Owasco Watershed Lake Association
“Speak on behalf of the lake for she cannot speak for herself.”
Owasco Lake is essential to our community character and our economic future. The Owasco Watershed Lake Association, as the voice of the lake, recognizes this and has joined together to draw attention to the value and importance of 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.
YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BY JOINING OWLA TODAY!!
2019 HABs Reporting
Summer is heating up! That means Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) may be active on Owasco Lake. The New York State Department of Conservation’s 2019 HAB Surveillance Program is ready to go.
It’s not just the Water, it’s the ‘Shed
Owasco Lake is the collection point for all of the water used in the 208 square mile watershed.
Do you know that Owasco Lake provides drinking water for more than 44,000 people in our community? The lake offers year-round recreation, attracts tourists from far and wide, and continues to be a crown jewel of central New York! In turn, because Owasco Lake’s health is in jeopardy, all of us need to assist in its restoration, maintenance and preservation.
Since nutrient runoff, coupled with atmospheric changes, have endangered the lake, members of Owasco Watershed Lake Association, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Owasco Water Quality Management Council are working tirelessly to diagnose the sources of runoff, document the findings and determine actions for remediation. Our collective future, economic, physical and social, is greatly dependent on the future of Owasco Lake. Reaching the goal of a healthy Owasco Lake cannot happen without cooperation from the community at large.
2019 Ditch Remediation Program
Announcing a Lake Improvement Initiative! Scientists estimate that more than 20% of the sediment and nutrients reaching the lake came from eroding roadside ditches. This can be easily fixed by hydroseeding exposed soil and using rock on steep ditch surfaces. OWLA and partners have a Ditch Remediation Program now underway to reduce soil and nutrient erosion into the lake.
NEWS
Scroll through for current OWLA and area news:
Thank you Nucor for you generous donation to help Owasco Lake!!
Pictured below left to right: Kevin Willis - Nucor Melt Shop Manager, Jason Curtis - Nucor General Manager, Jim Beckwith - OWLA Past President, Dana Hall - OWLA Board Member, and Jonah Simons - Nucor Environmental Manager.
Thank you to Eric Osbourne for the generous donation to help the lake!! Pictured below are Eric Osborne and OWLA President Julie Lockhart with a plaque and picture of Owasco Lake.
I think you mean Erik Osborne.
Do you know that New York State has a new online HABs map and reporting system? Read all about it on our website or go directly to it below: owla.org/owla-owasco-lake-habs-tracker/
"OWLA: It takes a community to protect Owasco Lake"
Please take a moment to read this excellent and informative article by Linda Vitale - it's a Special Editorial to The Citizen
owla.org/2019/08/02/owla-it-takes-a-community-to-protect-owasco-lake/
Driving on West Lake Road watching neighbors spraying Roundup everywhere can’t help...
Yeah!!!
Volunteers ready to spot harmful algae on Owasco Lake
FLEMING — As the Finger Lakes enter the prime season for harmful algal blooms, trained volunteers this week started patrols around Owasco Lake as part of a partnership with theSuch useful information! Thanks!
More on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Owasco Lake www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=c3942abfea744ec8a43c8a91314cfae1 I love to speak with OWLA while I'm visiting Auburn (home) in August.
What about stopping the source of the blooms.
Here is the direct link to the HAB reporting form: survey123.arcgis.com/share/66337b887ccd465ab7645c0a9c1bc5c0
EVENTS and MEETINGS
Events Calendar
Check Out The Calendar
Don’t forget to join us on the 1st Wednesday of every month as we meet with the Board and Invited guest!
OWLA Monthly Meetings:
OWLA Monthly Meeting
OWLA Monthly Meeting
OWLA Monthly Meeting
OWLA Monthly Meeting
Join OWLA
Join OWLA, Donate, Volunteer!
Find out how you can help!
News
From OWLA and Partners
OWLA presents important news and information from our area!
Robert N. Brower
Memorial Honorarium
In 2018 we lost our friend and advocate for the lake and the environment, Bob Brower. OWLA has established an Honorarium in Bob’s name to help fund projects that were dear to him.
Please consider contributing to the fund to honor Bob’s memory.
What can you do to HELP?
Protecting Owasco Lake is essential to the maintenance of our community character and the improvement of our economic future. We encourage everyone to help the Owasco Watershed Lake Association personally and/or financially. By this commitment you will help keep Owasco Lake clean and safe.