Members of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Construct, Install, and Survey Habitat Structures and Bird Boxes along the Western Shoreline of Onondaga Lake

Volunteers gathered along the Onondaga Lake western shoreline on Saturday, June 18, to build, install, and survey habitat structures as they participated in citizen science monitoring. 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.

Left: Corps volunteers install coverboards on the western shoreline. Coverboards are used for surveying amphibian and reptile communities. They create a moist area that attracts insects and provides protection for many salamander, frog, and snake species.

“Amphibians and reptiles are important parts of functioning ecosystems. It’s great to see how the newly constructed wetlands have been designed with this in mind,” said Peter Ducey, Ph.D., a professor and herpetologist in the Biological Sciences Department at the State University of New York Cortland, pictured above (far right), speaking with volunteers at the event. “These animals are visible and audible indicators of recovering wetlands – basking turtles and calling frogs show visitors that these habitats are thriving. The success of the many habitats associated with Onondaga Lake will ultimately depend on people in the community understanding and taking pride in this great resource.”

“It was great to volunteer with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps,” said 15-year-old Corps member Mackenzie Fassett, pictured above surveying a bird box with her dad, Ron Fassett. “I was excited to learn about the cleanup and all of the wildlife returning to Onondaga Lake.”

Corps volunteers construct, install, and survey wooden bird boxes. At an event in May 2015, the Corps installed 24 bird boxes. At the June event, Corps members surveyed the previously installed bird boxes to see if they are being utilized and if the boxes need to be cleaned.

Left: Two-year-old JJ, of North Syracuse, New York, helps build a bird box.

Right: Corps member Douglas Beauchamp, of Altmar, New York, surveys a previously installed bird box.

Watch a video about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps.

The work along the lake’s western shoreline will transform 20 acres into new wetlands and improved habitat for wildlife that will play a significant role in creating a healthy Onondaga Lake watershed and a sustainable ecosystem. 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 plants, shrubs, and trees. To date, more than 420,000 shrubs and trees have been planted. More than 50 acres of wetlands have been restored.

Left: Corps members Janna, Autumn, Evelyn, and Nate Keefe, of Syracuse, track native birds on a birding walk along Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline. In total, 37 bird species were identified during the event.

Right: Josh Zhao, Jing Wang, and Richard Blankenship, of Fayetteville, New York, work with Montezuma Audubon Center Director Chris Lajewski to install bird boxes.

Since the formation of the Corps in summer 2012, more than 600 volunteers 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 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.

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

Weeklong Astronaut Training Program at U.S. Space & Rocket Center Uses Innovative Lessons to Inspire Educators from Around the World

The countdown begins for five Central New York teachers who have been awarded scholarships to attend Honeywell Educators at Space Academy (HESA) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Ala., this month. The educators were recognized during an event at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center on June 6.

2016 HESA scholarship recipients

Pictured left to right: Stephen Bacon, Gillette Road Middle School in the North Syracuse Central School District; Heather Bermingham, Westside Academy at Blodgett in the Syracuse City School District; Susanne Sobon, Pine Grove Middle School in the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District; Donna Fortugno-Erikson, Lyncourt School in the Lyncourt Union Free School District; and Carmen Primiano, Camillus Middle School in the West Genesee Central School District

 

Watch a video to see how HESA has helped a Central New York teacher inspire her students.

“A major reason why I wanted to become a science teacher was to share my enthusiasm for science and encourage as many students as I can to go into STEM fields. The difficult part is getting eighth graders interested in STEM subjects,” said Camillus Middle School Teacher Carmen Primiano. “By participating in hands-on activities at the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy I hope to bring new teaching techniques to the classroom and create memorable real-world lessons for my students.”

The award-winning scholarship program, created by Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, in partnership with USSRC, is designed to help middle school math and science teachers be more effective at STEM subjects. Since its creation in 2004, HESA has graduated 2,576 educators from 56 countries and 52 U.S. states and territories.

This year, more than 200 teachers from 25 countries and 36 U.S. states and territories will attend one of two five-day programs offered over consecutive weeks from June 8-21.

