Thousands of Central New Yorkers Enjoy Learning About Outdoor Sports While Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day

Thousands of people learned about outdoor recreational activities, and habitat and wildlife conservation, during Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook September 22 and 23. The annual event, which features activities including fishing, archery, canoeing, turkey calling, and skeet shooting, is hosted by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and is a celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Left: Cousins Camden Davis (front), of Baldwinsville, and Ben Benson, of Syracuse, paddle a canoe in the pond at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery.
Right: Six-year-old Grayson LaGrow, of Skaneateles, holds a trout caught in the public fishing pond at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery.

Attendees learned about progress achieved on habitat restoration as part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup. They also learned how to join the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife in the Onondaga Lake watershed.

Left: “This is the first time we’ve attended this event,” said Heather Williams (left), of Red Creek, pictured with 4-year-old Jayce and husband Dylan. “We participate in outdoor recreational activities and it was nice our son could learn from outdoors experts at Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days.”
Right: Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe (right) baits his hook while visiting with volunteer Joan Gilfilian, of Marietta.

“Local habitat and conservation groups, including the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, have provided valuable input to Honeywell about opportunities to increase recreational use of Onondaga Lake and its tributaries,” said McAuliffe. “We are now seeing the results in areas like Nine Mile Creek, which has become a thriving ecosystem that is open to the public for canoeing and kayaking.”

Left: Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President Tom Merrill (right) and McAuliffe (center) greet participant John Sharon (left), of Jamesville, at Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days.
Right: Thirteen-year-old Allison Dougherty, of Liverpool, learns how to use a crossbow from Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley.

Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, and sports enthusiasts presented a number of outdoor activities including: canoeing, skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, muzzle loading, and trout fishing. Other weekend events included guest appearances by conservation officers and forest rangers.

“The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, in cooperation with the Onondaga County Parks Department, and with continuing support from Honeywell, proudly presents Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President Tom Merrill. “Thanks to our member clubs and organizations we are able to produce this event, giving people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to try outdoor activities while providing them with an opportunity to learn about improvements to our local environment.”

Left: Seven-year-old Brielle Buxton (center), of Cicero, checks out a pelt at the living history site with her mom Colleen Buxton (right) and brother Owen (left), 8.
Right: Seven-year-old Maddison Perkins, of Syracuse, tries archery with help from Mark Schmid, of the Pompey Rod & Gun Club.

View more photographs of Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.

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

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Hosts Recreational Event Along Wetland Areas Restored by Honeywell

Central New York community members enjoyed enhanced wetland areas and wildlife as they explored Nine Mile Creek and near-shore areas of Onondaga Lake in canoes and kayaks on Saturday, August 11. Nine Mile Creek is a thriving ecosystem and part of a green corridor connecting Onondaga Lake to upland areas as a result of Honeywell’s remediation and restoration work.

Left: Participants paddle from the public Nine Mile Creek canoe and kayak launch off of Pumphouse Road in Geddes to Onondaga Lake.
Right: Taylor (front) and Pamela Jones, of Baldwinsville, paddle down Nine Mile Creek.

The event was hosted by the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. During the paddle, participants became citizen scientists as they learned about the enhanced wetlands at Nine Mile Creek and Onondaga Lake and how they are supporting the Onondaga Lake watershed and its value as an Important Bird Area. Habitat experts from Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, and Honeywell shared their expertise and discussed the enhancements made to Nine Mile Creek.

“The paddle was an amazing opportunity to see how much work has been done and learn why specific species were planted,” said participant John Scott, pictured above. “Seeing the habitat growth in the restored areas and the wildlife that has returned was incredible.”

The restoration of Nine Mile Creek included restoring forested wetlands, enhancing stream conditions for fish spawning and migration, and improving habitat along the creek. Thirty acres have been transformed into diverse new habitat, a healthier creek, and improved access for recreation. Nine Mile Creek is now home to more than 145 fish and wildlife species, including beaver, muskrat, white-tailed deer, bald eagle, and northern pike. The area is playing a significant role in creating a healthy Onondaga Lake watershed and a sustainable ecosystem.

