Several significant Honeoye Lake water quality related accomplishments have been made since our last update to you in June, 2004:

• State Grant Proposal Submitted – With assistance from Princeton Hydro and FLCC, the water quality committee prepared an NYS grant proposal which the Towns of Richmond and Canadice submitted on June 29^th, 2004 for matching state funds to help us offset the cost of completing the Honeoye Lake Watershed Plan and Lake Nutrient Model.

• Alum Bench Test - Princeton Hydro completed the Alum Bench Test Report in late July. They determined the proper dosage of the alum treatment, confirmed that we have a large safety factor with this dosage level, and refined the alum treatment cost estimate. They are now estimating a cost of about $150,000. This is lower than previous estimates based on the detailed knowledge gained from the alum bench test.

• Used Weed Harvester - Richmond and Canadice were the successful bidders in a sealed bid auction to acquire a used weed harvester from the village of Leroy in October, 2004. This will give us the potential to double our weed cutting capability for the 2005 season.

• Five Year Water Quality Plan - Completed a five year water quality plan with the assistance of a well respected water quality consultant Dr. Steve Souza of Princeton Hydro, Dr. Bruce Gilman of FLCC, DEC Region 8, Ontario County, Richmond, Canadice, and the HVA Water Quality committee. This plan has been reviewed with both Richmond and Canadice Town Boards. They are taking the financial requirements into consideration as they prepare their respective town budgets for 2005.

Looking ahead to our 2005 water quality goals:

• Public Information Meetings – We intend to schedule a public information meeting early next spring to give you a detailed Honeoye Lake Water Quality Plan update and to respond to your questions.

• Secure funding commitment for 2005, 2006, and beyond – We have recommended to both Richmond and Canadice Town Boards that setting up a Honeoye Lake water quality reserve fund and budgeting an appropriate amount of money every year for the reserve fund would make prudent fiscal sense. This would allow us to commit to a multi-year water quality plan with confidence.

• Complete Honeoye Lake Watershed Management Plan – This will be the responsibility of the Honeoye Lake Watershed Taskforce. This taskforce is led by Jack Starke. The supervisors or their designated representatives for the towns in the Honeoye Lake watershed are active members of this taskforce. This project will develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for Honeoye Lake to preserve and enhance the Honeoye Lake watershed.

• Complete Honeoye Lake Nutrient Model – The lake nutrient model will be prepared by Princeton Hydro with assistance from Bruce Gilman. The lake nutrient model will give us modeling data to more accurately forecast how long (e.g. 5-10 years) the alum treatment will last. This will allow Richmond and Canadice to budget appropriately in advance of the need for the next alum treatment. It will also give us the ability to model "what if" scenarios around various storm event assumptions.

• Complete SEQR & SPEDES permitting process for alum treatment – We plan to complete both the State SEQR & SPEDES permitting process for the alum treatment in 2005. This will entail creating a draft Environmental Impact Statement, holding a public hearing, and responding to all the issues raised from the public hearing process. This is a requirement to get state approval for the alum treatment.

• Used Leroy Weed Harvester – We will work closely with Bob Pierce, Ontario County, who has been managing our existing weed cutting program, and the Richmond and Canadice town boards to put together a plan for increased weed cutting capacity for the 2005 season.

Looking ahead to our 2006 water quality goals:

• Alum lake treatment – We are targeting the alum treatment for algae control for spring 2006. This will be contingent on both getting the funding commitment necessary from Richmond and Canadice as well as successfully completing the SEQR & SPEDES permitting process.

• Mechanical Overhaul of Current Weed Harvester – Our current weed harvester is scheduled for its 10 year mechanical overhaul in 2006.

Looking ahead to our 2007 and beyond water quality goals:

• Water Quality Reserve Fund – We have recommended to both Richmond and Canadice that a water quality reserve fund be established with appropriate yearly funding requirements. This will allow both towns to budget a relatively consistent amount of money for Honeoye Lake water quality requirements for the foreseeable future.
• Ongoing Water Quality Program – Maintain and operate two weed harvesters, implement the Honeoye Lake Watershed Management Plan, and control algae through alum treatments approximately every 10 years as appropriate. We will also continue to investigate better and more cost effect ways to address the water quality needs of Honeoye Lake in the future.

We want to sincerely thank all of the HVA Water Quality Committee volunteers, Princeton Hydro and Bruce Gilman for their contributions in assisting us pursue our water quality initiatives both through their expert consulting advice and data collection efforts.

We are very grateful for the financial support provided from both the Richmond and Canadice Town Boards to complete the Alum Bench Test, to cover a portion of the operating costs of our existing weed harvesting program, and to buy the used Leroy weed harvester this year. We look forward to their support of the long term Honeoye Lake Water Quality Plan.

If you have any questions about the current status of the water quality plan or would like to join the water quality committee, please contact Don Bennett, HVA Water Quality Committee Chairman, at 585-229-2003 or via e-mail at duckydu@aol.com.