state of onondaga lake 2010
DESCRIPTION
The State of Onondaga Lake Report issued in 2010 by the Onondaga Lake Partnership and CNY Regional Planning & Development BoardTRANSCRIPT
The State of Onondaga Lake 2009
The State of Onondaga Lake 2010
• OnondagaLakeisexhibitingaremarkablerecoveryandsignificantwaterqualityimprovementshavebeendocumented.Phosphorus,ammonia,andothermajorpollutantsinthelakehavedecreasedsubstantially.
• PhosphorusdischargestoOnondagaLakefromthesewagetreatmentplantwerereducedbyapproximately86percentbetween1993and2009.Phosphoruslevelsintheupperwatersareinthebestconditioninover100years.
• Chlorideconcentrationshavedecreasedfrom1,800milligramsperliterin1985to450milligramsperliterin2009.Lowerlevelsbenefitthelakebyimprovingplantandanimaldiversityandhabitat.
• RemediationprojectsweresuccessfulinreducingTullyValleymudboilsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekoverthepast15years,howeverthefutureoftheseeffortsisuncertain.
• TheOnondagaLakewatershedcovers285squaremiles(738squarekilometers).MostofthelandborderingthelakeisparklandownedbyOnondagaCounty.Over1.3millionpeoplevisitedOnondagaLakeParkin2009toenjoyrecreationalopportunitiessuchashiking,biking,fishing,boating,picnicking,andbirdwatching.
• OnondagaLakefisheriesareimprovingmorequicklythananticipatedandover65fishspecieshavebeendocumentedinthelake.Thisisanimpressiveincreasefromthe9to12speciesthatwererecordedinthelakeduringthe1970s.
• TheBassmastersMajorsTournament,involvingtheworld’stop52anglers,washeldatOnondagaLakein2007,attractingbassfishermenfromaroundtheworld.
• Nationalsportingcompetitionsandprofessionalfishingeventsare
scheduledeachyear,andlocalanglersusethelakeontheregularbasisduringthesummermonths.In2008,theNorthAmericanFishingClubnamedOnondagaLakeoneofthetoptenbassfishingdestinationsintheUnitedStates.
• Plantandanimaldiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingremarkableimprovement.WiththerecentimprovementsinOnondagaLakewaterquality,anearlyfour-foldincreaseinaquaticplantcoverwasdocumentedfrom2000to2009.Plantsprovidevaluablespawningandnurseryhabitatforthefishcommunity.
• Birddiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingimpressivechanges,highlightedbysightingsofbaldeagles,greategrets,osprey,kingfishers,andnumerousspeciesofwaterfowl.
• SuccessfulremediationprojectshavereducedTullyValleymudboilsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekfromanaverageof30tons(aboutthreelargedumptrucks)perdaytolessthanoneton(aboutapick-uptruckload)perdayonaverageoverthepast15years.
• AnundergroundbarrierwalllocatedonthewesternshorelineofOnondagaLakedivertspollutedgroundwatertoastateofthearttreatmentplantinsteadofflowingdirectlyintothelake.
Onondaga Lake’s Remarkable Progress
Federal, State, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups are working together to improve conditions in Onondaga Lake and its watershed. Additional information about the accomplishments of the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) can be found at the following website: www.onlakepartners.org.
The State of Onondaga Lake 2010
Onondaga Lake Partnership
Page32010StateofOnondagaLake
Produced byTheCentralNewYorkRegionalPlanning&DevelopmentBoard126NorthSalinaStreet,Suite200Syracuse,NY13202
With support from the Onondaga Lake PartnershipMembers:Ms.Jo-EllenDarcy,AssistantSecretaryoftheArmy(CivilWorks)Ms.JudithEnck-RegionalAdministrator,EPARegionIIGov.DavidPatterson-Governor,StateofNewYorkMr.AndrewCuomo-AttorneyGeneral,StateofNewYorkMs.JoanneMahoney-CountyExecutive,OnondagaCountyMs.StephanieA.Miner-Mayor,CityofSyracuse
RepresentativesLTCStephenH.Bales-DistrictEngineer,U.S.ArmyEngineer District,BuffaloMr.SethAusubel-Chief,NewYorkWatershedProtectionSection, U.S.EPARegionIIMr.KennethLynch-RegionalDirector,NYSDECRegion7Mr.CharlesSilver-EnvironmentalScientist, NYSAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeMr.DavidCoburn-Director,OnondagaCountyOfficeoftheEnvironmentMr.AndrewM.Maxwell-DirectorofPlanning&Sustainability, CityofSyracuse
Ex OfficioSenatorCharlesSchumerSenatorKirstenGillibrandRepresentativeDanielMaffei
Onondaga Lake Partnership
ThisreportwasreviewedbytheindividualmembersoftheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)andapprovedforreleasetothepublicforpurposesofprovidinggeneraloverviewinformation.Approvalforreleasedoesnotsignifyadoptionorapprovalforpurposesofregulatory,enforcementorotherlegalactions,ofthefactual,scientificorotherassertions,characterizationsorconclusionscontainedherein.FundingforthisreportwasprovidedbytheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,BuffaloDistrictincooperationwiththeOLP,andincludedAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA)funds.
Thereportwasadaptedfrom:“The State of Onondaga Lake, 2001”(2nded),1993(1sted),OnondagaEnvironmentalInstitute(formerlytheOnondagaLakeCleanupCorp)
Fish illustrations are provided by Peter Thompson.
INTRODUCTIONThe Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) was created in 1999 through legis-lation introduced by Congressman James T. Walsh. Six local, State, andFederal agencies form the Partnership and its Executive Committee, andinclude the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (USEPA), New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation (NYSDEC), New York State Attorney General’s Office,Onondaga County, and City of Syracuse. The OLP Project and OutreachCommittees include representatives from the six Partners, State andFederal agencies, community interest groups, and unpaid volunteers.Through the cooperative efforts of this diverse group of stakeholders, theOLP coordinates the environmental revitalization, conservation, and management of Onondaga Lake.
Through the Partnership, millions of dollars have been brought into thecommunity to support projects designed to revitalize the lake. Since thesigning of the court-approved Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) in 1998,over $140 million in Federal funds have been secured by CongressmanWalsh, along with approximately $135 million from New York State. In addition, Onondaga County has paid the local share on all County Projectsand a substantial portion of the local share of other Onondaga LakePartnership projects.
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INTRODUCTIONThe Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) was created in 1999 through legis-lation introduced by Congressman James T. Walsh. Six local, State, andFederal agencies form the Partnership and its Executive Committee, andinclude the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (USEPA), New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation (NYSDEC), New York State Attorney General’s Office,Onondaga County, and City of Syracuse. The OLP Project and OutreachCommittees include representatives from the six Partners, State andFederal agencies, community interest groups, and unpaid volunteers.Through the cooperative efforts of this diverse group of stakeholders, theOLP coordinates the environmental revitalization, conservation, and management of Onondaga Lake.
Through the Partnership, millions of dollars have been brought into thecommunity to support projects designed to revitalize the lake. Since thesigning of the court-approved Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) in 1998,over $140 million in Federal funds have been secured by CongressmanWalsh, along with approximately $135 million from New York State. In addition, Onondaga County has paid the local share on all County Projectsand a substantial portion of the local share of other Onondaga LakePartnership projects.
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INTRODUCTIONThe Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) was created in 1999 through legis-lation introduced by Congressman James T. Walsh. Six local, State, andFederal agencies form the Partnership and its Executive Committee, andinclude the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (USEPA), New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation (NYSDEC), New York State Attorney General’s Office,Onondaga County, and City of Syracuse. The OLP Project and OutreachCommittees include representatives from the six Partners, State andFederal agencies, community interest groups, and unpaid volunteers.Through the cooperative efforts of this diverse group of stakeholders, theOLP coordinates the environmental revitalization, conservation, and management of Onondaga Lake.
Through the Partnership, millions of dollars have been brought into thecommunity to support projects designed to revitalize the lake. Since thesigning of the court-approved Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) in 1998,over $140 million in Federal funds have been secured by CongressmanWalsh, along with approximately $135 million from New York State. In addition, Onondaga County has paid the local share on all County Projectsand a substantial portion of the local share of other Onondaga LakePartnership projects.
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Page4 OnondagaLakePartnership
ContentsThe State of Onondaga Lake 2010 .............................................................................................1
Contents ...................................................................................................................................5Introduction .............................................................................................................................6
What is the Onondaga Lake Partnership? ................................................................................ 6What is a Watershed? ............................................................................................................... 7
The Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................8WhereDoestheLakeWaterComeFromandWhereDoesItGo?........................................... 8
Historical and Cultural Influences .............................................................................................9ALookBack............................................................................................................................... 9The Amended Consent Judgment .............................................................................................. 9OnondagaLakeTimeline......................................................................................................... 10TheRoadtoRecovery............................................................................................................. 12
Lake Use .................................................................................................................................13WhataretheRecreationalUsesofOnondagaLakeanditsShoreline?.................................. 13HowdoNewYorkStateWaterQualityClassificationsImpactWaterQualityGoals?.............13AreThereDesignatedSwimmingAreasinOnondagaLake?................................................... 14WhatistheInnerHarbor/LakefrontDevelopmentProject?................................................... 14What are Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)? ....................................................................... 14
Priority Issues and Remedial Actions ......................................................................................15WastewaterPollution.............................................................................................................. 15Nutrients................................................................................................................................. 17IndustrialPollutionandSuperfund......................................................................................... 19What is the Barrier Wall? ........................................................................................................ 22Sediment................................................................................................................................. 22Salinity.................................................................................................................................... 24Non-PointSourcePollution..................................................................................................... 26
The Onondaga Lake Ecosystem ...............................................................................................27OnondagaLakeFisheries........................................................................................................ 27AquaticPlants......................................................................................................................... 29
Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................30Onondaga Lake Partnership Committees ................................................................................31
Page52010StateofOnondagaLake
Introduction
A ftermanyyearsofscientificresearchandrestorationproj-
ects,OnondagaLakeisthecleanestithasbeeninoveronehundredyearsandwearewitnessinganextraordinaryresurgenceofthisvaluablelocalresource.Monitor-ingresultsareveryencouragingandshowthatthelakeisnowsupportingproductivebiologicalcommunitiesofplantsandani-mals.Improvementsinmunicipalwastewatertreatmenthavecon-tributedtodecreasesinnutrient
concentrations,algalgrowth,andbacterialevels.Increasesinthelake’sdissolvedoxygenlevelsandimprovedwaterclarityhaveresultedingreaterfishspeciesdiversityandarenewedpublicinterestinthelakeasavaluablecommunityresource.Inadditiontoin-lakerestorationinitiatives,projectsthroughoutthe285-squaremilewatershedarereducingsediment,nutrients,andotherpollutionrunoffthatentersthelakefromindustrialwastebeds,theTullyValleymudboils,urbanareas,andfarmland.Basedonthesenoteworthyimprovements,Onon-dagaLakenowresemblesother
What is the Onondaga Lake Partnership?
TheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)wasauthorizedbyanActofCongressinSection573oftheWaterResourcesDevelopmentActof1999.ThePartnershipanditsExecutiveCommitteearecomposedofsixlocal,State,andFederalagencies:theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA),NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(NYSDEC),NewYorkStateAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,OnondagaCounty,andCityofSyracuse.UndertheleadershipoftheUSACE,theOLPProjectandOutreachCommitteesworkwithrepresentativesfromthesixPartnershipagencies,otherStateandFederalagencies,andcommunityinterestgroups.Withthecooperativeeffortsofthisdiversegroupofstakeholders,theOLPcoordinatestheenvironmentalrevitalization,conservation,andmanagementofOnondagaLake.TheOLPistaskedwithdevelopingandimplementingprojectsconsistentwiththeOnondagaLakeManagementPlan(OLMP)includingimplementationoftheAmendedConsentJudgment(ACJ)andtheapprovedremediesfortheOnondagaLakeSuperfundprocess.
ThroughtheOLP,millionsofdollarshavebeeninvestedineffortstorevitalizeOnondagaLake.Sincethesigningofthecourt-approvedACJin1998,over$140millioninFederalfunds,alongwithapproximately$135millionfromNewYorkState,havebeensecuredspecificallyforOnondagaLake.OnondagaCountyhaspaidthelocalshareonallCountyprojectsandasubstantialportionofthelocalshareofotherOLPprojects.Page6 OnondagaLakePartnership
similarlysizedlakesintheregionwithrespecttofishandplantabundanceanddiversity,andsum-mertimewaterclarity.