The creek is open to the public for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Watch a video to learn about the restored Nine Mile Creek.

Left: Along the course, participants identified 26 bird species, including great blue heron (pictured above), osprey, indigo bunting, green heron, belted kingfisher, and common yellowthroat.
Right: Jill and Marena Russo, of Baldwinsville, paddle in kayaks.

“As Onondaga Lake’s recovery continues, the community is enthusiastic about opportunities to use the lake,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “The restoration work completed at Nine Mile Creek and along the shores of Onondaga Lake is providing increased recreational opportunities and lake access for the Central New York community.”

Nine Mile Creek is one of the primary tributaries of Onondaga Lake, flowing north and east through Camillus and entering Onondaga Lake as it passes under the Onondaga County West Shore Trail extension. The remediation of Nine Mile Creek was performed under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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.

View a Nine Mile Creek wetlands plant list.

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 the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Since the formation of the Corps, 21 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.

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

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

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

Students Participate in Weeklong Science Program that Instills Confidence in Science and Math

More than 80 middle school students completed field research and learned about the positive impact of the Onondaga Lake cleanup during Honeywell Summer Science Week. Now celebrating its 13th year, Honeywell Summer Science Week, which is organized by the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), has inspired more than 800 students through hands-on science exploration in the Onondaga Lake watershed.

The program brings science to life as students learn from scientists, engineers, professors, and college students about the watershed and associated environmental sciences. Honeywell Summer Science Week helps motivate students by improving their science aptitude and confidence, and encourages them to work toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Watch a video about the impact of Honeywell Summer Science Week.

“Honeywell Summer Science Week empowers students to go out into the field with local experts and conduct science investigations that relate directly to their community,” said MOST Chief Program Officer Peter Plumley, Ph.D. “This wonderful program furthers students’ experience with scientific methodology in the natural world, and many program graduates go on to college in pursuit of scientific studies before entrance into a STEM field as a professional.”

During Honeywell Summer Science Week, students spend more than 40 hours as field scientists.

Left: Skylar Brown (right), a student in the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District, works with counselor Gretchen Messer, a visiting professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), to collect and identify samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates in Onondaga Creek.

Right: Julah Zuckerbraun, a student in the Syracuse City School District, tests Onondaga Creek’s water quality with the help of counselor Christopher Thomas, a student at SUNY-ESF.

 

Students learn from habitat experts and engineers about the Onondaga Lake cleanup at Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.

Left: Matt McDonough, a habitat expert from Parsons, shows students a fish caught in Onondaga Lake.

Right: Honeywell Summer Science Week students Sarah Fettig (left), of the West Genesee Central School District, and Tess Schmidt, of the Fayetteville-Manlius School District, complete an engineering activity to learn about the Onondaga Lake cap.

 

2018 Honeywell Summer Science Week participants

On opening day, City of Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens joined Honeywell and the MOST at a kickoff event at Onondaga Lake Park.

“Honeywell Summer Science Week is an amazing opportunity for you to think about STEM programs as you pursue your education,” Owens, pictured above, said to the students. “Use what you learn this week as you move forward and continue to pursue math, science, and technology, because with a STEM focus, you can solve our world’s most challenging issues.”

Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of field activities, such as collecting water samples throughout the Tully Valley and the Onondaga Lake watershed, and exploring Clark Reservation and Onondaga Creek. Students also learned about the fish in Onondaga Lake, underwater mapping, and the engineering behind the lake bottom cap.

“This program is an unparalleled science experience for students. We appreciate Honeywell’s continued support in helping the MOST teach the workforce of the future,” said MOST Interim President Lauren Kochian.

“Honeywell Summer Science Week inspires the next generation of scientists and engineers through hands-on experiments in the Onondaga Lake watershed,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “The innovative program increases students’ interest in science and math and teaches them an interdisciplinary approach to resolution of environmental issues.”

