| Doc. # 2007-11
Issue/Agenda Committee
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
January 28, 2007 Minutes
Shaw Law Office, Ithaca NY
Present:Roxy Johnston, John Mawdsley, Ruth Richardson,
Sharon Anderson
Progress on 2007 Projects
Modeling and Monitoring of watershed
Modeling – Doug Haith has students modeling the south end
of the lake to update previous work and use the new GIS data provided
by Nick’s work. They have modeled the Inlet so far and showed
the new GIS data to be suitable for the model. The other data of
value would be the permeable/impermeable areas which Nick is planning
to obtain. They should finish the whole watershed by the end of
the year predicting phosphorous and sediment loading from all rivers
into the lake. This will be the best information on these loads
available. To data the GIS data has been shared with FLLT, FLI and
it is planned to write articles with some eye catching information
from the GIS.
Monitoring plan – see next item.
City of Ithaca monitoring - Lake sites were monitored through Oct.
Autosampler for phosphorous and sediment are finally in place on
Salmon Creek and the Seneca-Cayuga Canal. A gaging station has been
installed on Salmon Creek in a slightly different location to the
prior gaging station – data are on the web and have been of
interest to fishing groups. Roxy’s team has continued to take
monthly grab samples. Roxy is already looking for funds to continue
the 2 samplers after the EPA grant is completed.
Roxy will do a short article for the spring newsletter
Pathogen study – A report has been written
on the study to date and it will be sent to the monitoring group.
Work continues under Ruth’s guidance where 2 students are
writing up methods, and have recruited 2 students to continue the
work. This spring focus will be genetic analysis. Isolates from
Buttermilk and Treman pools were collected by the students from
the weekly samples that the state parks take at their public swimming.
Biological index of health
A meeting took place Nov 22 to discuss this topic and its links
with setting the wider priorities for the Network. It was felt that
they are closely related and the two can be advanced together but
that the index will not cover all aspects of the priorities.
John to form a group to move the topic forward. Kevin to be asked
to speak to this group to bring his knowledge of amphibs as indicators
of environmental health.
Weeds and Invasives
Funding options are being pursued to develop a leaflet to help people
understand what can and can’t be done about weeds and invasives
in the lake. Sharon is working on revision to Diet for a Small Lake
and information gained through that will be used to draft the leaflet.
Distribution of the leaflet to lake shore owners will be done as
funds permit. Two public programs on weed management have been scheduled,
one for Seneca Falls and one for Union Springs.
Stormwater
The Watershed Network continues to work with Stormwater Coalition.
Two proposals Sharon submitted have been funded and we have received
positive feedback on a third, but no determination on it. Funded
work includes working with 3 rural municipalities to explore a shared
stormwater management officer position. Other work includes more
rain garden demonstrations and trainings and other stormwater education.
Monitoring Plan
There was a meeting of a joint IO-Tech and Issues group to consider
the monitoring plan development. The main conclusions were:
· To look first at the rivers rather than the lake because
that is where there is the greatest data gap.
· To define long term monitoring sites that would be on going
through citizen monitoring groups and others.
· To define what to monitor and where as well as protocols
so the data will be comparable
· Largely focus on water quality and flow at this time, though
macroinvertebrates and pathogens might be included.
· A sub group (Tom Vawter, Doug Haith and Sharon) will produce
a first draft of plan for the larger group to consider at the next
meeting.
Steve Penningroth or Nick Shipanski will be invite to attend the
next meeting to represent citizen monitors. Nick is on the CSI Board,
is a volunteer monitor and has a strong background in wetlands.
Deferred from last meeting. Concerns include the environmental impacts
of an accident as well as noise. Few alternative routes and best
long term solution is to reduce waste. Referred to Scenic Byway
group.
Lake Friendly Farms for 2007
We have said we would like to encourage non-dairy farms to apply
especially wineries but it was not clear whether our criteria related
to AEM levels would apply. John to contact Brian to find out.
Spring Conference
Sharon has ideas of a conference on Climate change and its likely
impact on the watershed. She has heard a very good speaker and would
like to add one or two more. She will pursue this further. The date
could be in water week – May 6-12th. The fall conference is
likely to be the better one for the Network to talk about our annual
projects and some of their findings. John to “attend”
the next Outreach committee to discuss arrangements further.
Roxy informed us of some forum planned by the IO for this year –
one on Docks, the RPP, Lake monitoring, and smart development to
minimize damaging impacts.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Tuesday 27th Feb at 3.45pm at Shaw’s
Law Offices, Ithaca.
Submitted by,
John Mawdsley
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