The importance of the Owasco Lake watershed's nine-element plan

If you care about Owasco Lake, please take the time to read the 2025 nine-element plan progress report. The report was released by Owasco Lake Watershed 9E Plan Project Coordination Committee. Special thanks to committee member Michele Wunderlich for all her hard work on this project. A copy of the report is available on the Cayuga County Planning Department website. It is a document outlining the progress of programs developed to improve water quality in our county. The report covers the three-year period from November 2022 through the fall of 2025. In the report there are graphs displaying the progress of programs implemented to help stop the flow of phosphorus and nitrates into the watershed. The 9E plan, approved by the New York Department of State and DEC, was designed to encourage a unified and consistent course of action by all partners interested in restoring clean water to our lake. Owasco Lake was placed on an impaired water body list and trending in the wrong direction. New York state and our county realized that immediate action was necessary. The 9E plan is a voluntary effort to promote clean drinking water, which is a right for all New Yorkers.

The 9E plan was modeled to detect both point and nonpoint sources of pollution in the watershed. Point sources discharge large volumes of pollutants and are easy to identify. An example of a point source is a wastewater/sewerage treatment plant. Nonpoint sources discharge fewer pollutants but are more numerous and harder to control. Owasco Lake has one of the largest watershed areas in the Finger Lakes. Many streams flow through farmland and agricultural runoff is a major nonpoint source of pollution. The 9E plan’s course of action is based on sample data collected over time throughout the watershed by numerous volunteers. A copy of the full plan is available on the Cayuga County website. The Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council oversees the implementation of the 9E plan. Dr. Adam Effler, the director of the OLWMC, provides insight and direction for 9E plan’s comprehensive goal of protecting and preserving the Owasco Lake watershed.

There are specific areas of concern in the 9E plan report. Control of farm field runoff is critical for any long-term success for a healthy Owasco Lake. Farmers have embraced nutrient management programs developed to help reduce phosphorus and nitrates in animal waste. The 9E plan encourages proper application of manure and fertilizer on farm fields to reduce runoff. It discourages any application before large rain events. Cover crops can help stop soil erosion and provide a natural barrier to farm runoffs. To their credit, many farms are absorbing short-term economic pain to plant cover crops. The Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District has obtained grants to prevent animals from having direct access to streams when grazing. Two such large projects have successfully been completed and are noted in the report.

Land development and infrastructure management are addressed in the report. There is a program to inspect all septic systems in the watershed. The report contains information about state programs that can help offset the cost of replacing substandard septic systems. Upgrades to wastewater and sewerage treatment facilities are vitally important to the watershed. The report encourages local and state authorities to develop a program that will perform updated maintenance on a regular basis. Many storm water management systems are in place, and we should commend the city of Auburn and the surrounding towns that have labored to put them in place. NYS should recognize the value of these programs and reimburse accordingly.

Streambank stability is an important component in promoting a healthy lake. The largest volume of water entering Owasco Lake comes from the Owasco Inlet. The OLWMC has secured a $400,000 grant to repair and strengthen a section of this stream to help reduce pollutants from entering the lake. Data from this project will help provide direction for future improvements. Riparian buffers can eliminate up to 75% of phosphorus and nitrate runoff from farm fields. It is heartbreaking to see destruction of existing hedgerows along stream banks in the watershed. The revised rules and regulations for the Owasco watershed addressed this issue. We must continue to fight for passage of rules and regulation for the Owasco Lake watershed.

Raising public awareness is a goal of the 9E plan. If you live on the lake, if you swim in the lake, if you boat on the lake and, most importantly, if you drink its water, you have a stake in this fight. Waiting until it’s too late is not an option. “Lake-friendly living” outlines small steps we all can take to protect and preserve Owasco Lake. Take a moment to read what lake-friendly living means. Having a clean, healthy lake that is the center of the community will drive economic and social growth for years to come. Please read the report and, most importantly, do something: Join OWLA, plant a buffer, make your voice heard, practice lake-friendly living.

Bill Foster is a member of the board of directors of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association.