Honeywell Discovery Day

The students reunited on Honeywell Discovery Day to discuss scientific findings. Students were joined by family members and teachers as they presented their observations.

Left: Students Peter Santoro (left), of the Liverpool Central School District, and Symeon Barrett, a home-schooled student, present their observations to Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe.

Right: Honeywell Summer Science Week students receive completion certificates and become “MOST Associates,” which grants each student a one-year museum pass.

 

Local companies, organizations, and individuals participating include: Montezuma Audubon Center, U.S. Geological Survey, OBG, Parsons, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, and faculty and graduate students from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF.

Honeywell Summer Science Week is sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative that focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and nonprofit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/hometown-solutions.

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

U.S. Space & Rocket Center Program Inspires Educators from Around the World

Two local teachers have returned to Central New York after embarking upon an intensive five-day educator training mission at Honeywell Educators at Space Academy (HESA) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama. The educators, Syracuse City School District teacher Erin Emanuele and Bishop Ludden Junior-Senior High School teacher Michelle Hall, were awarded scholarships from Honeywell to attend HESA, which provides simulated astronaut training focused on space science and exploration.

“Honeywell Educators at Space Academy is unlike any other experience,” said Emanuele. “HESA has encouraged me and provided me with the necessary tools and experiences to transform my classroom instruction. I am excited to provide my students with opportunities to learn mathematics while engaging them in meaningful real-life topics.”

Watch a video about how HESA helped a Central New York teacher inspire her students.

In partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Honeywell developed the award-winning scholarship program to help middle school math and science teachers become more effective educators and encourage students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and careers.

Left: 2018 HESA teacher Erin Emanuele completes a mission at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Right: Central New York 2018 HESA teacher Michelle Hall in a gravity chair at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

This year, 224 teachers from 35 countries and 45 U.S. states and territories were selected to attend the annual program. While at space camp, teachers attend 45 hours of immersive classroom and laboratory instruction focused on science, space exploration, and leadership skills development. In addition to learning new instructional exercises, including coding challenges, the teachers built a network of peers from around the world to continue collaborating and developing their STEM education goals.

“Honeywell Educators at Space Academy empowers teachers to inspire the next generation of Central New York scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, speaking to students at J.T. Roberts Pre-K-8 School in the Syracuse City School District, before the teachers departed. “The program equips teachers with innovative lessons and ideas preparing them to invigorate their districts, classrooms, and students.”

Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, and USSRC created the program in 2004 to inspire middle school science and math teachers to not only continue their own education, but to promote STEM in their classrooms. Since its creation, more than 3,000 teachers have attended the HESA program and have cumulatively gone on to impact more than 5 million students around the world.

HESA candidates complete a rigorous application process. Qualified teachers are awarded scholarships, round-trip airfare, tuition, meals, and accommodations, supported by Honeywell and its employees.

For more information about the HESA program click here.

About Honeywell Hometown Solutions 
Honeywell Educators at Space Academy is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and nonprofit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com.

Free Tours Provide an Opportunity to Learn about Lake Cleanup and Habitat Enhancements

Open house sessions at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center are being held on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To date, more than 17,000 community members have toured the center and have learned about the lake cleanup firsthand.

The Visitors Center is located along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake in Geddes. It was designed and built by Honeywell to provide public access to the significant work that has taken place.

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell has restored about 90 acres of wetlands, and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. The restored wetlands have become home to more than 250 wildlife species. More than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including several species categorized as threatened or of special interest in New York State. In 2015, Honeywell received Audubon New York’s Thomas W. Keesee, Jr. Conservation Award for its leadership in the cleanup, “one of the most ambitious environmental reclamation projects in the United States.”

From significant improvements in water quality to the return of native plants and animals, the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center allows community members to see the progress being made to restore the natural beauty and value of Onondaga Lake and adjacent habitats.

The Visitors Center regularly hosts group tours, including school groups. To schedule a group tour, please call 315-552-9751 or submit this form.