“Honeywell Educators at Space Academy is helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, pictured above, left, presenting a flight suit to Heather Bermingham, of Westside Academy at Blodgett. “Since 2006, 31 Central New York teachers have participated in the program, which provides teachers with innovative lessons and teaching techniques to reignite their passion in teaching STEM education.”

Right: Several program alumni attended the event to congratulate the 2016 HESA scholarship recipients. Pictured left to right: alumni Sara Pieklik, Liverpool Middle School, HESA 2015; Greg Flick, North Syracuse Junior High School, HESA 2014; and Becky Loy, Minoa Elementary School, HESA 2009.

 

 

In addition to the five Central New York teachers attending the 2016 program, LaFayette Junior/Senior High School Teacher David Amidon, a 2013 graduate of HESA, pictured above, has been selected to serve as an Alumni Ambassador. Amidon is one of four program alumni selected internationally to participate in this capacity.

Teachers will participate in 45 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction focused specifically on science and space exploration. Sessions include astronaut-style exercises such as high-performance jet simulation, scenario-based space missions, land and water survival training, and interactive flight dynamics programs.

HESA candidates complete a rigorous application process. Qualified teachers are awarded scholarships, round-trip airfare, tuition, meals, and accommodations, thanks to the generous support of Honeywell and its employees.

To date, more than 3 million students have benefited from the invaluable teaching techniques gained from HESA. For more information about HESA, visit: https://educators.honeywell.com.

Additional information:

• Video featuring program highlights
• Read more about HESA
• Follow @Hon_Citizenship on Twitter
• Like Honeywell Educators on Facebook
• Subscribe to Honeywell’s Corporate RSS feed
• See more photos from the recognition event at LakeCleanup.com

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 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

Members of the Garden Center Association of Central New York gathered at Nine Mile Creek Tuesday to plant an American sycamore tree in honor of Earth Day. The group chose the location because of its proximity to restored wetlands at Nine Mile Creek and a public canoe launch, which is slated to reopen later this year.  The Nine Mile Creek cleanup was completed in 2014, and the area is now a thriving ecosystem and part of a green corridor connecting Onondaga Lake to upland areas. The area features 30 acres of enhanced wildlife habitat and is home to more than 80 fish and wildlife species.

Members of the Garden Center Association of Central New York at the tree planting event.

“The Garden Center Association of Central New York is excited to leave another permanent legacy for the community,” said Garden Center Association Co-President Eunice Tompkins. “Eighty-two years ago a group of civic-minded gardeners met to organize the Garden Center Association with the purpose of promoting horticultural activities to beautify the areas in and around Syracuse. As the Garden Center Association’s work draws to a close, we couldn’t think of a better location to commemorate all of the association’s accomplishments.”

The American sycamore is a large native tree well-suited for stream banks and wetlands because its root system helps prevent erosion. The tree will provide a nesting site for squirrels and birds, as well as shade and shelter for other animals. Sycamore trees typically grow 75 to 90 feet high, reach maturity at around 25 years and their full height at 30 to 50 years, depending on growing conditions. Sycamore trees are successfully growing in the Onondaga Lake watershed, enhancing the native plant community and contributing to a more biodiverse ecology in the restored wetlands.

Get Involved

Community members who are interested in preserving and protecting the Onondaga Lake watershed are invited to become members of 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.

Since its formation in 2012, more than 600 community members have participated in Corps events.

Left: Corps volunteers Ross and Grace Getman, of Syracuse, remove water chestnut at an event in August 2015.

Right: Corps volunteers display a bird box at a Corps event in May 2015. The bird boxes were built and installed at the event to create shelter for birds and other wildlife.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or 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.

The community also is invited to attend free open house sessions at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center to learn more about the Onondaga Lake cleanup. The Visitors Center, designed and built by Honeywell, provides public access to the significant work taking place by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and skilled craft laborers from the region. Public open houses are held Fridays 12-4:30 p.m., from mid-April through mid-November. For more information on scheduling a tour, please call 315-552-9751 or visit www.lakecleanup.com.

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.