TheongoingrevitalizationofOnondagaLakehasexceededtheexpectationsofmany,butthereisstillworktobedone.UndertheleadershipoftheOLP,acom-prehensiveplanfortheremedia-tionofOnondagaLakehasbeendevelopedusingacombinationofwell-establishedandinnovativetechnologies.UniquepartnershipsbetweenFederal,State,andlocalorganizations,privatecorpora-tions,residents,andlakeuserswillensurethisvitalresourcecontin-uestoimproveforyearstocome.
The2010StateofOnondagaLakeReportdocumentstheremarkableprogressachievedinlakerevitalizationbytheOLP.The
reportprovidesaconcisesummaryofcurrentlakeconditions,theenvironmentalsetting,primarypollutionissues,andprogressmadeinreachingwaterqualitygoals.
Continuedimprovementsinwaterqualityandshorelinehabitatareboostingthelocaleconomywhileprovidingrecreationalopportunitiesforlocalandoutoftownvisitors.InadditiontotheOLP,therearemanyagencies,organizations,schools,andindivid-ualsthataretakinganactiveroleinthelake’srecovery.Buildingonthesenotableaccomplishments,theOLP’slong-termremediationgoalsforOnondagaLakeareclearlywithinreach.
Mallard ducks (female on left, male on right)
Page72010StateofOnondagaLake
Figure 1. The Onondaga Lake Watershed
What is a Watershed?Awatershedreferstoallthelandthatdrainsintoagivenbodyofwater.
TheOnondagaLakewatershedcovers285squaremiles(738squarekilometers)andencompassesportionsoftwocounties(OnondagaandasmallareainCortland),theCityofSyracuse,18towns,6villages,andtheOnondagaNationterritory.SurfaceandgroundwaterfromprecipitationandsnowmeltthroughoutthisentireareadrainintoOnondagaLakeandinfluencewaterquality,aquaticecology,andrecreationalopportunitiessuchasfishingandboating.Landuseactivitieswithinawatershed(suchasdevelopmentoragriculture)canproducepollutantsthatflowdownthetributariesandintothewaterbody.EffortstoprotectandrestoreOnondagaLakemustthereforeinvolveactivitiesthroughoutthewatershed,notjustinthelakeitself.
The Environmental
Setting
O nondagaLakeislocatedalongthenorthernborderofthe
CityofSyracuseinOnondagaCounty.Thelakecovers4.6squaremiles(11.9squarekilometers),hasanaveragedepthof35feet(10.6meters)andamaximumdepthof63feet(19.2meters.)Itisapproxi-matelyonemile(1.6kilometers)wideand4.6miles(7.4kilometers)long.
SyracusehasthelargestannualsnowfallofanymetropolitanareaintheUnitedStateswithapopulationover200,000,andtheseasonalweatherpatternsareinfluencedbyLakeOntario.ThelandsurroundingOnondagaLakeischaracterizedbyvariabletopog-raphy.Therelativelyflat,northernportioniswithintheLakePlainregionandthesouthernportionfallswithinthehilly,AppalachianUplands.Characteristicsofthelimestone,siltstone,andshalebedrockcommonlyfoundintheOnondagaLakeregionwereshapedbyglacialactivitythou-sandsofyearsago.
LandthroughouttheOnondagaLakewatershedisprimarilyclas-sifiedasagricultural,forest,andurban.Theprincipaltypeofagri-cultureinthewatershedisdairyfarming.Mostoftheforestlandismaintainedforcommercialuseanditsacreageexistsprimarilyassmall,scatteredwoodlots.ForestsinthesouthernportionofthewatershedaremostlyownedbythecountyorState.
ThenorthernportionoftheOnondagaLakewatershedismorepopulatedthantherurallandscapetothesouth.TheCityofSyracuseisthecountyseatandservesasanimportantindustrialandtranspor-tationcenterinCentralNewYork.
Where Does the Lake Water Come From and
Where Does It Go?
ThemajortributariesflowingintoOnondagaLakeareNineMileCreekandOnondagaCreekwhichtogetheraccountforabout70percentofallthewaterthatflowsintothelakeeachyear.ThethirdlargestcontributorofwatertoOnondagaLakeistheMetropoli-tanSyracuseWastewaterTreat-mentPlant(Metro),supplyingapproximately20percentofthelake’sannualinflow.Othertribu-tariesthatflowintoOnondagaLakeincludeLeyCreek,HarborBrook,SawMillCreek,andBloodyBrook.WaterflowingfromthesesourceshelpstoflushOnondagaLakeaboutfourtimeseachyear.Thisrapidrateofflushing,com-paredtootherlakesintheregion,benefitsthecleanupofOnondagaLakebecauseitrespondsrelativelyquicklytoreductionsinpollutionloading.
WaterflowsoutofOnondagaLaketotheSenecaRiverthroughasingleoutletatthenorthend.TheSenecaRivercombineswiththeOneidaRiveratThreeRiversJunctiontoformtheOswegoRiver.TheOswegoRiverthenflowsnorthtoLakeOntario,whichisapproxi-mately40miles(64kilometers)downstreamfromtheOnondagaLakeoutlet.LakeOntarioservesasasourceofdrinkingwaterformanyupstateNewYorkandCana-diancommunities.
Figure 2. Satellite Image of Onondaga LakePhoto credit: www.geology.com
Page8 OnondagaLakePartnership
Historical and Cultural Influences
A Look Back
F orcenturies,thelandsurroundingOnondagaLakewasthehomelandof
theOnondagaNation.OnondagaLakewaswherethePeacemakerbroughttogetherthewarringnationsandformedtheHaudenosauneeConfederacy,whichiswhytheregionissometimesreferredtoasthebirthplaceofdemocracy.ThemeetingsoftheGrandCouncilofChiefs,thegoverningbodyoftheHaudeno-saunee,areheldatOnondagastilltoday.ThelakecontinuestobeasacredplacetotheOnondagaNation,onetheybelievemustbecaredforandrespected.
ThefirstEuropeansettlementwasmadebytheFrenchwhoestablishedafortandtradingpostonOnondagaLakein1655.Europeansettlersinhabitedtheregioninthelate19thandtheearly20th
centuries,drawnbythedevelopingsaltindustryandtheconvenienttransporta-tionopportunitiesalongtheErieCanal.Bytheearly1900s,theOnondagaLakeshorelinewasathrivingcommunityfilledwithtouristattractions,hotels,restau-rants,andamusementparks.
Useofthelakechangeddramaticallywhenthewaterandlakebottomsedi-mentsbecamepollutedwithmunicipalsewagewasteandindustrialpollutionwhichresultedinlowoxygenlevelsandelevatedlevelsofnutrients,harmfulmicroorganismssuchasdiseasecausingbacteria,andtoxiccontaminants.Inaddi-tion,theTullyValleymudboilsandland-slideshavecontributedelevatedlevelsofsedimentthatimpactthewaterclarityandaquatichabitatinOnondagaCreekandthelake.Swimmingwaseventuallybannedin1940andfishingwasbannedin1972.OnondagaLakeandrelateduplandsiteswereaddedtotheFederalSuper-fundNationalPrioritiesList(NPL)in1994.ThelakeandrelateduplandsitesarealsoontheNewYorkStateRegistryofInactiveHazardousWasteDisposalSites.
SeveraleventslaidthegroundworkforimprovedwaterqualityinOnondagaLake.Amongthem,theCityofSyracusestartedprimarytreatmentofsanitarysewagewastein1925;OnondagaCountyestablishedasewerdistrictinthe1950sandlaterbuiltMetroonthesouthshoreofthelakein1960;andin1972,theFederalCleanWaterActwaspassed,set-tingnationalgoalstomakefreshwaterresourcessuitableforswimmingandthepropagationoffishandotheraquaticlife.
The Amended Consent JudgmentIn1988,alawsuitwasfiledbyAtlanticStatesLegal
FoundationagainstOnondagaCounty,allegingthatMetroandcombinedseweroverflow(CSO)dischargesviolatedStateandFederalwaterpollutioncontrollaws.TheStateofNewYorkjoinedasaplaintiff,andthepartiessettledthelitigationin1989throughtheMetroConsentJudgment.Anagreementwasreachedin1997oncollectionsystemimprovementsandascheduleforattainingcompliancewiththeCleanWaterActby2012(lateramendedto2018).ThisagreementispartofwhatisknownastheAmendedConsentJudgment,orACJ.
The1997ACJandsubsequentrevisionscontainstrategiesforengineeringandscientificstudiestoevaluatetheneedforupgradingtheMetroandforprovidingtreatmentoftheCSOsthatoccurintheMetroservicearea.AbatementofCSOswouldinvolveplanstoeithereliminateorcaptureandtreatcombinedsewagecollectedduringprecipitationevents,achievewaterqualitystandardsforbacteriainthenorthwesternhalfofthelake,andreducefloatablesubstancesresultingfromCSOs.TheACJindicateseffluent(ordischarge)limitsforbothammoniaandphosphorus,whicharerequiredtobeimplementedinthreephases.ThefinalPhaseIIIrequirementsforreductionofammoniaweremetin2004,eightyearsaheadoftheschedulespecifiedintheACJ.Progressisalsobeingmadetowardmeetingphosphoruslimits.
TheformerOnondagaLakeManagementConference,nowtheOLP,passedaresolutionin1998amendingtheOnondagaLakeManagementPlan(OLMP)toincorporatetheACJandadoptitsobjectivesaspartoftheOLMP.ForadditionalinformationabouttheACJandwaterqualitygoalsinrelationtotheNewYorkStateEnvironmentalConservationLaw,refertoothersectionsofthisreportandcheckwww.onlakepartners.org/cleanup_legal.htm#02.
Figure 3. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto credit: Anne Saltman
Page92010StateofOnondagaLake
Onondaga Lake Timeline
Timelineadaptedfrom"TheStateofOnondagaLake,2001"(OLCC)andonondaganation.org/land/olake.html.
10,000 years ago ►Glacial activity carves out hills and valleys across Central New York, creating Onondaga Lake.
Over 1,000 years ago ►Earliest recorded date that Indian Nations come together at Onondaga Lake to form the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
1613 ►A treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch (the Two Row Wampum) establish relations.
1783 ►Revolutionary War ends. European settlements develop in Central New York.
1784 ►In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, George Washington asks for peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fi ghting and re-establish relations.
1793 ►Commercial salt production begins on the lakeshore.
1880s ►Onondaga Lake is a popular resort area with hotels, parks, and bathing beaches. Swimming, boating, and fi shing are common activities.
1884 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of soda ash.
1896 ►City builds sewers and bans backyard privies. Sewage fl ows directly into Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook.
1918 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of organic chemicals.
1920 ►Solvay Process Company merges with four other companies and forms Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.
1925 ►City of Syracuse begins the removal of settleable solids from sewage (primary treatment).
1940 ►Swimming is banned.
1946 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. begins discharge of mercury wastes into the lake.
1958 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. changes its name to Allied Chemical Corporation.
1960 ►Onondaga County Metro is completed.
1970 ►Fishing is banned. U.S. Attorney General sues Allied Chemical Corp. to stop mercury dumping. ►Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection establishes annual lake monitoring program.
1971 ►Onondaga County bans the use of phosphorus in laundry detergents.
1972 ►The Federal Clean Water Act is passed.
1973 ►New York State bans phosphorus in laundry detergents.
1977 ►Allied Chemical Corp. closes chlorinated benzene plant and Willis Avenue chlor-alkali plant.
1979 ►Metro is upgraded to secondary and tertiary treatment.
1981 ►Allied Chemical Corp. changes its name to Allied Corp.
1986 ►Allied Corp. closes soda ash manufacturing operations.
1987 ►Onondaga County implements best management practices for sewer interception. ►Allied Corp. merges with Signal Companies to form Allied-Signal Inc.
1988 ►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, New York State Attorney General, and NYSDEC fi le complaint against Onondaga County alleging violation of its state discharge permit.
1989 ►New York State Attorney General and NYSDEC fi le a lawsuit in Federal court against Allied-Signal Inc. for pollution violations and resource damage.
