Our televisions and print and electronic media are all inundating us with news about the upcoming elections – town, county, and Federal. But before you say you are tired of hearing about it all, please consider another upcoming election that could significantly affect the Skaneateles Lake Community.

Right now the Board of Directors of the Skaneateles Lake Association is looking at its on-hand funds which are available to make commitments in regard to the work for which we can contract next year – that’s right work we will do in 2016. At this point in our membership campaign for 2015 (which predominately funds the work we can do in 2016) we do not have the funds we need to carry out the same level of effort we have in 2015.   So it is time for the Skaneateles community to vote.

Our community members have several options for their vote. They can:

1. Vote for the SLA to do less matting of major patches of milfoil in 2016;
2. Vote to do less hand harvesting of milfoil in areas that cannot be matted;
3. Vote for the Invasive Species Monitoring Stewards to be assigned to the lake’s launch sites for FEWER hours and/or FEWER days; OR
4. Vote in favor of the SLA doing everything in 2016 it has done in 2015 and maybe even more.

The voting procedure is very easy.

Doing nothing is a vote for option 1, 2, or 3 (doing less).

To vote in favor of the SLA continuing and maybe expanding its efforts to help keep Skaneateles Lake clear and its water pure:

Go SkaneatelesLake.org and registering as a member; or

Call 315-685-9106, ask for a registration form to be mailed to you, complete the form and mail it with your check to the Skaneateles Lake Association P. O. Box 862 Skaneateles, NY 13152; or

Use the registration slip on the bottom of this summer’s SLA newsletter, complete the form and mail it with your check to the Skaneateles Lake Association P. O. Box 862 Skaneateles, NY 13152.

Our voting procedure is simple…..and your vote counts!

The SLA thanks the following individuals for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards.

Milfoil Boat Sponsors: Aug 17 & 18 Beecher Graham & Jonathan Brodack; Aug. 19 Skaneateles Country Club; Aug. 20 Greenfield Lane Association; Aug. 21 Lousia & John Cohlan; Aug 24 Donna & William Davis; Aug 25 Salli & Jim Tuozzolo; Aug 26 Johanna & Gianfranco Frittelli; Aug 27 Pamela Preston & Jason Slottje; Aug 28 Janet and William Allyn; Aug 31 Noreen & Michael Falcone, Tacie & Roland Anderson; Judy & John Varney, Alice 7 Neil Houser; Sept 1 Ursula & David Hutton, Carl & Alex Protasiewicz, Shadowlawn Lakeshore Corporation, Helga & Henry Beck, Sept. 2 Katherine & Joseph Compagni; Sept 3 Ellie & Chet Benoit, George Ann & Edwin Bock, Jackie & Steve Miron, Colleen Plimpton; Sept 4 Kathy & Paul Leone

Steward Sponsors: Aug 14 Pam & John Pidhirny; Aug 15 Jennifer & Bill Mayo; Aug 16 Theresa & Mark Potenza; Aug 17 Virginia & Jeffrey Stannard

 Source:  Skaneateles Press

Robert G. Werner

In our surveys for milfoil patches this year we noticed that a shift seems to be occurring in the plant communities in Skaneateles Lake. While milfoil is declining precipitously as a result of our matting efforts, a native species seems to be expanding, filling in many of the places that milfoil used to occupy. A preliminary identification of this plant is that it is the clasping leaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus), a native, non-invasive plant. We have taken samples from 10-12 areas on both the east and west side of the lake and they all appear to be clasping leaf pondweed.

We are fortunate in that clasping leaf pondweed is not a threat to the lake like milfoil. Milfoil is a very aggressive plant that takes over an area and fills the space with dense heavy plant biomass, largely pushing out everything else. In contrast, clasping leaf pondweed is not aggressive, grows in relatively open stands and is much less likely to cause any serious problem to the lake. In fact, it was most likely a part of the original underwater plant community in the lake. It also offers shelter for young fish from predators and food for waterfowl. There is another positive benefit to this species in that the presence of clasping leaf pondweed in the locations where milfoil has been removed will inhibit the return of milfoil to those sites.

You can tell milfoil and clasping leaf pondweed apart quite easily.  Milfoil has a feathery leaf with small leaflets coming off of the midrib. The leaf looks like a green wet feather.

Clasping leaf pondweed has a flat, elongate, blade shaped leaf with a wavy form to it and a smooth edge to its leaf. The base of the leaf tends to wrap around the stem of the plant, thus the name.

While it can be risky to try to predict what Mother Nature will do, it seems that the lake is beginning to move toward a more natural condition with respect to its underwater plant community. Let’s hope so.