Photography Exhibit Features Birds Who Rely on Onondaga Lake Along the Atlantic Flyway

Local wildlife photographers displayed stunning images of migratory birds taken along the Onondaga Lake shoreline at the “Onondaga Lake: An Important Stop for Birds on an Impressive Journey” photography exhibit April 2-3. The exhibit provided an opportunity for hundreds of Central New York community members to view Onondaga Lake wildlife through the lenses of local photographers. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps hosted the photography exhibit in partnership with Audubon New York and Honeywell.

Left: “Eye in the Sky” by Greg Craybas
Right: “Great Black-backed Gull Long Branch Park” by Michele Neligan

“I love the fact that you can do bird watching any time of year on the shores of Onondaga Lake,” said Michele Neligan, a photographer exhibiting at the event and a member of Onondaga Audubon Society. “Seeing the Bald Eagles and ducks arrive in January is amazing, but in the spring and fall the area is teeming with migratory songbirds. I’m very proud to be a part of this project and to bring awareness and information to the community.”

“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, pictured above. “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.”

Watch a video about the role Onondaga Lake plays in the Atlantic Flyway.

Onondaga Lake is a priority Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) and a vital stop for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. Flyways are the general pathways that birds use to migrate each year between their breeding and wintering areas, including places where they stop to rest and forage, or refuel, on the way. The Atlantic Flyway follows the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains and encompasses some of the hemisphere’s most productive ecosystems, including forests, beaches, and coastal wetlands. The Atlantic Flyway is home to a wide variety of ecosystems and more than one-third of the population of the United States.

“Everyone involved in helping to restore Onondaga Lake’s habitats and wildlife should feel proud,” said Audubon New York’s Director of Bird Conservation Jillian Liner. “The lake has become a place of statewide significance for birds, especially for waterfowl and Bald Eagles that choose to stop on their flight south and spend the winter months on the lake because of the habitat and abundant food. It is incredibly exciting to think about the additional successes we will see because of the continued efforts of the Corps and other conservation partners.”

The exhibit featured images taken by local photographers (left to right) Greg Craybas, Cheryl Lloyd, and Michele Neligan. Not pictured: Suzanne Ray, Jonathan Kresge, and John Savage.

View photographs that were on display at the exhibit.

Onondaga Lake became an 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 connection of the local community to environmental stewardship,
• and the improvement in habitat for birds and other wildlife.

The IBA program serves as a catalyst for achieving bird conservation.

Left: Chris Lajewski, Director of the Montezuma Audubon Center, helps Bill Getz, of Schoharie, New York, and Ruth Leach, of Liverpool, New York, view birds on Onondaga Lake. Twenty bird species were identified during the weekend, including Bald Eagles, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ospreys, and a Peregrine Falcon.
Right: Ed and Nancy Grimm, of Baldwinsville, New York, learn about habitat improvements from Keith Cardinali, OBG habitat expert (left).

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 50 acres of wetlands have been restored and 170 species of birds, fish, and other wildlife have returned to restored habitat near the lake. More than 85 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, which hosted the exhibit, 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 600 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 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.

Award Recognizes Honeywell as “A Leader in One of the Most Ambitious Environmental Reclamation Projects in the United States” – the Cleanup and Restoration of Onondaga Lake

Audubon New York awarded Honeywell the 2015 Thomas W. Keesee Jr. Conservation Award for its leadership on the cleanup and restoration of Onondaga Lake. Kate Adams, Honeywell Senior Vice President and General Counsel, accepted the award at Audubon New York’s fall benefit in New York City on November 4. Presented annually, the award honors those in New York State who have shown remarkable leadership and commitment “to Audubon’s mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.”

“Honeywell made a corporate commitment to the ecosystem of Central New York with the restoration of Onondaga Lake, a vital natural resource and Audubon Important Bird Area. Thanks to ongoing restoration, and with the completion of dredging a year early, birds and other wildlife are once again thriving along its shores and watershed,” said Audubon New York Executive Director Erin Crotty, shown above (left) presenting the Thomas W. Keesee Jr. Conservation Award to Honeywell Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kate Adams.

Left (left to right): Audubon New York Board Chair Virginia (Gini) Stowe, Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, Crotty, and Adams.

Right: A great blue heron looks for food in the restored Geddes Brook wetland.

 

To view a video about the Keesee Award and the cleanup, click here.