►A Consent Judgment is entered on February 1, 1989 requiring Onondaga County to perform studies to evaluate the need for upgrading Metro and for providing treatment of combined sewer overfl ows (CSO).
1990 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference is convened in Syracuse by U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
1991 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference begins lake research and remediation projects. ►Pump stations at Liverpool and Ley Creek are modifi ed to reduce raw sewage overfl ows to the lake.
1992 ►U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes the Onondaga Lake Water Quality Technical Report with lake remediation alternatives. ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference funds study of the Tully Valley mudboils. ►A Federal court approves a consent order for study of industrial pollution and development of a cleanup plan.
1993 ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference (OLMC) drafts “A Plan for Action” which becomes the basis of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan (OLMP). ►The OLMC publishes the fi rst State of Onondaga Lake report.
ONONDAGA LAKE TIMELINE1994
►Onondaga Lake is added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
1995 ►The OLMC implements mudboil remediation projects to reduce fl ow of sediment to Onondaga Creek.
1997 ►The State of New York, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and Onondaga County reach agreement (Amended Consent Judgment [ACJ]) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements, and a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act.
1998 ►The ACJ is approved by Federal Court and replaces and supersedes the 1989 Consent Judgment. ►The Ambient Monitoring Program is implemented in accordance with the ACJ.
1999 ►The OLMC approves a resolution to incorporate the ACJ into the OLMP. ►The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) lifts the ban on eating certain species of fi sh from Onondaga Lake and provides additional guidelines. ►Congressman James T. Walsh initiates legislation in the Water Resource Development Act of 1999 that re places the OLMC with the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP).
►The OLP, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is tasked with implementing lake improvement projects consistent with the OLMP and the ACJ. ►Allied-Signal, Inc. combines with Honeywell, Inc. and changes its name to Honeywell International, Inc.
2001 ►Oil tanks are removed from “Oil City” and tenants begin site remediation. ►The second State of Onondaga Lake report is produced by the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Corp with support from the OLMC and the OLP.
2002 ►The NYSDEC issues a report detailing the extent of contamina tion within the lake and assessing the risk to humans and the environ ment.
2004 ►The fi nal stage of the Metro improvements for ammonia treatment come on-line.
2005 ►The Actifl o treatment system come on-line at Metro to reduce effl uent total phosphorus (TP) concentration. ►NYSDEC and USEPA outline reme-diation plans for Onondaga Lake’s industrial pollution concerns. ►Metro reaches ammonia limit goal eight years ahead of the scheduled dead line. ►Honeywell International, Inc. removes more than eight tons of mer cury from the Linden Chemicals and Plastics property.
2006 ►The NYS Attorney General’s offi ce fi les a motion to amend the ACJ with U.S. District Court. The amendments refl ect changes since the original ACJ was signed in 1998. ►Honeywell International, Inc. com pletes a groundwater treatment plant at the former Allied Chemical, Willis Avenue site. ►Phosphorus release from Metro to Onondaga Lake is reduced from 200 pounds per day to 50 pounds per day with completion of an upgraded phosphorus removal facility.
2007 ►NYSDOH modifi es the fi sh consumption advisory for some species of fi sh. ►Wetlands restoration at former Linden Chemical and Plastics site is completed. ►Honeywell International, Inc. signs a Consent Decree to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site.
2008 ►Honeywell International, Inc. begins construction of the groundwater barrier wall and trench collection system that will capture and transfer groundwater to the Willis Avenue treatment plant. ►Construction of Midland Avenue RTF is completed and addresses three CSOs.
►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, NYSDEC, and Onondaga County obtain a morato rium on construction of the proposed treatment facilities so that alternative methodologies, including green infra structure, can be evaluated as part of the CSO abatement program. ►A Microbial Trackdown Program is implemented to identify dry weather sources of bacteria discharges to Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. ►Onondaga County proposes gray and green infrastructure as a component to its CSO abatement program.
2009 ►The draft Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan is released for public review. ►NYSDEC issues the design work plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom NPL Subsite and cleanup decision documents for the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek Site. ►NYSDEC issues a Citizen Participation Plan designed to enhance public input and involve ment in the Onondaga Lake Bottom cleanup project. ►A Fourth Stipulation to the ACJ is adopted and approved by the Federal court, incorporating green infrastructure methodologies into the CSO abatement program.
2010 ►The OLP publishes the third State of Onondaga Lake report.
Figure 4. Time
10,000 years ago ►Glacial activity carves out hills and valleys across Central New York, creating Onondaga Lake.
Over 1,000 years ago ►Earliest recorded date that Indian Nations come together at Onondaga Lake to form the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
1613 ►A treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch (the Two Row Wampum) establish relations.
1783 ►Revolutionary War ends. European settlements develop in Central New York.
1784 ►In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, George Washington asks for peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fi ghting and re-establish relations.
1793 ►Commercial salt production begins on the lakeshore.
1880s ►Onondaga Lake is a popular resort area with hotels, parks, and bathing beaches. Swimming, boating, and fi shing are common activities.
1884 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of soda ash.
1896 ►City builds sewers and bans backyard privies. Sewage fl ows directly into Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook.
1918 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of organic chemicals.
1920 ►Solvay Process Company merges with four other companies and forms Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.
1925 ►City of Syracuse begins the removal of settleable solids from sewage (primary treatment).
1940 ►Swimming is banned.
1946 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. begins discharge of mercury wastes into the lake.
1958 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. changes its name to Allied Chemical Corporation.
1960 ►Onondaga County Metro is completed.
1970 ►Fishing is banned. U.S. Attorney General sues Allied Chemical Corp. to stop mercury dumping. ►Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection establishes annual lake monitoring program.
1971 ►Onondaga County bans the use of phosphorus in laundry detergents.
1972 ►The Federal Clean Water Act is passed.
1973 ►New York State bans phosphorus in laundry detergents.
1977 ►Allied Chemical Corp. closes chlorinated benzene plant and Willis Avenue chlor-alkali plant.
1979 ►Metro is upgraded to secondary and tertiary treatment.
1981 ►Allied Chemical Corp. changes its name to Allied Corp.
1986 ►Allied Corp. closes soda ash manufacturing operations.
1987 ►Onondaga County implements best management practices for sewer interception. ►Allied Corp. merges with Signal Companies to form Allied-Signal Inc.
1988 ►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, New York State Attorney General, and NYSDEC fi le complaint against Onondaga County alleging violation of its state discharge permit.
1989 ►New York State Attorney General and NYSDEC fi le a lawsuit in Federal court against Allied-Signal Inc. for pollution violations and resource damage.
►A Consent Judgment is entered on February 1, 1989 requiring Onondaga County to perform studies to evaluate the need for upgrading Metro and for providing treatment of combined sewer overfl ows (CSO).
1990 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference is convened in Syracuse by U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
1991 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference begins lake research and remediation projects. ►Pump stations at Liverpool and Ley Creek are modifi ed to reduce raw sewage overfl ows to the lake.
1992 ►U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes the Onondaga Lake Water Quality Technical Report with lake remediation alternatives. ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference funds study of the Tully Valley mudboils. ►A Federal court approves a consent order for study of industrial pollution and development of a cleanup plan.
1993 ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference (OLMC) drafts “A Plan for Action” which becomes the basis of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan (OLMP). ►The OLMC publishes the fi rst State of Onondaga Lake report.
ONONDAGA LAKE TIMELINE1994
►Onondaga Lake is added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
1995 ►The OLMC implements mudboil remediation projects to reduce fl ow of sediment to Onondaga Creek.
1997 ►The State of New York, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and Onondaga County reach agreement (Amended Consent Judgment [ACJ]) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements, and a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act.
1998 ►The ACJ is approved by Federal Court and replaces and supersedes the 1989 Consent Judgment. ►The Ambient Monitoring Program is implemented in accordance with the ACJ.
1999 ►The OLMC approves a resolution to incorporate the ACJ into the OLMP. ►The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) lifts the ban on eating certain species of fi sh from Onondaga Lake and provides additional guidelines. ►Congressman James T. Walsh initiates legislation in the Water Resource Development Act of 1999 that re places the OLMC with the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP).
►The OLP, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is tasked with implementing lake improvement projects consistent with the OLMP and the ACJ. ►Allied-Signal, Inc. combines with Honeywell, Inc. and changes its name to Honeywell International, Inc.
2001 ►Oil tanks are removed from “Oil City” and tenants begin site remediation. ►The second State of Onondaga Lake report is produced by the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Corp with support from the OLMC and the OLP.
2002 ►The NYSDEC issues a report detailing the extent of contamina tion within the lake and assessing the risk to humans and the environ ment.
2004 ►The fi nal stage of the Metro improvements for ammonia treatment come on-line.
2005 ►The Actifl o treatment system come on-line at Metro to reduce effl uent total phosphorus (TP) concentration. ►NYSDEC and USEPA outline reme-diation plans for Onondaga Lake’s industrial pollution concerns. ►Metro reaches ammonia limit goal eight years ahead of the scheduled dead line. ►Honeywell International, Inc. removes more than eight tons of mer cury from the Linden Chemicals and Plastics property.
2006 ►The NYS Attorney General’s offi ce fi les a motion to amend the ACJ with U.S. District Court. The amendments refl ect changes since the original ACJ was signed in 1998. ►Honeywell International, Inc. com pletes a groundwater treatment plant at the former Allied Chemical, Willis Avenue site. ►Phosphorus release from Metro to Onondaga Lake is reduced from 200 pounds per day to 50 pounds per day with completion of an upgraded phosphorus removal facility.
2007 ►NYSDOH modifi es the fi sh consumption advisory for some species of fi sh. ►Wetlands restoration at former Linden Chemical and Plastics site is completed. ►Honeywell International, Inc. signs a Consent Decree to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site.
2008 ►Honeywell International, Inc. begins construction of the groundwater barrier wall and trench collection system that will capture and transfer groundwater to the Willis Avenue treatment plant. ►Construction of Midland Avenue RTF is completed and addresses three CSOs.
►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, NYSDEC, and Onondaga County obtain a morato rium on construction of the proposed treatment facilities so that alternative methodologies, including green infra structure, can be evaluated as part of the CSO abatement program. ►A Microbial Trackdown Program is implemented to identify dry weather sources of bacteria discharges to Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. ►Onondaga County proposes gray and green infrastructure as a component to its CSO abatement program.
2009 ►The draft Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan is released for public review. ►NYSDEC issues the design work plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom NPL Subsite and cleanup decision documents for the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek Site. ►NYSDEC issues a Citizen Participation Plan designed to enhance public input and involve ment in the Onondaga Lake Bottom cleanup project. ►A Fourth Stipulation to the ACJ is adopted and approved by the Federal court, incorporating green infrastructure methodologies into the CSO abatement program.
2010 ►The OLP publishes the third State of Onondaga Lake report.
Timeline updated from “The State of Onondaga Lake” (OEI 2001)
The Road to Recovery
Aftermanyyearsofresearchandremediation,OnondagaLakeisnowthecleanestithasbeeninoveracentury.Federal,State,andlocalofficialscontinuetofocusonrestorationplansforthelake,uplandsourcesofindustrialcontaminantsarebeingaddressed,andOnondagaCountyhasmadesubstan-tialimprovementstoitswastewatercollectionandtreatmentsystem.Since2001,morethanfortyresto-rationprojectshavebeencompletedandovertwentyprojectsarecurrentlybeingimplemented.
Pollution,toxicitylevels,andalgalgrowthhavedecreasedandwaterclarityhasimproved.Thesewaterqualitychangeshaveimprovedtheaquaticcommunity.Plantandanimaldiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingimpressiveprogress,highlightedbynumeroussightingsofbaldeagles,greategrets,osprey,kingfishers,mallards,andCanadageesealongtheshoreline.TheNationalAudubonSocietyhasdesignatedthelakeanditssurroundinghabitats(includingdeciduouswoodsandnon-tidalwetlands)asanImportantBirdArea.Duringfallmigration,manythousandsofwaterfowlcanbeseenrestingandfeedingonthelake.
