SLPWA Projects

 

Marcellus Shale Drilling
It is estimated that the Marcellus Shale layer which spreads across the Southern Tier and Catskill Mountain Region within New York State and continues into Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio contains one of the largest deposits of natural gas (over 500 trillion cubic feet) in the United States.  Exploitation of this source of gas has significant environmental implications and SLPWA plans to actively participate in monitoring and responding to the legislative, regulatory and operational activities associated with this major program.  Presently a subcommittee of the Board of Directors is preparing a response to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Draft SGEIS. (VIEW - now available for public comment)

Look for discussion of this issue and the involvement of SLPWA members in this project at the monthly meetings of SLPWA.

Lake Level Control
As an outcome of several meetings held recently to discuss on-going problems with low water levels of Seneca Lake (residents and marina owners reported that they could not get boats out of hoists and that sail boat keels were getting stuck in the mud), a website, Seneca Lake Water Level Information Sources, has been created as a repository for related information. It can be found at: This web site contains background information on the lake water level, as well as links to other sites that contain additional infor-mation.

Area Landfill issues


LOOK What we've accomplished already !

Watershed Study - in progress, in-depth analysis of resources and mapping of the watershed, combined with awareness programs for citizens and elected officials.

Library - extensive collection of water-related research & reference material available free of charge to members andstudents, includes many videos offered on loan.

Catherine Valley Trail - 13 miles of rails to trails from Elmira Colleges Domes to Watkins Glen

LakeWatch - quarterly newsletter that is excellent source of current association activities and educational material.

Bi-Annual Guest Lectures - provocative, informational and educational.

Zebra Mussel Seminar for Contractors

Septic Workshop for Contractors

Forum for Local Officials on SLPWA's Minimum guidelines for Municipal Ordinances to protect the lake.

Several Public Metings on Lake Level

Zebra Mussel Workshop for Citizens

Wetlands Workshop

Flood Damage Protection Booklet

Annual Water Week and Earth Day Events

Schuyler County Marina Operators Meeting

Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Progarm - water testing in Lake and tributaries.

Adopt a Stream Kit available for all middle and high schols in watershed.

Fund County Youth Envirothon Program

Fund Benthic Survey of Kashong Bay

Fund Plankton Survey of Seneca Lake

Fund Study of Salt in Seneca Lake

Fund Study and Testing of Yates County Landfill

Fund Study and Testing of Town of Dix Landfill

Conduct Lakeshore Water Use Survey

Conduct Kashong Creek & Bay Survey

Clute Park Underwater Clean-Up

Big Stream Clean-Up

Kashong Bay Beach Clean-Up

Worked to prevent plutonium storage in watershed

Worked to prevent tire recycling plant in Reading

Worked to have inactive hazardous waste site in Catharine Creek's headwaters cleaned.

Worked tohave landfill properly closed in the Town of Dix

Sponsor and supervise several undregraduate student intern projects.

Supervise students in Dundee Central School's Community Service Course

Sponsored Seneca Lake Chronicles - the newspaper, the slide series and the video.

Provide free septic testing dye tablets to all lakeshore residents.

Annual participation in Future of the Finger Lakes Conference.