Forty-five community volunteers participated in citizen science monitoring on May 5 by examining and recording plant and animal species found in Onondaga Lake’s restored wetlands. During the event, volunteers identified nearly 80 species, including 30 bird species. Notable species included bald eagle, sora, snowy egret, Northern shoveler, yellow perch, and muskrat.

The event was hosted by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps in partnership with the Central New York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America’s Young Naturalists Leadership Team. It offered community members the opportunity to observe firsthand Onondaga Lake’s most recent habitat improvements.

Left: 14-year-old Nolan Gryzlo, of Skaneateles, New York, monitors water quality with assistance from Young Naturalists Leadership Team member Saadiya Sheekh-Nuur.
Right: Mike Serviss, Young Naturalists Leadership Team member, identifies vegetation at Geddes Brook wetlands.

Volunteers worked with the Young Naturalists Leadership Team and habitat experts from Onondaga Audubon Society, OBG, and Parsons to explore and inventory the abundant plant and animal life found in restored wetlands at Geddes Brook and along Onondaga Lake’s southwest and western shorelines.

Left: Matt McDonough (left) and Jesse Carr, Parsons habitat experts, use a seine net to catch and identify fish.
Right: Candace Schermerhorn, Young Naturalists Leadership Team member, nets aquatic species at Geddes Brook wetlands.

“The Young Naturalists Leadership Team creates opportunities to connect the Central New York community to conservation, restoration, environmental education, and stewardship projects,” said Young Naturalists Leadership Team Project Coordinator Shannon Fabiani, pictured above, right, with Schermerhorn, helping 7-year-old Josh Gates (center) identify plant and animal species. “We are excited to work with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps to inspire environmental stewards throughout our community.”

The observations are being compiled with data collected by wetland ecologists to understand conditions of recently restored areas in the watershed.

“Today’s event provided me the opportunity to look at the health of Onondaga Lake and the surrounding land,” said Stephanie Cross, of Manlius, New York, pictured above (center). “I’m thrilled to be here to see the progress and the types of fish species that are now being found in Onondaga Lake.”

On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell has improved nearly 90 acres of wetlands, and is planting about 1.1 million plants, trees, and shrubs.

Since the formation of the Corps, 20 events have brought together more than 800 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

The Corps is an expanding organization of volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed. It was created to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

The Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society. Additional Corps supporters include Anchor QEA, Audubon New York, Bond Schoeneck & King, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, OBG, Parsons and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, www.facebook.com/onondagalakecc or www.youtube.com/onondagalakecc. For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

Watch a video to learn about habitat restored as a part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Onondaga Lake is well on its way to becoming a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come. Through thoughtful planning and input from local scientists, wetland ecologists, and the community, as well as government oversight, dynamic and diverse wetlands are becoming the cornerstone of a renewed watershed.

Access more information about the habitat enhancements.

Today, the water quality in Onondaga Lake is the best it’s been in more than 100 years. A green corridor now extends from the restored areas to the lake, providing a diverse home for wildlife.  More than 250 wildlife species, some that have not been seen in decades, are now calling these areas home, and more than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, a priority Audubon Important Bird Area. Bird species on New York State’s threatened list, including pied-billed grebe, northern harrier, and bald eagle, have returned to the re-established wetlands.

Monitoring and maintenance will continue for years to come to ensure vegetation is established and returning wildlife is documented. Monitoring also helps identify invasive species so they can be removed.

In addition to the cleanup, in April 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a plan for 20 new projects to restore and protect wildlife habitat and water quality, and increase recreational opportunities.

The Onondaga Lake Cleanup Plan was issued in 2005 by DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The cleanup, which was completed in 2016, included dredging 2.2 million cubic yards of lake material and capping 475 acres of lake bottom. The cap, which consists of natural materials, provides a new, clean lake bottom and a new habitat layer to promote underwater vegetation growth and fish spawning.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View photographs of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Click here for a pdf of the Habitat Report.

Dear Community Member,

Recovery of Onondaga Lake is well on its way. With dredging completed, a year ahead of schedule, we are continuing with the capping and the habitat restoration through 2016. More than 110 species of fish, birds, and mammals have already returned to restored wetlands, and nearby areas.