OnondagaLakenowsupportsaproductivewarmwaterfisheryandarecoveringcool-waterfisherywithseveralgamespeciessuchasbrowntroutandsmallmouthbass.Infact,over65speciesoffishhavebeendocumentedinthelakeandrecreationaloppor-tunitieshaveimprovedsignificantly.TheIzaakWaltonLeagueincooperationwiththeOLPhostapopularfamily-orientedfreefishingweekendeachyear.Carp
fishingisbecominganotherpopulareventonOnon-dagaLakeandregionalcompetitionsforcarpanglersarehostedeachyearbytheCatchandReleasePro-fessional(CARP)TournamentSeries.
Professionalandrecreationalanglersenjoyanexcellentlargemouthandsmallmouthbassfisheryandseverallocalandregionalbasstournamentsareheldonthelakeeachyear.WorldclassfishermencompetedintheBassmasterMemorialTournamentatOnondagaLakein2007,andin2008theNorthAmericanFishingClubclaimedthatthelakeisoneofthecountry’stoptenhotspotsforbass.ThreemajorsportingeventswereheldonOnondagaLakein2008:theToyotaUSOpenofWatercross(aJetSkicompetition),SyracuseHydrofest(forhydroplaneenthusiasts),andtheJuniorBassmasterWorldCham-pionshipswithnearly100teensfromtheUS,Canada,andSouthAfrica.OnondagaLakeisontheroadtorecoveryandanglersaretakingnotice.
Bald Eagle
Page12 OnondagaLakePartnership
Lake Use
What are the Recreational Uses of
Onondaga Lake and its Shoreline?
T hepublicistakingnoteoftheimpressiverecoveryofOnon-
dagaLake.Waterqualityimprove-mentsareoccurringmorerapidlythanexpectedandhaveledtoincreasedpublicappreciationanduseofthelakeanditsshoreline.Wellover1.3millionpeoplevisitedOnondagaLakeParkin2009toenjoypopularrecreationaloppor-tunitiessuchashiking,bicycling,picnicking,fishing,andboating.Inadditiontonationalsportingcom-petitionsandprofessionalfishingevents,communityfishing,sailing,androwingclubsusethelakeon
aregularbasisandcompetitionsarescheduledbyhighschoolandcollegecrewteamsthroughoutthespringandsummermonths.
MuchofthelandimmediatelysurroundingOnondagaLakeisownedbyOnondagaCounty.Sevenmiles(11.3kilometers)ofattractive,pavedshorelinetrailsarecurrentlyusedforwalking,running,skateboard-ing,biking,in-lineskating,picnicking,andbirdwatching.Planstoextendthetrailby2.1miles(3.4kilometers)alongthewesternshorelineofOnondagaLakearecurrentlyunderway.Inadditiontotheshorelinetrails,twomuseumsarelocatedinOnondagaLakePark:theSaltMuseumandSainteMarieAmongtheIroquois.
How do New York State Water Quality
Classifications Impact Water Quality Goals?
In1972,theU.S.CongresspassedtheCleanWaterActrequiringthatallUnitedStatesfreshwatersshouldbesuitableforswimmingandthepropaga-tionoffishandotheraquaticlife.InresponsetotheCleanWaterAct,NewYorkStateclassifieditssurfacewatersaccordingtotheirbestuse.Thebestuseclassifica-tionforOnondagaLakeincludesswimming,fishing,fishpropaga-tion,andsecondaryrecreation.OnondagaCountyroutinelymonitorswaterqualitycondi-tionsinthelaketodetermineifthedesignatedusesaresup-portedandcompliancewithwater
qualitystandardsareachieved.Informationabouttheambientmonitoringprogramisfoundatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.
NYSDECdevelopedandadminis-tersasystemofdischargepermitstocontrolpollutionandreducevio-lationsofwaterqualitystandards.EnactmentandenforcementofenvironmentallawssuchastheCleanWaterAct,theResourceConservationandRecoveryActof1976,andStateandFederalSuper-fundlawshavebroughtaboutnotableimprovementstothelake.Ammoniaconcentrations,forexample,nowmeetstatestandardsdevelopedforprotectionofaquaticlife.Inaddition,recentimprove-mentsindissolvedoxygenconcen-trationsinthelakesurfacewaterduringthefallmixingperiodarenowincompliancewithregulatorystandards,therebyprovidingbetterhabitatforplantsandanimals.
Figure 5. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Conrad Strozik
Figure 6. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto credit: Onondaga County Parks
Page132010StateofOnondagaLake
Are There Designated Swimming Areas in
Onondaga Lake?
GreatprogresshasbeenmadeinwastewatertreatmentatOnondagaLake,especiallywiththeconstruc-tionofMetroin1960andupgradesattheplantinthe1970sand1980s,andagainin2005.OnondagaCountyisinvolvedinwidespreadeffortstoseparateandupgradecombinedseweroverflows(CSOs.)Thishasresultedinareductioninthenumber,frequency,andvolumeofsewageoverflowsintoOnon-dagaCreek,LeyCreek,andHarborBrookwhichflowintoOnondagaLake.Bacterialevelsinsomeareas
ofthelakestillincreaseaftersignificantstormevents,primar-ilyinthesouthernendofthelakewheretributariesreceivingCSOsarelocated.Bacterialevelsinthenorthernendofthelakearelessimpactedbyrainfallevents,butstillincreaseaftersignificantstormeventsandreturntonormalwithinafewdays.AccordingtotheSpe-cialEventWaterQualityProtocoldevelopedbyOnondagaCountyin2009,theseoccasionalhighbac-terialevelsareamongthereasonswhyswimminginOnondagaLakeisnotencouraged.However,con-tinuedwaterqualitysuccessesinlakeremediationmayeventuallyleadtoachangeinthispolicy.Forexample,OnondagaCountyhasrecentlybegunaseriesofgreeninfrastructureprojects(suchasper-meablepavementandrainbarrels)designedtointerceptandredirectstormwaterbeforeitentersandpotentiallyoverwhelmsthesewersystem.TheseeffortsaredesignedtoreducethevolumeofwaterenteringthesewersystemandthelikelihoodthatCSOsandassociatedbacterialdischargeswilloccur.TheWaterQualityProtocolisfoundatwww.onlakepartners.org.
What is the Inner Harbor/Lakefront Devel-
opment Project?
TheInnerHarbor,a42-acreareaalongthesouthernOnondagaLakeshoreline,isownedbytheNewYorkStateCanalCorporation.TheportionattheeastendisoperatedandmaintainedbytheLakefront
DevelopmentCorporation(LDC).TheLDCwasestablishedin1996bytheCityofSyracuseandtheMetropolitanDevelopmentAsso-ciationofSyracusetofacilitatetheredevelopmentoftheSyracuseLakefront.
Remediationandredevelop-mentoftheLakefrontneighbor-hoodandadjoiningareasbeganinthe1990swiththeremovalofcon-taminatedsoilandoiltanksfromtheareaknownasOilCity.TheCarouselMallwasbuilt,followedbyupgradingofthevacantfactorybuildingsintheFranklinSquareareaintoresidentialhousing,busi-nesses,andrestaurants.Additionalimprovementsincludeconstruc-tionofa1,500-seatamphitheateranddevelopmentoftheOnon-dagaCreekWalk(connectingtheFranklinSquareareatotheInnerHarbor)thatprovidesopportuni-tiesforin-lineskating,bicycling,andfishing.
ManyseedevelopmentoftheOnondagaLakewaterfrontasawaytoboosttourismandexpandrecreationalopportunities.TheNewYorkStateCanalCorporationiscurrentlyseekingproposalstodevelopanadditional29acresintoacommercial,residential,andrecreationalattraction.FuturedevelopmentoftheSyracuseLakefrontwillbecloselylinkedtowaterqualityimprovementsinOnondagaCreek,theharborandthroughoutthelake,andwillbeplannedinaccordancewiththeSyracuseLakefrontZoningCodethatoutlinesredevelopmentgoals.
Figure 7. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Onondaga County Parks
What are Combined Sewer Overflows
(CSOs)?Sewerslocatedthroughout
theCityofSyracusecarrybothsanitarysewageandstormwater.Duringdryweather,thesesewerscarryallsanitarysewagetoMetro.However,duringintenserainfalls,theamountofstormwaterenteringthecombinedsewersystemexceedsthesystem’scapacity,resultinginoverflowanddischargesofuntreatedwastewater(stormwaterandsanitarysewage)intoOnondagaLaketributaries.ThefrequencywithwhichCSOsactuallyoccurvariesfromoneCSOdischargelocationtothenext,butgenerallyrangesfromonlyafewtimesperyeartoasmanyas60timesayear.
CSOsareamajorcontributorofbacteria,floatingtrash,organicmaterial,solidsandgrittothelakeanditstributaries.ElevatedbacterialconcentrationsinOnondagaLakecanoccurforuptothreedaysfollowingastormevent.AdditionalinformationaboutCSOsisavailableat:
www.onlakepartners.org/faqs.htm
Page14 OnondagaLakePartnership
Priority Issues and Remedial
Actions
Wastewater Pollution
O verthepasttwodecades,OnondagaCountyhas
improvedMetro’scapacitytotreatwastewaterthroughprojectssuchasadvancednutrientremoval,odorcontrolupgrades,anaera-tionsystemupgrade,digitalsystemimprovements,increasedcapac-ityforchemicalstorageandfeedfacilities,anddigestermodifica-tions.Asaresultoftheupgrades(especiallytheadvancedtreat-mentsystemthatcameonlinein2004),ammoniaandphosphorusconcentrationsinOnondagaLakehavedeclinedsignificantly.Inrecentyears,phosphorus
dischargestoOnondagaLakefromthetreatmentplantwerethelowestrecordedsinceOnondagaCountybeganmonitoringin1969.In2009,ammoniaconcentrationswerethelowestevermeasuredandremainedatsafelevelsforeventhemostsensitiveaquaticorganisms.Overall,dissolvedoxygeninthelake’supperwatershasincreasedandthefrequencyofalgalbloomsisdiminishing.
What is Metro?Metro,builtinthe1960s,isan
advancedwastewatertreatmentfacilitythatservestheCityofSyracuseandseveralsurroundingmunicipalities.Itisthethirdlarg-estsourceofwatertoOnondagaLake,contributing20percentofthewaterenteringthelakeeachyear.Duringthesummer,whentheamountofwaterflowingintothelakefromnaturaltributar-iesislow,thedischargefrom
Metrorepresentsthesinglelarg-estsourceofwaterforOnondagaLake.RecentMetroupgradeshaveresultedinsignificantwaterqualityimprovementsandbetterhabitatforaquaticplantsandanimals.
What Else is Being Done to Reduce Wastewater Pollution?
InadditiontoMetroupgrades,OnondagaCountyisimplement-ingprojectstocontrolstormwaterrunoffandreducethenumberofCSOs.Insomeareas,stormwaterstillmixeswithsewageinunder-groundpipelinesduringheavyrains,overloadingpipesandoverflowingintoOnondagaCreekandotherlaketributaries.TheACJrequiresthatby2018,theCountyeliminateorcapturefortreatment,95per-centoftheCSOvolumegeneratedduringprecipitationeventsona
system-wide,averageannualbasis.Significantprogresshasbeenmadetoreachthisgoal.Of70totalCSOdischarges,35havebeenaddressedto-date,resultinginanestimated85percentreductioninthevolumeofCSOdischargesfromrainandsnow-meltonanannualbasis.
Additionally,askimmerboatcollectsfloatabletrashanddebrisfromtheInnerHarborandthemouthofOnondagaCreek.Floata-blesControlFacilitiesremovetrashfromstormwaterrunoffwithnetbagsandbooms,whilestorageandtreatmentfacilitiesremoveandtreatthewaste.Storagefacili-tiestemporarilystorestormwatertopreventitfromcontributingtoCSOs.
TheOLPissupportingprojectsdesignedtoreducewastewa-terpollutionandimprovewater
Figure 8. The Inner HarborPhoto credit: City of Syracuse
Figure 9. Aerial View of MetroPhoto credit: USACE
Page152010StateofOnondagaLake
qualityinthelakeanditstributar-iesthroughthefollowingpriorities:• CompletionoftheMidland
RegionalTreatmentandStor-ageFacility,whichcapturescombinedsewagefromthreemajoroverflowsthatpreviouslyemptieddirectlyintoOnondagaCreekduringstorms.Thefacilitystores4.5milliongallons,andflowsinexcessofthisamount
aretreatedanddischargedtoOnondagaCreek.