TO ACCESS THE VISITORS CENTER: From Points West: Take I-690 East to Exit 7, turn left onto State Fair Boulevard, take the first left passing under I-690, drive straight toward the lake and follow signs to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center. From Points East: Take I-690 West to Exit 7, turn right at the off ramp and follow signs to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.

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

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Monitors Progress in Recently Restored Wetlands

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.

Award Honors Significant Contributions to Engineering

The Onondaga Lake cleanup team has received the 2018 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the Syracuse section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The award recognizes the team’s “superior civil engineering skills” and “significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society.” The team, led by Honeywell, includes Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, and Sevenson Environmental Services.

Onondaga Lake cleanup team representatives accept the 2018 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the Syracuse section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

“The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award is presented annually to a project that represents the best of engineering in Central New York,” said ASCE Syracuse section President George Kalkowsky. “Honeywell’s leadership of the Onondaga Lake cleanup team is a prime example of many engineers coming together to improve the future by solving today’s challenges.”

“The Onondaga Lake cleanup continues to be recognized for its innovative approaches and contributions to engineering,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Thanks to the work of a local team, the lake and nearby areas are once again attracting visitors and wildlife to a precious natural resource that is a key part of Central New York.”

Recognized as one of the largest lake restoration projects in North America, the Onondaga Lake cleanup is the result of more than two decades and millions of hours of intensive effort. The project was completed through an unwavering focus on sound science, technical excellence, community engagement, and sustainable practices, as well as a commitment to health and safety. Project innovations resulted in significant advancements in sediment remediation technology. The cleanup combined innovative dredging and capping designs with long-term habitat restoration, leading to an environmentally protective solution.

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell has restored about 90 acres of wetlands, and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. The restored wetlands have become home to more than 250 wildlife species.
Onondaga Lake western shoreline before (left) and after (right) the cleanup.

Honeywell completed dredging in November 2014, a year ahead of schedule. About 2.2 million cubic yards of material was removed from the bottom of the lake using hydraulic dredges. Onondaga Lake capping was completed in December 2016. Habitat restoration, a major focus of the cleanup, was completed in 2017.

Watch a video about the impact of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

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

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Showcases Images of Wildlife Returning to Onondaga Lake

Nearly 400 Central New Yorkers viewed images of birds and other wildlife at the “Nature’s Resurgence at Onondaga Lake” photography exhibit March 24-25. The images taken by local photographers show the diverse range of species that have returned to recently restored and enhanced areas along the Onondaga Lake shoreline. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps hosted the exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York and Honeywell.

Left: “Happy Warbler” by John DeNicola.
Right: “Bon Appétit” by John Savage.

“Onondaga Lake is a story of conservation success that the entire community can be proud of,” said Chris Lajewski, center director, Montezuma Audubon Center. “Thanks to the hard work and commitment to conservation by Honeywell, Onondaga County, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, and hundreds of community volunteers, Onondaga Lake continues to thrive as an Important Bird Area that is home to songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey throughout the year. We are proud to showcase these amazing images that were captured by dedicated nature photographers who help us tell the story of nature’s resurgence at Onondaga Lake.”

Onondaga Lake became a priority Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) in 1998 and was subsequently adopted by Honeywell, Montezuma Audubon Center, and Onondaga Audubon Society because of its value to waterfowl and bald eagles during the winter months. The IBA program is a bird conservation initiative that connects local communities to environmental stewardship and helps to improve the quality of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

This year’s exhibit featured seven local photographers pictured left to right (front row): Cheryl Lloyd, Michele Neligan, and Phillip Bonn; (back row): Greg Craybas, Diana Whiting, and John DeNicola. Not pictured: John Savage.

View photographs that were on display at the exhibit.

“Onondaga Lake has become a destination for humans and wildlife alike. The trail system has brought the people and the wetland restoration has brought the wildlife,” said John Savage, a local photographer who exhibited at the event. “It is amazing to see our national bird, the bald eagle, soaring in the skies and perching in the trees along the lakeshore. It’s a balance of man and nature that should be both celebrated and guarded.”