Audubon New York honored Honeywell as “a leader in one of the most ambitious environmental reclamation projects in the United States,” and for its work with partners, including Audubon, “to return Onondaga Lake to the community as a healthy, sustainable asset for future generations.”

During the awards ceremony, Adams said, “In Syracuse, we found the talent, creativity, and passion that makes Central New York such a unique and special place.”

Honeywell partners including Anchor QEA, de maximis, Infrastructure Alternatives, OBG, Parsons, Sevenson Environmental Services, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Syracuse University, and Upstate Freshwater Institute were recognized.

Anchor QEA Partner and Principal Engineer Kevin Russell, OBG CEO Jim Fox, Parsons Program Manager Paul Blue, former SUNY-ESF President Cornelius (Neil) B. Murphy Jr., and SUNY-ESF Professors Neil Ringler, Ph.D., and Donald Leopold, Ph.D., are pictured above with other members of the Onondaga Lake cleanup team.

 

Former New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens (pictured above left), National Audubon Society President and CEO David Yarnold, (pictured above on far right), and several Audubon New York board members attended the event.

“What do we do when we follow birds to our work, what do we end up with? Clean water, less pollution, healthy ecosystems, and a greater quality of life,” said Yarnold. “Where birds thrive, people prosper.”

 

“Honeywell is honored to accept the Thomas W. Keesee Jr. Conservation Award from one of the nation’s leading conservation organizations on behalf of our partners and all of Central New York,” said Adams. “The rebirth of Onondaga Lake, one of Central New York’s most valuable resources, is driven by the vision and spirit of the community and an incredible team of scientists, engineers, individuals, and conservation groups, including Audubon. Water quality is the best it has been in 100 years, and there is a renewed community enthusiasm to use and enjoy the lake.”

The Onondaga Lake cleanup is the result of more than two decades and millions of hours of intensive effort under the supervision of state and federal regulatory agencies, and in cooperation with local elected officials and the community. In November 2014, Honeywell completed lake dredging, a year ahead of schedule. Capping and habitat restoration are scheduled to be finished in 2016.

Left: Honeywell completed the restoration of the Geddes Brook wetlands in 2012; 50,000 native trees, plants, and shrubs were planted in 17 acres.

Right: Bald Eagles annually congregate at Onondaga Lake’s southern lakeshore during winter months. Photograph by Greg Craybas.

 

Honeywell is planting about 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees. To date, 50 acres of wetlands have been restored and more than 166 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, which is classified as an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA), including several rare 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.

Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, and Honeywell have worked in partnership since 2007 when Montezuma Audubon Center provided feedback for the restoration of LCP wetlands, and joined the Habitat Working Group. The partnership continued when they jointly adopted Onondaga Lake as an IBA in 2008, which marked the first time a company in New York State co-adopted an IBA with an Audubon organization.

Following the adoption of the IBA, the three organizations announced the development of the Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education, a professional development program for Onondaga County middle school science teachers. The program evolved into the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, which was founded in 2012.

The Corps inspires 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 the Onondaga Lake watershed and its value as an IBA.

More than 600 volunteers have become environmental stewards who have planted thousands of trees, shrubs, and native plants, and participated in citizen science monitoring. In April 2015, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the Corps with its 2015 Environmental Champion Award. To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or to 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.

Twenty-eight Bird Species Identified, Including Bald Eagle; Trees Planted along Onondaga Lake’s Western Shoreline

Forty-one volunteers gathered along Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline Saturday, October 17, to plant trees and participate in citizen science monitoring by tracking bird species. The volunteers are part of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, a group of community members who are helping to create or improve wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed.

Left: 9-year-old twins Autumn and Evelyn Keefe, of Syracuse, plant an eastern white pine, a native tree.

Conservation Corps members tracked bird species during a walk along the western shoreline. They identified 28 bird species, including bald eagle, ruby-crowned kinglet, eastern phoebe, and common merganser. More than 80 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, including several rare 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.

Left: Cheryl and Robert Belle, of Baldwinsville, New York, identify bird species with the help of Chris Lajewski, director of Montezuma Audubon Center. Right: Steve Mooney, Managing Scientist at O’Brien & Gere, helps 7-year-old Harris Buelow, of Manlius, New York, use binoculars to identify bird species.

