We are the watershed
By Gretchen Messer
There has been plenty of talk about the Skaneateles Watershed this past year. While people discuss actions and plans to deal with water quality issues, it is important that people clearly understand what the term “watershed” means. A watershed is defined as a watershed as the “area of land that drains water, sediment and dissolved materials to a common receiving water body..”. In common terms, it is the geographical area where raindrops all drain to one spot. For example, at some point along County Line Road, raindrops will flow east to Skaneateles Lake or west to Owasco Lake. So, a watershed is a defined land area. How are WE involved? Watershed ecology is defined as “The study of watersheds as ecosystems, primarily the analysis of interacting biotic (living)and abiotic (nonliving) components within a watershed’s boundaries.” (cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain). We citizens represent a large component of the living elements found in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. Everything we do on the land affects the raindrops that end up in our lake.
Skaneateles Lake is looking deep blue with beautiful snowy white edges these days. Crisp and clean. However only a few months ago, it was cloudy with the biproducts of blue green algae blooms. Warm weather, heavy rains, and excessive runoff altered the water chemistry to a point it became a haven for algae and vegetative growth. While we are enjoying the beauty of the snow, or dreading the associated shoveling, we realize that those warm days are not far away. Scientists, utility boards, town boards and concerned citizens have been busy developing monitoring plans, discussing evaluations of runoff sources and water quality, and establishing notification programs. All because, for sure, the blue green algae will return this summer.
Many public and private organizations, such as the Skaneateles Lake Association, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Finger Lakes Institute, the City of Syracuse and the Onondaga Soil and Water Conservation District to name a few, are joining forces to focus on these problems help determine the most critical factors addressing the lake. Monitoring and analysis is vital in determining the specific factors at play as well as to assess the effectiveness of land management practices. However, we already know that the cumulative impact of smaller human activities also plays a role. Septic fields, fertilizers, roadside pollution, pet waste, erosion, storm drain flow, and dumping grass clippings are all culprits. What is wonderful is we have control over these issues. When I say we, I mean each and every one of us. This spring and summer will bring a series of educational programs with speakers discussing lake conditions and water quality. Keep your eyes open for postings in the newspaper calendar, in flyers at the library, and via other venues and please participate. In coordination, further articles such as this will present steps, large and small, that land owners and citizens can take now to limit adverse impacts to stormwater runoff and lake water quality.
We have passed a threshold where we can no longer assume the lake can correct itself. It is clear that the current land cover and land use practices result in poor water quality situations. We cannot continue these same practices any longer and how we interact with the land must change. We all carry this responsibility and must take this seriously. As the winter snows melt, let’s keep a mindful eye on Skaneateles Lake and let’s begin the work to address water quality together, and now.
