accomplished as a group to improve and protect Owasco Lake.  This package then can be replicated and implemented across the Fingerlakes watershed by watershed and beyond.  This should be State and Federal funded
5.) The entire Owasco Flats needs to be designated a Critical Environmental Area and a plan developed and implemented to make it a major nutrient buffer for Owasco Lake in cooperation with existing land owners.  Spending limited funds taking flats properties off the tax rolls is not necessary to improve the flats environmentally.
6.) All schools in the Owasco water area from Groton to Weedsport need to implement project WET to incorporate water quality into the K-12 curriculum.
7.) Our elected representatives need to be involved and knowledgeable about water quality.  OWLA and Cayuga County Water Quality Agency need to be consulted.

Proposal for Owasco Lake Water Steward
Owasco Lake Intermunicipal MOU & Board of Directors
1.) Members are representatives of watershed and user Towns, villages, county, OWLA.  -  (Auburn, Owasco, Sennett, Niles, Moravia, Venice, Scipio, Fleming, Montezuma, Aurelius, Springport, Throop, Port Bryon, Weedsport)
2.) Legal and physical mandate derived from watershed rules as per Auburn & Owasco
3.) Day to day manager of Steward= designate a full time municipal employee as oversight
4.) WEB enabled report to all taxpayers and municipalities.
Responsibilities:
1.) Inspections for improvements, performance and compliance:
a. Enforce existing watershed rules
b. Implement storm water control regulations
c. Building permit follow-up for environmental issues
d. Establish phosphorus loading protocols (i.e. before & after testing, basic modeling) to determine potential and existing development and land use impact on water quality to guide municipal decisions and developers plans
2.) Enforcement contract to carry out municipal responsibilities as per law.
a. Notification of public health officials
b. Notification of DEC and Code Officer
3.) Facilitate and teach best management practices
a. React to individual development proposals with each town to ensure phosphorus- friendly land use, storm water rules, local laws to enable inspections etc
b. Develop a full complement of resources for reference
c. Solicit and direct support from other agencies
d. Coordinate phosphorus reduction practices consistent throughout the watershed
4.) Measure Progress
a. Operate a full GIs platform
b. Record issues, needs, data, visits, goals, timing for follow-up etc. and reviewed weekly and monthly on GIs and as per above
Budget
1.) Salary $40,000 plus benefits add 15-20%
2.) Transportation car etc. 15-20000 miles $8,000
3.) Town, County, City office 2 months at each location=payment in kind
4.) Office technology laptop, software, cell phone $5000
5.) Total first year estimated $75.000

Funding source = There are very close to 12,300 Owasco Lake water metered points and an additional 4500 landowners representing about 50000 people in the actual watershed in Cayuga County.  As a responsibility of each municipality, each of these "units" would have a $4.50 annual responsibility or payment in kind.  Or a .02-.03 charge per 750 gallon add on to each water bill also would generate enough funds.
OWLA Reality Check About Owasco Lake Water:
1. The current Owasco Lake status :the Cayuga County Water Supply!
Phosphorus levels from 6ppm to 14ppm since 1989, EPA drinking water limit is 15 Sppm, add Zebra mussels = growing accelerated amounts of algae, weeds =organic solids.  Streams are feeding in above 20ppm-and only getting worse
2. Public health issues, restricted physical use, de-values property & our economy.
3. Current Management: DEC is struggling-Groton great example, Auburn and Owasco need coordinated support, Cayuga County Health & Planning have been doing septic inspection, farmland protection, zoning and planning education at the town level. We already spend many dollars but the job is 250 sq. miles and complex.
4. Challenges in current economy:
a. Flat lined slow growth, young people are not staying, increasing poverty rates and age,
Our Strength = strong higher education sector S.U., Cornell, Hobart. CCC. OCC
b. Branding- low cost does not equal sustainability.
c. Achieving economic growth in a very competitive playing field for diminishing funds
d. Learning to play well togeather-build cooperation between business and environment
e. Business has a need to know what the benefits are to being good stewards to invest.
5. Major players, which command major resources in CNY:
IAGT-NASA- Decision Support System, WEBIGIS hosting, bandwidth, servers.
FLI- Hobart- Dr. Halfman research- possible vehicle for systems
NYSWRI-Cornell-Dr. Keith Porter-data to improve efficiency, Project WET K- 12.
UFI-ESF/SU- Dr Steve Effler-DEC Labs & Buoy
FL-LOWPA -funding, research
DEC- Regional & Albany support for GIs management system
6. Watershed management needs these elements to succeed:
1 Useful and relevant to the community
2 Provide private and public decision-makers with understandable information necessary to make successful decisions primarily on their own terms.
3 KISS
4 Graphics= message easy to understand
5 Creative = needs to enhance not hinder private sector jobs
6 Enable partners to combine effort with a common sense and common cause and profitability to have sustainable economic growth

What government officials & we can do: Provide Leadership!!!
1 Owasco Lake Management Plan needs to be broadly promoted and accepted, engage all town/city governments in water quality= showing unity of goal and purpose will engage funding. Comprehensive plans engaging many municipal players win funding over trying to go it on our own!
2 Designate Owasco Flats as a Critical Environmental Area
3 WET watershed curriculum inclusion in K-12 in watershed schools.
4 Become educated about watershed basics.
5. Engage a watershed management WEBIGIS system like New York City has in upstate counties.

Information About The Groton Treatment Plant (PDF File)

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