Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association is Moving Forward!
In early 2008 the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association decided to dissolve after inactivity for about two years, unless a group of past members were willing to revive the organization. Dr. John Halfman from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Vice-President of SLPWA sent a letter to the membership of SLPWA informing members of the Board’s decision but indicated that if there were members who were interested in reviving the organization he and Marion Balyszak current Director of HWS Finger Lakes Institute and a previous Executive Director of SLPWA would offer their help in reviving the organization.
In June of 2008, a group of previous SLPWA members met with John and Marion and a reorganization committee was formed with Richard Ahola as Chariman, Mary Anne Kowalski as Secretary and Phil Cianciotto as Treasurer. The group decided to continue with the current Mission Statement of SLPWA which is: The purpose of Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association is to promote the understanding, preservation and improvement of the water quality, natural habitat and general environmental conditions of Seneca Lake and its watershed by sponsoring or undertaking scientific research, by collecting, preserving, publishing and disseminating information concerning Seneca Lake and its
watershed and by encouraging and supporting the enforcement of laws and regulations and patterns of development and technology aimed at preserving and enhancing the water quality of the lake.
Over the next several months, the re-organization committee began to reestablish its’ membership base, began publishing its’ quarterly newsletter“LakeWatch” , re-launched its’ website www.senecalake.org, and worked on issues that could affect the water quality of Seneca Lake by educating its members on those particular issues.
The issues that the association reorganization committee worked on during their first year included:
1. Understanding the role that hydro power generation by Seneca Falls Power Corp. plays on maintaining or affecting the lake level of Seneca Lake.
2. Gas well drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation in Southern New York, the hydro-fracing process used for gas extraction from the shale and the adverse effects such wells can have on a watershed such as the Seneca Lake watershed.
3. The processing of landfill leachate in a municipal treatment facility and the proposal for a direct sewer line from the Ontario County Landfill operated by Casella Waste Management to the Geneva sewage treatment facility.
In May of 2009, the reorganization committee recognized that with over 200 membership renewals, that SLPWA had indeed been revitalized with a group of active and interested members who were willing to continue the development of the organization and its mission of stewardship for Seneca Lake and its’ watershed. As a result, the reorganization committee committed to holding an annual meeting in August 2009 with a nominated slate of directors reconstituting the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association Board of Directors and as such completing their reorganization effort.
In August 2009 , SLPWA held its first annual meeting/dinner at Bellhurst Castle in several years at which time the membership unanimously approved the slate of nominations for the Board of Directors. The following were elected to the Board at the annual meeting:
3 Year Terms
Bruce Adams (Hector, NY)
Jim Bromka (Romulus, NY)
Phil Cianciotto (Fairport/Himrod NY)
Bobbi Clifford (Romulus, NY)
Mary Anne Kowalski (Romulus, NY)
2 Year Terms
Richard Ahola (Dundee, NY)
James Carter (Pine City, NY)
Linda Heistand (Romulus, NY)
Douglas Knipple (Geneva, NY)
Edward Przybylowicz (Webster/Himrod NY)
1 Year Terms
Kate Bartholermew (Montour Falls, NY)
Brent Dugolinsky (Hector, NY)
Robert Kayser (Geneva, NY)
Rachel Treichler (Hammondsport, NY)
At its first Board meeting, the directors of SLPWA elected the following officers for a one year term.
Phil Cianciotto, President
Richard Ahola, Vice President
Jim Bromka, Vice Presidernt
Mary Anne Kowalski, Secretary
Robert Kayser, Treasurer
Today SLPWA has over 260 members, an active membership and is continuing to grow.
The organization plans over the next year to:
1. Continue to expand membership in order to provide a broader voice for the lake and its watershed as a steward for the lake,
2. Develop educational and outreach programs for its members to provide them information on issues affecting Seneca Lake to include
a. Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling
b. Lake Level Monitoring
c. Landfill Leachate and municipal sewage treatment
d. Maintenance of water quality in Seneca Lake
e. Proper disposal of pharmaceuticals
f. Proper use of lawn and garden chemicals and the impact of improper use on the lake
g. Agricultural land use in the watershed and how to minimize runoff impact on the lake
3. Work with other environmental and community organizations to support its activities and goals
4. Further develop its membership communications via “LakeWatch” and our website www.senecalake.org.
If you are interested in joining Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, attending our monthly meetings or learning more about Seneca Lake and its watershed visit our webste for more information or contact us by email at: SLPWA@senecalake.org, or by US Mail at :
Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association
PO Box 247
Geneva, New York 14456-0247
