state of onondaga lake 2010

The State of Onondaga Lake 2009


• OnondagaLakeisexhibitingaremarkablerecoveryandsignificantwaterqualityimprovementshavebeendocumented.Phosphorus,ammonia,andothermajorpollutantsinthelakehavedecreasedsubstantially.

• PhosphorusdischargestoOnondagaLakefromthesewagetreatmentplantwerereducedbyapproximately86percentbetween1993and2009.Phosphoruslevelsintheupperwatersareinthebestconditioninover100years.

• Chlorideconcentrationshavedecreasedfrom1,800milligramsperliterin1985to450milligramsperliterin2009.Lowerlevelsbenefitthelakebyimprovingplantandanimaldiversityandhabitat.

• RemediationprojectsweresuccessfulinreducingTullyValleymudboilsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekoverthepast15years,howeverthefutureoftheseeffortsisuncertain.

• TheOnondagaLakewatershedcovers285squaremiles(738squarekilometers).MostofthelandborderingthelakeisparklandownedbyOnondagaCounty.Over1.3millionpeoplevisitedOnondagaLakeParkin2009toenjoyrecreationalopportunitiessuchashiking,biking,fishing,boating,picnicking,andbirdwatching.

• OnondagaLakefisheriesareimprovingmorequicklythananticipatedandover65fishspecieshavebeendocumentedinthelake.Thisisanimpressiveincreasefromthe9to12speciesthatwererecordedinthelakeduringthe1970s.

• TheBassmastersMajorsTournament,involvingtheworld’stop52anglers,washeldatOnondagaLakein2007,attractingbassfishermenfromaroundtheworld.

• Nationalsportingcompetitionsandprofessionalfishingeventsare

scheduledeachyear,andlocalanglersusethelakeontheregularbasisduringthesummermonths.In2008,theNorthAmericanFishingClubnamedOnondagaLakeoneofthetoptenbassfishingdestinationsintheUnitedStates.

• Plantandanimaldiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingremarkableimprovement.WiththerecentimprovementsinOnondagaLakewaterquality,anearlyfour-foldincreaseinaquaticplantcoverwasdocumentedfrom2000to2009.Plantsprovidevaluablespawningandnurseryhabitatforthefishcommunity.

• Birddiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingimpressivechanges,highlightedbysightingsofbaldeagles,greategrets,osprey,kingfishers,andnumerousspeciesofwaterfowl.

• SuccessfulremediationprojectshavereducedTullyValleymudboilsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekfromanaverageof30tons(aboutthreelargedumptrucks)perdaytolessthanoneton(aboutapick-uptruckload)perdayonaverageoverthepast15years.

• AnundergroundbarrierwalllocatedonthewesternshorelineofOnondagaLakedivertspollutedgroundwatertoastateofthearttreatmentplantinsteadofflowingdirectlyintothelake.

Onondaga Lake’s Remarkable Progress

Federal, State, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups are working together to improve conditions in Onondaga Lake and its watershed. Additional information about the accomplishments of the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) can be found at the following website: www.onlakepartners.org.


Onondaga Lake Partnership

Page32010StateofOnondagaLake

Produced byTheCentralNewYorkRegionalPlanning&DevelopmentBoard126NorthSalinaStreet,Suite200Syracuse,NY13202

With support from the Onondaga Lake PartnershipMembers:Ms.Jo-EllenDarcy,AssistantSecretaryoftheArmy(CivilWorks)Ms.JudithEnck-RegionalAdministrator,EPARegionIIGov.DavidPatterson-Governor,StateofNewYorkMr.AndrewCuomo-AttorneyGeneral,StateofNewYorkMs.JoanneMahoney-CountyExecutive,OnondagaCountyMs.StephanieA.Miner-Mayor,CityofSyracuse

RepresentativesLTCStephenH.Bales-DistrictEngineer,U.S.ArmyEngineer District,BuffaloMr.SethAusubel-Chief,NewYorkWatershedProtectionSection, U.S.EPARegionIIMr.KennethLynch-RegionalDirector,NYSDECRegion7Mr.CharlesSilver-EnvironmentalScientist, NYSAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeMr.DavidCoburn-Director,OnondagaCountyOfficeoftheEnvironmentMr.AndrewM.Maxwell-DirectorofPlanning&Sustainability, CityofSyracuse

Ex OfficioSenatorCharlesSchumerSenatorKirstenGillibrandRepresentativeDanielMaffei

Onondaga Lake Partnership

ThisreportwasreviewedbytheindividualmembersoftheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)andapprovedforreleasetothepublicforpurposesofprovidinggeneraloverviewinformation.Approvalforreleasedoesnotsignifyadoptionorapprovalforpurposesofregulatory,enforcementorotherlegalactions,ofthefactual,scientificorotherassertions,characterizationsorconclusionscontainedherein.FundingforthisreportwasprovidedbytheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,BuffaloDistrictincooperationwiththeOLP,andincludedAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA)funds.

Thereportwasadaptedfrom:“The State of Onondaga Lake, 2001”(2nded),1993(1sted),OnondagaEnvironmentalInstitute(formerlytheOnondagaLakeCleanupCorp)

Fish illustrations are provided by Peter Thompson.

INTRODUCTIONThe Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) was created in 1999 through legis-lation introduced by Congressman James T. Walsh. Six local, State, andFederal agencies form the Partnership and its Executive Committee, andinclude the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (USEPA), New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation (NYSDEC), New York State Attorney General’s Office,Onondaga County, and City of Syracuse. The OLP Project and OutreachCommittees include representatives from the six Partners, State andFederal agencies, community interest groups, and unpaid volunteers.Through the cooperative efforts of this diverse group of stakeholders, theOLP coordinates the environmental revitalization, conservation, and management of Onondaga Lake.

Through the Partnership, millions of dollars have been brought into thecommunity to support projects designed to revitalize the lake. Since thesigning of the court-approved Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) in 1998,over $140 million in Federal funds have been secured by CongressmanWalsh, along with approximately $135 million from New York State. In addition, Onondaga County has paid the local share on all County Projectsand a substantial portion of the local share of other Onondaga LakePartnership projects.

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Page4 OnondagaLakePartnership

ContentsThe State of Onondaga Lake 2010 .............................................................................................1

Contents ...................................................................................................................................5Introduction .............................................................................................................................6

What is the Onondaga Lake Partnership? ................................................................................ 6What is a Watershed? ............................................................................................................... 7

The Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................8WhereDoestheLakeWaterComeFromandWhereDoesItGo?........................................... 8

Historical and Cultural Influences .............................................................................................9ALookBack............................................................................................................................... 9The Amended Consent Judgment .............................................................................................. 9OnondagaLakeTimeline......................................................................................................... 10TheRoadtoRecovery............................................................................................................. 12

Lake Use .................................................................................................................................13WhataretheRecreationalUsesofOnondagaLakeanditsShoreline?.................................. 13HowdoNewYorkStateWaterQualityClassificationsImpactWaterQualityGoals?.............13AreThereDesignatedSwimmingAreasinOnondagaLake?................................................... 14WhatistheInnerHarbor/LakefrontDevelopmentProject?................................................... 14What are Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)? ....................................................................... 14

Priority Issues and Remedial Actions ......................................................................................15WastewaterPollution.............................................................................................................. 15Nutrients................................................................................................................................. 17IndustrialPollutionandSuperfund......................................................................................... 19What is the Barrier Wall? ........................................................................................................ 22Sediment................................................................................................................................. 22Salinity.................................................................................................................................... 24Non-PointSourcePollution..................................................................................................... 26

The Onondaga Lake Ecosystem ...............................................................................................27OnondagaLakeFisheries........................................................................................................ 27AquaticPlants......................................................................................................................... 29

Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................30Onondaga Lake Partnership Committees ................................................................................31


Introduction

A ftermanyyearsofscientificresearchandrestorationproj-

ects,OnondagaLakeisthecleanestithasbeeninoveronehundredyearsandwearewitnessinganextraordinaryresurgenceofthisvaluablelocalresource.Monitor-ingresultsareveryencouragingandshowthatthelakeisnowsupportingproductivebiologicalcommunitiesofplantsandani-mals.Improvementsinmunicipalwastewatertreatmenthavecon-tributedtodecreasesinnutrient

concentrations,algalgrowth,andbacterialevels.Increasesinthelake’sdissolvedoxygenlevelsandimprovedwaterclarityhaveresultedingreaterfishspeciesdiversityandarenewedpublicinterestinthelakeasavaluablecommunityresource.Inadditiontoin-lakerestorationinitiatives,projectsthroughoutthe285-squaremilewatershedarereducingsediment,nutrients,andotherpollutionrunoffthatentersthelakefromindustrialwastebeds,theTullyValleymudboils,urbanareas,andfarmland.Basedonthesenoteworthyimprovements,Onon-dagaLakenowresemblesother

What is the Onondaga Lake Partnership?

TheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)wasauthorizedbyanActofCongressinSection573oftheWaterResourcesDevelopmentActof1999.ThePartnershipanditsExecutiveCommitteearecomposedofsixlocal,State,andFederalagencies:theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA),NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(NYSDEC),NewYorkStateAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,OnondagaCounty,andCityofSyracuse.UndertheleadershipoftheUSACE,theOLPProjectandOutreachCommitteesworkwithrepresentativesfromthesixPartnershipagencies,otherStateandFederalagencies,andcommunityinterestgroups.Withthecooperativeeffortsofthisdiversegroupofstakeholders,theOLPcoordinatestheenvironmentalrevitalization,conservation,andmanagementofOnondagaLake.TheOLPistaskedwithdevelopingandimplementingprojectsconsistentwiththeOnondagaLakeManagementPlan(OLMP)includingimplementationoftheAmendedConsentJudgment(ACJ)andtheapprovedremediesfortheOnondagaLakeSuperfundprocess.

ThroughtheOLP,millionsofdollarshavebeeninvestedineffortstorevitalizeOnondagaLake.Sincethesigningofthecourt-approvedACJin1998,over$140millioninFederalfunds,alongwithapproximately$135millionfromNewYorkState,havebeensecuredspecificallyforOnondagaLake.OnondagaCountyhaspaidthelocalshareonallCountyprojectsandasubstantialportionofthelocalshareofotherOLPprojects.Page6 OnondagaLakePartnership

similarlysizedlakesintheregionwithrespecttofishandplantabundanceanddiversity,andsum-mertimewaterclarity.