The community’s pride and passion have helped fuel this progress and are being rewarded as the lake will be a healthy, sustainable asset for generations to come. Over 500 volunteers have participated in hands-on, experience-based Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps programs that help restore and sustain the lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

As recovery continues, the community is enthusiastic about all of the opportunities to use the lake now and in the future. We hope you all will get or stay involved, and learn more about the cleanup by coming to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center or by becoming a member of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. The Corps is a partnership among Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell.

We are proud of the progress we have achieved and hope you share our excitement as you read our seventh annual update. You can learn more by visiting our website at www.lakecleanup.com.

Sincerely,

John P. McAuliffe
Syracuse Program Director

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Syracuse Section, recognized Honeywell on March 23 with the 2015 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for the remediation and restoration of Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek.

Honeywell and its contractor Parsons transformed the 44 acres of the Onondaga Lake watershed into a diverse new habitat for wildlife.  The area, part of a green corridor connecting habitat from Onondaga Lake to upland sites, is home to hundreds of plant, fish, and wildlife species, including pied-billed grebes, bald eagles, wood ducks, bullfrogs, and mink.

Left: Nearly 250 native plant species were planted and 104 fish and wildlife species have been documented at the sites. Right: A section of Nine Mile Creek after restoration in August 2013.

The ASCE award honors “the project that best illustrates superior civil engineering skills and represents a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society. Honoring an overall project rather than an individual, the award recognizes the contributions of many engineers.”

“The Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek remediation project includes innovation and originality, resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges, sustainability, project planning and delivery, and contributions to the well-being of people and communities,” said Shaun Gannon, ASCE Syracuse Section president. “This balance of community and engineering is why the project has been selected as the ASCE Syracuse Section 2015 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.”

Honeywell’s Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek teams, led by Parsons, seamlessly integrated remediation and restoration, creating innovative and sustainable habitat improvements. Through extensive investigations and planning, the team gained a thorough understanding of the site and wetland ecology, which was necessary for success. Real-time global positioning system measurements were taken to survey underwater construction, improving both efficiency and accuracy. Natural features, such as newly planted shrubs and trees, along with channels on the wetland perimeters, help limit the reemergence of invasive plants. Careful selection of native vegetation, reuse of timber and tree roots, and use of locally sourced materials improve the project’s sustainability.

Click to watch a video on habitat enhancements at Geddes Brook.

Left: Geddes Brook wetlands during construction. Right: Geddes Brook wetlands after restoration.

“Thanks to the team’s thoughtful and creative planning, and hard work, Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek, once dominated by invasive plants, have been transformed into a diverse and flourishing wetland and stream habitat,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director. “We are proud to be recognized by ASCE for our contributions to civil engineering progress and society.”

Left: Nine Mile Creek during construction. Right: Nine Mile Creek after restoration.

“This award recognizes our local team’s expertise for the design and construction of a well-planned project,” said Paul Blue, Parsons Engineering project manager. “The team successfully restored critical habitat by integrating sound engineering principles and incorporating input from local habitat experts in an efficient and safe manner. The results have been exciting to see, and will have lasting benefits for the environment, ecosystem, and community long term.”

Left: Members of the Nine Mile Creek construction team. Right: John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director (left) accepts the award on behalf of Honeywell. He is pictured with Craig Butler, ASCE Syracuse Section awards committee chairman and past section president.

Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek provided an opportunity for hundreds of community members to get involved in habitat improvements, becoming environmental stewards of Onondaga Lake through the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. Corps members have planted native plants and conducted citizen science monitoring. Left: Community volunteers plant a speckled alder at the Geddes Brook wetlands in October 2014. Right: Community volunteers participate in a planting event at Nine Mile Creek in October 2013.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was established in 2012. Founding partners of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell. To participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Dear Community Member,

Onondaga Lake is a story of growth and renewal. Wildlife is returning to restored wetlands and Honeywell finished dredging in 2014. Capping and habitat enhancements will be completed in 2016.

