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!
Become Informed!
Owasco Watershed Lake Association
OWLA is a citizen-based association that promotes cooperation and leadership in the comprehensive management Owasco Lake.
Wednesday Evening! Join Us for this FREE Presentation and Discussion!
OWLA's February 1st Public Forum features Matt Gallo from the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) His presentation is entitled:
"Can't Stand The Heat: How a Warming World Helps Our Worst Invaders"
Learn about invasive species in Owasco Lake, how you can help, and more!
Go to our Facebook Events or here: owla.org/event/owla-public-forum-matt-gallo-finger-lakes-prism/
for more information and registration.
OWLA Public Forum - Matt Gallo, Finger Lakes PRISM - Owasco Watershed Lake Association
owla.org
OWLA is pleased to announce that Matt Gallo, Terrestrial Program Outreach Coordinator for the Finger Lakes PRISM will be our speaker at the February OWLA Public Forum!
Join Us Next Week!
OWLA's February 1st Public Forum features Matt Gallo from the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) His presentation is entitled:
"Can't Stand The Heat: How a Warming World Helps Our Worst Invaders"
Learn about invasive species in Owasco Lake, how you can help, and more!
Go to our Facebook Events or here: owla.org/event/owla-public-forum-matt-gallo-finger-lakes-prism/
for more information and registration.
Good Morning Everyone,
The City of Auburn is increasing outflow from around 850 cfs to around 950 cfs this morning. Lake level is around 710.70 this morning and has very slowly dropped over the last 48 hours. The City is looking to increase the drop with this adjustment in the hopes of working the level back closer to 710 over the course of next week or so. The City will watch the storm Wednesday into Thursday and update you with any changes.
Mark your calendars and check back often!
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!
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!
The Latest News & Updates
Auburn Citizen Article: “Owasco Lake’s protection” by Jillian Aluisio, Watershed Inspector
https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/aluisio-owla-volunteers-lead-projects-for-owasco-lakes-protection/article_9078d218-771b-543f-b992-fd4910aa2a2a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story The Owasco Watershed Lake Association is a local, volunteer-based nonprofit that does an...
Auburn Citizen Article: “Hemlock hunters return to woods” by DR. DANA HALL AND CAROLINE MARSCHNER
Across January, February and March, a group of motivated volunteers will again be looking for remaining populations of hemlock trees guarding the slopes of the many ravines, gullies and gorges in the Owasco Lake watershed. We say remaining because the invasive hemlock...
Auburn Citizen Article: “Owasco Watershed Lake Association: What is CSLAP?” by OWLA Board Member Peter Rogers
Once every two weeks each summer, boaters on Owasco Lake may spot some of our neighbors working diligently from their boats, analyzing lake water using tools like Secchi disks, Kemmerer samplers and other scientific equipment. These citizen scientists are...
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!
OWLA is Leading the Efforts to Keep Owasco Lake Healthy!
SHOP FOR OWLA
Set OWLA as your charity of choice and Amazon will automatically donate a portion of your sale total to OWLA, at no cost to you!
