Letter from the SLA Executive Director:  Jefferson Project Update
Rachael DeWitt

Many of our regular readers are aware that the Skaneateles Lake Association has partnered with the Jefferson Project on Lake George to collect data on our lake. This past summer, the Jefferson Project added a Vertical Profiler to our lake. Examples of some of the measurements the Vertical Profiler can record include weather, water currents, temperature, chlorophyll A (which is helpful for detecting algal blooms), turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and others.

Going for 1000!                                                  Fran Rotunno Fish

The Board of Directors of the Skaneateles Lake Association (SLA) has not taken an official vote on setting a membership goal for 2018, but informally we all agree that we should easily reach a membership of1000 and it is important to make every effort to do so.

Lawn Care, Lake Care for October                   Fran McCormack

You are a resident in the Skaneateles Lake watershed.  You’re concerned about the algal blooms and understand everyone can help our lake with better landscaping practices.  It is October.  Here is what you or your landscaper should do this month.

  Landscaping for Lake Quality               Terry Hoffmann-DeWitt, Rachael DeWitt and Kathy Gorr

We’re hearing a lot of information about the quality of our beautiful lake, and people are asking ‘What can I do?’  Well, a sub-group of the Skaneateles Lake Association has formed to focus on providing those answers for you. 

Happening Now and Soon      Fran Rotunno Fish

JEFFERSON PROJECT VERTICAL PROFILER.  Hopefully, you all read the article in last week’s Skaneateles Press about the vertical profiler that has been moored in Skaneateles Lake for the past few weeks by the Jefferson Project.  And hopefully, also, you read about the Skaneateles Lake Association’s initial outreach early this Spring to facilitate a working relationship with the Fund for Lake George and the Jefferson Project for the benefit of both Skaneateles Lake and Lake George.

Skaneateles Lake gets help in fighting toxic algae — from a robot                         Glenn Coin

Vince Moriarty, a research scientist at IBM, works on a vertical profiler floating in about 60 feet of water in Skaneateles Lake. The profiler, installed in July, monitors conditions in the lake, including harmful algae blooms. Glenn Coin | gcoin@syracuse.com (Glenn Coin | gcoin@syracuse.com)

Skaneateles, N.Y. — A robotic buoy bristling with scientific instruments has joined the fight against toxic algae in Skaneateles Lake.

Scientists from IBM and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute installed the buoy, called a vertical profiler, on July 30. The algae quickly cooperated: A bloom that closed beaches and infiltrated water intake pipes started Aug. 4.