The SLA thanks the following individuals for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards (names with an asterisk are those whose annual memberships and additional donations or a matching donation were received in the last few months of 2014):

 Milfoil Boat Sponsors: Aug. 3 *Susan & Curt Andersson; Aug. 4 *Erica & Ken Byrne, *Anne & Robert McKenty; Aug. 5 *Patience Brewster & Holly Gregg; Aug. 6 *Judy & Phil Hider, *Amy & Christopher Neumann, *Mary Beth & William Gleason: Aug. 7 *Mr. & Mrs. Gardner McLean; Aug. 10 *Lorraine Gudas, * Ellen Brown & Carl Schramm; Aug. 11 * Linda & Russell Ruthig, * Patricai & Ralph Troisi, Dr. Robert Vitkus, Patricia & David Stone; Aug. 12 *Patience Brewster & Holly Gregg; Aug 13 & 14 *Ellen Brown & Carl Schramm

Steward Sponsors: July 30 * Charlene & Edward McGraw; July 31 – Aug. 9 Donations made in memory of Grace Parcells; Aug. 10 Suzanne & David Nagle; Aug. 11 The DuBois Family; Aug 12 Mary & Michael Hearn; Aug. 13 Judy & Doug Robertson

Source:  Skaneateles Press 8/12/2015

Paul Torrisi

The Skaneateles Lake Association, Inc. through its membership and generous donors has been fighting the invasion of Eurasian Milfoil in Skaneateles Lake since 2007. Nine years and over $2,000,000 later the potential environmental, recreational, and economic negative impact it would have created has been at least controlled. Although the invasive weed will never be completely eradicated from the ecosystem we feel with continued annual work (and money) we will be able to maintain the status achieved to date.

Not so with Hydrilla, if it ever enters and establishes a foothold in Skaneateles Lake! This invasive weed, originally from Korea, outcompetes native submerged aquatic vegetation and can quickly fill a pond or lake, growing in deep water up to 20 feet, thus choking off the near shore for swimming, boating, fishing and other recreational uses! It’s been located in the nearby Cayuga Lake inlet where it’s being treated with chemical herbicides the past few years and hopefully being contained. It is next to impossible to permanently remove otherwise. Because the Tubers or roots grow transversely under the lake bottom soil they are very difficult to hand pull by divers and resistant to current methods of benthic matting, such as the SLA is using for Milfoil control. We certainly can’t resort to chemical treatment in our precious water supply!

Hydrilla Matted Over a Lake Water Surface

Hydrilla has been battled for years in Florida and elsewhere where many millions have been spent to eradicate and control, relatively unsuccessfully! It can grow very rapidly, up to a foot a day, and form dense mats under water and on the surface, potentially turning the pristine near shore area of a lake like ours into a smelly swamp with growth and decay of the vegetative matter!

SLA has ramped up its Stewardship Program in three short years, currently employing 8 staff to monitor various launch sites around the lake. Using inspection and educating techniques these dedicated young people are promoting prevention and control. Boaters are learning to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY their boats and gear and anything that comes in contact with water!

We need to continue to escalate our Stewardship efforts and to keep Hydrilla and other invasives OUT of Skaneateles Lake. This takes money and lots of it!!

Increasing our annual renewed membership to SLA from about 600 the past two years to over 1,000 would be a terrific step in the right direction so we can continue to increase our support of these vital programs to help keep the lake “clear and pure!”

Go to SkaneatelesLake.org to renew or start your membership and support, immediately!

The SLA thanks the following individuals for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards (names with an asterisk are those whose annual memberships and additional donations or a matching donation were received in the last few months of 2014):

Milfoil Boat Sponsors: July 17 Deborah & Joseph Paduda, Mark Allyn, Goffe Cottage, Mary Jane & Gary Lowery; July 20 John MacAllister & Lauren Moranz; July 21 Heather & David Wheat, Jane & Mason Howard, Demetra Vounas, Carolyn kaye & Donald Babcock; July 22 Christine Larsen & Vincent Dopolis; July 23 Deborah & Richard Hole, Ann Kilian, Jaime Tuozzolo , Joyce & Robin Jowaisas; July 27 Lori & James Ranalli, Patti & Marvin Langley, Lynne Boles & John Priest, Jennifer Sutherland; July 28 Candace & John Marcellus; July 29 Sara & Robert Neumann; July 30 Julie Scuderi, Deborah & James Tifft; July 31 Kathy & Paul Leone.

Steward Sponsors: July 16 Judy and Doug Robertson*; July 17 Mary Anne & John Winfield; July 18 Grace & Dan Labeille; July 19 Anonymous 3; July 20 Jill & Todd Marshall; July 21 – July 29 Jeannie & Henry Slauson.

Source: Skaneateles Press 7/29/15

On Sunday, July 12^th the Skaneateles Lake Association held its 2015 Annual Meeting on the lakefront of the home of Ted and Nancy Norman. Over 130 people were in attendance to visit with old friends while enjoying the beautiful lake view and meeting new folks from the lake community.

