Forum sheds light on Owasco Lake status

AUBURN | Three water scientists shared their knowledge Saturday of the current status of Owasco Lake, the local body of water that supplies drinking water, aesthetic beauty and recreational opportunities.

Sponsored by numerous organizations, The State of Owasco Lake symposium reviewed environmental and economic impacts on the lake and its users regarding occurrences of phosphorus, algae and disinfection byproducts.

John Halfman, along with two officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, led off the three-hour event in the Irene A. Bisgrove Community Theatre at Cayuga Community College.

His presentation "The Trophic Status of Owasco Lake," focused on phosphorus in the lake's watershed. The nutrient manifests both naturally and via manmade routes, such as through agricultural runoff. Phosphorus proliferation, particularly in shallow waters, is the basis for growth of algae blooms. Algae is preventable and can be costly, he said.

"The cleaner the lake the less you have to filter it, and filtering costs money," he said.

A professor in the geoscience department and environmental studies program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Halfman also leads the Finger Lakes Institute.

"Will I swim in the lake? Yes. Does it need to improve? Yes," he said.

Citizen groups, he said, make a difference in how municipalities fare financially when the time comes to make potable water available for public use. He pointed to the effective efforts of residents and users of Skaneateles Lake, the drinking water source for the City of Syracuse, at staving off water maintenance costs.

"By keeping that water clean they've saved millions, if not billions, in costs for Syracuse," he said.

Wastewater treatment plants, farmers and lake residents all play a part in Owasco Lake's health. Significant steps were made when the water treatment plant in Groton cleaned up its facility's operation several years ago, and more recently soil and water groups are working with area farmers to manage agricultural runoff, Halfman said.

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Forum sheds light on Owasco Lake status