TheongoingrevitalizationofOnondagaLakehasexceededtheexpectationsofmany,butthereisstillworktobedone.UndertheleadershipoftheOLP,acom-prehensiveplanfortheremedia-tionofOnondagaLakehasbeendevelopedusingacombinationofwell-establishedandinnovativetechnologies.UniquepartnershipsbetweenFederal,State,andlocalorganizations,privatecorpora-tions,residents,andlakeuserswillensurethisvitalresourcecontin-uestoimproveforyearstocome.

The2010StateofOnondagaLakeReportdocumentstheremarkableprogressachievedinlakerevitalizationbytheOLP.The

reportprovidesaconcisesummaryofcurrentlakeconditions,theenvironmentalsetting,primarypollutionissues,andprogressmadeinreachingwaterqualitygoals.

Continuedimprovementsinwaterqualityandshorelinehabitatareboostingthelocaleconomywhileprovidingrecreationalopportunitiesforlocalandoutoftownvisitors.InadditiontotheOLP,therearemanyagencies,organizations,schools,andindivid-ualsthataretakinganactiveroleinthelake’srecovery.Buildingonthesenotableaccomplishments,theOLP’slong-termremediationgoalsforOnondagaLakeareclearlywithinreach.

Mallard ducks (female on left, male on right)


Figure 1. The Onondaga Lake Watershed

What is a Watershed?Awatershedreferstoallthelandthatdrainsintoagivenbodyofwater.

TheOnondagaLakewatershedcovers285squaremiles(738squarekilometers)andencompassesportionsoftwocounties(OnondagaandasmallareainCortland),theCityofSyracuse,18towns,6villages,andtheOnondagaNationterritory.SurfaceandgroundwaterfromprecipitationandsnowmeltthroughoutthisentireareadrainintoOnondagaLakeandinfluencewaterquality,aquaticecology,andrecreationalopportunitiessuchasfishingandboating.Landuseactivitieswithinawatershed(suchasdevelopmentoragriculture)canproducepollutantsthatflowdownthetributariesandintothewaterbody.EffortstoprotectandrestoreOnondagaLakemustthereforeinvolveactivitiesthroughoutthewatershed,notjustinthelakeitself.

The Environmental

Setting

O nondagaLakeislocatedalongthenorthernborderofthe

CityofSyracuseinOnondagaCounty.Thelakecovers4.6squaremiles(11.9squarekilometers),hasanaveragedepthof35feet(10.6meters)andamaximumdepthof63feet(19.2meters.)Itisapproxi-matelyonemile(1.6kilometers)wideand4.6miles(7.4kilometers)long.

SyracusehasthelargestannualsnowfallofanymetropolitanareaintheUnitedStateswithapopulationover200,000,andtheseasonalweatherpatternsareinfluencedbyLakeOntario.ThelandsurroundingOnondagaLakeischaracterizedbyvariabletopog-raphy.Therelativelyflat,northernportioniswithintheLakePlainregionandthesouthernportionfallswithinthehilly,AppalachianUplands.Characteristicsofthelimestone,siltstone,andshalebedrockcommonlyfoundintheOnondagaLakeregionwereshapedbyglacialactivitythou-sandsofyearsago.

LandthroughouttheOnondagaLakewatershedisprimarilyclas-sifiedasagricultural,forest,andurban.Theprincipaltypeofagri-cultureinthewatershedisdairyfarming.Mostoftheforestlandismaintainedforcommercialuseanditsacreageexistsprimarilyassmall,scatteredwoodlots.ForestsinthesouthernportionofthewatershedaremostlyownedbythecountyorState.

ThenorthernportionoftheOnondagaLakewatershedismorepopulatedthantherurallandscapetothesouth.TheCityofSyracuseisthecountyseatandservesasanimportantindustrialandtranspor-tationcenterinCentralNewYork.

Where Does the Lake Water Come From and

Where Does It Go?

ThemajortributariesflowingintoOnondagaLakeareNineMileCreekandOnondagaCreekwhichtogetheraccountforabout70percentofallthewaterthatflowsintothelakeeachyear.ThethirdlargestcontributorofwatertoOnondagaLakeistheMetropoli-tanSyracuseWastewaterTreat-mentPlant(Metro),supplyingapproximately20percentofthelake’sannualinflow.Othertribu-tariesthatflowintoOnondagaLakeincludeLeyCreek,HarborBrook,SawMillCreek,andBloodyBrook.WaterflowingfromthesesourceshelpstoflushOnondagaLakeaboutfourtimeseachyear.Thisrapidrateofflushing,com-paredtootherlakesintheregion,benefitsthecleanupofOnondagaLakebecauseitrespondsrelativelyquicklytoreductionsinpollutionloading.

WaterflowsoutofOnondagaLaketotheSenecaRiverthroughasingleoutletatthenorthend.TheSenecaRivercombineswiththeOneidaRiveratThreeRiversJunctiontoformtheOswegoRiver.TheOswegoRiverthenflowsnorthtoLakeOntario,whichisapproxi-mately40miles(64kilometers)downstreamfromtheOnondagaLakeoutlet.LakeOntarioservesasasourceofdrinkingwaterformanyupstateNewYorkandCana-diancommunities.

Figure 2. Satellite Image of Onondaga LakePhoto credit: www.geology.com


Historical and Cultural Influences

A Look Back

F orcenturies,thelandsurroundingOnondagaLakewasthehomelandof

theOnondagaNation.OnondagaLakewaswherethePeacemakerbroughttogetherthewarringnationsandformedtheHaudenosauneeConfederacy,whichiswhytheregionissometimesreferredtoasthebirthplaceofdemocracy.ThemeetingsoftheGrandCouncilofChiefs,thegoverningbodyoftheHaudeno-saunee,areheldatOnondagastilltoday.ThelakecontinuestobeasacredplacetotheOnondagaNation,onetheybelievemustbecaredforandrespected.

ThefirstEuropeansettlementwasmadebytheFrenchwhoestablishedafortandtradingpostonOnondagaLakein1655.Europeansettlersinhabitedtheregioninthelate19thandtheearly20th

centuries,drawnbythedevelopingsaltindustryandtheconvenienttransporta-tionopportunitiesalongtheErieCanal.Bytheearly1900s,theOnondagaLakeshorelinewasathrivingcommunityfilledwithtouristattractions,hotels,restau-rants,andamusementparks.

Useofthelakechangeddramaticallywhenthewaterandlakebottomsedi-mentsbecamepollutedwithmunicipalsewagewasteandindustrialpollutionwhichresultedinlowoxygenlevelsandelevatedlevelsofnutrients,harmfulmicroorganismssuchasdiseasecausingbacteria,andtoxiccontaminants.Inaddi-tion,theTullyValleymudboilsandland-slideshavecontributedelevatedlevelsofsedimentthatimpactthewaterclarityandaquatichabitatinOnondagaCreekandthelake.Swimmingwaseventuallybannedin1940andfishingwasbannedin1972.OnondagaLakeandrelateduplandsiteswereaddedtotheFederalSuper-fundNationalPrioritiesList(NPL)in1994.ThelakeandrelateduplandsitesarealsoontheNewYorkStateRegistryofInactiveHazardousWasteDisposalSites.

SeveraleventslaidthegroundworkforimprovedwaterqualityinOnondagaLake.Amongthem,theCityofSyracusestartedprimarytreatmentofsanitarysewagewastein1925;OnondagaCountyestablishedasewerdistrictinthe1950sandlaterbuiltMetroonthesouthshoreofthelakein1960;andin1972,theFederalCleanWaterActwaspassed,set-tingnationalgoalstomakefreshwaterresourcessuitableforswimmingandthepropagationoffishandotheraquaticlife.

The Amended Consent JudgmentIn1988,alawsuitwasfiledbyAtlanticStatesLegal

FoundationagainstOnondagaCounty,allegingthatMetroandcombinedseweroverflow(CSO)dischargesviolatedStateandFederalwaterpollutioncontrollaws.TheStateofNewYorkjoinedasaplaintiff,andthepartiessettledthelitigationin1989throughtheMetroConsentJudgment.Anagreementwasreachedin1997oncollectionsystemimprovementsandascheduleforattainingcompliancewiththeCleanWaterActby2012(lateramendedto2018).ThisagreementispartofwhatisknownastheAmendedConsentJudgment,orACJ.

The1997ACJandsubsequentrevisionscontainstrategiesforengineeringandscientificstudiestoevaluatetheneedforupgradingtheMetroandforprovidingtreatmentoftheCSOsthatoccurintheMetroservicearea.AbatementofCSOswouldinvolveplanstoeithereliminateorcaptureandtreatcombinedsewagecollectedduringprecipitationevents,achievewaterqualitystandardsforbacteriainthenorthwesternhalfofthelake,andreducefloatablesubstancesresultingfromCSOs.TheACJindicateseffluent(ordischarge)limitsforbothammoniaandphosphorus,whicharerequiredtobeimplementedinthreephases.ThefinalPhaseIIIrequirementsforreductionofammoniaweremetin2004,eightyearsaheadoftheschedulespecifiedintheACJ.Progressisalsobeingmadetowardmeetingphosphoruslimits.

TheformerOnondagaLakeManagementConference,nowtheOLP,passedaresolutionin1998amendingtheOnondagaLakeManagementPlan(OLMP)toincorporatetheACJandadoptitsobjectivesaspartoftheOLMP.ForadditionalinformationabouttheACJandwaterqualitygoalsinrelationtotheNewYorkStateEnvironmentalConservationLaw,refertoothersectionsofthisreportandcheckwww.onlakepartners.org/cleanup_legal.htm#02.

Figure 3. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto credit: Anne Saltman


Onondaga Lake Timeline

Timelineadaptedfrom"TheStateofOnondagaLake,2001"(OLCC)andonondaganation.org/land/olake.html.

10,000 years ago ►Glacial activity carves out hills and valleys across Central New York, creating Onondaga Lake.

Over 1,000 years ago ►Earliest recorded date that Indian Nations come together at Onondaga Lake to form the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

1613 ►A treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch (the Two Row Wampum) establish relations.

1783 ►Revolutionary War ends. European settlements develop in Central New York.

1784 ►In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, George Washington asks for peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fi ghting and re-establish relations.

1793 ►Commercial salt production begins on the lakeshore.

1880s ►Onondaga Lake is a popular resort area with hotels, parks, and bathing beaches. Swimming, boating, and fi shing are common activities.

1884 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of soda ash.

1896 ►City builds sewers and bans backyard privies. Sewage fl ows directly into Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook.

1918 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of organic chemicals.

1920 ►Solvay Process Company merges with four other companies and forms Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.