Left: “Hooded Merganser” by Greg Craybas.
Right: “Taking Flight” by Diana Whiting.

Visitors met the photographers who captured the images and had an opportunity to look for birds in their natural habitat with experts from the Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon Society.

Left: Barbara Johnson (right), of DeWitt, New York, learns about improvements at Onondaga Lake and nearby tributaries that are providing restored habitat for wildlife from Anne Burnham, a habitat expert from Parsons.
Right: Michele Neligan, a former Onondaga Audubon board member and a photographer exhibiting at the event, helps 10-year-old Ethan Jackson, of Elbridge, New York, use a scope to identify a red-breasted merganser.

Over the course of the two-day event, 20 bird species were spotted including pied-billed grebe and bald eagle.

As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell has restored about 90 acres of wetlands and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. The restored wetlands have become home to more than 250 wildlife species. More than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including several species categorized as threatened or of special interest in New York State.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed 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 IBA. Since its formation in 2012, more than 780 community members have participated in Corps events.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations, and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

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

Eighty-three community members learned about the Onondaga Lake fishery and spotted wildlife along the lakeshore during an Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps event on Sunday, February 25. The afternoon began with “Onondaga Lake: A Treasured Ecosystem Returning,” a presentation by renowned Onondaga Lake fisheries expert Neil Ringler, Ph.D. After the presentation, Onondaga Audubon Society members led a birding walk along the Onondaga Creekwalk.

Ringler is an avid fisherman in his free time and is pictured above holding a largemouth bass caught in Onondaga Lake. He has studied the Onondaga Lake fishery for more than 30 years and is vice provost at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).

Ringler discussed improvements at Onondaga Lake and nearby tributaries that are providing restored habitat for fish, birds, invertebrates, and plants, and how research and monitoring will continue to guide improvements to the ecosystem. According to SUNY-ESF, up to 64 species of fish have been recorded in Onondaga Lake, including brown trout, lake sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon.

Left: SUNY-ESF undergraduate research assistant Madison Searles holds a lake sturgeon caught in Onondaga Lake during a SUNY-ESF study in 2016.
Right: A brown trout caught in Onondaga Lake during a SUNY-ESF study in 2017.

Q&A with Dr. Neil Ringler

During the time that you have studied Onondaga Lake, what have you seen happen to the fish population?

SUNY-ESF began studies of Onondaga Lake in 1986. Over the past 30-plus years, we have caught 64 species of fish and typically about 40 species in a given field season. The fish population is very diverse. Over the years it has shifted from a large number of plankton-eating fish, such as gizzard shad, to fish- and aquatic insect-eating species, such as walleye, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. This has led to increased public interest in fishing in the lake.

A tiger muskie caught in Onondaga Lake by Anne Burnham as part of her SUNY-ESF research in 2013.

We catch a large number (35 in 2013) of lake sturgeon; the largest we’ve identified measured 71 inches. We also find large brown trout (up to 25 inches) living in the lake about 10 months of the year. SUNY-ESF and Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery have stocked juvenile Atlantic salmon in Nine Mile Creek for the past five years; a few that were caught had grown to nearly 22 inches.

Can you describe SUNY-ESF’s fish program?

Each summer, graduate students conduct a survey of fish species in Onondaga Lake. About 35 graduate students have created thesis projects, and 20 students have collected data. Several graduates are now working on Onondaga Lake’s restoration.

Additionally, about 100 undergraduates have participated aboard our electro-shocker boat or on another research boat. We have recently begun studying the response of fish to newly installed habitat structures, a key component of Honeywell’s lake bottom restoration efforts.

Sixty-two porcupine cribs have been installed in Onondaga Lake. A porcupine crib is a fish habitat structure that provides shelter and feeding opportunities for small fish.

One major finding of the program is the expansion of underwater vegetation from only five species in the 1980s to at least 23 species today.