SLA President, Paul Torrisi, welcomed everyone to the meeting and shared a bit of history on the growth of the group from a small group of concerned citizens more than 10 years ago to the SLA of today. He emphasized the need for increasing our membership so that funding of our efforts is supported by more and more people via annual membership dues.

Fran Fish introduced our Onondaga County Legislator, Michael Plochocki. She shared with the assembled group that an article in the Neighbors West section of the newspaper indicated that the county legislature had funds available to support efforts that promoted tourism. Believing that there was nothing like the clear, pure water of Skaneateles Lake to promote tourists, the SLA submitted an application for the funds. It turned out the original source of funding that the SLA thought to exist, in fact, did not exist. However, Mr. Plochocki and the County Legislature Chairman, J. Ryan McMahon, III determined there was another source for the funding. Mr. Plochocki, who noted he had spent much of his youth at his family’ camp “just down the road”, presented the SLA Treasure, Robert Werner, with a check for $7,500 for the motor purchase.

Those attending heard reports on all of the efforts of the SLA aimed at keeping the water of Skaneateles Lake clear and pure. Dr. Robert Werner discussed several lake issues of concern recently, particularly the algae that people have been noticing in the near shore area in recent years. He noted that this was not unusual for other lakes and that the algae involved are not usually considered a problem. It is not the toxic blue-green algae that we have been hearing about in neighboring lakes. It may, however, reflect increased nutrient loading to the lake and if so should be watched.

Dr. William Dean summarized the activities of a “foam work group” organized by SLA to look into the causes and impact of foam on the lake. Bill pointed out that some foam was natural, but that we have been having what one would call excessive levels of foam in recent years. The fundamental reason for this is an increased presence of surfactants (organic compounds that facilitate the development of foam). The question yet to be resolved is what surfactants are we dealing with here and what is their source? Preliminary results suggest that the surfactants are not synthetic, man-made material, but instead naturally produced organic compounds.

John Menapace updated those attending on the status of this summer’s milfoil removal and control efforts noting that 5 acres of matting had been put down over large areas of milfoil growth and that hand harvesting of milfoil would not be started by the diving team.

Buzz Roberts introduced our Lake Stewards and explained their role in the prevention of introduction of other invasive species into the lake.

Fran Fish reported on the SLA membership noting that our total number of members at this point is a little behind where we were at this time last year. She asked those in attendance to go to our website, review the current member list and note anyone not on the list who should be. She noted that if each person in attendance was able to get one more person to join, the SLA membership would be well ahead of where it was at this time last year.

The SLA Board of Directors is appreciative to the following community members who made this meeting possible: the Norman’s for the use of their waterfront; Ann Kilian and the Greenfields for providing parking areas; the Mandana Inn and the Village Bottle Shop for generous consideration in pricing and Heather and Tim Carroll for the use of the Mandana Barn in the event of rain.

You can join the SLA easily at SkaneatelesLake.org. You can enhance your annual membership fee by paying it by check thus saving us the fee we would have to pay to PayPal for a credit card or PayPal account payment. If you do not have access to the internet call 315-685-9106 and I will send you a 2015 Registration Form and a return envelope.

Source:  Skaneateles Press

Annual Meeting on the waterfront of the home of Ted and Nancy Norman on Sunday, One hundred thirty members of the Skaneateles Lake Association gathered for its 2015 July 15^th. After far too much rain on too many days, the event was held with not even a threat of rain.

Those attending had the opportunity to enjoy the view of the lake, meet old and new lovers of the lake, partake of refreshments and hear updates on the work of the SLA. SLA President, Paul Torrisi, welcomed all of the members noting that over 10 years ago a small group of citizens who were concerned about the lake water started a swell of concerned citizens that has resulted in the SLA of today.

Fran Fish introduced our Onondaga County Legislator, Michael Plochocki. She shared with the assembled group that an article in the Neighbors West section of the newspaper indicated that the county legislature had funds available to support efforts that promoted tourism. Believing that there was nothing like the clear, pure water of Skaneateles Lake to promote tourists, the SLA submitted an application for the funds. It turned out the original source of funding that the SLA thought to exist, in fact, did not exist. However, Mr. Plochocki and the County Legislature Chairman, J. Ryan McMahon, III determined there was another source for the funding. Mr. Plochocki, who noted he had spent much of his youth at his family’ camp “just down the road”, presented the SLA Treasure, Robert Werner, with a check for $7,500 for the motor purchase.

