2024 Lake Friendly Living

Title: Update on Hemlock Woolly Adelaide (HWA)

The Otisco Lake Watershed covers a large area and OLPA is working to identify where the hemlocks are outside of the area treated by Onondaga County. Then trees will be labeled that need treatment. If you see any Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) on your trees please use this website to notify OLPA.

What Happens around your home matters.

As one of the residents who use Otisco Lake as a primary water source or for recreation, you can make a difference in the water quality of the lake. The Otisco Lake watershed encompasses approximately 36.7 square miles where storm water runoff moves into the lake and impacts its water quality. Residential properties generate part of that runoff.

What is storm water runoff?

Rain that falls on natural surfaces is infiltrated into the ground. Rain that falls on impermeable surfaces, such as roof tops, paved surfaces, etc. cannot soak into the ground and moves across these surfaces carrying sediment and pollutants with it into the lake.

How is otisco Lake water quality affected by sediment and pollutants?

Sediments can cloud water affecting lake plants, fish, and other aquatic life. Sediments can form deltas that impede navigation and lake access. Sediments can create habitats where invasive species thrive. Pollutants include excess nutrients, bacteria, pathogens and debris that can make water unsafe for drinking and swimming and disrupt healthy aquatic life.

What Can You Do?

Continue to practice your lake friendly living habits, take the pledge and learn more!
Join others in our community by showing your participation.
Pledge/Display items are available to you at no cost.