DEC Contact: Kevin Frazier (518) 402-8000 October 26, 2020
|
|
DEC AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF 203 ACRES IN OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT WATER QUALITYPurchase is Latest Step by DEC and TNC to Prevent HABs and Nonpoint Source Pollution from Affecting Drinking Water and the Overall Health of the Owasco Watershed |
|
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) today announced the acquisition of a critical parcel in the Owasco Lake watershed that will help protect public water supplies and safeguard riparian buffers and wetlands. The acquisition of the Hirst parcel in the town of Locke, Cayuga County, is the first of several parcels to be purchased by TNC with funding from New York State’s Water Quality Improvement Program that specifically targets the protection of source waters. “Governor Cuomo continues to make the protection of drinking water across New York State a top priority, and by working with partners like The Nature Conservancy and providing record funding to achieve our aggressive goals, we are making long-term investments that will help provide cleaner water far into the future,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “TNC’s acquisition of the first of several parcels in the Owasco watershed using state water funding is helping create a healthier lake, protecting the water supply, reducing the potential for Harmful Algal Blooms, and continuing to contribute to the local economies dependent on quality recreational opportunities.” Governor Cuomo continues to increase investments for clean water infrastructure projects, including the State's unprecedented $3.5 billion commitment to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to clean water. Along with support from the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) funds projects to improve water quality, reduce the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and protect drinking water across the state. DEC has announced more than $37 million for 37 land acquisition projects to date. In addition to land acquisition projects for source water protection, WQIP grants are awarded for municipal wastewater treatment, nonagricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, salt storage, and aquatic habitat restoration. “We look forward to acquiring this critical habitat for addition to Fillmore Glen State Park under our multi-year open space acquisition plan, as we evaluate its potential use for passive recreation, such as trails,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “This property will further protect the quality of the creek that runs through our park, and its public swimming area, before feeding the Owasco Inlet, a critical tributary to the lake.” Acquisition of the Hirst parcel builds upon the aggressive actions the State has already taken on Owasco Lake to reduce the frequency of HABs, which are a persistent challenge in the Finger Lakes and waterbodies statewide. In response, Governor Cuomo and DEC are taking nation-leading actions to prevent and mitigate these potentially toxic blooms by investing in infrastructure upgrades and new technology, a commitment particularly strong around Owasco Lake. New York is implementing a two-fold approach combining watershed improvement strategies to prevent the formation of HABs with new, cutting-edge technologies that help us effectively remediate HABs when they occur. In 2017, the Governor committed $2 million to support major upgrades of advanced treatment technologies to ensure clean drinking water for the city of Auburn and town of Owasco. This comprehensive plan included installation of carbon treatment systems, and more than $2.7 million in subsequent investments have been made in wastewater infrastructure, watershed protection, and habitat restoration initiatives across the region. Based on experiences at Owasco and other critical waterbodies, Governor Cuomo launched one of the most aggressive plans to combat HABs in the country. In 2018, DEC convened four regional summits to examine the causes of HABs and develop sustainable solutions to reduce algal blooms. DEC worked with State and local partners to develop and implement HABs Action Plans for 12 high priority waterbodies, including Owasco Lake. Since then, Governor Cuomo's HABs Initiative has provided an estimated $187 million for projects statewide to reduce the frequency of HABs. |
|
###
|