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.
Become Informed!
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: “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...
OWLA: New Year’s resolutions from the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes
https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/owla-new-years-resolutions-from-the-lake-friendly-living-coalition-of-the-finger-lakes/article_2cefbe00-1e24-513f-912e-032488328a9b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story The Owasco Watershed Lake Association works with many organizations...
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...
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Owasco Watershed Lake Association
OWLA is a citizen-based association that promotes cooperation and leadership in the comprehensive management Owasco Lake.
Good Morning,
Our flow ended up around 920 cfs yesterday, so the City of Auburn will be opening up the dam some more to try and get closer to the 1000 cfs mark today.
Good Morning Everyone,
The City of Auburn is increasing outflow to around 1000 cfs this morning. The forecast shows the potential of an inch or so of rain from Thursday through Saturday, so we will look to bring the lake level down some over the next 48 hours before the rain comes in. There is still some snowpack in the southeast portion of our watershed, but hopefully, the warmer temperatures over the next several days will melt that off before the rain arrives. The City will watch things closely and keep you updated with any changes.
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!
