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.
Find out all about OWLA:
OWLA Annual Meeting
OWLA is Leading the Efforts
Watch the meeting via zoom to find out more!
2023 OWLA Annual Report
From President Ann Robson
Become Informed!
BUSINESS AFTER FIVE: OWLA
Join The Chamber and Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) members for an evening on Owasco Lake at Owasco Yacht Club (OYC)
Celebrate the Summer Solstice with us at Owasco Yacht Club
OWLA has once again teamed up with the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce to host a Business After Five at Owasco Yacht Club on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, from 5-7 p.m.
Join your fellow OWLA and Chamber of Commerce members for an evening of networking, fun, food and fellowship on the shore of Owasco Lake. This year’s event will feature music provided by Major Keys, farmhouse-style small bites from Fiddlehead Farms, wine donated by the OWLA Board of Directors and beer tastings offered by Owasco Lake Brewing. Bring your business card to be included in drawings that include an original painting of Owasco Lake, a framed relief of Owasco Lake, Finger Lakes wine, and an Owasco Lake themed gift basket.
This event promises to be the Business After Five of the year, so you will want to be there!
Registration is required.
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
Auburn Citizen Article: “OWLA, partners to celebrate summer solstice on Owasco Lake” by Carol Sutkus, OWLA Board Member
...
Auburn Citizen Article: “Collaboration stabilizes Scipio ditch for water quality improvements” by Jillian Aluisio, Watershed Inspector with the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection and Protection Division
https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/owla-annual-symposium-to-explore-effects-of-climate-change-on-owasco-lake/article_3a8833d1-f1ea-53c7-b8af-440be2b6ffb5.html#tracking-source=home-top-story In a proactive effort to protect the Owasco Lake watershed, a ditch...
Auburn Citizen Article: “Annual symposium to explore effects of climate change on Owasco Lake” by Ann Robson, OWLA President
https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/owla-annual-symposium-to-explore-effects-of-climate-change-on-owasco-lake/article_3a8833d1-f1ea-53c7-b8af-440be2b6ffb5.html#tracking-source=home-top-story People who study the Earth see that Earth's climate is getting warmer. Earth's...
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Owasco Watershed Lake Association
We actively participate in ongoing strategies that are designed to protect Owasco Lake and watershed.
Join us THIS EVENING as Ann Robson, OWLA President, describes all the great things we’ve accomplished over this last year and what we’re working on and planning through 2023!
… and Election!
We will also hold our annual elections for Board of Directors. A big Thank You to all these fine people!
Slate of Candidates for OWLA Board of Directors 2023-2026 term
Gilda Brower Phil Gioia
Bill Foster Dan Kuhn
Sue Gatto Rich Ward
Ken Kudla
Candidate for OWLA President Elect 2022-2024 term
Carol Sutkus
As with all our meetings everyone is welcome to attend, but per our by-laws only members-in-good-standing (annual membership is current) may vote.
Go to ZOOM to register and watch live: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkduutpzsuHdD6pT6HRaTXljzWs64TYbzF#/registration
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!