Recently we received the following question on the SLA Website:   Is it “ok” for people to bathe with soap and shampoo their hair in the lake? The person who asked had understood that it was against the law to do so, but was concerned that there were people who had done so. I spoke with Rich Abbott at the Syracuse Water Department and he related that the “code” basis for not bathing or shampooing in the lake is based in the Onondaga County Sanitary Code. He related that anyone observing such behavior should report it to the Syracuse Water Department and they will go to the site/area where it is happening and educate residents about the code. Unfortunately, all soaps, even biodegradable soaps, can contaminate fresh water sources because soap requires soil for it to breakdown properly.

The Skaneateles Lake Association is pleased to have the cooperation of the Towns of Skaneateles, Spafford and Scott and the owners of the Glen Haven Launch and Seveys Marina in agreeing to a standard sign to be posted at their launch sites reminding those launching to ensure their boats and trailers are free of plant and animal material and mud and that they do not empty bait well, bilge water or fish from any other any other body of water into Skaneateles Lake. It is a simple message that supports the message that our Invasive Species Monitoring Stewards have with boaters. A generous donation from the Columbian Foundation is paying for these signs. This kind of cooperation and support is exactly what the SLA needs to continue and advance its efforts to keep the waters of Skaneateles Lake clear and pure. The Board of the SLA plans to be reaching out to other launch access sites for their cooperation in posting the same sign.

Despite a weather report threatening rain, thunder and lightning, the Skaneateles Lake Association Annual Meeting and Open House began just as the World Cup ended and the weather broke. The meeting/open house was a success and the weather improved.

One hundred-twenty members of the Skaneateles Lake Association gathered at the home of Anne and Charles McElroy to enjoy the incredible view from their home, share lake stories, and obtain updates on the status of Milfoil in the lake from Dr. Bob Werner, the progress of the Milfoil Boat Crew from John Menapace and on the Lake Steward Program from Dr. Buzz Roberts.

The Milfoil Team has been on the bottom of the lake rolling up the benthic matting.  After all the mats are rolled the team brings out a pontoon boat with an electric winch to pick them up.

For the past few weeks the Milfoil Team has been in and on the bottom of the lake rolling up the benthic matting placed over large areas of milfoil at the beginning of the season. They are finishing up on the South end of the lake near Lourdes camp this week and will be rolling up the matting in a north east area near the Sailing Club next week.  

It’s all about membership…..

As we look to making plans for what efforts we can take next year in controlling the spread of milfoil and preventing the introduction of other invasive plants and animals in Skaneateles Lake we must look at our membership.

Here are the figures:

Currently, for the 2013 calendar year, the SLA has 494 members. We could not have done the work we have done this year without every single one of them.