Click here to download the Dredging and Capping Completed Fact Sheet (717 KB)
Honeywell Receives Award for Its Commitment to STEM Education
Honeywell Hometown Solutions’ Programs Seek to Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers
Honeywell Hometown Solutions (HHS), the Company’s corporate citizenship initiative, was honored by the Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) and presented with the 2017 STEM Outreach Award. The award recognizes a Central New York organization that has increased interest in science or technology or expanded opportunities for people with limited access to science or technology. HHS was celebrated for its STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs that provide enrichment for students, teachers, and families in Central New York.
“For Central New York to remain competitive, we need to prepare the next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers,” said Diane Plumley, TACNY President. “The programs that HHS has brought to Central New York have been critical and impactful for engaging students and teachers in pursuing STEM education and careers.”
Nearly 6,000 Central New York students have become more excited and passionate about science and math through several HHS-sponsored programs, including Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST (Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology) and FMA Live!, an interactive hip-hop concert that teaches Newton’s Universal Law of Gravity and Three Laws of Motion. Thirty-six Central New York middle school teachers have attended Honeywell Educators at Space Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
“Honeywell is a driving force in delivering enhanced STEM lessons, activities and thinking into Central New York classrooms,” said David Amidon, a New York State Master Teacher and Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recipient. “These experiences are top-notch in terms of STEM content, with opportunities for teachers to infuse new techniques into their repertoires, and to motivate students to pursue these careers.”
Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST has brought science to life in memorable ways by leading more than 600 Central New York eighth grade students through hands-on science exploration in the Onondaga Lake watershed. For the past 11 years, Honeywell has partnered with the MOST to give students the opportunity to explore real-world STEM solutions to challenges in their own communities.
FMA Live! Forces in Motion, the award-winning, action-packed show created in partnership with NASA, has toured the region and visited five Central New York school districts in four years. FMA Live! uses music and dance, larger-than-life demonstrations, and audience participation to engage middle school students.
Honeywell Educators at Space Academy was created in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to help middle school math and science teachers become more effective STEM educators through a series of astronaut-style exercises and stimulations. Since its creation in 2004, 2,776 teachers from 55 countries have attended the program including 36 from Central New York.
Onondaga Lake Visitors Center
Honeywell also built the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center to provide the public with access to the significant work taking place at Onondaga Lake by hundreds of scientists, engineers and skilled craft laborers, and offers educational tours regularly about the project.
About Honeywell Hometown Solutions
Honeywell Hometown Solutions focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Environment & Sustainability, 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 https://citizenship.honeywell.com/hometown-solutions/.
Restored Wetlands Serve as Backdrop for Stunning Photography Exhibit
Local Photographers Display Work at Fourth Annual Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Exhibit, “Images of a Restored Habitat”
Nearly 600 Central New Yorkers viewed images of birds taken by local wildlife photographers at the “Images of a Restored Habitat” bird photography exhibit on March 25-26. The exhibit highlighted the diverse range of bird species that have returned to recently restored areas along the Onondaga Lake shoreline. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps hosted the exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York and Honeywell.
“Onondaga Lake was named an Important Bird Area because it provides critical habitat for migratory and overwintering species of the Atlantic Flyway,” said Erin Crotty, Executive Director, Audubon New York. “Thanks to the cleanup and restoration efforts of Onondaga County, Honeywell, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, and the Syracuse community, a variety of bird species can once again depend on Onondaga Lake for year-round nesting, breeding, and stopover habitat. Thank you to the event photographers for sharing their talents with us and allowing us to showcase the significant role Onondaga Lake plays in the Atlantic Flyway.”
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 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.
View photographs that were on display at the exhibit.
“The restoration of Onondaga Lake has transformed the shoreline into an unrecognizable wetland that people and wildlife have not seen before,” said Greg Craybas, a photographer exhibiting at the event. “With the opportunity to photograph birds and waterfowl on Onondaga Lake, it is sure to become a key destination for photographers for years to come.”
As part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup, Honeywell is planting about 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees in the Onondaga Lake watershed. To date, more than 70 acres of wetlands have been restored and more than 180 species of birds, fish, and other wildlife have returned to restored habitat near the lake. More than 80 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. Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Harrier, and Bald Eagle are among the notable bird species that have returned.
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 650 community members have participated in Corps planting events.
To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org 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.
Wildlife Expert Chronicles 40-Year Journey to Restore Bald Eagles in New York State
Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Hosts Event Including Bald Eagle Walk
More than 120 community members joined the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps last Saturday at “Restoring the Bald Eagle: A 40-Year Journey,” a presentation by Mike Allen, a retired wildlife technician and biologist involved with the Bald Eagle program in New York State. After the presentation, Onondaga Audubon Society members led a birding walk along the Onondaga Creekwalk.
The Conservation Corps encourages the public to become stewards of Onondaga Lake and educates them about its value as an Audubon Important Bird Area. More than 650 community volunteers have helped restore 74 acres of wetlands, creating a home for more than 180 wildlife species.
Below are key questions addressed by Mike Allen.
Please describe the New York State Bald Eagle Restoration Project.
