At the end of July, close to 150 participants, young and young at heart, new and long-time SLA members, seasonal and year-rounders, volunteers and professionals – all with the common thread showing a “love of and concern for the lake” gathered at SLA’s office location at St. James parish hall.
The evening kicked off with SLA Board President Dr. Paul Torrisi welcoming a highly engaged group with an overview of the newest SLA special report.
Torrisi showcased the critical aquatic invasive species prevention and management work done with resources provided through the SLA Membership Fund, celebrated the SLA Legacy Fund accomplishments over the past five years, and laid out the SLA pathway to lake protection over these next five years through research and monitoring, watershed improvement projects, outreach and education, and a lake protection hardware capital reserve fund.
Also, included in the special report and presented was the 2022 SLA financial summary as part of the business portion of the annual meeting that then concluded with SLA members voting on Brian Harkins joining as a new board member along with renewing terms for eight other board members.
Data driving decisions
SLA board member and Skaneateles Lake Ecology Team Co-chair, Dr. Bill Dean got the evening on science going with updates on SLA’s Dr. Robert Werner Research & Education Boat – “The Bob.”
The newest piece of equipment recently installed to complement the boats sonar system is a high-definition underwater camera made possible with support from The Columbian Foundation.
The camera will help advance monitoring for aquatic invasive species and other research.
The evening concluded with a question and answer session after three presentations by SLA board member Dr. Charles Driscoll of Syracuse University, SLA board member Dr. Neil Murphy of SUNY-ESF, and Dr. Bahram Salehi of ESF’s SalehiGeolab.
Driscoll was selected to receive the 2023 Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Water Science and Technology.
All provided a snapshot on how much research the SLA is supporting, through its Legacy Fund, to best determine what actions will help prevent harmful algal blooms.
The SLA has two more scheduled community forums – Combatting Invasive Species with SLA Board Vice President Dr. Buzz Roberts, Sam Beck-Andersen and Amy Slentz with the Finger Lakes Institute, and John Menapace with Aquatic Invasives, Inc.
Event will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Skaneateles Brewery.
Lastly, a forum on Lake Improvement Projects with SLA board member Dr. Dana Hall will be on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Niles Town Hall.
More information on SLA’s special report and registration for the upcoming forums can be found at skaneateleslake.org.