• Installationofpipelinestoconveycombinedflowsforstor-ageintheClintonStreetarea.
• CompletionoftwoadditionalsewerseparationprojectsontheCity’ssouthsidewhichclosedtwoCSOdischarges,andconstructionofnewsewerlinesthatconveystormwatertoOnondagaCreek.
What is the Microbial Trackdown Study?
AninvestigationcalledtheMicrobialTrackdownStudyisbeingconductedtoidentifysourcesoffecalcoliformbacteriaduringdryweatherintwoOnondagaLaketributaries-OnondagaCreekandHarborBrook.Thestudyisiden-tifyingareasthatareinneedoffurtherassessmentorfollowupbyresponsiblejurisdictionsorparties.
TheMicrobialTrackdownStudy
isfundedbytheEnvironmentalBenefitProjectfundprovidedbyOnondagaCounty.TheACJspeci-fiedthattheCountyprovidethefunds,andthattheOLPselectandapprovetheprojecttowhichthefundsarebeingapplied.TheUSEPAhasalsoprovidedadditionalfundsforthestudy.TheNYSDECandseveralotherOLPmemberagenciesparticipateontheproj-ect’sworkgroup.
Theinvestigationhasdocu-mentedelevatedlevelsoffecalcoliformbacteriaaturbanareasofOnondagaCreekduringdryweatherconditions.Contami-natedwaterfromcollapsedsani-tarysewersandothersourcesofsewageflowstothecreekthroughthesanitaryandstormwatersystem.Thesamplingishelpingtoassesstheimpactthatagingwastewaterinfrastructurehasonthetwotributaries.Althoughsomedryweathercontaminantsourceshavebeenaddressed,theOLP
continuestoworktoidentifyandeliminatesuchsources.Therefore,theOLPdoesnotrecommendengaginginactivitieswhichhavethepotentialforimmersionoringestionofcreekwater.
Sincethestudybegan,theCountyhassecuredfundingtoreplacethemaininterceptorsewerthatparallelsHarborBrook.Theupgradeisdesignedtohelpimprovewaterquality.AdditionalinformationaboutthisprojectandtheACJcanbefoundatwww.onlakepartners.org.
How Does Green Infrastructure Benefit Water Quality?
OnondagaCountyofficials,incooperationwithmanycommunitystakeholdergroups,havetakenaproactiveapproachtodevelopinggreeninfrastructurealternativesdesignedtoreducetheamountofstormwaterenteringstormsewersandcontributingtoCSOdischarges.Wastewaterinfrastruc-turereferstothepipes,concrete,pumps,andfacilitiesthattransportandhandlesewage.Examplesofthesetraditionalmethods,called“grayinfrastructure”,includeMetroandtheMidlandRegionalStorageandTreatmentFacility.Greeninfrastructurehelpsreducerunoffbyfacilitatingsoilinfiltra-tionandthecaptureandreuseofstormwaterbeforeitentersthesewersystem.TheoriginalACJhasbeenamendedfourtimes,mostrecentlyin2009.Thisfourthamendmentauthorizesagreateremphasisongreeninfrastructure(suchasvegetatedinfiltration
Figure 10. Skimmer boatPhoto source: Onondaga County
Figure 11. Phosphorus Discharged to Onondaga Lake from Metro
Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
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Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
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Page16 OnondagaLakePartnership
basins,roofgardens,treeboxes,andraingardens)incombina-tionwithtraditionalengineeringpractices(grayinfrastructure)toreducestormwaterrunoffandCSOvolumeduringstormevents.Foradditionalinformationaboutthe2009ACJamendment,refertowww.onggov.net/forms/images/ACJ.pdf.
InMarch2009,OnondagaCountylaunchedaninnovativenew“SavetheRain”campaign,designedtoraisepublicaware-nessandhelpOnondagaLakebyreducingthevolumeofstorm-waterrunoffthatflowsdirectlyintothesanitarysewersystem.Throughthisprogram,greentechnologiesarealsobeingpromotedinordertoreducefloodinganderosionandtocutdownonpollutionloadingtoOnondagaLakeanditstributar-ies.Additionalinformationaboutthisprogramisavailableatwww.
ongov.net/savetherain/greenso-lutions.html.
OnondagaCounty,inconjunc-tionwiththeCityofSyracuseandseveralotherpartnerorga-nizations,isalsoimplementingagreeninfrastructureprogramontheCity’sNearWestSidewithintheClintonsewershed(anareadrainedbyanetworkofcom-binedsewers.)ThisprogramisdesignedtoreduceCSOdischargeratesbyincreasingsoilinfiltration.In2009,nearly400treeswereplantedinordertoshadestreetsandtoprovidevegetativecoverinvacantcity-ownedlots.Raingar-denswerealsoplantedtoabsorbexcessstormwaterandtoteachlocalresidentsaboutthebenefitsofgreenalternatives.
In2009theSyracuseCenterofExcellencereceivedover$3,000inminigrantfundsfromtheOLPforconstructionofagreenroofandinstallationofpermanent
signageforagreeninfrastructuredemonstrationprojectintheNearWestSide.
Additionalgreenprojectsantic-ipatedfortheareawillincludeinstallingporouspavement,greenroofs,rainbarrels,andexpandingvegetatedareasalongOnondagaCreek.
Nutrients
PhosphorusInrecentyears,theconcentra-
tionofphosphorusdroppedtothelowestleveleverrecordedinthelake’supperwatersandreachedanimpressiveaver-ageof15microgramsperliter(partsperbillion)in2008.ThisreductioncanbeattributedtoupgradesatMetro.Between1993and2009phosphorusdischargesfromMetroweredecreasedbyapproximately86percent.Inadditiontotheimprovedwastewatertreatment,watershedprojectssupportedbytheOLParereducingphosphorusloadingfromagriculturalsourcesandurban-basedstormwaterrunoff.
Thisnotablechangeinphos-phoruslevelshasresultedinwidespreadbenefitsforaquaticorganismsandlakeusersthroughareductioninthefrequencyandseverityofalgalblooms,improvedwaterclarity,andincreasedoxygenlevels.TheNewYorkStateDepart-mentofHealthstandardforopeningabeachrequireswater
clarityreachingadepthoffourfeetorgreaterthroughoutthesummer.In2008,forthefirsttimeinmanyyears,watertransparencyinOnondagaLakeaveraged14.7feetandwasgreaterthanfourfeeteachsummerday.Improvementinwaterclarityisalsoattributedtotheincreasedconsumptionofalgaebysmallaquaticanimalscalledzooplankton.Inaddition,abundantzebramusselsareeffec-tivelygrazingthealgae,providinggreaterlakewaterclarity.
Where Does Phosphorus Come From?
Phosphorus,anessentialnutri-entthatinfluencesplantgrowth,entersOnondagaLakefrompointandnon-pointsources.Pointsourcescanbetracedbacktoasingleorigin,suchasasewagetreatmentplantdischarge.Non-pointsourcesofphosphorusincludediverselanduseactivi-tiessuchaslawnfertilizationandagriculturalrunoff.OthersourcesofphosphorustoOnondagaLakeanditstributariesincludeCSOsthatdischargeuntreatedsewageandstormwatertoOnondagaCreekandHarborBrookduringheavyrainfall.Onceinthelake,phosphoruscancontinuetocyclebetweenthebottomsedimentsandtheoverlyingwaters.
Figure 13. Rain Garden Near Residential Sidewalk
Page172010StateofOnondagaLake
How Do Phosphorus and Dissolved Oxygen Influence Water Quality?
Lowerphosphorusconcentra-tionshavecontributedtoahigherlevelofdissolvedoxygenintheupperwatersofthelake.Concen-trationsofdissolvedoxygen(theamountofoxygenthatisdissolvedinwater)typicallyvarywithlakedepth,season,andtimeofday.Oxygenlevelshaveamajorimpactontheabundanceandtypeoforganismsfoundinalakeenviron-ment.Fishavoidwaterswithlowdissolvedoxygenlevels,andanoxicconditions(nodissolvedoxygeninbottomwatersofalake)canalsotriggerchemicalreactionsandthereleaseofphosphorusandotherpollutantsfromthelakebottomsediments.
Anoxia,particularlyduringthesummermonths,isanaturalcon-ditionforsomelakes.EvaluationstodetermineifanoxiacouldbeanaturaloccurrenceinOnondaga
Lakeareongoing.Historicallylowoxygenlevelsintheupperwatershadbeenoneofthemostsig-nificantwaterqualityproblemsinOnondagaLake.Oxygenlevelsintheupperwatersofthelake,how-ever,haveimprovedsignificantlyandareincompliancewithwaterqualitystandards.
AmmoniaAmmoniaandnitriteareforms
ofnitrogenthataffectthetypeandabundanceofaquaticlifeinlakes.AsadirectresultofMetroupgrades,ammoniaandnitriteconcentrationsinOnondagaLakehavedeclinedsignificantlyandlevelsnowconsistentlymeetStatestandardsdevelopedforthepro-tectionofaquaticlife.
Since2007,thelakehasbeeninfullcompliancewithambientwaterqualitystandardsforammo-niaandwasofficiallyde-listedforthatparameterintheState’s2008listofimpairedwaterbodies.
Thelowerconcentrationshaveimprovedconditionsforyoungfishandothersensitiveformsofaquaticlife,andhaveenhancedfishspawningandmigrationpatterns.
Aswithphosphorus,ammo-niaissuppliedtoOnondagaLakefrombothpointandnon-pointsources.TheimprovementstotheMetroplanthavereducedthepointsourceloadingofammoniabyanimpressive98percent.PriortocompletionoftheupgradestoMetroin2004,morethan90percentofammoniaflowingintoOnondagaLakewasdischargedfromMetro.In2008,theMetroplantcontributedonly44percentoftheammoniaflowingintothelake.ThesecondlargestsourceofammoniatothelakeisfromNineMileCreek,whichisborderedbyseveralindustrialwastebeds.In2008,thecontributionfromNineMileCreekrepresentedapproxi-mately30percentofthetotalammonialoadtothelake.
Figure 14. Summer Phosphorus Levels in Upper Waters Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water
Environment Protection
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NYSDEC Ambient Water Quality minimum standard is 4 ppm.
Through efforts supported by the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP), Onondaga County is working to mitigate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Onondaga Creek and the Onondaga Lake Watershed. Sewage is normally treated at the County’s Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, during periods of heavy rain or rapid snow melt, stormwater and sewage can overwhelm the system and be discharged directly in the Creek through a series of pipes and overflow points called CSOs. During these periods, the Creek may have high, rapidly moving water, and contain untreated sewage. As a result for safety and health reasons, one should not be in or come into contact with creek water at these times.
Belted kingfisher
Page18 OnondagaLakePartnership
What is Being Done to Reduce Nutrient Levels in Onondaga Lake?
InadditiontoMetroupgrades,lowerlevelsofammoniaandphosphorusinOnondagaLakecanbeattributedtorecentimprove-mentsandrestorationprojectsthataddressCSOdischarges,effec-tivestormwatercontrolpractices,bettermanagementofagricul-turalrunoff,successfulregionalpartnershipsestablishedthroughtheOLP,andawell-informedpublic.AdditionalinformationabouttheAmbientMonitor-ingProgramandnutrientlevelsinOnondagaLakeisavailableatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.
Industrial Pollution and Superfund
Forover125years,industrialandchemicalmanufacturingoperationsalongtheOnondagaLakeshorelinedisposedofwasteproductsonnearbylandorbydischargingwastedirectlyintothelake.Atonetimeindustrydis-chargedapproximately20poundsofmercurytothelakeperday.Asaresultofthisactivity,surfacewaterwascontaminatedwithmercury,andsedimentswerecontaminatedwithpolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs);pesticides;creo-sotes;heavymetalsincludinglead,cobalt,andmercury;polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs);and
volatileorganiccompounds(VOCs)suchaschlorobenzene.Groundwateratmanyuplandsubsiteshasalsobeencontaminated.Theformerindustrialpracticesledtorestrictedrecreationalusesofthelake,reducedwildlifehabitat,andelevatedlevelsoftoxiccontami-nantsthatstillpersistinfishandotheraquaticlife.
