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DREDGING PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
City Of Ithaca
Notes on Meeting of 14 April 2008
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network has been asked by the City of
Ithaca to serve on an advisory committee (The Dredging Public Advisory
Committee - DPAC) considering the dredging of the Inlet at the south
end of Cayuga Lake to restore the full navigational depth and perhaps
to improve flood protection for large floods.
The City of Ithaca has just let a contract to identify solutions
for dredging the inlet, choose the best one, design the scheme and
obtain the required permits; the two companies carrying out this
phase are Ecologic and ERM. They have developed a time table that
shows this phase lasting until the summer of 2010. The dredging
will follow when funds permit and should take perhaps 6 months,
depending on the chosen solution.
The project has to show the need for dredging, decide on where
to dispose of the sediment from the dredging – the most difficult
aspect – and consider restoration of the site and longer term
ways to reduce the sediment load and hence future dredging activities.
The last dredging was about 25 years ago and the sediment was disposed
of in the current dog park.
At present it is estimated there may be up to 600,000 cubic yds.
of sediment to dispose of – an improved estimate will be made
later this summer. The quality of the sediments has to be determined
and classified as either A (no contaminants), B (some contaminants,
which may affect where the spoil can be placed) or C (highly contaminated).
At present it is thought that they will largely be A with some spots
of B which will make them suitable for land disposal, but again
tests will be performed this summer to clarify this.
The DEC is most unlikely to approve of dumping the sediment in
the deeper lake, the cheapest solution, for ecological reasons.
To dispose of the sediment on land, it has to be pumped or lifted
onto land and dewatered; it will take 20-40 acres of land to do
this. Sites within 1 mile of the inlet and at the level of downtown
that are publicly owned are being considered as possible disposal
sites at this stage.
Using the sediment to create a new wetland in the shallows of the
lake is one possible solution but it is difficult to create such
wetlands according to the DEC representative.
Better definition of the options should be known later this summer
when the next meeting of the DPAC is planned.
The Network is to serve on an outreach sub-committee which is likely
to meet monthly.
The City is developing a web site that will contain more information
on the project. When known we will provide a link to that site.
Notes made by:
John Mawdsley, Chair
Board of Directors, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
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Fish Virus Threatens Fisheries
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, is a cold water fish virus
known to be present in the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and nearby in Skaneateles
Lake. VHS has the potential for profound socio-economic consequences,
since it has been linked with massive fish kills in lakes where
it is present. Though not a threat to people who handle or consume
infected fish, it is a threat to the more than 25 fish species it
can kill.
Infected fish, dead or alive, or the waters they swim in can spread
the virus. Because the NYS Canal System provides a water link that
can act as a transport mechanism for further spreading VHS, boaters
and fishermen play a vital role in containing the disease. Some
very good introductory information on VHS, and guidelines for boaters
and anglers can be found at the NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation websites
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/25328.html
http://erie.pmailus.com/pmailweb/ct?d=ENe92wBzAAUAAAS0AAGX5g
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Seneca Meadows Renewable Resurces Park
IESI-Seneca Meadows Landill opened in Fall
2007 an electricity-generating power
plant fueled by methane gas generated by decomposing
trash. The plant will provide low-cost electricity and methane gas
to future tenants at its Renewable Resources Park.
The IESI-Seneca Meadows Renewable Resource Park. The 200 acre,
landfill gas powered industrial park will produce sufficient waste
heat and energy for a number of new businesses. The industrial park’s
first tenant, H2Gro, is a greenhouse company out of Lewiston, New
York that grows hydroponic vegetables for retail sale in grocery
stores throughout the southeastern states. H2Gro will provide an
estimated 100 new jobs for the community with their 20 acre greenhouse
facility, scheduled for construction this spring.
The IESI-Seneca Meadows Renewable Resource Park, which is located
across from the Landfill site on the east side of State Route 414,
houses 18 engine generators that burn landfill gas to produce 17
megawatts of electricity.
President and CEO of IESI-Seneca Meadows, Mickey Flood states that
the company is commited to the success of the industrial park, as
well as two other initiatives currently underway: an environmental
community education center that the Landfill is constructing just
north of it’s facility on Route 414, and a wetlands recreational
and educational complex that will be created on the old Dove property
across from the Landfill. When constructed, these three facilities
will add to the eco-tourism potential for the area.
The watershed now has two new stream gages
that measure and report stream height and discharge in cubic feet
per second flow. The Seneca-Cayuga
Canal gage is near Seneca Falls on the upstream side
of the Rt. 89 bridge. The Salmon
Creek gage is in Ludlowville by the
upstream fishing access parking area. The US Geological Survey (USGS)
website that houses the near real-time data states “data typically
are recorded at 15-60 minute intervals, stored onsite, and then
transmitted to USGS offices every 1 to 4 hours, depending on the
data relay technique used. Recording and transmission times may
be more frequent during critical events. Data from real-time sites
are relayed to USGS offices via satellite, telephone, and/or radio
and are available for viewing within minutes of arrival. All real-time
data are provisional
and subject to revision. Gaging information is available also for
Cayuga
Inlet , Fall
Creek , and two locations on Six
Mile Creek near Brooktondale and Bethel
Grove .
Bottom
barriers (also called benthic barriers) are good for
weed control in a small area. Instructions show how to make your
own.
Watch for the invasive
Water Chestnut.
The Invasive Weed
ID Guide will help you learn to identify it and other
invasive weeds.
Dead fish washed up on Cayuga's shore in unprecedented numbers in
early to mid-summer. Fearing the culprit was the viral hemorrhagic
septicemia virus (VHSV) recently found
in upstate New York, fish were sent for testing. The
virus causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species.
It poses no threat to humans or other animals.
NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation blames the rapid rise in
water temperature for the die-off of fish already stressed by the
spawning season, according to quotes in a Post
Standard article Aug 8. 2006.
While the virus was found NOT to be the cause of death, the virus
could spread to Cayuga Lake in the future. Anglers and boaters can
help slow the spread by thoroughly cleaning fishing equipment, boats,
and trailers before using them in a new body of water. Fish, including
bait fish, should not be transferred from one body of water to another.
As Watershed Steward, it is my pleasure to announce Judy Pipher
as the Recipient of 2006 Morehouse Award. Pipher's accomplishments
are many --- founding Director of the Watershed Network, webmaster
for this site, founder and committee chair for the Essay Contest,
outreach committee member and former chair, organizer of events...
the list could go on and on. Since the inception of the Cayuga Lake
Watershed Network Pipher has demonstrated her dedication to this
watershed through leadership and action. She is always ready with
ideas, energy, follow through and criticism when it is warranted.
If you know of someone deserving of the Morehouse Award, submit
a nomination for
July 15 of the coming year.
Congratulations to 13 farms
in 3 counties within the watershed which have received the first
annual Lake-Friendly Farm Awards. Agriculture is the largest single
land use in the Cayuga Lake watershed, making it important ecologically,
economically, aesthetically and culturally. Recognition goes to
those farmers who have shown their commitment to protecting by incorporating
into farm practices New York State’s Agricultural Environmental
Management (AEM) recommendations. Funded in part by Tompkins Trust
and the Farm Bureaus of Cayuga, Seneca and Tompkins Counties. Details
and Application.
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