Newsletters – Skaneateles Lake Association

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November 30, 2023

Protecting Skaneateles Lake requires watershed-wide collaboration and a personal commitment from everyone who loves the lake. It can’t be done by a few, and we have many to thank for sustaining Skaneateles as a Clear Lake with Pure Water.

This November, and throughout the year, the SLA is filled with gratitude for our SLA community — members, volunteers, donors, partners, scientists and visionaries that make our work protecting the lake possible. We can’t thank you enough for your dedication and support.

Please enjoy! Read the full Newsletter here.

This year’s Annual Meeting kicked off with a viewing of a video showcasing the “Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat” titled “The Bob” and produced and donated by the late Bob Werner’s son-in-law Andy Robinson with “prproductionstv”.

FULL ANNUAL MEETING RECORDING
(starts after viewing of video on “The Bob” – better quality version in video above annual meeting recording)

VIEW FULL AUGUST NEWSLETTER HERE

LINK TO FULL JULY 2022 NEWSLETTER

July 28, 2022 – Welcome to the Skaneateles Lake Association’s (SLA) monthly e-newsletter distributed the last Thursday of each month.

Clear Lake. Pure Water. promotes watershed wide protection of Skaneateles Lake by sharing news on SLA’s and community partner work around the watershed along with tips and takeaways on how we can all play a part in lake protection through Lake Friendly Living efforts.

In this issue please find information on the following:

Calendar of Events – SLA Virtual Annual Meeting August 23rd @ 7PM and SLA with “The Bob” at the Antique Boat Show – July 29th – 31st
Watershed Improvement Projects – Making Way for Meadows!
Spotlight on Research – SUNY ESF Satellite Lake Monitoring Pilot Study supported by SLA and the newly commissioned Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat
Water Quality & Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Updates – Lake Data, Kickoff to Volunteer Shoreline Monitoring for HABs, and how you can help be on the lookout as well
Invasive Species – Milfoil Control matting in place and opportunities to report additional invasive species
Membership & supporting SLA through Amazon Smiles with back to school shopping

Please enjoy!

LINK TO FULL JUNE 2o22 NEWSLETTER

June 30, 2022 – Welcome to the Skaneateles Lake Association’s (SLA) inaugural monthly e-newsletter scheduled to be distributed the last Thursday of each month.

In this issue please find information on the following:

Watershed Improvement Projects
Skaneateles Lake’s Nine Element Watershed Plan Development
Spotlight on Research – Commissioning of the Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat
Invasive Species – monitoring boat launches
Lake Friendly Living – online learning opportunities from May Awareness month, State Senator Mannion presents Lake Friendly Living Resolution co-sponsored with Assemblymember Kelles, Landscape Design Workshops, and tips for a Lake Friendly Fourth of July
Harmful Algal Bloom Updates – EarthTec Algaecide update
Calendar of Events
Membership & supporting SLA through Amazon Smiles with back to school shopping

Please enjoy!

WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Earlier this spring, the Upper Willow Creek Sediment Capture Watershed Improvement Project was completed with finalizing plant cover. Elements of the project include water control structures that divert stream overflow into a detention pond that minimizes flow during major storm events and helps capture nutrients that could otherwise feed algal blooms if allowed into lake. SLA invested over $20,000.00 into this project with Legacy Fund donations. Additionally, a significant amount of in-kind support was provided by the Brillo Septic and Excavation Company. Engineering and design support was contracted with Anchor QEA.

SLA continues to work diligently in identifying and prioritizing projects based on landowner willingness and available watershed data that helps drive decision making. To date SLA has invested over $115,000 into watershed improvement project design and implementation.

SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH

On Monday June 27th, SLA gathered with family of the late Dr. Robert Werner and donors supporting the construction and commissioning of the Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat. SLA Board President Dr. Paul Torrisi provided opening remarks, SLA Board Member and Fundraising volunteer Fran Fish acknowledged various financial and in-kind supporters of the boat. Dr. Bill Dean gave an overview of the components of the boat in which he and John Menapace helped fabricate and outfit. It was a heartwarming reception and homage to the legacy of Bob Werner who dedicated so many years to Skaneateles Lake and the SLA.