Asaresultoftheindustrialpollution,OnondagaLakewasdesignatedaSuperfundsiteinDecember1994.TheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsiteincludesthelakebottom,andsubsitesaroundthelakeandalongthetributariesthataresourcesofcontamination.Currently,11subsiteshavebeendeterminedpartoftheSuperfundsite:1. OnondagaLakeBottom2. GeddesBrook/NinemileCreek3. WillisAvenue4. LCP-BridgeStreet–OperableUnit1
5. WasteBedB/HarborBrook6. SemetTarBeds7. TownofSalinaLandfill8. LowerLeyCreek9. LeyCreekPCBDredgings10.GeneralMotors–InlandFisher
Guide11.NationalGrid-Hiawatha
BoulevardWasteBeds1-8areinthe
processofbeingnamedasubsitewhichwouldresultin12areasincludedintheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsite(Figure17).Addi-tionalinformationonthesubsitescanbefoundatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.
Duetothelargesizeandcom-plexityoftheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsite,thebasicapproachthatisbeingusedforitsreme-diationistodividethesiteintomanageableunitswhichcanbeaddressedonafocusedbasis.This
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Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Figure 16. Water Quality Monitoring, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Photo Source: Water Environment Protection
Page192010StateofOnondagaLake
approachenablesdiscreterem-ediestomoveforwardindepen-dentlyratherthanwaitingforthefullsuiteofsiteremediestobedetermined.Remediationisbeingaddressedintwostages:1)interimremedialmea-sures(IRMs)and2)long-termremedialactionsfocusingoncleanupofthesubsites.IRMsundertakenatthesiteinclude:removingchlorobenzenefromexistingwells;alteringexisting
on-sitesewers;on-sitedemoli-tion,removal,decontaminationandrecyclingofformermercurycellprocessingbuildingsandbuildingmaterials;cleaningstormdrainagesystems;inves-tigationofbermssurroundingtheSemetTarPonds;designandconstructionofalakeshorebarrierwallandgroundwatercollection/treatmentsystem;andremovalofsomecontami-natedsedimentsandfloodplain
soilsfromGeddesBrookandtheEastFlume.Investigationsandlong-termremedialactionsatthevarioussubsitesarebeingperformedbypotentiallyresponsibleparties(PRPs),pursuanttoenforcementagree-mentsbetweenthePRPsandtheState.EPAhascontributedover$16.5milliontothestateforvariousactivitiesatthesiteincludinginvestigations;coor-dinationandmanagementat
subsites;implementationofacitizeninvolvementplan;cre-ationofasite-widedatabase;andestablishmentofacompre-hensiveenforcementprogram.
Between1998andMarch2010,eightRecordsofDeci-sion(RODs)havebeensignedforcleanupplansatthevarioussubsites.Selectedremediesforcontaminationatthesubsitesinclude:dredgingofsediments;excavationofsoils;onandoff-sitetreatmentofcontaminatedmaterials;collectionandtreat-mentofcontaminatedground-water;andcappingofexcavatedsoilsandsediments.
In2007,theFederalCourtapprovedanagreementrequir-ingHoneywellInternationalInc.(successorfirmtoAllied-SignalInc.)toremediatethecontaminatedsedimentsinthebottomofthelake.Theplaninvolvesdredgingcon-taminatedsediments,cappingapproximately580acresoflakebottomsediments,andrestor-inghabitat.Underthedirec-tionofNYSDEC(theagencyresponsibleforoverseeingthecleanupofindustrialpollution),Honeywelliscurrentlywork-ingincooperationwithateamofscientists,engineers,andFederal,State,andmunicipalleadersondesignsfortheres-torationofthelake,includingadredgingstrategy,asedimentcontainmentarea,andwaste-watertreatment.Dredgingisexpectedtobeginin2012and
Figure 18. Location of Onondaga Lake Watershed NPL SubsitesData source, NYSDEC
Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek
LCP-Bridge Street Operable Unit 1
Semet Tar Beds
Willis Avenue
Onondaga LakeBottom
Wastebed B/Harbor Brook
National GridHiawatha Boulevard
General Motors - Inland Fisher Guide
Lower Ley Creek
Ley Creek PCB DredgingsTown ofSalina Landfill
Onondaga Lake Subsites
Page20 OnondagaLakePartnership
thecleanupprogramcallsforsedimentstobehydraulicallydredgedfromthebottomofthelakeandpipedtoasedimentconsolidationareainCamillus,NewYork.
Honeywellisalsoremediat-ingpolluteduplandsitesthatimpactthelake.Forexample,theformerLindenChemicalandPlastics(LCP)sitewasamajorsourceofmercurycontamina-tioninGeddesBrook,NineMileCreek,andOnondagaLake.Aspartofthesiteremediation,morethaneighttonsofmer-curywereremovedfromplantpropertythrough“soilwash-ing.”Inadditiontomercuryremoval,thecleanupprogramunderdirectionoftheNYSDECinvolvedexcavationofcontami-natedsedimentsinsurroundingareas;installationofanon-sitegroundwatercollectionsystem;andtheconstructionofafive-storydeep,undergroundcutoffwalltopreventanyfuturegroundwaterdischarge.
InMarch2009,theNYSDECreleasedaworkplanoutliningactivitiesandschedulesnec-essarytocompleteremedialdesignoftheremedyselectedintheRecordofDecision(ROD)issuedbytheNYSDECandtheUSEPAin2005fortheOnon-dagaLakeBottomSubsite.AdditionalinformationaboutOnondagaLakeremedialdesignworkisavailableattheNYSDECwebsiteatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/34481.html.
InformationabouttheOnon-dagaLakeBottomSubsite,includinginformationabouttheSedimentConsolidationAreaisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.
What are the Chemical Restoration Objectives?
In2005,theNYSDECandUSEPA,incooperationwiththeNYSDepartmentofHealth,issuedaRecordofDecision(ROD)outliningremedialplansforOnondagaLake’sindustrialpollutionconcerns.TheRODoutlinesplanstodredgeandcapthelakesedimentsinordertoremovethemostpollutedsedimentsfromthelakeandconstructanisolationcapoflayeredsand,gravel,andothermaterialtoseparateundredgedmaterialfromthelakesystem.
SpecificobjectivesintheROD,calledremedialactionobjectivesorRAOs,aregoalsthatwereestablishedforOnon-dagaLaketoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment.Theseobjectivesarebasedoninformationsuchasthenatureandextentofthecontaminants,thetransportandfateofpol-lutants,baselinehumanhealth,andanevaluationofecologicalrisk.Althoughthesedimentsaretheprimaryfocusoftheremediation,thedegreeofattainmentofNewYorkState’ssurfacewaterstandardsandguidancevaluesandsite-spe-cificfishtargetconcentrationswerealsoevaluated.
TheRAOsforOnondagaLakeare:
• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,thereleaseofmercuryfromthebottomwaters;
• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,thereleasesofcontaminantsfromthenear-shoreareas;
• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,releasesofmercuryfromlakebottomsediments;
• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,existingandpotentialfutureadverseecologi-caleffectsonfishandwildliferesourcesandtoeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracti-cable,potentialriskstohumans;
• Toachievesurfacewaterqualitystandards,totheextentpracticable,forchemicalcontaminants.
Additionalinformationaboutthegoalsandobjec-tivesforOnondagaLakearefoundatthefollowingwebsite:www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/34481.html.
What are the Habitat Restoration Goals?
InDecember2009,Honey-wellreleasedadraftreporttitledRemedialDesignElementsforHabitatRestoration.Theplanisdesignedtorestorewild-lifehabitatinareassurround-ingthelakethatareimpactedbycleanupactivities.HabitatrestorationisanessentialpartofOnondagaLakeremediationeffortsandservesasasignifi-cantcomponentinthedredgingandcappingactivities.Habitat
Figure 19. Proposed Lake Bottom CappingData source, USACE
Page212010StateofOnondagaLake
improvementspresentedintheplanwillenhancethephysicalandbiologicalsettingforplants,mam-mals,fish,benthicmacroinverte-brates,birds,reptiles,andamphib-ians,whileprovidingpublicaccessalongthelakeshoreline.Thedraftreportandrelatedinformationareavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/61073.html.
Creationofnewwetlandsandhabitatsareimportantcompo-nentsoftheGeddesBrook/NineMileCreekcleanupactivities.Futureactivitiesaredesignedtorestoreforestedwetlands,enhancewildlifehabitatandspe-ciesdiversity,improveconditionsforfishspawningandmigration,controlerosion,reducepollutionrunoff,andprovideopportunitiesforrecreationaluse.AdditionalinformationabouttheGeddesBrook/NinemileCreekCleanupActionsisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.
What is Being Done to Encourage Citizen Participation?
Publicinvolvementisanimpor-tantcomponentforthesuccess-fulimplementationandsustain-abilityofOnondagaLakecleanupefforts.Since2004,theNYSDECandHoneywellhaveencouragedcitizenparticipationbyinformingandinvolvingthepublicduringtheremedialdesignandconstruc-tionphasesoftheOnondagaLakebottomcleanup.
AreporttitledCitizenParticipa-tionPlan(CPP)fortheOnondagaLakeBottomSubsiteRemedial
DesignProgramprovidesastrat-egyforcommunicatingwithandsolicitingfeedbackfromthepublicduringtheremediationoftheOnondagaLakebottom.Thereportisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/48761.html.
TheCPPisaformal,yetflexibleplanfortwo-waycommunica-tionwiththepublicduringthemulti-yeardredging,capping,restoration,andmonitoringproj-ect.Itidentifiesspecificcommu-nityoutreachandparticipationactivitiessuchasfactsheets,websites,newsletters,annualreports,speakers,publicmeetings,androundtablediscussions.AspartoftheCPP,theNYSDECformedaCommunityParticipationWork-ingGroup.Thisvolunteergroupiscomprisedofcitizens,publicofficials,andcommunityandenvironmentalleaderswork-ingindependentlyofNYSDECtoprovideaforumtoinform,receiveinput,makerecommendations,anddiscusstheOnondagaLakebottomremediationprogram.
Sediment
What are the Impacts from Landslides and Erosion?
Landslidesandothergeologicfeaturescreateadditionalnon-pointsourcepollutionissueswhenthedischargeofsedimentcausesgradualsubsidenceofnearbyhill-sides.LandslidesintheTullyValleycontributeturbid(cloudy),salinewatertoOnondagaCreek.Land-slideshaveoccurredatthebaseofBareMountainforthousandsof
What is the Barrier Wall?
In2007,constructionbeganonanimpressive1.5milelongundergroundbarrierwallalongthesouthwestshoreofOnondagaLake.Thepurposeofthewall,rangingbetween30to50feetdeep,istodivertpollutedgroundwaterfromseveraloftheuplandsitestoastate-of-the-arttreatmentplant.ThetreatedwateristhenpumpedtoMetrotoundergofurthertreatmenttomeetNewYorkStatewaterqualitystandards.Approximately80,000gallonsofclean,treatedwaterisreturnedtoOnondagaLakeeachdayaspartofthefirstphasebarrierwallgroundwaterdiversionandcollectionsystem.PhaseIIofthewallconstructionwascompletedin2009andPhaseIIIwillbecompletedin2011.Additionalinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableatwww.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
Figure 20. Barrier Wall DiagramData source, USACE
Page22 OnondagaLakePartnership
years,andtwoongoinglandslidesarefoundinRainbowCreekandRattlesnakeGulfwhicharetribu-tariestotheTullyValley.Remedialeffortstostabilizethelandslidesinthetwosidevalleyshavenotbeenpossibleduetodifficultaccessandsteepterrain.Inadditiontothemudboilsandlandslides,erosionalongstreamandroadbanksalsocontributessedimenttoOnondagaCreekduringperiodsofheavyrainandsnowmeltrunoff.
What are the Tully Valley Mudboils?
Mudboilsarevolcano-likeconesoffinesandandsiltfoundalongtheflooroftheTullyValley,approximately18miles(29kilo-meters)southofSyracuse.Theyrangeinsizefromseveralinchestoseveralfeethigh,andfromseveralinchestomorethan30feet(9.1meters)indiameter.SedimentfromthemudboilsentersOnon-dagaCreekwhichflowsnorthintoOnondagaLake.Mudboilactivityisanaturalphenomenonthatisinfluencedbyseasonalvariationsinprecipitationandgroundwaterrecharge.Theyaremoreactiveduringthespringandlatefallwhenprecipitationand
rechargeratesarehigh,andarelessactiveduringdry,summermonths.Mudboilscaneruptandformalargeconeinseveraldays.Theflowmightthencontinueforseveralyearsorstopasabruptlyasitstarted.