1925 ►City of Syracuse begins the removal of settleable solids from sewage (primary treatment).

1940 ►Swimming is banned.

1946 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. begins discharge of mercury wastes into the lake.

1958 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. changes its name to Allied Chemical Corporation.

1960 ►Onondaga County Metro is completed.

1970 ►Fishing is banned. U.S. Attorney General sues Allied Chemical Corp. to stop mercury dumping. ►Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection establishes annual lake monitoring program.

1971 ►Onondaga County bans the use of phosphorus in laundry detergents.

1972 ►The Federal Clean Water Act is passed.

1973 ►New York State bans phosphorus in laundry detergents.

1977 ►Allied Chemical Corp. closes chlorinated benzene plant and Willis Avenue chlor-alkali plant.

1979 ►Metro is upgraded to secondary and tertiary treatment.

1981 ►Allied Chemical Corp. changes its name to Allied Corp.

1986 ►Allied Corp. closes soda ash manufacturing operations.

1987 ►Onondaga County implements best management practices for sewer interception. ►Allied Corp. merges with Signal Companies to form Allied-Signal Inc.

1988 ►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, New York State Attorney General, and NYSDEC fi le complaint against Onondaga County alleging violation of its state discharge permit.

1989 ►New York State Attorney General and NYSDEC fi le a lawsuit in Federal court against Allied-Signal Inc. for pollution violations and resource damage.

►A Consent Judgment is entered on February 1, 1989 requiring Onondaga County to perform studies to evaluate the need for upgrading Metro and for providing treatment of combined sewer overfl ows (CSO).

1990 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference is convened in Syracuse by U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

1991 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference begins lake research and remediation projects. ►Pump stations at Liverpool and Ley Creek are modifi ed to reduce raw sewage overfl ows to the lake.

1992 ►U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes the Onondaga Lake Water Quality Technical Report with lake remediation alternatives. ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference funds study of the Tully Valley mudboils. ►A Federal court approves a consent order for study of industrial pollution and development of a cleanup plan.

1993 ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference (OLMC) drafts “A Plan for Action” which becomes the basis of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan (OLMP). ►The OLMC publishes the fi rst State of Onondaga Lake report.

ONONDAGA LAKE TIMELINE1994

►Onondaga Lake is added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

1995 ►The OLMC implements mudboil remediation projects to reduce fl ow of sediment to Onondaga Creek.

1997 ►The State of New York, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and Onondaga County reach agreement (Amended Consent Judgment [ACJ]) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements, and a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act.

1998 ►The ACJ is approved by Federal Court and replaces and supersedes the 1989 Consent Judgment. ►The Ambient Monitoring Program is implemented in accordance with the ACJ.

1999 ►The OLMC approves a resolution to incorporate the ACJ into the OLMP. ►The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) lifts the ban on eating certain species of fi sh from Onondaga Lake and provides additional guidelines. ►Congressman James T. Walsh initiates legislation in the Water Resource Development Act of 1999 that re places the OLMC with the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP).

►The OLP, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is tasked with implementing lake improvement projects consistent with the OLMP and the ACJ. ►Allied-Signal, Inc. combines with Honeywell, Inc. and changes its name to Honeywell International, Inc.

2001 ►Oil tanks are removed from “Oil City” and tenants begin site remediation. ►The second State of Onondaga Lake report is produced by the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Corp with support from the OLMC and the OLP.

2002 ►The NYSDEC issues a report detailing the extent of contamina tion within the lake and assessing the risk to humans and the environ ment.

2004 ►The fi nal stage of the Metro improvements for ammonia treatment come on-line.

2005 ►The Actifl o treatment system come on-line at Metro to reduce effl uent total phosphorus (TP) concentration. ►NYSDEC and USEPA outline reme-diation plans for Onondaga Lake’s industrial pollution concerns. ►Metro reaches ammonia limit goal eight years ahead of the scheduled dead line. ►Honeywell International, Inc. removes more than eight tons of mer cury from the Linden Chemicals and Plastics property.

2006 ►The NYS Attorney General’s offi ce fi les a motion to amend the ACJ with U.S. District Court. The amendments refl ect changes since the original ACJ was signed in 1998. ►Honeywell International, Inc. com pletes a groundwater treatment plant at the former Allied Chemical, Willis Avenue site. ►Phosphorus release from Metro to Onondaga Lake is reduced from 200 pounds per day to 50 pounds per day with completion of an upgraded phosphorus removal facility.

2007 ►NYSDOH modifi es the fi sh consumption advisory for some species of fi sh. ►Wetlands restoration at former Linden Chemical and Plastics site is completed. ►Honeywell International, Inc. signs a Consent Decree to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site.

2008 ►Honeywell International, Inc. begins construction of the groundwater barrier wall and trench collection system that will capture and transfer groundwater to the Willis Avenue treatment plant. ►Construction of Midland Avenue RTF is completed and addresses three CSOs.

►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, NYSDEC, and Onondaga County obtain a morato rium on construction of the proposed treatment facilities so that alternative methodologies, including green infra structure, can be evaluated as part of the CSO abatement program. ►A Microbial Trackdown Program is implemented to identify dry weather sources of bacteria discharges to Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. ►Onondaga County proposes gray and green infrastructure as a component to its CSO abatement program.

2009 ►The draft Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan is released for public review. ►NYSDEC issues the design work plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom NPL Subsite and cleanup decision documents for the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek Site. ►NYSDEC issues a Citizen Participation Plan designed to enhance public input and involve ment in the Onondaga Lake Bottom cleanup project. ►A Fourth Stipulation to the ACJ is adopted and approved by the Federal court, incorporating green infrastructure methodologies into the CSO abatement program.

2010 ►The OLP publishes the third State of Onondaga Lake report.

Figure 4. Time

10,000 years ago ►Glacial activity carves out hills and valleys across Central New York, creating Onondaga Lake.

Over 1,000 years ago ►Earliest recorded date that Indian Nations come together at Onondaga Lake to form the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

1613 ►A treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch (the Two Row Wampum) establish relations.

1783 ►Revolutionary War ends. European settlements develop in Central New York.

1784 ►In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, George Washington asks for peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fi ghting and re-establish relations.

1793 ►Commercial salt production begins on the lakeshore.

1880s ►Onondaga Lake is a popular resort area with hotels, parks, and bathing beaches. Swimming, boating, and fi shing are common activities.

1884 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of soda ash.

1896 ►City builds sewers and bans backyard privies. Sewage fl ows directly into Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook.

1918 ►Solvay Process Company begins production of organic chemicals.

1920 ►Solvay Process Company merges with four other companies and forms Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.

1925 ►City of Syracuse begins the removal of settleable solids from sewage (primary treatment).

1940 ►Swimming is banned.

1946 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. begins discharge of mercury wastes into the lake.

1958 ►Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. changes its name to Allied Chemical Corporation.

1960 ►Onondaga County Metro is completed.

1970 ►Fishing is banned. U.S. Attorney General sues Allied Chemical Corp. to stop mercury dumping. ►Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection establishes annual lake monitoring program.

1971 ►Onondaga County bans the use of phosphorus in laundry detergents.

1972 ►The Federal Clean Water Act is passed.

1973 ►New York State bans phosphorus in laundry detergents.

1977 ►Allied Chemical Corp. closes chlorinated benzene plant and Willis Avenue chlor-alkali plant.

1979 ►Metro is upgraded to secondary and tertiary treatment.

1981 ►Allied Chemical Corp. changes its name to Allied Corp.

1986 ►Allied Corp. closes soda ash manufacturing operations.

1987 ►Onondaga County implements best management practices for sewer interception. ►Allied Corp. merges with Signal Companies to form Allied-Signal Inc.

1988 ►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, New York State Attorney General, and NYSDEC fi le complaint against Onondaga County alleging violation of its state discharge permit.

1989 ►New York State Attorney General and NYSDEC fi le a lawsuit in Federal court against Allied-Signal Inc. for pollution violations and resource damage.

►A Consent Judgment is entered on February 1, 1989 requiring Onondaga County to perform studies to evaluate the need for upgrading Metro and for providing treatment of combined sewer overfl ows (CSO).

1990 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference is convened in Syracuse by U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

1991 ►Onondaga Lake Management Conference begins lake research and remediation projects. ►Pump stations at Liverpool and Ley Creek are modifi ed to reduce raw sewage overfl ows to the lake.

1992 ►U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes the Onondaga Lake Water Quality Technical Report with lake remediation alternatives. ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference funds study of the Tully Valley mudboils. ►A Federal court approves a consent order for study of industrial pollution and development of a cleanup plan.

1993 ►The Onondaga Lake Management Conference (OLMC) drafts “A Plan for Action” which becomes the basis of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan (OLMP). ►The OLMC publishes the fi rst State of Onondaga Lake report.

ONONDAGA LAKE TIMELINE1994

►Onondaga Lake is added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

1995 ►The OLMC implements mudboil remediation projects to reduce fl ow of sediment to Onondaga Creek.

1997 ►The State of New York, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and Onondaga County reach agreement (Amended Consent Judgment [ACJ]) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements, and a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act.

1998 ►The ACJ is approved by Federal Court and replaces and supersedes the 1989 Consent Judgment. ►The Ambient Monitoring Program is implemented in accordance with the ACJ.

1999 ►The OLMC approves a resolution to incorporate the ACJ into the OLMP. ►The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) lifts the ban on eating certain species of fi sh from Onondaga Lake and provides additional guidelines. ►Congressman James T. Walsh initiates legislation in the Water Resource Development Act of 1999 that re places the OLMC with the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP).

►The OLP, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is tasked with implementing lake improvement projects consistent with the OLMP and the ACJ. ►Allied-Signal, Inc. combines with Honeywell, Inc. and changes its name to Honeywell International, Inc.

2001 ►Oil tanks are removed from “Oil City” and tenants begin site remediation. ►The second State of Onondaga Lake report is produced by the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Corp with support from the OLMC and the OLP.

2002 ►The NYSDEC issues a report detailing the extent of contamina tion within the lake and assessing the risk to humans and the environ ment.

2004 ►The fi nal stage of the Metro improvements for ammonia treatment come on-line.

2005 ►The Actifl o treatment system come on-line at Metro to reduce effl uent total phosphorus (TP) concentration. ►NYSDEC and USEPA outline reme-diation plans for Onondaga Lake’s industrial pollution concerns. ►Metro reaches ammonia limit goal eight years ahead of the scheduled dead line. ►Honeywell International, Inc. removes more than eight tons of mer cury from the Linden Chemicals and Plastics property.