 

“The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps and the work happening on Onondaga Lake are opening the community’s eyes to what an incredible resource the lake is,” said Corps volunteer Ruth Florey, of Syracuse, pictured above. “The new West Shore Trail is providing people with the opportunity to see beautiful vistas of the lake and city and allowing them to take ownership and pride in the lake.”

The Corps has helped transform Onondaga Lake’s western shoreline into new and improved habitat by installing native plants, and building bird boxes and habitat structures for wildlife.

Left: Chase Salmons and Linda Salmons, of Camillus, New York, plant native species in August 2014. Corps volunteers also planted native wetland plants along the shoreline in July 2014, May 2015, and October 2015. Right: The western shoreline is now thriving.

 

“Corps members helped restore the western shoreline and re-established a personal connection with the lake,” said Tony Eallonardo, Ph.D., Scientist at O’Brien & Gere, pictured above left. “This and other plantings will provide important habitat for a wide variety of amphibian, reptile, mammal, and bird species. The plantings provide a great opportunity for people to strengthen a lifelong relationship with the many great natural features of Central New York, including Onondaga Lake.”

The Conservation Corps, awarded the 2015 United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Champion Award in April 2015, inspires 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 the Onondaga Lake watershed and its value as an Important Bird Area.

Since the formation of the Conservation Corps in summer 2012, 13 events have brought together more than 600 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. Corps members have planted more than 4,500 native plants, trees, and shrubs, helping to create a home for more than 166 wildlife species that have been observed in and around 50 acres of restored wetlands.

Corps partners include Audubon New York, O’Brien & Gere, Parsons, Anchor QEA, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, and Honeywell.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or to 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.

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its “First Five-Year Review Report” of the “Onondaga Lake Bottom Subsite of the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site.”

“Implementation of the remedy is progressing as expected,” according to the EPA report. The report went on to say, “Several process enhancements and modifications were implemented to improve overall dredge system performance and production capabilities. As a result, dredging of the Lake and three adjacent shoreline areas, which included removal of approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of sediments, was completed within three years instead of four years as anticipated in the design. Capping operations from 2012 through 2014 were consistent with design projected volumes and capping is projected to be completed within five years as originally planned.”

Based upon the results of this first five-year review, EPA concluded that:

• “Concentrations of dissolved mercury are significantly lower in surface water samples collected between 2008 and 2014 relative to samples collected during the RI (Remedial Investigation). This is likely attributable to reductions in mercury loading to the Lake from external sources such as tributaries and groundwater. Further reductions in dissolved mercury are expected from the implementation of the selected remedy.”
• “As a result of METRO (Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant) upgrades and adding diluted calcium nitrate near the sediment/water interface in the deep water portions of the Lake since 2011, MeHg concentrations in Lake water and in zooplankton have declined dramatically. Lower MeHg exposures from the water column and through the food chain are expected to contribute to lower mercury concentrations in fish.” [MeHg is methlymercury, which is a form of mercury that accumulates in fish and organisms. It forms during the summer months, in the deep water portions of the lake, when oxygen is not present.]
• “The combination of lower than projected concentrations of mercury in surface sediment and settling sediments, and higher average annual sedimentation rates than the rate assumed in the Final Design indicate that natural recovery in the Lake is progressing faster than predicted.”
• “Due to the scheduling of various aspects of the remedial program and the nature of biological systems, it is premature in this first five-year review to determine whether the remediation has achieved the goals for mercury in fish tissue identified in the ROD (Record of Decision).”
• “Future five-year reviews will have the opportunity to review data over sufficiently long time frames to determine the extent of compliance with the goals in the ROD.”

The EPA also reported that air monitoring results showed levels did not exceed government criteria for total volatile organic compounds, mercury or sulfides. EPA states, “No exceedances of work perimeter limits or action levels occurred for total VOCs, mercury, hydrogen sulfide or noise.” The report also says, “One 1-hour work perimeter limit exceedance for dust occurred at one station in 2012 due to evening shift change traffic by the air monitoring station. Levels for dust dropped to within limits immediately after the shift change and roads were watered the following morning. There were no other additional exceedances for dust.”

To view the complete report, click here.