Mudboilsarecausedbyexces-siveartesianpressureinthevalleythathasexistedsincetheretreatofglacialicethousandsofyearsagoandcannotbecontainedbythesedimentlayersthatmakeupthevalleyfloor.Thereductioninartesianpressureisstilloccurringtodayintheformofwaterflowingfrommudboilsandwaterseepagethroughformermudboils.Mudboilactivitymayhavebeenexacerbated
bybrineminingactivitiescon-ductedintheTullyValleyduringthefirsthalfofthe20thcentury.
What are the Impacts from Mudboil Discharges?
Sedimentloadingfromthemudboilsisaconcernbecauseitdegradeswaterquality,decreaseswaterclarity,andreduceshabitatforaquaticinsects,fishspawning,andplantgrowthalongOnondagaCreek,theInnerHarbor,andtoalesserextent,inOnondagaLake.Historically,OnondagaCreekhascontributedmorethan50percentoftheannualtributarysedimentloadtothelake.Thedischargeofsedimentcausescontinuous
Figure 21. OLP Tabletop DisplayPhoto credit: NYSDEC Figure 22. Tully Valley Mudboil Site
Photo credit: USGS
Onondaga Creek
Mudboil Depression Area
Sediment Retenti on Dam
Page232010StateofOnondagaLake
What is Being Done to Reduce Sediment Loading from the Mudboils?
TheOLPisworkingwiththeOnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict(SWCD),U.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS),andotherregionalpartnerstoreducesedimentloadingfromthemud-boils.Remediationprojectshavehelpedtoreducemudboilactiv-ityandtoimprovetheecologicalintegrityofOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLake.Remediationproj-ectshaveincludedthefollowinginitiatives:
• DivertingthetributaryflowthatfeedstheprimaryMDAtoanadjacenttributary.
• InstallingdepressurizingwellsatseverallocationsneartheMDAandalongOnondagaCreektodecreasetheartesianpressure.
• Constructingadamandimpoundmentstocontroltheflowofsediment.TheimpoundedwaterallowsthesiltandsandtosettleoutbeforeflowingintoOnondagaCreekanddownstreamtoOnondagaLake.
• Modifyingseveralgeo-logicfeaturesthatallowsurfacewatertorechargetheground-watersysteminthesouthernTullyValley(alluvialfans,losingstreamreaches,andsinkholes).
OLP’sremediationeffortsresultedindramaticreductioninsedimentloadingfromthemud-boilstoOnondagaCreekfromthe1990sthrough2009.Whiletheremedialactivitiesimplemented
todateweresuccessfulinreduc-ingsedimentdischargetoOnon-dagaCreek,controllingmudboildischargeswillrequirecontinu-ous,long-termattention.Periodicmaintenanceactivities,suchasdredgingofsediment-filledcon-tainmentareasandrepairingflow-measuringandflow-diversionstructures,arenecessaryactivitiesduetoperiodsofhighflowandexcessivesedimentaccumulation.Depressurizationwellsalsorequireconstantmonitoringandmainte-nancetoassurecontinuedwelldischargeanddiminishedmudboilactivity.OngoinglandsubsidenceintheareaaroundthemudboilswillcontinuouslyaffectmudboilactivityandcreatenewchallengestoreducingsedimentdischargestoOnondagaCreek.TheOLP’sfund-ingtomaintainremediationeffortswillexpireSeptember30,2012.
Salinity
Salinityreferstotheconcentra-tionofdissolvedsaltsinwater.SalinitylevelsbegantodecreaseinOnondagaLakeafterAllied-SignalInc.(asuccessortotheSolvayProcessCompany)stoppeddepos-itingsaltwasteintothelake.Inrecentyearsthishasledtonotableimprovementsinthelakeecosys-tem.Lowersalinitylevelsimprovethenaturalstratification(layering)ofthelakewatercolumn,con-tributetoanincreaseindissolvedoxygenandaquaticdiversity,andhelptoenhancenear-shorehabitatsforplantsandanimals.
subsidenceofthemudboilareasandnearbyhillsides,whichhasresultedinthecollapseoftworoadbridges.
MudboilactivitycurrentlyoccursprimarilyintwoareaswithintheTullyValley:themainmudboildepressionarea(MDA),andtheroguemudboilarealocatednortheastoftheMDA.AftermajormudboilremediationeffortsintheMDAduringthemid1990s,theinitialroguemudboilappearedinearly1997.Overtimethismudboilgrewinsizeandintheearly2000s,aclaybermwasconstructedtocontaintheever-growingmudboil.However,beginningin2008,mudboilactiv-itydramaticallyincreasedwithin
andadjacenttotheroguemudboilarea.LossofadepressurizingwellbetweentheroguemudboilareaandOnondagaCreekinFebruaryof2010hasleadtosubsidenceoftheentireareaaroundtheformerwell,thebermthatcontainedsedimentinsidetheroguearea,andOnondagaCreek.ThisrecentmudboilactivityhasincreasedsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekandtheOLPiscurrentlyworkingtoaddressthisissuetominimizenegativeimpactstotheenvironment.
Figure 23. Tully Valley MudboilPhoto credit: USGS
Page24 OnondagaLakePartnership
Improvedwaterqualityandhabi-tathavealsoledtothepresenceofmorepollution-sensitivefishspe-ciesinOnondagaLake,includingbrowntrout,greaterredhorse,andrainbowsmelt.
Evenwiththesechanges,thesalinitylevelsinOnondagaLakeremainhigh,whichcanbeattrib-utedtobothnaturalandhumaninfluences.Thelevelsarerela-tivelyhighbecausesaltywastes(containingby-productsofsodaashproduction)arestillenter-ingOnondagaLakefromtheSolvaywastebedsalongNineMileCreek.Inaddition,naturallysalinegroundwaterseepsintothelowerreachesofOnondagaCreek.
Salinityisaprioritywaterqualityissuebecauseofthehighconcentrationofdissolvedmineralsalts(especiallysodiumchlo-ride–commonsalt,andcalciumchloride)inthewatersofOnon-dagaandNineMileCreeks,andOnondagaLake.Highsalinitylevelscanalterthenaturalstratificationofalake.Thermalstratification,anaturalprocesscommonlyseeninmanyupstateNewYorklakes,isinfluencedbytemperatureanddensitydifferences.Chemicalstratification,asseeninOnondagaLake,isinfluencedbyelevatedsalinitylevels.Well-definedlayersinastratifiedlakedonotmixuntilconditionschangewithairandwatertemperaturesorchemical
composition.Stratificationcon-tributestoadeclineintheoxygenlevelsandimpactsplantandanimalhealth.
How Does Industrial Waste Impact Salinity Levels?
SalinitylevelsinOnondagaLakedeclinedafterAllied-Signal,Inc.closeditschemicalplants.Sincethen,theconcentrationofchlo-ride,animportantcomponentofsalinityinOnondagaLake,hasdecreasedfrom1,800milligramsperliterin1985to450milligramsperliterin2009.
Toextractthesaltfromthesur-roundingarea,operatorsinjectedwaterintothesaltlayersthroughaseriesofwells1,000-1,400feetdeep,andthenpumpedthedis-solvedsalt(brine)tothesurface.Brinefrom167wellswastrans-portedbypipelinefromtheTullyValleyareatotheSolvayplantwhereitwasusedtomakesoda
ashandchlorinatedchemicals.Approximately6millionpoundsofsaltywaste,madeupofchloride,sodium,andcalcium,hadbeendischargeddailytoOnondagaLakeandnearbywastebedsfromthesodaashfacilitybeforeitclosed.AtthattimethesaltcontentofOnondagaLakewasunusuallyhigh,averaging0.30percent.Thiswasten-timesgreaterthannearbyOtiscoLakethathasasaltcontentofabout0.03percent.Bywayofcomparison,seawaterintheworld’soceanshasasalinitylevelofabout3.5percent.Thesaltcon-tentofthelakeispresentlyabout0.10percentbyweight.
What are the Natural Sources of Salinity?
EuropeanimmigrantssettledintheOnondagaLakeregionthroughoutthe17thand18thCenturiesdue,inpart,tothepres-enceofsaltysprings.Numerous
Figure 24. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto source: Gary Comins
Figure 25. Average Annual Chloride ConcentrationData source: Onondaga County Department of Water
Environment Protection
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Page252010StateofOnondagaLake
saltspringsreferencedinhistori-caldocumentshavedisappearedduetochangesinlakelevelandland-fillingalongtheshoreline,butonemajorsaltspringinOnondagaCreekstillremainsanddischargesbrinetotheCreekandLake.
TullyValleymudboilscontributewater,andsediment,andsomesalinitytoOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLake.SalinedischargesalsooriginatefromaseriesofsaltyspringswithintheolderlandslideareasalongthefootofBareMoun-tain(northwestofthemudboils)andfromthe1993landslidearea.Withintheselandslideareas,saltyspringsdischargewatertoOnondagaCreek,whichwasamajorreasonwhytheSolvayCom-panyexploredTullyValleyintheirquestforbrinefortheproductionofsodaash.Finally,theonlymajorbrinespringnearOnondagaLakeislocatedjustupstreamoftheInnerHarbor.Itrepresentstheconcen-trationofbrinewhichoncedis-chargedfromthesespringsaroundthesouthernendoftheLakethatmadeSyracusethe“SaltCity”.
What are Oncolites?Muchofthenear-shorearea
ofOnondagaLakeiscoveredwithcalciumcarbonatestonescalledoncolites,believedtohaveformedfromthecalcium-andsalt-richwastedischargesoftheAllied-Signalsodaashfacility.Thecal-ciuminthedischargewaterwouldprecipitateandsettleonthelakebottom,andthewaveactionthen
creatednodules,orballs,calledoncolites.Althoughoncolitesarestillpresent,thelakebottomisexhibit-inggreaterstabilityduetoincreasedplantgrowth.
Non-Point Source Pollution
Non-pointsourcepollutionoccurswhenstormwaterandwindtransportpollutantstowaterbodies.Commonnon-pointsourcepollutantswithintheOnondagaLakewater-shedincludesedi-mentfromtheTullyValleymudboils,saltfromhighwaydeicingoperations,andfertil-izersandpesticidesfromhorticul-turalpractices.DebrisandfloatingtrashentersOnondagaLakeanditstributariesthroughCSOsandstormsewers,andfromnearbystreets.
TheOLPfocusesonprogramstoreducenon-pointsourcepollutionloadingtoOnondagaLake.Forexample,alittervacuumtruckisnowusedtoremovefloatingtrashfromstormwatercatchbasins,andskimmervesselsareusedtoremovefloatingwastefromtheInnerHarbor.Trashremovalhelpstoimprovetheaestheticsofthelakeandreducesingestionorentanglementhazardstowildlife.
InnovativeOLP-sponsoredwater-shedprogramsarereducingnon-pointsourcepollutionbyfocusingonareassuchasanimalwasteandpesticidemanagementatfarmingoperations,streambankandroad-bankstabilization,increaseduseofphosphorus-freefertilizers,schooleducationprograms,andmeasurestocontrolroadandstreambanksoilerosionandstormwaterrunoff.
AgriculturalEnvironmentalManagement(AEM)isavoluntaryprogramwherefarmersworkwithateamoflocalresourceprofes-sionalstodevelopcomprehensivefarmplansusingatieredprocess.TheOLPprovidesfundingtothe
OnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservationDistricttodelivertheAEMprogramintheOnon-dagaCreekandNinemileCreekwatersheds.TheprogramhelpstoreduceagriculturalsourcesofsedimentandnutrientloadingtoOnondagaLake.Asof2009,57ofthe67farmsintheOnondagaLakewatershedhadparticipatedintheAEMprogram.
Figure 26. Onondaga Lake Shoreline WastebedPhoto credit: Onondaga Environmental Institute
Page26 OnondagaLakePartnership
The Onondaga Lake Ecosystem
Onondaga Lake Fisheries
TheOnondagaLakefishcom-munityisimprovingsoonerthan
anticipatedasaresultofchangesinwaterqualityandaquatichabitat.Lowerpollutionlevelshaveledtoreductionsinphosphorus,ammonia,andalgalgrowth,whichhavehadapositiveinfluenceonthehealthanddiversityofthefishcommunity.Thelakenowsupportsawarm-waterfishcommunityandarecoveringcool-waterfisherywithseveralgamespecies.Over65speciesoffishhavebeendocumentedinthelake,reflect-inganimpressiveincreasefromthe9to12speciesthatwererecordedinthelakeduringthe1970s.