2006 ►The NYS Attorney General’s offi ce fi les a motion to amend the ACJ with U.S. District Court. The amendments refl ect changes since the original ACJ was signed in 1998. ►Honeywell International, Inc. com pletes a groundwater treatment plant at the former Allied Chemical, Willis Avenue site. ►Phosphorus release from Metro to Onondaga Lake is reduced from 200 pounds per day to 50 pounds per day with completion of an upgraded phosphorus removal facility.

2007 ►NYSDOH modifi es the fi sh consumption advisory for some species of fi sh. ►Wetlands restoration at former Linden Chemical and Plastics site is completed. ►Honeywell International, Inc. signs a Consent Decree to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site.

2008 ►Honeywell International, Inc. begins construction of the groundwater barrier wall and trench collection system that will capture and transfer groundwater to the Willis Avenue treatment plant. ►Construction of Midland Avenue RTF is completed and addresses three CSOs.

►Atlantic States Legal Foundation, NYSDEC, and Onondaga County obtain a morato rium on construction of the proposed treatment facilities so that alternative methodologies, including green infra structure, can be evaluated as part of the CSO abatement program. ►A Microbial Trackdown Program is implemented to identify dry weather sources of bacteria discharges to Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. ►Onondaga County proposes gray and green infrastructure as a component to its CSO abatement program.

2009 ►The draft Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan is released for public review. ►NYSDEC issues the design work plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom NPL Subsite and cleanup decision documents for the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek Site. ►NYSDEC issues a Citizen Participation Plan designed to enhance public input and involve ment in the Onondaga Lake Bottom cleanup project. ►A Fourth Stipulation to the ACJ is adopted and approved by the Federal court, incorporating green infrastructure methodologies into the CSO abatement program.

2010 ►The OLP publishes the third State of Onondaga Lake report.

Timeline updated from “The State of Onondaga Lake” (OEI 2001)

The Road to Recovery

Aftermanyyearsofresearchandremediation,OnondagaLakeisnowthecleanestithasbeeninoveracentury.Federal,State,andlocalofficialscontinuetofocusonrestorationplansforthelake,uplandsourcesofindustrialcontaminantsarebeingaddressed,andOnondagaCountyhasmadesubstan-tialimprovementstoitswastewatercollectionandtreatmentsystem.Since2001,morethanfortyresto-rationprojectshavebeencompletedandovertwentyprojectsarecurrentlybeingimplemented.

Pollution,toxicitylevels,andalgalgrowthhavedecreasedandwaterclarityhasimproved.Thesewaterqualitychangeshaveimprovedtheaquaticcommunity.Plantandanimaldiversityinandaroundthelakeisexhibitingimpressiveprogress,highlightedbynumeroussightingsofbaldeagles,greategrets,osprey,kingfishers,mallards,andCanadageesealongtheshoreline.TheNationalAudubonSocietyhasdesignatedthelakeanditssurroundinghabitats(includingdeciduouswoodsandnon-tidalwetlands)asanImportantBirdArea.Duringfallmigration,manythousandsofwaterfowlcanbeseenrestingandfeedingonthelake.

OnondagaLakenowsupportsaproductivewarmwaterfisheryandarecoveringcool-waterfisherywithseveralgamespeciessuchasbrowntroutandsmallmouthbass.Infact,over65speciesoffishhavebeendocumentedinthelakeandrecreationaloppor-tunitieshaveimprovedsignificantly.TheIzaakWaltonLeagueincooperationwiththeOLPhostapopularfamily-orientedfreefishingweekendeachyear.Carp

fishingisbecominganotherpopulareventonOnon-dagaLakeandregionalcompetitionsforcarpanglersarehostedeachyearbytheCatchandReleasePro-fessional(CARP)TournamentSeries.

Professionalandrecreationalanglersenjoyanexcellentlargemouthandsmallmouthbassfisheryandseverallocalandregionalbasstournamentsareheldonthelakeeachyear.WorldclassfishermencompetedintheBassmasterMemorialTournamentatOnondagaLakein2007,andin2008theNorthAmericanFishingClubclaimedthatthelakeisoneofthecountry’stoptenhotspotsforbass.ThreemajorsportingeventswereheldonOnondagaLakein2008:theToyotaUSOpenofWatercross(aJetSkicompetition),SyracuseHydrofest(forhydroplaneenthusiasts),andtheJuniorBassmasterWorldCham-pionshipswithnearly100teensfromtheUS,Canada,andSouthAfrica.OnondagaLakeisontheroadtorecoveryandanglersaretakingnotice.

Bald Eagle


Lake Use

What are the Recreational Uses of

Onondaga Lake and its Shoreline?

T hepublicistakingnoteoftheimpressiverecoveryofOnon-

dagaLake.Waterqualityimprove-mentsareoccurringmorerapidlythanexpectedandhaveledtoincreasedpublicappreciationanduseofthelakeanditsshoreline.Wellover1.3millionpeoplevisitedOnondagaLakeParkin2009toenjoypopularrecreationaloppor-tunitiessuchashiking,bicycling,picnicking,fishing,andboating.Inadditiontonationalsportingcom-petitionsandprofessionalfishingevents,communityfishing,sailing,androwingclubsusethelakeon

aregularbasisandcompetitionsarescheduledbyhighschoolandcollegecrewteamsthroughoutthespringandsummermonths.

MuchofthelandimmediatelysurroundingOnondagaLakeisownedbyOnondagaCounty.Sevenmiles(11.3kilometers)ofattractive,pavedshorelinetrailsarecurrentlyusedforwalking,running,skateboard-ing,biking,in-lineskating,picnicking,andbirdwatching.Planstoextendthetrailby2.1miles(3.4kilometers)alongthewesternshorelineofOnondagaLakearecurrentlyunderway.Inadditiontotheshorelinetrails,twomuseumsarelocatedinOnondagaLakePark:theSaltMuseumandSainteMarieAmongtheIroquois.

How do New York State Water Quality

Classifications Impact Water Quality Goals?

In1972,theU.S.CongresspassedtheCleanWaterActrequiringthatallUnitedStatesfreshwatersshouldbesuitableforswimmingandthepropaga-tionoffishandotheraquaticlife.InresponsetotheCleanWaterAct,NewYorkStateclassifieditssurfacewatersaccordingtotheirbestuse.Thebestuseclassifica-tionforOnondagaLakeincludesswimming,fishing,fishpropaga-tion,andsecondaryrecreation.OnondagaCountyroutinelymonitorswaterqualitycondi-tionsinthelaketodetermineifthedesignatedusesaresup-portedandcompliancewithwater

qualitystandardsareachieved.Informationabouttheambientmonitoringprogramisfoundatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.

NYSDECdevelopedandadminis-tersasystemofdischargepermitstocontrolpollutionandreducevio-lationsofwaterqualitystandards.EnactmentandenforcementofenvironmentallawssuchastheCleanWaterAct,theResourceConservationandRecoveryActof1976,andStateandFederalSuper-fundlawshavebroughtaboutnotableimprovementstothelake.Ammoniaconcentrations,forexample,nowmeetstatestandardsdevelopedforprotectionofaquaticlife.Inaddition,recentimprove-mentsindissolvedoxygenconcen-trationsinthelakesurfacewaterduringthefallmixingperiodarenowincompliancewithregulatorystandards,therebyprovidingbetterhabitatforplantsandanimals.

Figure 5. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Conrad Strozik

Figure 6. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto credit: Onondaga County Parks


Are There Designated Swimming Areas in

Onondaga Lake?

GreatprogresshasbeenmadeinwastewatertreatmentatOnondagaLake,especiallywiththeconstruc-tionofMetroin1960andupgradesattheplantinthe1970sand1980s,andagainin2005.OnondagaCountyisinvolvedinwidespreadeffortstoseparateandupgradecombinedseweroverflows(CSOs.)Thishasresultedinareductioninthenumber,frequency,andvolumeofsewageoverflowsintoOnon-dagaCreek,LeyCreek,andHarborBrookwhichflowintoOnondagaLake.Bacterialevelsinsomeareas

ofthelakestillincreaseaftersignificantstormevents,primar-ilyinthesouthernendofthelakewheretributariesreceivingCSOsarelocated.Bacterialevelsinthenorthernendofthelakearelessimpactedbyrainfallevents,butstillincreaseaftersignificantstormeventsandreturntonormalwithinafewdays.AccordingtotheSpe-cialEventWaterQualityProtocoldevelopedbyOnondagaCountyin2009,theseoccasionalhighbac-terialevelsareamongthereasonswhyswimminginOnondagaLakeisnotencouraged.However,con-tinuedwaterqualitysuccessesinlakeremediationmayeventuallyleadtoachangeinthispolicy.Forexample,OnondagaCountyhasrecentlybegunaseriesofgreeninfrastructureprojects(suchasper-meablepavementandrainbarrels)designedtointerceptandredirectstormwaterbeforeitentersandpotentiallyoverwhelmsthesewersystem.TheseeffortsaredesignedtoreducethevolumeofwaterenteringthesewersystemandthelikelihoodthatCSOsandassociatedbacterialdischargeswilloccur.TheWaterQualityProtocolisfoundatwww.onlakepartners.org.

What is the Inner Harbor/Lakefront Devel-

opment Project?

TheInnerHarbor,a42-acreareaalongthesouthernOnondagaLakeshoreline,isownedbytheNewYorkStateCanalCorporation.TheportionattheeastendisoperatedandmaintainedbytheLakefront

DevelopmentCorporation(LDC).TheLDCwasestablishedin1996bytheCityofSyracuseandtheMetropolitanDevelopmentAsso-ciationofSyracusetofacilitatetheredevelopmentoftheSyracuseLakefront.

Remediationandredevelop-mentoftheLakefrontneighbor-hoodandadjoiningareasbeganinthe1990swiththeremovalofcon-taminatedsoilandoiltanksfromtheareaknownasOilCity.TheCarouselMallwasbuilt,followedbyupgradingofthevacantfactorybuildingsintheFranklinSquareareaintoresidentialhousing,busi-nesses,andrestaurants.Additionalimprovementsincludeconstruc-tionofa1,500-seatamphitheateranddevelopmentoftheOnon-dagaCreekWalk(connectingtheFranklinSquareareatotheInnerHarbor)thatprovidesopportuni-tiesforin-lineskating,bicycling,andfishing.