The Bald Eagle Restoration Project was founded in 1976 to re-establish a Bald Eagle population in New York State. Over a 13-year period, 198 nestling Bald Eagles were collected from Alaska and Midwest states, transported, and then released in New York.
The project was a first of its kind in the country. It included raising and releasing young birds that were either hatched in captivity or taken from wild nests, and then “fostered.” These birds were then placed in the last known active nest in New York State (south of Rochester) with the hope that they would be accepted by adults and raised as if they were their own.
What was the impact of the project?
When the project got underway in 1976 there was one active Bald Eagle nest in all of New York State.
Today, there are about 300 active nesting areas across the state. Two to three dozen Bald Eagles regularly spend the winter at Onondaga Lake.
What attracts so many Bald Eagles to Onondaga Lake during the winter?
The primary attraction is the open water that is present at the south end of the lake. During cold winters, Bald Eagles congregate around this warm water discharge with the hopes of finding a meal.
Is it common to see a large number of Bald Eagles in an urbanized area?
No, it is not common to see this number of Bald Eagles living in close proximity to people. Data show there has been a remarkable increase in the number of Bald Eagles visiting Onondaga Lake; 79 have been spotted over the past 10 years.
Honeywell has created or restored 74 acres of wetlands in the lake and nearby tributaries. More than 600,000 native plants have been planted in these restored areas. Lake water quality is the best in decades. How do these improved habitat conditions help attract and support Bald Eagles?
Improved habitat results in increased numbers of fish, waterfowl, muskrats and any number of other species. One of the things we’ve seen over the last 41 years is the better the food, the more likely birds, especially young birds, select an area as home.
One of the neat things about Bald Eagles is that they have a habit of coming back to what we would call their natal (home) area, where they were released. As the habitat throughout New York State improves, more areas become attractive to Bald Eagles, including those that are approaching maturity.
Where do the Bald Eagles come from and where do they travel when they aren’t wintering in Central New York?
Typically, by the end of September, young Bald Eagles are moving out on their first season of migration. They may go south, west, and some even go north. Data show that some were seen as far west as Missouri, and as far south as Florida and Alabama.
In 1992, a bird left a nest at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in late September and by mid-February, it was in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, over 500 air miles away. That was a real eye-opener for all of us, unexpected but very exciting.
What can we learn about the health of our ecosystem with Bald Eagles returning to Onondaga Lake every year?
The more Bald Eagles utilizing Onondaga Lake, the better the environment – that’s a simple answer.
Sadly it took only 10 years from the late 1940s through the 1950s for the Bald Eagle population to take a major hit. Until the problem was identified nobody knew it was happening. We need to keep a focus on Bald Eagle populations and productivity through continued surveys and data collection. The population decrease occurred very rapidly, and if we are not paying attention, there is nothing to stop it from happening again.
Given the resurgence of the lake and surrounding wetlands, would you expect to see a Bald Eagle nest within the next few years?
Only time will tell, or perhaps we could ask the Bald Eagles. Keep looking up!
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 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.
Central New York Community Invited to Share Opinions On the Future of Onondaga Lake
F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse Seeks Community’s Input with “Our Lake” Survey
F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse is conducting research on the community’s vision for the future public use of Onondaga Lake. Community members are invited to take a brief “Our Lake: Reconnecting Citizens to Onondaga Lake” survey to share their vision. The deadline to submit responses is Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
“As Onondaga Lake experiences an increase in shoreline access points combined with water quality improvements from cleanup and restoration efforts, there is a noticeable resurgence of interest to be on or near the water,” said Chuckie Holstein, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse Executive Director.
Support for the F.O.C.U.S. study and citizen engagement initiative is provided by Honeywell and Onondaga County.
F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse (Forging Our Community’s United Strength) is a citizen-driven organization that taps citizen creativity to impact change in Central New York by enabling citizens, organizations, and government to work together to enhance the quality of our lives and our economic future.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.
Fall Family Tradition Continues at Eighth Annual Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook
Families Enjoy Canoeing, Fishing and Archery While Learning About Onondaga Lake Cleanup During Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day
More than 6,000 people participated in outdoor sports including fishing, archery, canoeing, turkey calling, and skeet shooting during the 2016 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, Sept. 24-25. The event, which showcases habitat and wildlife conservation activities, is held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and is one of New York State’s largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Attendees learned about the progress of restoring Onondaga Lake’s habitat. To date, more than 70 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced. More than 170 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife have already returned to restored habitat near the lake.
Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen, and Boy Scouts presented a number of outdoor activities including: canoeing, skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, retriever dog demonstrations, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, muzzle loading, and trout fishing.
“The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, with strong support from Honeywell, is proud to present Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President David Simmons. “The event highlights the ongoing contributions made by volunteers from local sporting clubs and other conservation organizations. As Honeywell’s work progresses, so do the populations of native species, which are becoming locally abundant again.”
Other weekend events included guest appearances by conservation officers, forest rangers, and Eddie Eagle, the mascot for the National Rifle Association of America’s children’s gun safety program.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.
View more photographs of Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.
