
Lake Initiatives
2025 Lake Initiatives
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The New Harvester
Harvester Secured for Otisco Lake to Combat Invasive Weeds
Thanks to County Executive Ryan McMahon, Save Otisco, and the Otisco Lake Preservation Association
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Onondaga County Soil and Water & OLPA Join Forces
Red Spruce are the recommended species to substitutle for hemlocks, which are mostly infested with the invasive Adelgid beetle on Otisco and ultimately will die. Spruce resist the adelgid. Seventy Five spruce were planted and some given away to members to replace the infested hemlocks in May 2025. Efforts continue to combat the invasive Adelgid beetle. Thanks to Onondaga County Soil and Water and Margie Creamer, Lake Friendly Living in spearheading this initiative for the OLPA
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HABS Program
THe 2025 HABS monitoring program is underway with an enthusiastic group of 24 volunteers that have agreed to monitor the lake in their respective areas for any HABs or other concerns such as large floating debris. These identifications will be reported to authorities and also to the lake residents via text and emails
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Membership
OLPA, and under its umbrella the Save Otisco initiative, are now structured as a true Membership organization. The By-Laws now reflect that Members join, nominate people, vote in elections, and have a legit voice in the lake representation and the preservation business for Otisco Lake.
Membership means:
•Nominating and voting rights for the Board positions
•Attendance at the annual business meeting
•Representation of the population of people caring and connected to Otisco Lake
•Collectively, through membership, be recognized as a greater force by Onondaga County, DEC and all other organizations who award Grants and funding, determine work projects, and evaluate the number of people affected in the Lake watershed.
•Being informed of lake initiatives through our website, Facebook, email, and periodic newsletters.
•Access to educational programs and events.
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Events
Earth Day Clean Up - April, 2025 - Community effort to pick up trash and debris around Otisco Lake
Dumpster Day - June, 2025 OLPA Members can bring trash and unwanted items to T&T Redemption Center. See more details on the Events page
OLPA Annual Meeting
July, 2025 Marietta House
Open to all members
Movie Night
Free Movie night at the OLCC open to all members. August , 2025
OLPA Benefit Concert
Amber Inn, Featuring Usual Suspects. All proceeds got the OLPA August 2025
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Septic System Educational Program
OLPA, the County Health Department and OCWA educate community about proper maintenance and care of spetic system with financial incentives to up to 60 properties.
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Mapping the Lake
Using previous map data and on-the-water investigation, the OLPA/Save Otisco group developed a map outlining weed intensive areas on the lake. This map will be used for harvesting initiatives, focusing on dense areas of weed growth
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The Barge
In 2023, the Otisco Lake Preservation Association purchased a 24' pontoon boat and trailer previously used to remove seaweed from Otisco Lake. The purchase was motivated by the poor state of the lake relative to seaweed infestation, and the vision of a number of people dedicated to saving the lake. The refurbishing of the barge has taken a good part of the summer but is now operational and will be used for weed suctioning, weed pick up and other initiatives on the lake. Many local residents were instrumental in this endeavor to bring the barge back to a functional state!
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Harvester Long Term Management Plan
A committee was formed to identify and describe existing harvesting programs throughout the Finger Lakes and other lakes similar to Otisco Lake. This information will be useful to better understand the actions taken by other Finger Lakes to minimize the weed growth on Otisco Lake. This, combined with the efforts and initiatives of the Otisco Lake/Save Otisco group will provide a solid platform for future endeavors to eradicate the invasive weed growth on the lake.