Dr. Robert Werner discussed several lake issues of concern recently, particularly the algae that people have been noticing in the near shore area in recent years. He noted that this was not unusual for other lakes and that the algae involved are not usually considered a problem. It is not the toxic blue-green algae that we have been hearing about in neighboring lakes. It may, however, reflect increased nutrient loading to the lake and if so should be watched. Dr. William Dean summarized the activities of a “foam work group” organized by SLA to look into the causes and impact of foam on the lake. Bill pointed out that some foam was natural, but that we have been having what one would call excessive levels of foam in recent years. The fundamental reason for this is an increased presence of surfactants (organic compounds that facilitate the development of foam). The question yet to be resolved is what surfactants are we dealing with here and what is their source? Preliminary results suggest that the surfactants are not synthetic, man-made material, but instead naturally produced organic compounds.   Following Bill & Bob’s report, John Menapace, Milfoil Project Coordinator, shared with those attending that the Milfoil Team had put down 5 acres of matting over large milfoil patches identified by Bob Werner in the lake survey done last fall. John noted that the team would now start hand harvesting around the matting and in other areas that cannot be matted. SLA Board Vice President, Buzz Roberts, introduced the members of the Invasive Species Monitoring Stewards Team and shared the launches covered by the team and their schedules. Fran Fish gave a report on the current SLA membership and asked all present to please check the current member listing on the website and reach out to someone who was not listed, but who should be a member. Following these reports there were questions from those in attendance about lake issues including the apparent increase in foam and its potential causes, lake level, and erosion.

The SLA Board of Directors is appreciative to the following community members who made this meeting possible: the Norman’s for the use of their waterfront; Ann Kilian and the Greenfields for providing parking areas; the Mandana Inn and the Village Bottle Shop for generous consideration in pricing and Heather and Tim Carroll for the use of the Mandana Barn in the event of rain.

Source:  Skaneateles Journal

This past week I started to prepare another mailing requesting people to join the SLA. I spent some time extracting from our database a list of people who are lakefront owners or owners with lake rights from the Towns of Skaneateles and Spafford who had either never joined the SLA and those who have not been a member of the SLA for several years.  It was discouraging.  The list came out to be over 600 property owners.  Just as I finished determining that number, my telephone rang and I had a call that gave me the words I needed for my letter to those 600 people.

The young woman who called stated that she had recently moved to Skaneateles and had tried to join online but was having some difficulty.  She wanted me to register her over the phone.  After we worked through the process I had to ask…”why is someone who lives in the village and not on the waterfront or on a property with lake rights calling to join the SLA?”  Her response was absolutely emphatic….”I moved here recently from Connecticut near Candlewood Lake.  You have no idea how awful that lake water is.  This community is so lucky to have Skaneateles Lake.  I swim in it every day and it is such a pleasure.  We all have to do everything we can to keep it that way for the future.  Everyone who lives here has to be a part of the future of this lake.”

Our website includes a list of those who are current members which means they joined and paid annual membership dues within the past year.  Please go to that list and if you name is not on it, it means that your annual membership is due to be renewed or you need to join for the first time.  If you have any questions about your membership you can contact us via our website, SkaneatelesLake.org, just click on the “contact us” tab or you can call me at 315-685-9106.  It is always possibly that your membership payment and our membership list update do not coincide so please call if you think you have updated your membership and your name is not on the current membership list.

You can join the SLA easily at SkaneatelesLake.org. You can enhance your annual membership fee by paying it by check thus saving us the fee we would have to pay to PayPal for a credit card or PayPal account payment.  If you do not have access to the internet call 315-685-9106 and I will send you a 2015 Registration Form and a return envelope.

The SLA thanks the following individuals and organizations for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards (names with an asterisk are those whose annual memberships and additional donations or a matching donation were received in the last few months of 2014):

Milfoil Boat Sponsors:  June 29 & 30 The Kaufman Foundation*; July 1 Bill Rosenthal & Jerry Gebo*, July 2 Bill Rosenthal & Jerry Gebo, July 6 Elizabeth and John McKinnell*; July 7 Beth & Bob Filiczkowski*, Karen & Chris Kreidler*, Chris & Wayne Mandel*; Dawn & John Altmeyer*; July 8 Victoria & Richard Meyer*; July 9  Linda & Dan Roche*, Mary Marshall; July 10 Kelly & Gregory Weaver*; July 13 Karen & Paul Black*; July 14 Peg Bisgrove*, Debra Hurley & Ira Goldman*; July 15 Margaret & Angelo Scopelianos*; July 16 Members of the Winding Way Association*. July 16 Robin & Joseph Steencken*.

Steward Sponsors: June 16 Elan & Anne Salzhauer*; June 17 John Szczech*; June 18 Elizabth Killian*; June 19 nancy Peck*; June 20 Patricia & William McAvoy*; June 21 Judy & John Varney; June 22 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; June 23 Lorraine /Rapp & Jeffrey Kirshner; June 24 Helen & Keith Simonelli; June 25 & 26 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; June 27 Robert Sheer*; June 28 – 30 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; July 1 – July 15 Jeannie & Henry Slauson*

Source:  Skaneateles Journal