ManyseedevelopmentoftheOnondagaLakewaterfrontasawaytoboosttourismandexpandrecreationalopportunities.TheNewYorkStateCanalCorporationiscurrentlyseekingproposalstodevelopanadditional29acresintoacommercial,residential,andrecreationalattraction.FuturedevelopmentoftheSyracuseLakefrontwillbecloselylinkedtowaterqualityimprovementsinOnondagaCreek,theharborandthroughoutthelake,andwillbeplannedinaccordancewiththeSyracuseLakefrontZoningCodethatoutlinesredevelopmentgoals.

Figure 7. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Onondaga County Parks

What are Combined Sewer Overflows

(CSOs)?Sewerslocatedthroughout

theCityofSyracusecarrybothsanitarysewageandstormwater.Duringdryweather,thesesewerscarryallsanitarysewagetoMetro.However,duringintenserainfalls,theamountofstormwaterenteringthecombinedsewersystemexceedsthesystem’scapacity,resultinginoverflowanddischargesofuntreatedwastewater(stormwaterandsanitarysewage)intoOnondagaLaketributaries.ThefrequencywithwhichCSOsactuallyoccurvariesfromoneCSOdischargelocationtothenext,butgenerallyrangesfromonlyafewtimesperyeartoasmanyas60timesayear.

CSOsareamajorcontributorofbacteria,floatingtrash,organicmaterial,solidsandgrittothelakeanditstributaries.ElevatedbacterialconcentrationsinOnondagaLakecanoccurforuptothreedaysfollowingastormevent.AdditionalinformationaboutCSOsisavailableat:

www.onlakepartners.org/faqs.htm


Priority Issues and Remedial

Actions

Wastewater Pollution

O verthepasttwodecades,OnondagaCountyhas

improvedMetro’scapacitytotreatwastewaterthroughprojectssuchasadvancednutrientremoval,odorcontrolupgrades,anaera-tionsystemupgrade,digitalsystemimprovements,increasedcapac-ityforchemicalstorageandfeedfacilities,anddigestermodifica-tions.Asaresultoftheupgrades(especiallytheadvancedtreat-mentsystemthatcameonlinein2004),ammoniaandphosphorusconcentrationsinOnondagaLakehavedeclinedsignificantly.Inrecentyears,phosphorus

dischargestoOnondagaLakefromthetreatmentplantwerethelowestrecordedsinceOnondagaCountybeganmonitoringin1969.In2009,ammoniaconcentrationswerethelowestevermeasuredandremainedatsafelevelsforeventhemostsensitiveaquaticorganisms.Overall,dissolvedoxygeninthelake’supperwatershasincreasedandthefrequencyofalgalbloomsisdiminishing.

What is Metro?Metro,builtinthe1960s,isan

advancedwastewatertreatmentfacilitythatservestheCityofSyracuseandseveralsurroundingmunicipalities.Itisthethirdlarg-estsourceofwatertoOnondagaLake,contributing20percentofthewaterenteringthelakeeachyear.Duringthesummer,whentheamountofwaterflowingintothelakefromnaturaltributar-iesislow,thedischargefrom

Metrorepresentsthesinglelarg-estsourceofwaterforOnondagaLake.RecentMetroupgradeshaveresultedinsignificantwaterqualityimprovementsandbetterhabitatforaquaticplantsandanimals.

What Else is Being Done to Reduce Wastewater Pollution?

InadditiontoMetroupgrades,OnondagaCountyisimplement-ingprojectstocontrolstormwaterrunoffandreducethenumberofCSOs.Insomeareas,stormwaterstillmixeswithsewageinunder-groundpipelinesduringheavyrains,overloadingpipesandoverflowingintoOnondagaCreekandotherlaketributaries.TheACJrequiresthatby2018,theCountyeliminateorcapturefortreatment,95per-centoftheCSOvolumegeneratedduringprecipitationeventsona

system-wide,averageannualbasis.Significantprogresshasbeenmadetoreachthisgoal.Of70totalCSOdischarges,35havebeenaddressedto-date,resultinginanestimated85percentreductioninthevolumeofCSOdischargesfromrainandsnow-meltonanannualbasis.

Additionally,askimmerboatcollectsfloatabletrashanddebrisfromtheInnerHarborandthemouthofOnondagaCreek.Floata-blesControlFacilitiesremovetrashfromstormwaterrunoffwithnetbagsandbooms,whilestorageandtreatmentfacilitiesremoveandtreatthewaste.Storagefacili-tiestemporarilystorestormwatertopreventitfromcontributingtoCSOs.

TheOLPissupportingprojectsdesignedtoreducewastewa-terpollutionandimprovewater

Figure 8. The Inner HarborPhoto credit: City of Syracuse

Figure 9. Aerial View of MetroPhoto credit: USACE


qualityinthelakeanditstributar-iesthroughthefollowingpriorities:• CompletionoftheMidland

RegionalTreatmentandStor-ageFacility,whichcapturescombinedsewagefromthreemajoroverflowsthatpreviouslyemptieddirectlyintoOnondagaCreekduringstorms.Thefacilitystores4.5milliongallons,andflowsinexcessofthisamount

aretreatedanddischargedtoOnondagaCreek.

• Installationofpipelinestoconveycombinedflowsforstor-ageintheClintonStreetarea.

• CompletionoftwoadditionalsewerseparationprojectsontheCity’ssouthsidewhichclosedtwoCSOdischarges,andconstructionofnewsewerlinesthatconveystormwatertoOnondagaCreek.

What is the Microbial Trackdown Study?

AninvestigationcalledtheMicrobialTrackdownStudyisbeingconductedtoidentifysourcesoffecalcoliformbacteriaduringdryweatherintwoOnondagaLaketributaries-OnondagaCreekandHarborBrook.Thestudyisiden-tifyingareasthatareinneedoffurtherassessmentorfollowupbyresponsiblejurisdictionsorparties.

TheMicrobialTrackdownStudy

isfundedbytheEnvironmentalBenefitProjectfundprovidedbyOnondagaCounty.TheACJspeci-fiedthattheCountyprovidethefunds,andthattheOLPselectandapprovetheprojecttowhichthefundsarebeingapplied.TheUSEPAhasalsoprovidedadditionalfundsforthestudy.TheNYSDECandseveralotherOLPmemberagenciesparticipateontheproj-ect’sworkgroup.

Theinvestigationhasdocu-mentedelevatedlevelsoffecalcoliformbacteriaaturbanareasofOnondagaCreekduringdryweatherconditions.Contami-natedwaterfromcollapsedsani-tarysewersandothersourcesofsewageflowstothecreekthroughthesanitaryandstormwatersystem.Thesamplingishelpingtoassesstheimpactthatagingwastewaterinfrastructurehasonthetwotributaries.Althoughsomedryweathercontaminantsourceshavebeenaddressed,theOLP

continuestoworktoidentifyandeliminatesuchsources.Therefore,theOLPdoesnotrecommendengaginginactivitieswhichhavethepotentialforimmersionoringestionofcreekwater.

Sincethestudybegan,theCountyhassecuredfundingtoreplacethemaininterceptorsewerthatparallelsHarborBrook.Theupgradeisdesignedtohelpimprovewaterquality.AdditionalinformationaboutthisprojectandtheACJcanbefoundatwww.onlakepartners.org.

How Does Green Infrastructure Benefit Water Quality?

OnondagaCountyofficials,incooperationwithmanycommunitystakeholdergroups,havetakenaproactiveapproachtodevelopinggreeninfrastructurealternativesdesignedtoreducetheamountofstormwaterenteringstormsewersandcontributingtoCSOdischarges.Wastewaterinfrastruc-turereferstothepipes,concrete,pumps,andfacilitiesthattransportandhandlesewage.Examplesofthesetraditionalmethods,called“grayinfrastructure”,includeMetroandtheMidlandRegionalStorageandTreatmentFacility.Greeninfrastructurehelpsreducerunoffbyfacilitatingsoilinfiltra-tionandthecaptureandreuseofstormwaterbeforeitentersthesewersystem.TheoriginalACJhasbeenamendedfourtimes,mostrecentlyin2009.Thisfourthamendmentauthorizesagreateremphasisongreeninfrastructure(suchasvegetatedinfiltration

Figure 10. Skimmer boatPhoto source: Onondaga County

Figure 11. Phosphorus Discharged to Onondaga Lake from Metro

Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection

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basins,roofgardens,treeboxes,andraingardens)incombina-tionwithtraditionalengineeringpractices(grayinfrastructure)toreducestormwaterrunoffandCSOvolumeduringstormevents.Foradditionalinformationaboutthe2009ACJamendment,refertowww.onggov.net/forms/images/ACJ.pdf.

InMarch2009,OnondagaCountylaunchedaninnovativenew“SavetheRain”campaign,designedtoraisepublicaware-nessandhelpOnondagaLakebyreducingthevolumeofstorm-waterrunoffthatflowsdirectlyintothesanitarysewersystem.Throughthisprogram,greentechnologiesarealsobeingpromotedinordertoreducefloodinganderosionandtocutdownonpollutionloadingtoOnondagaLakeanditstributar-ies.Additionalinformationaboutthisprogramisavailableatwww.

ongov.net/savetherain/greenso-lutions.html.

OnondagaCounty,inconjunc-tionwiththeCityofSyracuseandseveralotherpartnerorga-nizations,isalsoimplementingagreeninfrastructureprogramontheCity’sNearWestSidewithintheClintonsewershed(anareadrainedbyanetworkofcom-binedsewers.)ThisprogramisdesignedtoreduceCSOdischargeratesbyincreasingsoilinfiltration.In2009,nearly400treeswereplantedinordertoshadestreetsandtoprovidevegetativecoverinvacantcity-ownedlots.Raingar-denswerealsoplantedtoabsorbexcessstormwaterandtoteachlocalresidentsaboutthebenefitsofgreenalternatives.

In2009theSyracuseCenterofExcellencereceivedover$3,000inminigrantfundsfromtheOLPforconstructionofagreenroofandinstallationofpermanent

signageforagreeninfrastructuredemonstrationprojectintheNearWestSide.

Additionalgreenprojectsantic-ipatedfortheareawillincludeinstallingporouspavement,greenroofs,rainbarrels,andexpandingvegetatedareasalongOnondagaCreek.

Nutrients

PhosphorusInrecentyears,theconcentra-

tionofphosphorusdroppedtothelowestleveleverrecordedinthelake’supperwatersandreachedanimpressiveaver-ageof15microgramsperliter(partsperbillion)in2008.ThisreductioncanbeattributedtoupgradesatMetro.Between1993and2009phosphorusdischargesfromMetroweredecreasedbyapproximately86percent.Inadditiontotheimprovedwastewatertreatment,watershedprojectssupportedbytheOLParereducingphosphorusloadingfromagriculturalsourcesandurban-basedstormwaterrunoff.