Volunteers Install 1,400 Native Plants to Enhance Onondaga Lake’s Newest Wetlands
Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Improves Wetlands and Conducts Citizen Science Monitoring Near Nine Mile Creek
Sixty-seven volunteers gathered on a beautiful fall Saturday near the mouth of Nine Mile Creek behind the Lakeview Amphitheater to plant native wetland species and participate in citizen science monitoring by tracking birds. The volunteers are part of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed.
The work along the lake’s shoreline will transform 35 acres into new wetlands and improved habitat for wildlife that will play a significant role in creating a healthy watershed and a sustainable ecosystem. A total of 1,400 native plants were installed along the shoreline adjacent to the mouth of Nine Mile Creek, including harlequin blueflag, cardinalflower, softstem bulrush, and switchgrass.
On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell is improving a total of 87 acres of wetlands and planting about 1.1 million native plants, shrubs, and trees. To date, nearly 600,000 shrubs and trees have been planted. More than 70 acres of wetlands have been restored.
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 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.
Volunteers Remove About 5,000 Pounds of Invasive Plants to Help Protect Onondaga Lake and its Waterways
Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Volunteers Continue Mission to Improve Watershed with Annual Water Chestnut Pull
Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteers in kayaks and canoes were hard at work removing water chestnut from Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River on August 4. Removing invasive plants helps support habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife while improving recreational opportunities for boaters and anglers on Onondaga Lake.
“Conservation Corps volunteers have achieved measurable success by removing invasive plants from Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River,” said Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley, pictured above. “We’re seeing almost no water chestnut in the lake and very little in the outlet. This annual event is benefiting the watershed and Onondaga Lake Park visitors.”
Water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant species, is impacting Central New York waterways by growing into floating mats of thick vegetation clogging lakes and rivers. The plants can cause fish kills due to low oxygen levels under dense mats and prohibit boater and angler access.
On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell is improving 87 acres of wetlands and planting about 1.1 million native plants, shrubs, and trees. To date, more than 60 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced. More than 170 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife have already returned to restored habitat near the lake. Dredging was completed in 2014, a year ahead of schedule. Capping will be completed this year, with shoreline plantings and habitat restoration continuing into spring 2017.
Since the formation of the Corps in summer 2012, 15 events have brought together nearly 650 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members.
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.
To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact montezuma@audubon.org 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.
Student Scientists Conduct Hands-On Experiments and Investigate Onondaga Lake Watershed During Honeywell Summer Science Week
Eighth-Grade Field Scientists Sample Local Creeks and Become Environmental Stewards; Program Instills Confidence in Science and Math
Sixty-three middle school students from 13 Central New York school districts completed Honeywell Summer Science Week last week. Now celebrating its 11th year, Honeywell Summer Science Week, which is organized by the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) in Syracuse, has inspired more than 600 students through hands-on science exploration in the Onondaga Lake watershed.
The program brings science to life as students become field researchers learning 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).
“This is an outstanding program that reaches students at the age when many lose interest in science,” said MOST President Toni Martin. “We need today’s students to have a good grounding in the sciences so they can understand complicated issues when they become tomorrow’s leaders.”
Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of activities while learning an interdisciplinary approach to investigation, discovery, and resolution of environmental issues facing Onondaga County. Field activities included collecting water samples throughout the Tully Valley and the Onondaga Lake watershed, touring Onondaga Lake, and exploring Clark Reservation, Onondaga Creek, and Nine Mile Creek.
“Honeywell Summer Science Week provides our students field experience through hands-on investigations,” said MOST Chief Program Officer Peter Plumley, Ph.D. “The program introduces them to scientific methodology and observation of the natural world. Many students go on to successfully compete in the Central New York Science & Engineering Fair, earning merit scholarships for college.”
“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. “This 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 one last time on July 20, during Honeywell Discovery Day, to discuss scientific findings. During the day, students presented their observations and watched a video from Congressman John M. Katko about the importance of science education.
Local organizations and individuals participating included: Montezuma Audubon Center, U.S. Geological Survey, OBG, Parsons, Anchor QEA, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, and faculty and graduate students from Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The program exposes students, who are about to enter high school, to real scientists and university professors preparing them for future studies and possible STEM careers.
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 non-profit 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, visit www.lakecleanup.com.
Central New Yorkers Celebrate a Renewed Onondaga Lake at Onondaga Cup and Lakefest
Thousands Attend Return of Regatta and Lake Festival
Central New Yorkers picnicked, walked, played, and cheered along the shoreline Saturday as a summer rowing tradition returned to Onondaga Lake.
The Onondaga Cup and Lakefest included a full day of rowing, kayak, and paddleboard competitions. The morning kicked off with a canoe race between New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s team and the Central New York team with Onondaga County Executive Joanne Mahoney, among others. The festival also featured local artisans, live music, food, a 61-foot-tall rubber duck, a mermaid swim, and a kids’ zone with face painting and inflatables.
On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, Honeywell is improving 87 acres of wetlands and planting about 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees. To date, more than 50 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced. More than 170 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife have already returned to restored habitat near the lake. Dredging was completed in 2014, a year ahead of schedule. Capping will be completed this year with shoreline plantings and habitat restoration continuing in spring 2017.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.
View more photographs from the event.