Onondaga Lake Watershed Partnership (OLWP)
Meeting Notes and Action Items
October 6, 2015
SUNY ESF Gateway Center
Attendees
Shere Abbott, Syracuse University
Seth Ausbel, USEPA (tc)
Kathy Bertuch, CNY Regional Planning & Development Board
Peter Brandt, USEPA (tc)
Kyle Buelow, O’Brien & Gere (tc)
Argie Cirillo, USEPA (tc)
Aimee Clinkhammer, NEIWPCC
Dave Coburn, Citizen
Christopher Dere, USEPA (tc)
Khris Dodson, SU Environmental Finance Center
Judith Enck, USEPA
Jeff Freedman, CPWG/Onondaga Yacht Club/US Power Squadron
Dareth Glance, International Joint Comission
Travis Glazier, Onondaga County
Olivia Green, Atlantic States Legal Foundation
Paul Harris, Atlantic States Legal Foundation
Joe Heath, Law Office of Joe Heath for the Onondaga Nation
Alex Holstein, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse
Chuckie Holstein, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse
Michael Jennings, NEIWPCC (tc)
Thane Joyal, Law Office of Joe Heath for the Onondaga Nation
Hugh Kimball, Community Participation Working Group/Onondaga County Council on Environment
Health
Aaron Koller, SUNY ESF
Catherine Landis, SUNY ESF
Whitney Lash-Marshall, Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center
Mark Lichtenstein, SUNY ESF
Alma Lowry, Law Office of Joe Heath for the Onondaga Nation
Valerie Luzadis, SUNY ESF
Jenna Macaulay, Law Office of Joe Heath for the Onondaga Nation
Joan Matthews, USEPA
Rachel May, Syracuse University
Craig Milburn, Honeywell
Les Monostory, Izaak Walton League
Frank Moses, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse
Reggie Parker, NYSDEC
Neil Patterson, Tuscarora Nation/SUNY ESF
Whesye Pelupessy, SUNY ESF
Madison Quinn, Onondaga County Save the Rain
JoAnne Race, Syracuse University
Jack Ramsden, NOON/Sierra Club/CPWG
Charles Silver, NYS Attorney General’s Office (tc)
Jerry Smith, Onondaga Audubon (tc)
Emily Verbeck, SUNY ESF
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Sue Verbeck, East Syracuse-Minoa School District
Curtis Waterman, Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force/Onondaga Nation
Stephanie Webb, NYSDEC
Lloyd Withers, Onondaga Shoreline
Melissa Young, Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center
Opening Remarks
• Judith Enck gave opening remarks and an USEPA update
o Final Clean Power Plant-First national standards to address carbon pollution
o Clean Water Rule-Protection of national waters including wetlands
o Onondaga Lake work continuing, including OLWP
• Joan Matthews gave remarks
o Mudboil work ongoing
o Clean Water Rule-information and clarifications on EPA’s website
Watershed Coordinator Report
Events
• October 6, 2015: Climate Change: A call to Action
• October 14 & 16, 2015: Long-term Flood Resiliency: A Watershed Management Approach
• October 16, 2015: A Sea Change
• October 17, 2015: Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps
• October 20, 2015: CPWG Meeting
• October 31, 2015: The Future of Fisheries
Public Participation
• Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration open. More information at
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/ec/onondaga.htm
• EPA Lake Bottom 5-Year Review to be released shortly
Funding
• NYSP2I Community Grants Program - 10/7/15
• EPA Urban Waters Program – 11/20/15
Mudboil Update
• Four panelists confirmed: Jock Conynham, US Army Corps of Engineers; Carl Schwartz, US Fish &
Wildlife Service; Todd Rayne, Hamilton College; Dave Chandler, Syracuse University
• ESF hosted a conference call in August with panelists
• A 2-day in person meeting is scheduled for Oct 8-9
Facilitated Discussion
• OLWP hosted a facilitated discussion on September 22. Action items and notes will be circulated.
General Discussion
• Jeff Freedman brought up the mixed messages from EPA regarding swimming in Onondaga Lake.
Judith Enck responded that EPA was concerned about because there is no public swimming
beach on the lake and it may send residents and kids the wrong idea. Further study, should be
done.
• Les Monostory recommended that the Semet Tar beds be a priority clean-up project because the
public is mistaking the smell as the lake.
• Jerry Smith brought up that there is a lot of emphasis on water quality (swimmability) but not as
much on habitat and wildlife in and around the lake (including impacts from the loop-thetrail).
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• Les Monostory discussed the need to create a Lake Users group now that the lake is being used
more.
• Chuckie Holstein discussed the need to make sure access to the lake is inclusive and that lowincome, disabled, and other community members are able to enjoy the lake.
• Lloyd Withers reminded the group of the County Legislature’s resolution to give a remediated
Murphy’s Island to the Onondaga Nation and asked if EPA can ensure this. Judith Enck
responded that she would look into it for more details.
New Business
• Valerie Luzadis updated the group on the Onondaga Lake Science Center. The programming for
the center is currently under development. She will update the group with a more formal
presentation in the future.
• Jack Ramsden reminded the group that A Sea Change will be playing at the Palace Theater on
October 16th.
• Travis Glazier reported that New York State provided funding for the construction of a DEC Boat
Launch on the west side of the lake as well as the continuation of the Loop-the-Lake trail. Plans
can be found on the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60782.html
• Catherine Landis reported the ESF will be hosting a lecture titles the Future of Fisheries on
October 31st.
Future Meeting
• The next OLWP meeting will be scheduled via a doodle poll
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