Thisnotablechangeinphos-phoruslevelshasresultedinwidespreadbenefitsforaquaticorganismsandlakeusersthroughareductioninthefrequencyandseverityofalgalblooms,improvedwaterclarity,andincreasedoxygenlevels.TheNewYorkStateDepart-mentofHealthstandardforopeningabeachrequireswater

clarityreachingadepthoffourfeetorgreaterthroughoutthesummer.In2008,forthefirsttimeinmanyyears,watertransparencyinOnondagaLakeaveraged14.7feetandwasgreaterthanfourfeeteachsummerday.Improvementinwaterclarityisalsoattributedtotheincreasedconsumptionofalgaebysmallaquaticanimalscalledzooplankton.Inaddition,abundantzebramusselsareeffec-tivelygrazingthealgae,providinggreaterlakewaterclarity.

Where Does Phosphorus Come From?

Phosphorus,anessentialnutri-entthatinfluencesplantgrowth,entersOnondagaLakefrompointandnon-pointsources.Pointsourcescanbetracedbacktoasingleorigin,suchasasewagetreatmentplantdischarge.Non-pointsourcesofphosphorusincludediverselanduseactivi-tiessuchaslawnfertilizationandagriculturalrunoff.OthersourcesofphosphorustoOnondagaLakeanditstributariesincludeCSOsthatdischargeuntreatedsewageandstormwatertoOnondagaCreekandHarborBrookduringheavyrainfall.Onceinthelake,phosphoruscancontinuetocyclebetweenthebottomsedimentsandtheoverlyingwaters.

Figure 13. Rain Garden Near Residential Sidewalk


How Do Phosphorus and Dissolved Oxygen Influence Water Quality?

Lowerphosphorusconcentra-tionshavecontributedtoahigherlevelofdissolvedoxygenintheupperwatersofthelake.Concen-trationsofdissolvedoxygen(theamountofoxygenthatisdissolvedinwater)typicallyvarywithlakedepth,season,andtimeofday.Oxygenlevelshaveamajorimpactontheabundanceandtypeoforganismsfoundinalakeenviron-ment.Fishavoidwaterswithlowdissolvedoxygenlevels,andanoxicconditions(nodissolvedoxygeninbottomwatersofalake)canalsotriggerchemicalreactionsandthereleaseofphosphorusandotherpollutantsfromthelakebottomsediments.

Anoxia,particularlyduringthesummermonths,isanaturalcon-ditionforsomelakes.EvaluationstodetermineifanoxiacouldbeanaturaloccurrenceinOnondaga

Lakeareongoing.Historicallylowoxygenlevelsintheupperwatershadbeenoneofthemostsig-nificantwaterqualityproblemsinOnondagaLake.Oxygenlevelsintheupperwatersofthelake,how-ever,haveimprovedsignificantlyandareincompliancewithwaterqualitystandards.

AmmoniaAmmoniaandnitriteareforms

ofnitrogenthataffectthetypeandabundanceofaquaticlifeinlakes.AsadirectresultofMetroupgrades,ammoniaandnitriteconcentrationsinOnondagaLakehavedeclinedsignificantlyandlevelsnowconsistentlymeetStatestandardsdevelopedforthepro-tectionofaquaticlife.

Since2007,thelakehasbeeninfullcompliancewithambientwaterqualitystandardsforammo-niaandwasofficiallyde-listedforthatparameterintheState’s2008listofimpairedwaterbodies.

Thelowerconcentrationshaveimprovedconditionsforyoungfishandothersensitiveformsofaquaticlife,andhaveenhancedfishspawningandmigrationpatterns.

Aswithphosphorus,ammo-niaissuppliedtoOnondagaLakefrombothpointandnon-pointsources.TheimprovementstotheMetroplanthavereducedthepointsourceloadingofammoniabyanimpressive98percent.PriortocompletionoftheupgradestoMetroin2004,morethan90percentofammoniaflowingintoOnondagaLakewasdischargedfromMetro.In2008,theMetroplantcontributedonly44percentoftheammoniaflowingintothelake.ThesecondlargestsourceofammoniatothelakeisfromNineMileCreek,whichisborderedbyseveralindustrialwastebeds.In2008,thecontributionfromNineMileCreekrepresentedapproxi-mately30percentofthetotalammonialoadtothelake.

Figure 14. Summer Phosphorus Levels in Upper Waters Data source: Onondaga County Department of Water

Environment Protection

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Figure 15. Minimum Oxygen Concentrations, Upper Waters in October


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NYSDEC Ambient Water Quality minimum standard is 4 ppm.

Through efforts supported by the Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP), Onondaga County is working to mitigate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Onondaga Creek and the Onondaga Lake Watershed. Sewage is normally treated at the County’s Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, during periods of heavy rain or rapid snow melt, stormwater and sewage can overwhelm the system and be discharged directly in the Creek through a series of pipes and overflow points called CSOs. During these periods, the Creek may have high, rapidly moving water, and contain untreated sewage. As a result for safety and health reasons, one should not be in or come into contact with creek water at these times.

Belted kingfisher


What is Being Done to Reduce Nutrient Levels in Onondaga Lake?

InadditiontoMetroupgrades,lowerlevelsofammoniaandphosphorusinOnondagaLakecanbeattributedtorecentimprove-mentsandrestorationprojectsthataddressCSOdischarges,effec-tivestormwatercontrolpractices,bettermanagementofagricul-turalrunoff,successfulregionalpartnershipsestablishedthroughtheOLP,andawell-informedpublic.AdditionalinformationabouttheAmbientMonitor-ingProgramandnutrientlevelsinOnondagaLakeisavailableatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.

Industrial Pollution and Superfund

Forover125years,industrialandchemicalmanufacturingoperationsalongtheOnondagaLakeshorelinedisposedofwasteproductsonnearbylandorbydischargingwastedirectlyintothelake.Atonetimeindustrydis-chargedapproximately20poundsofmercurytothelakeperday.Asaresultofthisactivity,surfacewaterwascontaminatedwithmercury,andsedimentswerecontaminatedwithpolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs);pesticides;creo-sotes;heavymetalsincludinglead,cobalt,andmercury;polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs);and

volatileorganiccompounds(VOCs)suchaschlorobenzene.Groundwateratmanyuplandsubsiteshasalsobeencontaminated.Theformerindustrialpracticesledtorestrictedrecreationalusesofthelake,reducedwildlifehabitat,andelevatedlevelsoftoxiccontami-nantsthatstillpersistinfishandotheraquaticlife.

Asaresultoftheindustrialpollution,OnondagaLakewasdesignatedaSuperfundsiteinDecember1994.TheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsiteincludesthelakebottom,andsubsitesaroundthelakeandalongthetributariesthataresourcesofcontamination.Currently,11subsiteshavebeendeterminedpartoftheSuperfundsite:1. OnondagaLakeBottom2. GeddesBrook/NinemileCreek3. WillisAvenue4. LCP-BridgeStreet–OperableUnit1

5. WasteBedB/HarborBrook6. SemetTarBeds7. TownofSalinaLandfill8. LowerLeyCreek9. LeyCreekPCBDredgings10.GeneralMotors–InlandFisher

Guide11.NationalGrid-Hiawatha

BoulevardWasteBeds1-8areinthe

processofbeingnamedasubsitewhichwouldresultin12areasincludedintheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsite(Figure17).Addi-tionalinformationonthesubsitescanbefoundatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.

Duetothelargesizeandcom-plexityoftheOnondagaLakeSuperfundsite,thebasicapproachthatisbeingusedforitsreme-diationistodividethesiteintomanageableunitswhichcanbeaddressedonafocusedbasis.This

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Figure 17. Annual Ammonia-N Levels in Upper Waters


Figure 16. Water Quality Monitoring, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection

Photo Source: Water Environment Protection


approachenablesdiscreterem-ediestomoveforwardindepen-dentlyratherthanwaitingforthefullsuiteofsiteremediestobedetermined.Remediationisbeingaddressedintwostages:1)interimremedialmea-sures(IRMs)and2)long-termremedialactionsfocusingoncleanupofthesubsites.IRMsundertakenatthesiteinclude:removingchlorobenzenefromexistingwells;alteringexisting

on-sitesewers;on-sitedemoli-tion,removal,decontaminationandrecyclingofformermercurycellprocessingbuildingsandbuildingmaterials;cleaningstormdrainagesystems;inves-tigationofbermssurroundingtheSemetTarPonds;designandconstructionofalakeshorebarrierwallandgroundwatercollection/treatmentsystem;andremovalofsomecontami-natedsedimentsandfloodplain

soilsfromGeddesBrookandtheEastFlume.Investigationsandlong-termremedialactionsatthevarioussubsitesarebeingperformedbypotentiallyresponsibleparties(PRPs),pursuanttoenforcementagree-mentsbetweenthePRPsandtheState.EPAhascontributedover$16.5milliontothestateforvariousactivitiesatthesiteincludinginvestigations;coor-dinationandmanagementat

subsites;implementationofacitizeninvolvementplan;cre-ationofasite-widedatabase;andestablishmentofacompre-hensiveenforcementprogram.

Between1998andMarch2010,eightRecordsofDeci-sion(RODs)havebeensignedforcleanupplansatthevarioussubsites.Selectedremediesforcontaminationatthesubsitesinclude:dredgingofsediments;excavationofsoils;onandoff-sitetreatmentofcontaminatedmaterials;collectionandtreat-mentofcontaminatedground-water;andcappingofexcavatedsoilsandsediments.

In2007,theFederalCourtapprovedanagreementrequir-ingHoneywellInternationalInc.(successorfirmtoAllied-SignalInc.)toremediatethecontaminatedsedimentsinthebottomofthelake.Theplaninvolvesdredgingcon-taminatedsediments,cappingapproximately580acresoflakebottomsediments,andrestor-inghabitat.Underthedirec-tionofNYSDEC(theagencyresponsibleforoverseeingthecleanupofindustrialpollution),Honeywelliscurrentlywork-ingincooperationwithateamofscientists,engineers,andFederal,State,andmunicipalleadersondesignsfortheres-torationofthelake,includingadredgingstrategy,asedimentcontainmentarea,andwaste-watertreatment.Dredgingisexpectedtobeginin2012and

Figure 18. Location of Onondaga Lake Watershed NPL SubsitesData source, NYSDEC

Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek

LCP-Bridge Street Operable Unit 1

Semet Tar Beds

Willis Avenue

Onondaga LakeBottom

Wastebed B/Harbor Brook

National GridHiawatha Boulevard

General Motors - Inland Fisher Guide

Lower Ley Creek

Ley Creek PCB DredgingsTown ofSalina Landfill

Onondaga Lake Subsites


thecleanupprogramcallsforsedimentstobehydraulicallydredgedfromthebottomofthelakeandpipedtoasedimentconsolidationareainCamillus,NewYork.