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

Families Participate in Fishing and Archery, and Learn about Onondaga Lake Cleanup at New York State’s Largest Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day

A beautiful fall weekend drew thousands of Central New Yorkers to the 2015 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, Sept. 26-27. The event, which showcases habitat and wildlife conservation activities, is held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and is a celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Left: Eight-year-old Mia Ennist and 7-year-old Christian Ennist, of Oswego, fish for trout at Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days. Right: Volunteer William Webster teaches 8-year-old Noah Taylor, of Liverpool, archery.

Attendees at Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days learned about progress achieved on habitat restoration as part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup. Fifty acres of new or enhanced wetlands are now providing a home for more than 166 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife. There has been a remarkable increase in the number of bald eagles using the lake; 79 have been spotted over the past 10 years. Left: Tien Larrivey, of Liverpool, learns about fish species in Central New York. Right: Bald eagles sit in a tree near Onondaga Lake. Photo by John Savage.

“Honeywell has worked with the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs to create sustainable habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, pictured above (right) with Stephen Wowelko, past president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “The federation’s expertise was essential to the design of habitat and wetlands that are now home to diverse wildlife species, including mink, wild turkey, bald eagles, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and snapping turtle. It’s great to see sportsmen pass their knowledge of habitat conservation to the younger generation.”

Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days attendees were invited to participate in the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. The Corps, winner of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Environmental Champion Award, was founded to inspire future environmental stewards through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain the Onondaga Lake watershed.

Left: Corps volunteer Phillip Bonn, of Fayetteville, removes invasive water chestnut from the Seneca River at a Corps event in August 2015. Right: Corps volunteers Sammie and her sister, Ali, of Manlius, work with their dad, Mark Bremer, to build a bird box at a Corps event in May 2015.

Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen, and Boy Scouts offered 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.
Left: State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) woodsmen team member Michelle Vasiloff, of Hamburg, New York, demonstrates competition wood cutting. Right: Allan (front) and Soren enjoy canoeing with their parents, Gianna Commito and Scott Olson, of Kent, Ohio.

“Honeywell’s continuing support of Sportsmen’s Days is just a small part of the company’s overall commitment to improving the quality of life for Central New York residents,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President David Simmons, pictured above, left, with Matt Nies, of Cicero. “The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is proud that our input has been part of this continuing progress of habitat reclamation and restoration. It is absolutely amazing that so many native plant and animal species have rebounded so quickly because of Honeywell’s work.”

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

Left: Six-year-old David Perry, of Homer, learns how to fly fish with the help of a volunteer from Iroquois Trout Unlimited. Right: Lance Robson, a volunteer from the Falcon Sportsmen Club teaches Josh O’Connor, of Syracuse, how to use a crossbow.

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

For more photographs of Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, click here.

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Members Remove Invasive Plants from the Lake and its Waterways

Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteers paddled in kayaks and canoes on Thursday, August 6, to identify and remove water chestnut from Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River, helping to support habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife. The volunteers removed over 2,200 pounds of water chestnut. Removing these invasive plants also improves conditions for local sportsmen.

“I think what we did today is really important,” said Corps volunteer Kim Hall, of Jamesville, New York, pictured above. “As we emphasize the lake as an asset for the whole community, it’s important that the lake not only looks good, but that it’s healthy. The more people from the community get involved in improving the lake, the better. Removing water chestnut will help everyone that uses the lake.”

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 these dense mats and prohibit boater and angler access. Left: Corps volunteer Phillip Bonn, of Fayetteville, New York, paddles along the shoreline to identify water chestnut. Right: Corps volunteer Nathaniel Stevens, of Liverpool, New York, unloads water chestnut from his canoe.

Click to watch a video from the event.

Removing these invasive plants will help Onondaga Lake thrive with native species that are more beneficial to the ecosystem. Left: Corps volunteers Ross and Grace Getman, of Syracuse, remove water chestnut. Right: Corps volunteer and Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley removes water chestnut using a rake.

As members of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, volunteers pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of Onondaga Lake, promising to educate future generations about becoming caretakers of the water, air, land, and wildlife.

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 400,000 shrubs and trees have been planted, and 50 acres of wetlands have been restored.