More than 80 percent of near-shore areas are covered by plants, compared to about 5 percent in 1986. We see a larger population of invertebrates, such as damselflies, in these areas. We expect invertebrate numbers and diversity to increase as a result of the lake cleanup and new lake bottom.

Atlantic salmon are now seen in the lake. What does that say about the lake’s health, and are there other species that have returned that you are surprised to see?

This is a result of the improvement in Onondaga Lake’s water quality. Atlantic salmon were historically the only native salmon species found in Onondaga Lake; their return represents a great accomplishment made possible by the many enhancements made to the ecosystem.

Several bird species utilizing newly restored wetlands along Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline.

Honeywell has created or restored nearly 90 acres of wetlands in the lake and nearby tributaries. How do these improved habitat conditions help support a healthy fishery? 

In addition to contributing to improved water quality, wetlands provide valuable feeding and spawning habitat for a variety of species. We are envisioning that the restored wetlands will assist with the continued recovery of northern pike, which are present in the lake in large sizes already.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps has been involved in restoring some of the wetlands by building bird boxes and participating in other conservation efforts. What can the community do to continue to support the lake improvements? 

The most important thing is for the community to go out there and enjoy the lake – sail, fish, hike, bird watch, and chase butterflies. There are few examples nationwide of a major city adjacent to a marvelous waterbody like Onondaga Lake, and it represents literally thousands of years of vital human history of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The cooperation among SUNY-ESF faculty, students, the Syracuse community, and Honeywell has been a phenomenal success story. We were happy that early studies at SUNY-ESF helped to guide some of the shoreline restoration plans. The sophistication of the dredging and capping program is a textbook case study in tackling a difficult, centuries-long problem. The current lake monitoring work is important to help ensure that the recovery is documented in a fashion that will be useful to solving future comparable environmental problems worldwide.

About the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

The Corps seeks to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed 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.

Partners of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, OBG, Anchor QEA, Bond Schoeneck & King, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Habitat Gardening in Central New York, and Honeywell.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org, visit http://ny.audubon.org/OLCC, or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations, and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or visit YouTube to learn more.

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

View more photographs of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

The Onondaga Lake cleanup team received a 2017 Dredging and Port Construction Innovation Award for completing one of the most innovative and forward-thinking projects in the dredging industry. The team, led by Honeywell, was honored for “Innovation in Project Design for Inland Dredging” at an awards ceremony in London on Nov. 29. The award was presented by IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics, and solutions.

The Onondaga Lake cleanup team included Honeywell, Parsons, Anchor QEA, OBG, Geosyntec Consultants, Sevenson Environmental Services, Infrastructure Alternatives and de maximus.

“A world-class team of scientists, engineers, and skilled craft laborers worked with Honeywell to develop innovative approaches for challenging technical and ecological issues. The Onondaga Lake cleanup combined innovative dredging and capping designs with long-term habitat restoration leading to an environmentally protective solution,” said Honeywell Director of Remediation Design and Construction William Hague.

Recognized as one of the largest cleanup projects in North America, the Onondaga Lake restoration is the result of more than two decades and millions of hours of intensive effort. The project was completed through an unwavering focus on sound science, technical excellence, community engagement, sustainable practices, and a commitment to health and safety. Project innovations resulted in significant advancements in sediment remediation technology.

Nicholas Tymko, Honeywell Remediation Manager representing the Onondaga Lake cleanup team (center), accepts the Innovation in Project Design for Inland Dredging Award at the IHS Dredging and Port Construction Awards.

“Honeywell’s historic cleanup of Onondaga Lake was completed through the extraordinary efforts of state and federal regulators, educational institutions, elected officials, Onondaga County, and the community,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Onondaga Lake is now home to more than 250 wildlife species, and has become a source of pride and optimism for the Central New York community.”

Honeywell completed dredging in November 2014, a year ahead of schedule. About 2.2 million cubic yards of material was removed from the bottom of the lake using hydraulic dredges. Onondaga Lake capping was completed in December 2016. Habitat restoration, a major focus of the cleanup, was completed in 2017.

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