Honeywellisalsoremediat-ingpolluteduplandsitesthatimpactthelake.Forexample,theformerLindenChemicalandPlastics(LCP)sitewasamajorsourceofmercurycontamina-tioninGeddesBrook,NineMileCreek,andOnondagaLake.Aspartofthesiteremediation,morethaneighttonsofmer-curywereremovedfromplantpropertythrough“soilwash-ing.”Inadditiontomercuryremoval,thecleanupprogramunderdirectionoftheNYSDECinvolvedexcavationofcontami-natedsedimentsinsurroundingareas;installationofanon-sitegroundwatercollectionsystem;andtheconstructionofafive-storydeep,undergroundcutoffwalltopreventanyfuturegroundwaterdischarge.

InMarch2009,theNYSDECreleasedaworkplanoutliningactivitiesandschedulesnec-essarytocompleteremedialdesignoftheremedyselectedintheRecordofDecision(ROD)issuedbytheNYSDECandtheUSEPAin2005fortheOnon-dagaLakeBottomSubsite.AdditionalinformationaboutOnondagaLakeremedialdesignworkisavailableattheNYSDECwebsiteatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/34481.html.

InformationabouttheOnon-dagaLakeBottomSubsite,includinginformationabouttheSedimentConsolidationAreaisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.

What are the Chemical Restoration Objectives?

In2005,theNYSDECandUSEPA,incooperationwiththeNYSDepartmentofHealth,issuedaRecordofDecision(ROD)outliningremedialplansforOnondagaLake’sindustrialpollutionconcerns.TheRODoutlinesplanstodredgeandcapthelakesedimentsinordertoremovethemostpollutedsedimentsfromthelakeandconstructanisolationcapoflayeredsand,gravel,andothermaterialtoseparateundredgedmaterialfromthelakesystem.

SpecificobjectivesintheROD,calledremedialactionobjectivesorRAOs,aregoalsthatwereestablishedforOnon-dagaLaketoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment.Theseobjectivesarebasedoninformationsuchasthenatureandextentofthecontaminants,thetransportandfateofpol-lutants,baselinehumanhealth,andanevaluationofecologicalrisk.Althoughthesedimentsaretheprimaryfocusoftheremediation,thedegreeofattainmentofNewYorkState’ssurfacewaterstandardsandguidancevaluesandsite-spe-cificfishtargetconcentrationswerealsoevaluated.

TheRAOsforOnondagaLakeare:

• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,thereleaseofmercuryfromthebottomwaters;

• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,thereleasesofcontaminantsfromthenear-shoreareas;

• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,releasesofmercuryfromlakebottomsediments;

• Toeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracticable,existingandpotentialfutureadverseecologi-caleffectsonfishandwildliferesourcesandtoeliminateorreduce,totheextentpracti-cable,potentialriskstohumans;

• Toachievesurfacewaterqualitystandards,totheextentpracticable,forchemicalcontaminants.

Additionalinformationaboutthegoalsandobjec-tivesforOnondagaLakearefoundatthefollowingwebsite:www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/34481.html.

What are the Habitat Restoration Goals?

InDecember2009,Honey-wellreleasedadraftreporttitledRemedialDesignElementsforHabitatRestoration.Theplanisdesignedtorestorewild-lifehabitatinareassurround-ingthelakethatareimpactedbycleanupactivities.HabitatrestorationisanessentialpartofOnondagaLakeremediationeffortsandservesasasignifi-cantcomponentinthedredgingandcappingactivities.Habitat

Figure 19. Proposed Lake Bottom CappingData source, USACE


improvementspresentedintheplanwillenhancethephysicalandbiologicalsettingforplants,mam-mals,fish,benthicmacroinverte-brates,birds,reptiles,andamphib-ians,whileprovidingpublicaccessalongthelakeshoreline.Thedraftreportandrelatedinformationareavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/61073.html.

Creationofnewwetlandsandhabitatsareimportantcompo-nentsoftheGeddesBrook/NineMileCreekcleanupactivities.Futureactivitiesaredesignedtorestoreforestedwetlands,enhancewildlifehabitatandspe-ciesdiversity,improveconditionsforfishspawningandmigration,controlerosion,reducepollutionrunoff,andprovideopportunitiesforrecreationaluse.AdditionalinformationabouttheGeddesBrook/NinemileCreekCleanupActionsisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.

What is Being Done to Encourage Citizen Participation?

Publicinvolvementisanimpor-tantcomponentforthesuccess-fulimplementationandsustain-abilityofOnondagaLakecleanupefforts.Since2004,theNYSDECandHoneywellhaveencouragedcitizenparticipationbyinformingandinvolvingthepublicduringtheremedialdesignandconstruc-tionphasesoftheOnondagaLakebottomcleanup.

AreporttitledCitizenParticipa-tionPlan(CPP)fortheOnondagaLakeBottomSubsiteRemedial

DesignProgramprovidesastrat-egyforcommunicatingwithandsolicitingfeedbackfromthepublicduringtheremediationoftheOnondagaLakebottom.Thereportisavailableatwww.dec.ny.gov/chemical/48761.html.

TheCPPisaformal,yetflexibleplanfortwo-waycommunica-tionwiththepublicduringthemulti-yeardredging,capping,restoration,andmonitoringproj-ect.Itidentifiesspecificcommu-nityoutreachandparticipationactivitiessuchasfactsheets,websites,newsletters,annualreports,speakers,publicmeetings,androundtablediscussions.AspartoftheCPP,theNYSDECformedaCommunityParticipationWork-ingGroup.Thisvolunteergroupiscomprisedofcitizens,publicofficials,andcommunityandenvironmentalleaderswork-ingindependentlyofNYSDECtoprovideaforumtoinform,receiveinput,makerecommendations,anddiscusstheOnondagaLakebottomremediationprogram.

Sediment

What are the Impacts from Landslides and Erosion?

Landslidesandothergeologicfeaturescreateadditionalnon-pointsourcepollutionissueswhenthedischargeofsedimentcausesgradualsubsidenceofnearbyhill-sides.LandslidesintheTullyValleycontributeturbid(cloudy),salinewatertoOnondagaCreek.Land-slideshaveoccurredatthebaseofBareMountainforthousandsof

What is the Barrier Wall?

In2007,constructionbeganonanimpressive1.5milelongundergroundbarrierwallalongthesouthwestshoreofOnondagaLake.Thepurposeofthewall,rangingbetween30to50feetdeep,istodivertpollutedgroundwaterfromseveraloftheuplandsitestoastate-of-the-arttreatmentplant.ThetreatedwateristhenpumpedtoMetrotoundergofurthertreatmenttomeetNewYorkStatewaterqualitystandards.Approximately80,000gallonsofclean,treatedwaterisreturnedtoOnondagaLakeeachdayaspartofthefirstphasebarrierwallgroundwaterdiversionandcollectionsystem.PhaseIIofthewallconstructionwascompletedin2009andPhaseIIIwillbecompletedin2011.Additionalinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableatwww.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.

Figure 20. Barrier Wall DiagramData source, USACE


years,andtwoongoinglandslidesarefoundinRainbowCreekandRattlesnakeGulfwhicharetribu-tariestotheTullyValley.Remedialeffortstostabilizethelandslidesinthetwosidevalleyshavenotbeenpossibleduetodifficultaccessandsteepterrain.Inadditiontothemudboilsandlandslides,erosionalongstreamandroadbanksalsocontributessedimenttoOnondagaCreekduringperiodsofheavyrainandsnowmeltrunoff.

What are the Tully Valley Mudboils?

Mudboilsarevolcano-likeconesoffinesandandsiltfoundalongtheflooroftheTullyValley,approximately18miles(29kilo-meters)southofSyracuse.Theyrangeinsizefromseveralinchestoseveralfeethigh,andfromseveralinchestomorethan30feet(9.1meters)indiameter.SedimentfromthemudboilsentersOnon-dagaCreekwhichflowsnorthintoOnondagaLake.Mudboilactivityisanaturalphenomenonthatisinfluencedbyseasonalvariationsinprecipitationandgroundwaterrecharge.Theyaremoreactiveduringthespringandlatefallwhenprecipitationand

rechargeratesarehigh,andarelessactiveduringdry,summermonths.Mudboilscaneruptandformalargeconeinseveraldays.Theflowmightthencontinueforseveralyearsorstopasabruptlyasitstarted.

Mudboilsarecausedbyexces-siveartesianpressureinthevalleythathasexistedsincetheretreatofglacialicethousandsofyearsagoandcannotbecontainedbythesedimentlayersthatmakeupthevalleyfloor.Thereductioninartesianpressureisstilloccurringtodayintheformofwaterflowingfrommudboilsandwaterseepagethroughformermudboils.Mudboilactivitymayhavebeenexacerbated

bybrineminingactivitiescon-ductedintheTullyValleyduringthefirsthalfofthe20thcentury.

What are the Impacts from Mudboil Discharges?

Sedimentloadingfromthemudboilsisaconcernbecauseitdegradeswaterquality,decreaseswaterclarity,andreduceshabitatforaquaticinsects,fishspawning,andplantgrowthalongOnondagaCreek,theInnerHarbor,andtoalesserextent,inOnondagaLake.Historically,OnondagaCreekhascontributedmorethan50percentoftheannualtributarysedimentloadtothelake.Thedischargeofsedimentcausescontinuous

Figure 21. OLP Tabletop DisplayPhoto credit: NYSDEC Figure 22. Tully Valley Mudboil Site

Photo credit: USGS

Onondaga Creek

Mudboil Depression Area

Sediment Retenti on Dam


What is Being Done to Reduce Sediment Loading from the Mudboils?

TheOLPisworkingwiththeOnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict(SWCD),U.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS),andotherregionalpartnerstoreducesedimentloadingfromthemud-boils.Remediationprojectshavehelpedtoreducemudboilactiv-ityandtoimprovetheecologicalintegrityofOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLake.Remediationproj-ectshaveincludedthefollowinginitiatives:

• DivertingthetributaryflowthatfeedstheprimaryMDAtoanadjacenttributary.