Tim Johnson, Senior Managing Scientist at Anchor QEA, teaches volunteers how to identify water chestnut. “Anchor QEA has been working on Onondaga Lake for more than a decade and is a proud member of the Corps. We support efforts to connect the contributions of community volunteers with restoration projects that are having a positive impact on creating or improving habitat in the watershed.”

Since the formation of the Corps in summer 2012, 11 events have brought together nearly 600 volunteers who have become environmental stewards and Corps members. In recognition of their work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored the Corps with a 2015 Environmental Champion Award.

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. Founding members of the Corps include Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell. The newest Corps partner and advisory board member is Anchor QEA.

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.

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

Hundreds of community members cheered on the shores of Onondaga Lake Wednesday as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner, members of the public, local elected and Onondaga County officials, and Honeywell leaders jumped into Onondaga Lake. The symbolic swim represented the ongoing return of Onondaga Lake as a community asset. The event was organized by Believe in Syracuse, a nonprofit organization that promotes the positive features of the Greater Syracuse area and cultivates connections and civic engagement within the community.

Left: Swimmers prepare to jump into Onondaga Lake, including Jim Fox, CEO at O’Brien & Gere; James Rhea, Partner at Anchor QEA; Evan van Hook, Honeywell Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment, Product Stewardship, and Sustainability; John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse Program Director; Joseph Martens, DEC Commissioner; Cornelius (Neil) B. Murphy Jr., former President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF); and Kenneth Lynch, DEC Region 7 Director. Right: Swimmers dive into the lake.

In one of his last official acts as DEC Commissioner, Martens, pictured above right with Murphy, participated in the event with incoming acting DEC Commissioner Marc Gerstman and Kenneth Lynch.

“Onondaga Lake is a great American success story. We have made enormous progress; the lake is experiencing a rebirth. There’s still work to be done. This swim is a celebration of how far we’ve come and how much of an opportunity this lake has for the entire region,” said Martens.

 

 

To view video of Wednesday’s Onondaga Lake swim, click here.

“It’s amazing to think back over 20 years to my eighth-grade science class, where we would hypothesize ways to clean Onondaga Lake,” said Diane Gilberti Recor, of Liverpool. “Never did I believe I would be standing on the shore of the lake to witness over 50 people willingly, and with such optimism, jumping into the lake.”

“Believe in Syracuse is all about supporting projects that help the Syracuse area evolve and become a better place,” said John DeSantis, President of Believe in Syracuse. “The work Honeywell, Onondaga County, the DEC and others are doing to dramatically improve Onondaga Lake is easily one of the most shining examples of how Syracuse is on the rise.”

According to an April 15 report by the Upstate Freshwater Institute, “Water quality conditions in the northern two-thirds of the lake are now suitable for swimming.” The report was issued by Onondaga County’s Department of Water Environment Protection.

“I know the 400 people who are part of our team are ‘all in.’ We’re so proud to be here,” said Tom Rhoads, Commissioner of the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection. “This is a community effort. All of their contributions and perspectives continue to be important as we see this jewel become cleaner and better, and a much more remarkable asset for Central New York.”

“Today is an extraordinary day,” said Neil Murphy, former President of SUNY-ESF. “Onondaga Lake is in incredible shape, which is the culmination of work done by Onondaga County and Honeywell. The water quality is safe for swimming and we have a diverse fishery – it’s an extraordinary asset and we have to celebrate it.”

More than 300 community members lined the shore of Onondaga Lake to watch the historic jump.

“The swim is a testament to Onondaga County’s work, which has improved water quality to the best it’s been in more than 100 years,” said John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse Program Director. “The county programs and initiatives have been critical to this success. The community’s pride and passion have helped fuel this progress and are being rewarded as the lake becomes a healthy, sustainable asset for generations to come.”

In an October 2014 report, the DEC said, “Public bathing and other recreation use are fully supported although currently there are no designated public beaches on the lake. ”Swimming from shore has been banned in Onondaga Lake since 1940. The ban continues because there is no public beach.

Onondaga County’s 2014-2019 capital improvement plan says that “as Onondaga Lake continues to recover from its industrial past, Willow Bay is viewed as a potential area for a public swimming beach.”

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