Seneca Lake
Area Partners
in 5 Counties

SLAP-5

Goals:
To develop a watershed management plan for Seneca Lake that will protect and improve water quality and is supported by the citizens and communities in the watershed. To provide representation for all important sectors inthe Seneca Lake Watershed and to keep in contact with people in their areas of expertise to ensure the watershed program reflects and responds to the people represented.

Farms and lakes are the landscape of beautiful western New York.  Keeping farms viable while keeping lakes clean is the goal of New York Ag & Market’s Agricultural Environmental Management Program.  

Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates Counties make this voluntary, incentive-based program meet the needs of individual farms in the Seneca Lake Watershed.  Confidential assessment and planning helps farmers identify and prioritize projects on their farms that will protect water resources and enhance farm operations. 

Farm operations are inventoried, future plans and environmental concerns are noted.  Good stewardship practices are documented, as well as areas where improvements are needed. 

State, federal, local and landowner funding sources are utilized to make these projects as complete and cost-effective as possible.  It is appropriate that cost-share funds are available to farmers for these installations and practices as the primary benefit is to the general public in keeping contaminants out of surface water and groundwater: both are drinking water sources.   Farmers typically shoulder 25%  – 75% of the cost of these practices with cost-share funds making up the rest. Cost shares vary according to individual projects.

Agricultural and urban runoff are both significant concerns in the Seneca Lake Watershed.  Carl Fribolin of Geneva has been addressing both problems with an AEM project on his farm, in cooperation with Ontario County SWCD.

Urban stormwater is typically characterized by runoff from parking areas carrying motor vehicle fluids, lawn care chemicals and grass clippings, pet waste, and litter.  Agricultural runoff typically carries sediments and nutrients from tillage and fertilization practices.

Runoff from a nearby apartment complex and the Town of GenevaHighway Department’s headquarters enters Fribolin’s land from the north. Impervious surfaces – parking and roof areas – increase the rate of runoff from rain and snow melt, as there is no infiltration to soils.  Drainage issues were also addressed with Fribolin’s project.  Residents of a housing tract to the east had long been complaining about “swampy” yards and asking for remediation.

Creation of a 1250 foot-long grassed waterway with a stormwater and sediment control basin at the head has alleviated these problems.  The shaped waterway allows runoff water a definite drainage path to the sediment basin. The basin holds stormwater, enabling settlement of sediments, nutrients and contaminants.

The waterway was shaped, seeded and mulched to promote quick growth of grass. Grass filters many of the contaminants and nutrients from the water before it enters the ponding area.  This successful project has received many expressions of gratitude from the community for solving multiple runoff issues. Education about proper litter and lawn clipping disposal was given to residents.

 Carl Fribolin is widely known as a professional, proactive farmer.  He was the recipient of the 2006 Rodney Lightfoote Agricultural Viability and Innovation Award.

Every program and occupation has its own jargon, and Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) is no exception.  Here, in plain language, are some common terms you might like to know.

CNMP – Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan.  Planning manure applications to ensure land-spreading is done when and where crops are ready to make use of the nutrients.

CAFO – Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.  A livestock operation that meets or exceeds a threshold number of animals.  Regulations about manure management apply to these farms.

BMP – Best Management Practice.
The general term for farm practices that reduce the risk of contamination of the larger environment.

CCA – Certified Crop Advisor

NRCS – Natural Resources Conservation Service - An arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) charged with helping private landowners and managers conserve soil, water, and other natural resources.

CREP - Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program –  A voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.  Commonly used in creating grassed and wooded buffer near streams and other waterways.

In 2008 the Seneca County Soil & Water Conservation District was awarded  $228,264.00 through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund Program’s Round 14. The Finger Lakes RC&D Council prepared the grant application on behalf of the Seneca County SWCD and is serving as the project’s grant administrator.

Twelve vineyards located within the Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake Watersheds will be receiving cost share funding. Some of the participating vineyards will also receive financial assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Agricultural Management Assistance Program.

The agri-chemical mixing facilities serve as a self-contained permanent unit with an impervious surface to provide an environmentally safe area for handling of on-farm pesticides. The agri-chemical mixing facilities will be equipped with:

• A curbed, chemical mixing and loading pad
•  A collection sump and sump pump
• An adequate water supply for mixing herbicides
• Rinsing tanks and containers for emergency health and safety needs
• Backflow prevention devices 
• Tanks for storage of rinse water and potentially contaminated run off.
• Operation and maintenance plans
• Emergency safety contingency plans.

Reprinted with permission from Richard Winnett
 NRCS/Finger Lakes RC&D Area

Photographs: Seneca County SWCD

A committee of ten persons from five municipalities has been meeting to discuss issues related to docks and moorings on Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. 

Sue Ellen Balluff of Romulus chairs the committee composed of representatives from the Towns of Ovid, Romulus, Fayette, Varick and Seneca Falls.  The Seneca County Planning and Community Development Office has provided assistance and the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning office will be also be providing support under the auspices of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Grant from the NYS Department of State.

Issues being addressed by this committee include:

• Proliferation of docks
• Size of docks
• Blocked views
• Infringement of property lines
• Concerns for lake habitat
• Safety
• Crowding

A survey of existing docks and moorings in the lakeshore municipalities is being conducted to determine current conditions.

The Army Corps of Engineers, New York State DEC and New York State Office of General Services all have some jurisdiction over the resources of Seneca Lake and the use of those resources.  However, these entities lack local information and insight.  Interpretation of policies and enforcement are, at times, problematic.

Establishing a model regulation of uniform local policies that would work to protect Seneca Lake and promote cooperation among the municipalities and residents is one goal of this effort. Publication of a guide to existing regulations affecting the lake is another focus. 

ACOE is the federal agency responsible for navigable waters and federally protected wetlands. 

The definitions of “navigable waters” and “protected wetlands” have been subject to interpretation and change through the years, resulting in much confusion and controversy. Seneca and Cayuga Lakes are both definitely navigable through their connection to the NYS Barge Canal and therefore subject to ACOE regulation. 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC is the state agency charged with ”conserving, improving, and protecting New York's natural resources and environment.”

NYS DEC is responsible for disturbance-of-waters, wetlands and habitat protection, and stormwater regulations.

One of the chief environmental protection functions of DEC is the issuance of environmental permits.  The NY State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate the significant environmental impacts of any activity it is proposing or permitting.

NYS DEC and ACOE are linked together in their permitting structures and may issue "joint permits" for some projects.

NYS Office of General Services.
NYS OGS is tasked with many responsibilities relating to State properties, including the use of underwater land.   

The State of New York owns Seneca Lake (and other similar water bodies) to the mean high water line.  The mean high water line is the average elevation of all high waters recorded at a particular point or station over a considerable period of time.

In practice, NYS OGS handles the rental of underwater lands for commercial purposes. (e.g.: marinas) 

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

NYS OPRHP mandated to “provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York residents and visitors, and to be responsible stewards of the valuable natural, historic, and cultural resources entrusted to the agency.”

Chairman:         Jim Balyszak

                        Yates County SWCD

                        315-536-5188

Treasurer           Patrick J Emerick

                        Ontario County SW CD

                        585-396-1450

Educator:          Edith Davey

                        Ontario County SWCD

                        585-396-1450

To receive an electronic copy of this newsletter contact  Edith Davey at   ontswcd5@rochester.com.