The Cazenovia Town Board has taken another step toward protecting the health and integrity of Cazenovia Lake by agreeing last week to undertake a comprehensive lake watershed stormwater remediation project throughout the town in partnership with the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The project seeks to reduce and minimize the amount of sedimentation entering the lake due to soil erosion and stormwater runoff, which will improve water quality, abate ongoing erosion and improve drainage and stormwater control in the lake watershed.

The resolution authorizing the establishment of the project was approved by the town board at its March 11 meeting.

“The town board is dedicated to continued improvement of the lake’s health, and that’s why we’re doing this,” said Town Councilor and member of the Cazenovia Lake Watershed Council Bill Zupan. “A lot of concerns about this were voiced at our public hearings on the sewer district, so we’re trying to do as many runoff streams as we can. We listened to the people.”

According to the resolution, The Madison County SWCD will undertake the project by installing best management practices on public and private land in the town on a case-by-case basis. The work will include design and installation of creeks, streams and runoff stabilization, drainage and erosion control measures. Each project will be proposed by the SWCD and must be approved by the town board.

The project is “totally voluntary” for private landowners, Zupan said. The board already has identified and begun work on remediation projects at McNitt State Park and one parcel of private land, both on East Lake Road, he said.

The cost of the program will be split by the town and the SWCD, with the town’s share to be paid out of the funds already budgeted for environmental protection, lake preservation and stormwater remediation purposes.

The agreement was back dated to take effect Jan. 1, 2013, to last until Dec. 31, 2014.

The new project is another tool for the town to use to support the health of Cazenovia Lake. The town already has established regulations relating to the use of phosphorous-based lawn treatments within the lake watershed area, established the Cazenovia Lake Watershed Council and adopted the Cazenovia Lake Watershed Management Plan.

Also at the meeting, the board:

—Approved a request from the Cazenovia Rowing Club to use a portion of Gypsy Bay Park for its 2013 rowing season, including a one-day Memorial Day fundraiser by the CRC to be held in the Gypsy Bay parking area.

—Approved the sale by public auction of four pieces of surplus town equipment, including a 1985 Mack Plow, with the sale proceeds to be exclusively used to purchase highway department machinery, tools and equipment.

—Authorized the town supervisor to enter into a lease/purchase agreement for two heavy duty highway trucks plus equipment packages at a price not to exceed $206,356 for both trucks. The town would enter into two, seven-year leases with payments beginning March 4, 2013.

—Authorized the town highway superintendent to purchase one new 2013 John Deere wheeled loader at a price not to exceed $144, 895.79.

¬—Declared the 2012 financial records kept by Linda Mather, town clerk and town tax collector, to be “complete and in good order” after performing an audit of the town office, tax collection and zoning department.

—Accepted a deed of conservation easement from Owaghena LLC for a portion of the land in the Owaghena Farms subdivision at 1330 Owaghena Road.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].