The boat will be fondly referred as “The Bob” and will initially support some of Syracuse University’s sediment core sampling with its boom winch. It will also support lake monitoring and education. SLA intends to have the boat on display at the Antique Boat Show from July 29th-31st. Please stop by and say hello!

On June 15th & 22nd, CNY Regional Planning & Development Board (CNYRPDB) along with the 9 Element Plan (9EP) project team hosted an in-person and a virtual public participation meeting to provide on overview of the 9EP process and solicit input from participants. To learn more – a recording of the virtual meeting can be viewed by clicking HERE.

SLA in 2018 was a catalyst in initiating the 9E Plan while providing match to help garner over $235,000 in support for this Skaneateles Lake Watershed planning initiative. Town of Skaneateles is acting as lead municipality with additional financial support from NYS, Onondaga County, City of Syracuse, and other entities. CNYRPDB has been supporting the administrative process.

COMBATTING INVASIVES

The SLA boat stewards are well established with the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention program which started early in April this year in order to address additional activity brought on by the new lift on Walleye catch limits. Please remember to keep your watercrafts clean, drained, and dry.

The extended season for the AIS Prevention program this year would not be possible without the support from SLA memberships and some support from NYS DEC to cover the very active state launch. Investments from SLA to address threats from Invasive Species costs over $250,000 annually. Thanks greatly to all who continue their support of these important programs!

A recent article titled “First responders, quick responders” in the Press-Observer showcasing the AIS Prevention program can be read HERE.

LAKE FRIENDLY LIVING

On June 24th, Landscape Architect Larry Weaner and ESF Restoration & Science Center Research Assistant & Instructor Sam Quinn provided a workshop on turf to meadow transitions as part of an ongoing Landscape Design workshop series sponsored by SLA along with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County (with support from the City of Syracuse), Go Native! perennials LLC, Finger Lakes Native Plant Society, Finger Lakes Land Trust, SUNY ESF Restoration Science Center, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Skaneateles Library, Wild Ones Habitat Gardening CNY, the John D. Barrow Art Gallery, Skaneateles Library, and the Sherwood Inn. More details on the workshop series can be found HERE.

On June 21st, SLA was recognized for our efforts in Lake Friendly Living, along with organizations representing Owasco and Cayuga Lake, by NYS Senator John Mannion. The full resolution presented can be accessed HERE.

(photo L to R – Ann Wilson, Owasco Watershed Lake Association President; Adam Effler, Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Executive Director; Frank Moses, Skaneateles Lake Association Executive Director; Jenn Tufano, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Program Associate; Honorable John Mannion, NYS Senator)

More information re: the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes and the Watershed Resiliency Awareness Month can be accessed HERE.

Please consider supporting local Boy Scout Troop 61 through their flare sales outside Tops Markets. Both standard and LED flares will be sold from 12-6 PM on Friday July 1st and from 10 AM – 6 PM on Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3rd. Troop 61 has been involved with various lake conservation projects and supporting them in anyway helps our wonderful lake.

Additionally, LED flares can be purchased at Wegmans in Auburn.

Wishing all a happy and safe Independence Day!

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM UPDATES

On June 27th, SLA received notice from the DEC that the proposed permit application for the City of Syracuse to be able to apply the algaecide EarthTec up to two times per year on the north end of the lake to address algal blooms has been approved. The letter received with comments responses from the DEC can be found HERE.

SLA leadership is in the process of reviewing the responses form the DEC and will be assessing any further action regarding this disappointing news, to say the least, in the near term.

Thank you greatly to the hundreds of community responders sharing SLA’s position noting that there is not enough information and too many uncertainties at this time to adequately consider the use of a chemical like EarthTec on Skaneateles Lake.

SAVE THE DATES

July 29-31 – Antique Boat Show – Village of Skaneateles Clifft Park

August 21st – SLA Annual Meeting – Lourde’s Camp

Please help share the word with your neighbors encouraging them to become members of SLA if they aren’t already.

Also, have kids going back to school or other reasons to be purchasing on Amazon? Yo can now support SLA as you shop. Consider locking in SLA as a default organization to support. Visit HERE for more details.

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