Henninger High Schoolt on National Water Monitoring Day

Henninger Environmental Science Class Representatives

Suzanne (Environmental Science Teacher) - Students have been learning in the classroom about things that can be done in their own homes and backyards to help prevent pollution; their participation in National Water Monitoring Day event at Onondaga Creek gave them a lot of information they didn't previously have. The event gave them an understanding of Onondaga Creek, near where many of them live, and they were surprised to find out about its affect on Onondaga Lake. Not only did the students learn from a hands-on activity involving water sampling and interpreting the test results, they also met professionals from U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and learned about careers and employment opportunities in the environmental science field. Although many of the students have used the park and shopped at the mall, they said that they "had no idea this [lake cleanup] was going on" until they participated in this event.

Amanda (Student) - The Onondaga Lake Partnership has put a tremendous amount of work into involving the youth and children of Syracuse, and this has been a great and prosperous step. "We are the hands into which this project will be placed some day, and all the hard work and benefits are for us." They have a great class and have participated in activities like reading Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. But the National Water Monitoring Day event gave students the opportunity to see for themselves how much effort is being put into cleaning up the lake, and its effects. "Onondaga Lake and Onondaga Creek are cleaner than I thought."

Tim (Student) - The students were surprised because they didn't expect to be able to go into the water during the National Water Monitoring Day event. "The students that didn't go really missed out."

Stakeholders Share Their Vision for Onondaga Lake

Jeffrey Freedman

Jeffrey Freedman, Onondaga Lake Yacht Club - The Yacht Club currently has 52 family memberships, and they have seen a 25% increase in membership since this year's Onondaga Lake Day event and accompanying publicity. A 10-year lease has been approved by the New York State legislature and $8500 in improvements have been made to the club house. Boats have crossed the starting line in races and regattas over 200 times and a junior sailing program is under way. Vision is to have more boats on the lake, to develop and conduct a summer day camp to teach children boating and water safety, preserve a green shoreline, and to create an Onondaga Lake Boating Center to appeal to tourists (whereas the Yacht Club is more geared to permanent residents). Would like to see a ban on jet skis, marking of underwater obstacles, and focus on making lake more aesthetically attractive to boaters.

Sally Jensen-Darnell

Sally Jensen-Darnell, Canopy and Communitrees Stewards - "It's impossible to watch a sunset at Onondaga Lake and not feel connected to something beautiful and divine. The damage to the lake occurred over time and won't be reversed overnight. By continuing to proceed as a unified force, we can restore this beautiful lake to a natural resource we can be proud of; one that sustains a rich array of wildlife, supports recreational needs, and contributes to the economic vitality of the area. It's up to us to step up to the plate and work together. All stakeholders are obliged to remember the common goal - a cleaner lake that is an asset to the community, one that our children and our children's children can delight in. Without acrimony and personal attacks and recriminations, we need to allow the agencies that are charged with the lake cleanup the opportunity to do so, and to work by their side to achieve what none of us can do alone. When we bring healing to Onondaga Lake, we will bring strength and healing to our community as well."

John Allen

John Allen, Syracuse-Onondaga Cycling Coalition - Vision is to have a pedestrian and bike path around the lake that connects with the creek walk and Erie Canal Park. He bikes to work and believes others will if a safe way to do so is provided. Would also like to see Onondaga Creek opened up - he has run along it for years and this year decided to canoe it. He was a volunteer during the Onondaga Creek cleanup in September and was surprised at the amount of trash retrieved from the creek. "We need to finish cleaning up Onondaga Creek, and then keep it clean and open it up so it can be used."

David Aitken

David Aitken, Destiny USA - The waterways in Central New York pose a great opportunity to connect where people live, work and play. The existing Carousel Center site was chosen based on future plans - a clean lake, transformation of the Inner Harbor, designation of the New York State Canal System as a national heritage corridor, and investment in Onondaga Creek. The Destiny USA project can be successful in itself from an economic perspective, but the community challenged, and Destiny USA responded, to fully integrate the project with the surroundings. Water is a key factor. In ten years, expect to see a "best of class" waterfront where visitors from around the world will feel welcome: home to a PGA golf tournament, expanded marinas, lunch and dinner cruises, people movers, water taxis and ferries, and a completed Loop the Lake. "We need to celebrate success - plan our future - and dream big."

Mike Cusano

Mike Cusano, Salt City Bass Masters - "Not in your lifetime. That's what I heard as a child every time I asked to go fishing in Onondaga Lake." Now it's possible, and most of their members are pleased with the progress. Vision for the future includes a new launch facility with a concrete ramp, dockage, and parking lot for tow vehicles and trailers; artificial fish habitats which the group will donate their time, boats and manpower to install if they can obtain funding to procure the materials; getting rid of water chestnuts; and consider a 30 mph speed limit for smaller watercraft to benefit tourism. Group is extremely pleased with progress and excited about the future. "Now every time I catch a 3 lb. bass, I say, 'Not in this lifetime,' and let the fish go."

Public Comments

Matt Mulcahy asks the audience for their vision for the future of Onondaga Lake.

Fran, Liverpool - Family uses Onondaga Lake constantly. One thing they won't do is put their kayak in the lake, but would like to see the time come when they can.