The early completion was the result of focused execution of a carefully designed project plan by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and skilled craft laborers. Nearly 90 percent of the workers live in Central New York and about 80 percent of project materials were supplied by New York State businesses.

The hard work of creative, knowledgeable, and dedicated professionals and members of the Central New York academic community has been critical to the success of this project.

Thousands of Central New Yorkers have learned about the cleanup by touring the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center along the southwest shoreline. In addition, hundreds of volunteers have joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, a partnership among Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell, and become environmental stewards protecting the Onondaga Lake watershed. We invite you to join us.

We are proud of the historical milestones we have achieved and hope you share our excitement as you read our sixth annual update. You can learn more by visiting our website at www.lakecleanup.com.

Sincerely,
John P. McAuliffe
Syracuse Program Director

“Water quality is the best in 100 years and more than 110 species of fish, birds, and mammals have returned to restored wetlands. Hundreds of Central New Yorkers are working on the project, and nearly 500 more have become environmental stewards helping to restore the watershed,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse program director. “The completion of dredging is a significant milestone in the restoration of one of Central New York’s most valuable resources. The community’s pride and passion has helped fuel this progress and is being rewarded as the lake will be a healthy, sustainable asset for generations to come.”

Capping and habitat restoration will continue through 2015 and be completed in 2016.

Early Completion of Dredging Result of Focused Execution
of Carefully Designed Project Plan

The completion of dredging a year ahead of schedule is the result of:

• seven years of design, piloting, and engineering
• investments in team building, health & safety and emergency response planning, community engagement, and contractor dialogue
• strong design team of national and local experts, the best in the field, who were motivated to work as a team
• talent, creativity, and dedication of local universities, engineers, suppliers, and craft labor
• on-site regulatory presence supporting timely decision-making
• commitment to continual improvement
• dedicated EPA / DEC oversight personnel

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Audubon
to Provide Input on Grass / Native Vegetation for Consolidation Area

Honeywell is working in cooperation with local environmental and wildlife stakeholders to explore innovative ways to enhance the traditional vegetated landfill cover for the consolidation area where the lake material will be permanently stored in geotextile tubes. Experts at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Audubon are providing critical input on selection of native grasses and vegetation as well as best management practices to foster sustainability.

Rendering of grass and native vegetation at consolidation area.

To view a fact sheet, click here.

Individuals interested in more information should contact Honeywell at 315-552-9784. For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

To view a video from the event, click here.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps returned to the Geddes Brook wetlands on Saturday, October 25, to see firsthand how their habitat restoration efforts have contributed to creating a home for more than 65 fish and wildlife species. Sixty-eight volunteers from Central New York participated in the ninth and largest Corps event to date.

Volunteers planted shrubs and trees, learned from habitat experts, and participated in citizen science monitoring by tracking native birds along Geddes Brook. Geddes Brook is an important part of a new green corridor connecting Onondaga Lake to upland areas.

R.J. Herrick (left) and Brad Phelps, both of Tully, track birds. In total, 28 bird species were identified during the event. Right: Habitat expert Joe McMullen helps Sue Boettger, of Fayetteville, plant a sandbar willow tree.

 

To watch a video from the event, click here.

“The Geddes Brook of today is a terrific example of the impact that grassroots efforts and citizen science have on restoring wildlife habitat,” said Erin Crotty, executive director of Audubon New York, pictured above using a scope to identify species. “The Conservation Corps has transformed this portion of the Onondaga Lake Important Bird Area into a diverse wetland that provides vital nesting, shelter, and food to several Audubon conservation species, including the belted kingfisher, greater yellowlegs, and pied-billed grebe.”

During the event, volunteers planted 510 plants, including 150 trees. Left: Theresa Evans, of Syracuse, plants cardinal flower. Right: Left to right, Patrick Higgins, Hailey Higgins, and Margaret DeCarlo, all of Clay, plant a speckled alder.

“This is the first time that we attended an Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps event,” said Sara Pieklik, of Liverpool, pictured above with Chris Lajewski, director of Montezuma Audubon Center. “I really enjoyed that experts were available, teaching us about wildlife habitat. They were just as excited about the cleanup as we are. The event made us feel like we were a part of the cleanup, like we are a part of history.”

