[ Home ] [ Up ]

HVA Water Quality Update

March 2005 

The last 6 months have brought a lot of progress thru the hard work of many.
However, before we cover recent events, lets do a brief catch-up on our history. 

Our committee was formed in September 2002 to investigate options to deal with problems that severely plagued our lake:

• Algae blooms and matting that included foul smelling blue green algae; and,

• Heavy tall weed growth.

We held a public meeting to present viable control options and agreed at the meeting to hire a Lake Management Consultant (Princeton Hydro) to review our lake data and recommend prioritized actions.  Princeton Hydro presented its recommendations to approximately 150 of us in April 2003.  We adopted the two primary recommendations:

• To purchase additional harvesting equipment to manage tall weeds; and,  
•  An alum application to the deepest portions of the lake to prevent the summer release of bottom sediment phosphorus feeding the heavy blooms of algae (expected life of five to fifteen years).

In June of 2004, we applied thru the towns of Richmond and Canadice for a New York State Grant to complete a Honeoye Lake Watershed Plan, and to complete a Nutrient Model/Hydrologic budget for our lake.  

Last fall, we presented to the Towns of Richmond and Canadice a Five Year Plan to fund and accomplish our recommendations.  These were adopted by the Town Boards in their 2005 Budgets. 

Weed Management Status/Progress 

In the fall of 2004, the towns of Richmond and Canadice purchased through auction an additional weed harvester from the Town of Leroy.  This harvester has many fewer hours than our existing harvester, and is the same model, size and manufacturer.  This harvester will be in operation this coming summer and can be used interchangeably as either a second full harvester, or as a transport barge as best suits our needs.  This is very good news.  The additional harvester will nearly double our ability to harvest tall weeds, making our lake recreation more enjoyable, as well as removing many additional tons of “green manure” from our lake. 

Algae Management/Progress 

We are currently planning to apply alum in May of 2006.   However, to accomplish the application, there is much to do.  We have recruited the help of Ontario County and its planning department to manage the SEQR process that will insure the environmental safety of our actions and full participation of the public.  Preliminary meetings have been held with Livingston County (who last year successfully completed the SEQR process for a Conesus Lake application), Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Ontario County Executive and Planning Department , and Region 8 DEC. 

We have also reorganized and consolidated all the people and organizations working on our lake restoration.  Under the auspices of the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force (HLWTF), an Alum Technical Committee has been formed and assigned to manage the tasks necessary to complete this project in May 2006.  The committee contains representatives from both the Richmond and Canadice boards, the Water Quality Committee, HVA, Ontario County Planning, Ontario County Soil & Water, and the HLWTF.  Consulting members of this working committee include FLCC, Princeton Hydro, and the DEC.  Don Bennett (229-2003), representing the Water Quality Committee is chairing the committee. 

A SEQR public scoping hearing will be held in May to review and obtain public input to the content of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS); and , to reacquaint all with the science, safety and expected benefits for our proposed treatment.  Public announcements and notifications will be sent as soon as a schedule is available.  After the completion of a Draft EIS and its dissemination, a second hearing will be held this summer.  It will provide opportunity for public comment on the proposed application and the Draft EIS.  It will be important for all of us to attend both these hearings and to fully participate in this process to assure we get the desired results with no danger to our beloved lake environment and its inhabitants.  

A Draft Watershed Management Plan is currently being written and funded by the HLWTF that will be complete by this June.  It will provide the needed context of our proposed alum application to broader pieces of the total lake restoration plan.  In addition, Princeton Hydro has been contracted by the towns to complete the Nutrient model that will define the sources of excessive phosphorus feeding our algae problems.  This model will be a key input to the EIS and is scheduled for May completion.  

While our efforts are incomplete on this project, we all need to praise the efforts of the Towns of Richmond and Canadice (who continue to be strong advocates of lake restoration and its funding), Ontario County, Ontario County Soil & Water, HLWTF, and numerous volunteers who have worked tirelessly to improve the water quality of our lake and to control the excessive harmful phosphorus pollution of our water.  Thanks to all of this support, we can expect meaningful progress in the restoration of our lake and it water quality in the next two summers – Thanks! 

Don Bennett