Brad, Syracuse - Totally pleased with progress and can't see where we can do anything more at this point. Would like to see more volunteers. "I have swum in the lake and I'm still here!" The lake has a resiliency that baffles the mind.

Eric, Syracuse (Lakefront Development Corporation) - Urges everyone to come and see the Inner Harbor, where $20 million of public amenities are in the ground. This past summer, we launched a series of successful Friday lunch cruises and received a grant to conduct ten cruises for inner city senior citizens, who were thrilled to experience the lake in this way.

Joe, Solvay - Would like to see a graphical presentation of metrics for each pollutant in the lake, to show progress with real numbers.

Response: Steve Eidt, NYSDEC, Chair OLP Project Committee: A component of the Amended Consent Judgment is an ambient monitoring program to study water chemistry and biology. In the future, we hope to produce simple, readable graphics that will include historical, current and expected data

Tracy, Liverpool - Would like to see a focus on the health of the lake and not so much on the aesthetics. How many overflows are going into the lake?

Response: Steve Eidt, NYSDEC, Chair, OLP Project Committee: A number of these have been shut off already due to the sewer separation projects. Others are related to larger projects in the Harbor Brook area, such as Onondaga Creek, Clinton and Midland. The focus here is on the condition and health of the lake and the creek, although the aesthetic improvements being noted are directly related to the health of the lake.

Amanda, Syracuse - Would like to know what is being done about solid wastes in the lake.

Response: Ken Lynch, NYSDEC, member, Executive Committee: Hazardous waste is a big concern, and was mainly caused by industrial sites upland of the lake. Much of the discharge has been cut off because the plants stopped operating. We have a challenge ahead of us to study what exactly is in the bottom of the lake, and then plan what to do about it. One option under consideration is digging a trench along the west shoreline to cut off contamination currently entering the lake.

John, Salina - Suggests that consideration be given to organizing regular weekly Saturday afternoon canoe trips for kids. Would need boats and water safety instructors donated. The most effective way to spread consciousness about the lake is to get the whole community behind the effort to protect the entire watershed. Concerned with correcting combined sewer overflows (CSOs) - when putting treated water back into the lake, wants assurance that chlorine will not also be put into the lake.

Response: Steve Eidt, NYSDEC, Chair, OLP Project Committee: Some treatment alternatives require disinfection, and according to state and federal standards, chlorination is an acceptable disinfectant. Some projects, such as those at Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook, include dechlorination to remove chlorine and eliminate related byproducts.

Len, Liverpool - As a teacher at Liverpool High School, would like to see more educational outreach such as programs established by NYSDEC and USEPA. Need a "czar" of education and outreach programs dealing with Onondaga Lake. Would also like to see a nature center located on the shore and open to all ages. "If you want to teach about Onondaga Lake, you need to get people involved with Onondaga Lake." Current environmental science classes only reach a small segment of the high school population. Suggests a program for all grade levels to get students involved and foster appreciation for Onondaga Lake and the world they live in.

Response: Dave Coburn, Onondaga County, Chair, OLP Resource Committee: One of the projects that the OLP has funded is an education program, and we will work with faculty and staff to develop curriculum and make it available online and through other methods.

Ron, Liverpool - If runoff could be stopped, how long would it take for nature to run its course and clear up the bottom sediments - will it ever happen?

Response: Ken Lynch, NYSDEC, member, OLP Executive Committee: This is a multi-step process. First we need to study to discover exactly what is in the lake and what its present condition is - is it covered by sediment, etc. Then we need to develop a plan and identify solutions based on a thorough examination of all options (i.e., capping, dredging, leaving it alone, etc.).
 
Response: Dave Coburn, Onondaga County, Chair, OLP Resource Committee: Note that you can already see things happening. There is activity along the cement pier, barges in the water, etc. The NYSDEC is working with Honeywell to install a groundwater monitoring system to study how the groundwater in lake sediments is communicating with the lake's water column.

Dick, Liverpool - What is the mix of federal, state and local funding for this project to date?

Response: Nick Pirro, Onondaga County, member, OLP Executive Committee: The wastewater collection and treatment project (referred to as the Amended Consent Judgment or ACJ) was estimated to cost approximately $380 million but that estimate was in 1998 dollars, so it will cost a little more than that. In the beginning, this cost was solely borne by County taxpayers. However, through the efforts of Congressman Walsh and former Senator Moynihan, $106 million in federal funds has been promised, with $90 million received to date. Additionally, Governor Pataki has allocated $75 million in the Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act, and pledged another $80 million. Ten million dollars from the State Environmental Protection Fund was received this year. Federal and state support accounts for about two thirds of the cost of the ACJ, with the remaining third coming from County taxpayers in the sanitation district. We have also had great support from the Environmental Facilities Corporation, through low or no interest loans, which have saved taxpayers a lot of money. There has been great cooperation from all levels. The Honeywell cleanup is an unknown with respect to cost at this time.

Larry, Liverpool - Syracuse needs a symbol, similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the St. Louis Arch, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Proposes a water jet, anchored in the lake on a floating platform and lighted at night, projecting water several hundred feet into the air. Suggests installing viewing platforms around the lake to provide access from different perspectives. He has seen something similar in Geneva, Switzerland and feels it would draw people to the lake.