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed. Since its formation, nearly 500 community members have joined the Corps, planting more than 4,500 native plants, trees, and shrubs.

Left: In 2012, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps launched its first citizen scientist event as volunteers got their hands dirty planting native species at Geddes Brook. Aquatic species were planted in deep water wetlands to help improve water quality, stabilize the soil, and create habitat for birds, animals, and insects. Right: A blue heron and red-winged blackbird in the restored Geddes Brook wetlands.

Geddes Brook is now a flourishing habitat. What once was 17 acres dominated by invasive plants is now a diverse wetland with more than 175 plant and 65 fish and wildlife species. Left: Geddes Brook wetlands during construction in September 2012. Right: Restored Geddes Brook wetlands in August 2013.

Improvements made during the Onondaga Lake cleanup are enhancing habitat and supporting a diverse population of fish, birds, and mammals while increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation. To date, 37 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced and about 312,000 native plants, trees, and shrubs are providing diverse habitat for more than 110 wildlife species, including mink, beaver, wild turkey, bald eagles, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and snapping turtles.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was established in 2012. Founding partners of the Corps include Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell. To learn more or to participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

For more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, click here.

For a complete list of the birds identified at the event, click here.

More than 6,000 people learned about habitat and wildlife conservation and participated in outdoor sports including fishing, archery, turkey calling, and skeet shooting during the 2013 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook on September 28 and 29. The event, held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, is one of the largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day in New York State.

Eagle Scout Andreu Nutter, of Cicero, N.Y., teaches Darby Ryan, of Sennett, N.Y., how to shoot an arrow at the 2013 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.

Participants enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities at the 2013 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook. Above: Marcus Landers (front), Donavan Lynn (center), and Quentin Lynn, all of Syracuse, N.Y., canoe.

“Honeywell is working to enhance native habitat for fish and wildlife in the Onondaga Lake watershed,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Input received from the federation during our planning process is already seeing results as wildlife is returning to a restored Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek. Reconstructed wetlands along the Onondaga Lakeshore will improve habitats for northern pike, lake sturgeon, and walleye, and for transient cold-water fish.”

Sportsmen’s Days participants learned about habitat improvements at Geddes Brook wetlands and Nine Mile Creek. Above: A great blue heron hunts for fish in Geddes Brook.

Nine Mile Creek is becoming part of a green corridor connecting habitat from Onondaga Lake to the Geddes Brook wetlands. Its habitat will continue to improve as plants mature.

Improvements at Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek are enhancing habitat and supporting a diverse population of fish, birds, and mammals while increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation. Brook trout and large and smallmouth bass have been observed in the new Geddes Brook channel, and beaver and mink have also returned to the restored wetland areas.

During Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days, local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen and Boy Scouts presented a number of outdoor activities including: skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, retriever dog demonstrations, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, canoeing, muzzle loading, and trout fishing.

Participants also learned about Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Habitat Restoration Plan. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is overseeing Honeywell’s projects to restore wetlands in and around Onondaga Lake, improve the lake’s shoreline, and create a new lake bottom.

Sophia Martone, of Onondaga Hill, N.Y., learns how to fish at the 2013 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.

Eamon Willoughby (left), of Jordan, N.Y., and Stephen Malcoln (right), of Syracuse, N.Y., learn how to fly fish during the 2013 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.

“Honeywell continues its commitment to Sportsmen’s Days and working with us on habitat restoration around Onondaga Lake,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President Stephen Wowelko. “Improved and additional access on Honeywell property is popular with sportsmen. With Honeywell’s support, more than 6,000 people attended this year’s event, including many young children who are part of a generation that will benefit directly from Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake cleanup, habitat improvements, and restoration activities.”

Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President Stephen Wowelko (right) presents Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe with a plaque during the volunteer dinner.

Other weekend events included a volunteer dinner and guest appearances by conservation officers, forest rangers, and Eddie Eagle.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Click here to download the 2012 Annual Report (4MB PDF)