Warm-waterfishsuchassunfishandcool-waterfishsuchaspikeandsmallmouthbassnowresideinthelakeyear-round.ColdwaterfishsuchastroutaretransientandmigratetoOnondagaLaketributariesandtotheSenecaRiverduringthesummermonthsbasedondissolvedoxygenlevelsandtemperature.
FishhealthandspeciesdiversityinOnondagaLakeareinfluencedbyavarietyoffactorssuchaspollutionlevels,dissolvedoxygen,watertemperature,availablefood,andsuitablespawninghabitat.Decreasedconcentrationsofammonia,salinity,andmercuryinrecentyearshavecontributedtohealthierfishcommunitiesbutthebottomwatersofOnondagaLakeremainrelativelyuninhabitabletofishduetolowlevelsofoxygenduringthesummerfollowingther-malstratification(alsoknownastemperaturelayering.)Thiscondi-tionalsoexistsinnearbylakes,suchasOtiscoandOneida.
PlantandanimalcommunitiesinOnondagaLakeinteractincomplexrelationshipsthatareessentialtooveralllakehealth.Thesurvivalofeachplantandanimalisdepen-dentonitsrelationshipwithotherorganisms,aninteractionreferredtoastheaquaticfoodweb.FishareanimportantpartofthefoodwebandOnondagaCountyroutinelymonitorstheirpopula-tionsandreproductivesuccess.Fishdataarealsorecordedonanannualbasisfromanglersurveys.Additionalinformationislocatedatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.
Largemouth bass
Common carp
Figure 27. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Craig Nels
Table 1. Fish Species Documented in Onondaga Lake, Grouped by Relative Abundance, 2000 to 2008
Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Abundant Species
alewife,bandedkillifish,bluegill,brownbullhead,carp,channelcatfish,gizzardshad,goldenshiner,largemouthbass,pumpkinseed,shortheadredhorse,smallmouthbass,whiteperch,whitesucker,yellowperch
Common Species
blackcrappie,bluntnoseminnow,bowfin,brooksilverside,brookstickleback,emeraldshiner,fatheadminnow,freshwaterdrum,longnosegar,logperch,northernpike,rockbass,tessellateddarter,tigermusky,walleye
Uncommon Species
blackbullhead,browntrout,goldfish,greaterredhorse,greensunfish,johnnydarter,lakesturgeon,longnosedace,northernhogsucker,quillback,rainbowtrout,rudd,spotfinshiner,trout,perch,whitebass,yellowbullhead
Page272010StateofOnondagaLake
What Types of Fish are Found in Onondaga Lake?
OnondagaCounty’smonitoringprogramhascaptured46differ-entfishspeciessince2000.WhencombiningtheCounty’sspecieslistwiththatofotherrecentstudies,therehavebeen65fishspeciesidentifiedinthelakeinrecentyears.Fishspeciesandtheirrela-tiveabundancearesummarizedinTable1.Asafurtherindicationofthelake’sremarkablerecovery,severalnewspecieshavebeencaughtinOnondagaLakeinthepastfewyearssuchaslakestur-geon,quillback,greensunfish,andblackbullhead.Additionalinformationaboutlakefisheriesisavailableatstatic.ongov.net/WEP/wepdf/FishFactSheet2007_2008.pdf.
Are the Fish Safe to Eat?Fishinghasbecomeincreasingly
popularonOnondagaLakeoverthepastfewyears.Nationalsport-ingcompetitionsandprofessionalfishingeventsarescheduledeachyear,andlocalanglersusethelakeontheregularbasisduringthesummermonths.
FishingonOnondagaLakeisarecreationalsportandtherearespecifichealthadvisoriesthatpro-viderecommendationsregardingfishconsumption.Theseadvisoriesareforsportfishthatpeoplecatchandarenotforfishandgamesoldinmarkets.StateadvisorieswhichapplytoOnondagaLakeandotherwaterbodiesinNewYorkStateareissuedbecausefishmaycontainenvironmentalcontaminantssuchasmercuryandPCBsthataccu-mulateinfishandhumantissues,
andmayposehealthconcernsifconsumed.FishadvisoriesinNewYorkStateareprimarilybasedoncontaminantlevelsinfishtissuethatarecollectedbytheNYSDEC.ThecurrenthealthadvisoriesforOnondagaLakearelistedinTable2.Thecomplete2010-2011healthadvisoryisavailableatwww.nyhealth.gov/environmental/out-doors/fish/fish.htm.
InadditiontothecontinuingproblemofelevatedmercurylevelsinOnondagaLakefish,PCBlevelshaveincreasedinrecentyearsinsomefishspeciesfromOnondagaLake.Basedonthesedata,thehealthadvisoryissuedbytheNewYorkStateDepartmentofHealth(NYSDOH)recommendseatingnocarp,channelcatfish,andwhiteperch.Inaddition,theadvisoryforOnondagaLakebrown
bullheadandpumpkinseedrecom-mendseatinguptofourmealspermonth.Theadvisorystatesthatnolargemouthandsmallmouthbassover15inchesorwalleyeshouldbeconsumed.Onemealpermonthcanbeconsumedforallotherfishspecies.However,womenundertheage50andchildrenundertheageof15areadvisednottoeatanyfishcaughtinOnondagaLake.
Bluegill
White bass
Table 2. Chemicals in Sportfish and Game: 2010-2011 Health Advisories for Onondaga LakeData source: NYSDOH
Species Advice* Chemical(s) of Concern
Largemouthbassandsmallmouthbassover15”andwalleye
Don’teat Mercury,PCBs
Brownbullheadandpumpkinseed Eatuptofourmealspermonth
Mercury,PCBs
Carp,channelcatfish,andwhiteperch Don’teat PCBs,Mercury,Dioxin
Allfishnotlisted Eatuptoonemealpermonth
Mercury,PCBs
* Woman under the age of 50 and children under the age of 15 should not eat any fish from Onondaga Lake.
Page28 OnondagaLakePartnership
Aquatic Plants
WiththerecentimprovementsinOnondagaLakewaterquality,nearlyafour-foldincreaseinaquaticplantcoverhasbeendocumentedbetween2000and2009.Lowerphosphoruslevelshaveledtofewerandlessseverealgaeblooms.Thewaterclarityhasimprovedwhichmeansthatsun-lightcanpenetratetogreaterdepths.Aquaticplantsinthelakearenowgrowingatsixmeterdepths.
TheOnondagaLakeplantcommu-nityhasalsobecomemorediverseandabundant.Aquaticplantsprovidevaluablespawningandnurseryhabitatnecessaryforfishcommunities.Plantsalsoprovidefoodandshelterforavarietyofadditionalaquaticanimalsandinsects,andtheirrootsystemshelptoreduceerosionbystabilizingthelakeshoreline.OnondagaCounty
monitorstheplantcommunitiesthroughtheuseofaerialphotographsandgroundtruthing.Tenplanttypeswereidentifiedduringthe2008sam-pling.Eurasianwatermilfoil,coontailandelodeawerethemostwidelydis-tributedplantspeciesfoundatmostofthetensites.Additionalinforma-tionaboutaquaticplantgrowthandthesamplingprogramisavailableatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.
Eurasian water milfoilFigure 28. Aquatic Plant Coverage in Onondaga Lake, 2000 and 2009
Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Page292010StateofOnondagaLake
ConclusionForthepastseveralyears,OnondagaLakewaterqualityhasshownremarkable
improvementandthelakeisonceagainbecomingarecreationdestinationpointforoutdoorenthusiastswhileservingasasourceofcommunitypride.Followingalong-terminvestmentoffunding,combinedwithstrongregionalpartnershipsandstrategicrestorationplanning,thelakeisnowevolvingintoavaluedlocalresource.
Becauseofcontinuedwaterqualityandbiologicalimprovements,publicuseofthelakeisincreasing,butthereisstillmuchtoaccomplish.Federal,State,andlocalorganizations,residents,andlakeuserswillcontinuetoplayamajorroleintherevitalizationofOnondagaLakeforyearstocome.Projectswillcontinuetobedesignedandimplementedwithmeasurabledeliverables,well-definedgoals,andtimelinesforcompletion.Thefollowingprioritieshavebeenidentifiedforthenextseveralyears:• Conductacleanupofindustrialcontaminationfromthelakebottomandadditional
sitestomeethealthstandardsandtoimproveconditionsforthelakefishery;• Maintainlowphosphoruslevelsinthelakeandcontinuetoreducephosphorus
loadingfromMetroandotherwatershedsources;• ReducefloatablesolidsandbacterialdischargesfromCSOsandcontrolthevolumeof
stormwatercontributingtoCSOsinordertomeetwaterqualitystandards;• ImprovewaterqualityinOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLakebymanagingsediment
loadingfromsourcessuchastheTullyValleymudboilsandlandslideactivities;and• Restoreandmaintainahealthyanddiverseecologicalhabitatthatissuitableforthe
growthofrootedaquaticplantsandthemaintenanceofasustainablefishery.
TheplansforOnondagaLakearedesignedtomaintainwaterqualityimprovementtrendsthatwillsupportahealthyaquatichabitatforplantsandanimals,andthatwillcontinuetoenhancerecreationopportunitiesforthepublic.Inaddition,awaterqualitymodelisbeingdevelopedasapredictivetoolthat,whenutilizedwithmodelsalreadydevelopedforupstreamanddownstreamofthelake,willsimulatehowtheOnondagaLakesystemwillrespondtochangesinnutrientloading,sourcereductions,andwastewatertreatmentplantimprovements.
AscleanupprogramsprogressundertheleadershipoftheOLP,futureexpectationsarebrightforcontinuedimprovementofOnondagaLakeresources.ForadditionalinformationabouttheOLPandrevitalizationprograms,visittheOLPwebsiteatwww.onlakepartners.org.
Photocredit:LakeEffectRunClubPage30 OnondagaLakePartnership
Onondaga Lake Partnership Committees
TheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)promotescooperationamongFederal,State,andlocalgovernments,andotherinvolvedpartiesinthemanagementoftheenvironmentalissuesofOnondagaLakeandtheOnondagaLakewatershedintheSyracuse,NewYorkarea.
Executive Committee TheExecutiveCommittee,chairedbyU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,establishesandmaintainsthemissionofthepartnershipandthelakeimprovementeffort.Committeemembersinclude:
• U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers• U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency• NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmental
Conservation• NewYorkStateAttorneyGeneral• OnondagaCounty• CityofSyracuse
Project Committee TheProjectCommittee,chairedbytheNYSDEC,providestechnicalexpertiseforOLPprojectsanddevelopsandmaintainsfundingstrategies.CommitteemembersincluderepresentativesofExecutiveCommitteeagencies,aswellasthe:
• StateUniversityofNewYorkCollegeofEnviromentalScience&Forestry
• U.S.GeologicalSurvey• NewYorkStateCanalCorporation• OnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservation
District• CentralNewYorkRegionalPlanning&
DevelopmentBoard• MetropolitanDevelopmentAssociation
Outreach Committee TheOutreachCommittee,chairedbyOnondagaCounty,workstoenhancepublicknowledgeandunderstandingofthepartnershipandthestatusofthelakeimprovementeffort.CommitteemembersincluderepresentativesofExecutiveCommitteeagencies,aswellasthe:
• IzaakWaltonLeague• AtlanticStatesLegalFoundation• CornellUniversityCooperativeExtension,
OnondagaCounty• StateUniversityofNewYorkCollegeof
EnvironmentalScience&Forestry• OnondagaHistoricalAssociation• CitizensCampaignfortheEnvironment
Figure 29. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto source: Onondaga County Parks
Page312010StateofOnondagaLake
Federal, State, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups are working together to improve conditions in Onondaga Lake and its watershed. Additional information about the Onondaga Lake Partnership is available by calling (800) 833-6390, by submitting questions and comments to [email protected], or by visiting the Onondaga Lake Partnership
web site at www.onlakepartners.org.