• InstallingdepressurizingwellsatseverallocationsneartheMDAandalongOnondagaCreektodecreasetheartesianpressure.

• Constructingadamandimpoundmentstocontroltheflowofsediment.TheimpoundedwaterallowsthesiltandsandtosettleoutbeforeflowingintoOnondagaCreekanddownstreamtoOnondagaLake.

• Modifyingseveralgeo-logicfeaturesthatallowsurfacewatertorechargetheground-watersysteminthesouthernTullyValley(alluvialfans,losingstreamreaches,andsinkholes).

OLP’sremediationeffortsresultedindramaticreductioninsedimentloadingfromthemud-boilstoOnondagaCreekfromthe1990sthrough2009.Whiletheremedialactivitiesimplemented

todateweresuccessfulinreduc-ingsedimentdischargetoOnon-dagaCreek,controllingmudboildischargeswillrequirecontinu-ous,long-termattention.Periodicmaintenanceactivities,suchasdredgingofsediment-filledcon-tainmentareasandrepairingflow-measuringandflow-diversionstructures,arenecessaryactivitiesduetoperiodsofhighflowandexcessivesedimentaccumulation.Depressurizationwellsalsorequireconstantmonitoringandmainte-nancetoassurecontinuedwelldischargeanddiminishedmudboilactivity.OngoinglandsubsidenceintheareaaroundthemudboilswillcontinuouslyaffectmudboilactivityandcreatenewchallengestoreducingsedimentdischargestoOnondagaCreek.TheOLP’sfund-ingtomaintainremediationeffortswillexpireSeptember30,2012.

Salinity

Salinityreferstotheconcentra-tionofdissolvedsaltsinwater.SalinitylevelsbegantodecreaseinOnondagaLakeafterAllied-SignalInc.(asuccessortotheSolvayProcessCompany)stoppeddepos-itingsaltwasteintothelake.Inrecentyearsthishasledtonotableimprovementsinthelakeecosys-tem.Lowersalinitylevelsimprovethenaturalstratification(layering)ofthelakewatercolumn,con-tributetoanincreaseindissolvedoxygenandaquaticdiversity,andhelptoenhancenear-shorehabitatsforplantsandanimals.

subsidenceofthemudboilareasandnearbyhillsides,whichhasresultedinthecollapseoftworoadbridges.

MudboilactivitycurrentlyoccursprimarilyintwoareaswithintheTullyValley:themainmudboildepressionarea(MDA),andtheroguemudboilarealocatednortheastoftheMDA.AftermajormudboilremediationeffortsintheMDAduringthemid1990s,theinitialroguemudboilappearedinearly1997.Overtimethismudboilgrewinsizeandintheearly2000s,aclaybermwasconstructedtocontaintheever-growingmudboil.However,beginningin2008,mudboilactiv-itydramaticallyincreasedwithin

andadjacenttotheroguemudboilarea.LossofadepressurizingwellbetweentheroguemudboilareaandOnondagaCreekinFebruaryof2010hasleadtosubsidenceoftheentireareaaroundtheformerwell,thebermthatcontainedsedimentinsidetheroguearea,andOnondagaCreek.ThisrecentmudboilactivityhasincreasedsedimentloadingtoOnondagaCreekandtheOLPiscurrentlyworkingtoaddressthisissuetominimizenegativeimpactstotheenvironment.

Figure 23. Tully Valley MudboilPhoto credit: USGS


Improvedwaterqualityandhabi-tathavealsoledtothepresenceofmorepollution-sensitivefishspe-ciesinOnondagaLake,includingbrowntrout,greaterredhorse,andrainbowsmelt.

Evenwiththesechanges,thesalinitylevelsinOnondagaLakeremainhigh,whichcanbeattrib-utedtobothnaturalandhumaninfluences.Thelevelsarerela-tivelyhighbecausesaltywastes(containingby-productsofsodaashproduction)arestillenter-ingOnondagaLakefromtheSolvaywastebedsalongNineMileCreek.Inaddition,naturallysalinegroundwaterseepsintothelowerreachesofOnondagaCreek.

Salinityisaprioritywaterqualityissuebecauseofthehighconcentrationofdissolvedmineralsalts(especiallysodiumchlo-ride–commonsalt,andcalciumchloride)inthewatersofOnon-dagaandNineMileCreeks,andOnondagaLake.Highsalinitylevelscanalterthenaturalstratificationofalake.Thermalstratification,anaturalprocesscommonlyseeninmanyupstateNewYorklakes,isinfluencedbytemperatureanddensitydifferences.Chemicalstratification,asseeninOnondagaLake,isinfluencedbyelevatedsalinitylevels.Well-definedlayersinastratifiedlakedonotmixuntilconditionschangewithairandwatertemperaturesorchemical

composition.Stratificationcon-tributestoadeclineintheoxygenlevelsandimpactsplantandanimalhealth.

How Does Industrial Waste Impact Salinity Levels?

SalinitylevelsinOnondagaLakedeclinedafterAllied-Signal,Inc.closeditschemicalplants.Sincethen,theconcentrationofchlo-ride,animportantcomponentofsalinityinOnondagaLake,hasdecreasedfrom1,800milligramsperliterin1985to450milligramsperliterin2009.

Toextractthesaltfromthesur-roundingarea,operatorsinjectedwaterintothesaltlayersthroughaseriesofwells1,000-1,400feetdeep,andthenpumpedthedis-solvedsalt(brine)tothesurface.Brinefrom167wellswastrans-portedbypipelinefromtheTullyValleyareatotheSolvayplantwhereitwasusedtomakesoda

ashandchlorinatedchemicals.Approximately6millionpoundsofsaltywaste,madeupofchloride,sodium,andcalcium,hadbeendischargeddailytoOnondagaLakeandnearbywastebedsfromthesodaashfacilitybeforeitclosed.AtthattimethesaltcontentofOnondagaLakewasunusuallyhigh,averaging0.30percent.Thiswasten-timesgreaterthannearbyOtiscoLakethathasasaltcontentofabout0.03percent.Bywayofcomparison,seawaterintheworld’soceanshasasalinitylevelofabout3.5percent.Thesaltcon-tentofthelakeispresentlyabout0.10percentbyweight.

What are the Natural Sources of Salinity?

EuropeanimmigrantssettledintheOnondagaLakeregionthroughoutthe17thand18thCenturiesdue,inpart,tothepres-enceofsaltysprings.Numerous

Figure 24. Onondaga Lake ParkPhoto source: Gary Comins

Figure 25. Average Annual Chloride ConcentrationData source: Onondaga County Department of Water

Environment Protection

0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

2000

2250

67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97 00 03 06 09

Chlo

ride

(mg/

l)

Year


saltspringsreferencedinhistori-caldocumentshavedisappearedduetochangesinlakelevelandland-fillingalongtheshoreline,butonemajorsaltspringinOnondagaCreekstillremainsanddischargesbrinetotheCreekandLake.

TullyValleymudboilscontributewater,andsediment,andsomesalinitytoOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLake.SalinedischargesalsooriginatefromaseriesofsaltyspringswithintheolderlandslideareasalongthefootofBareMoun-tain(northwestofthemudboils)andfromthe1993landslidearea.Withintheselandslideareas,saltyspringsdischargewatertoOnondagaCreek,whichwasamajorreasonwhytheSolvayCom-panyexploredTullyValleyintheirquestforbrinefortheproductionofsodaash.Finally,theonlymajorbrinespringnearOnondagaLakeislocatedjustupstreamoftheInnerHarbor.Itrepresentstheconcen-trationofbrinewhichoncedis-chargedfromthesespringsaroundthesouthernendoftheLakethatmadeSyracusethe“SaltCity”.

What are Oncolites?Muchofthenear-shorearea

ofOnondagaLakeiscoveredwithcalciumcarbonatestonescalledoncolites,believedtohaveformedfromthecalcium-andsalt-richwastedischargesoftheAllied-Signalsodaashfacility.Thecal-ciuminthedischargewaterwouldprecipitateandsettleonthelakebottom,andthewaveactionthen

creatednodules,orballs,calledoncolites.Althoughoncolitesarestillpresent,thelakebottomisexhibit-inggreaterstabilityduetoincreasedplantgrowth.

Non-Point Source Pollution

Non-pointsourcepollutionoccurswhenstormwaterandwindtransportpollutantstowaterbodies.Commonnon-pointsourcepollutantswithintheOnondagaLakewater-shedincludesedi-mentfromtheTullyValleymudboils,saltfromhighwaydeicingoperations,andfertil-izersandpesticidesfromhorticul-turalpractices.DebrisandfloatingtrashentersOnondagaLakeanditstributariesthroughCSOsandstormsewers,andfromnearbystreets.

TheOLPfocusesonprogramstoreducenon-pointsourcepollutionloadingtoOnondagaLake.Forexample,alittervacuumtruckisnowusedtoremovefloatingtrashfromstormwatercatchbasins,andskimmervesselsareusedtoremovefloatingwastefromtheInnerHarbor.Trashremovalhelpstoimprovetheaestheticsofthelakeandreducesingestionorentanglementhazardstowildlife.

InnovativeOLP-sponsoredwater-shedprogramsarereducingnon-pointsourcepollutionbyfocusingonareassuchasanimalwasteandpesticidemanagementatfarmingoperations,streambankandroad-bankstabilization,increaseduseofphosphorus-freefertilizers,schooleducationprograms,andmeasurestocontrolroadandstreambanksoilerosionandstormwaterrunoff.

AgriculturalEnvironmentalManagement(AEM)isavoluntaryprogramwherefarmersworkwithateamoflocalresourceprofes-sionalstodevelopcomprehensivefarmplansusingatieredprocess.TheOLPprovidesfundingtothe

OnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservationDistricttodelivertheAEMprogramintheOnon-dagaCreekandNinemileCreekwatersheds.TheprogramhelpstoreduceagriculturalsourcesofsedimentandnutrientloadingtoOnondagaLake.Asof2009,57ofthe67farmsintheOnondagaLakewatershedhadparticipatedintheAEMprogram.

Figure 26. Onondaga Lake Shoreline WastebedPhoto credit: Onondaga Environmental Institute


The Onondaga Lake Ecosystem

Onondaga Lake Fisheries

TheOnondagaLakefishcom-munityisimprovingsoonerthan

anticipatedasaresultofchangesinwaterqualityandaquatichabitat.Lowerpollutionlevelshaveledtoreductionsinphosphorus,ammonia,andalgalgrowth,whichhavehadapositiveinfluenceonthehealthanddiversityofthefishcommunity.Thelakenowsupportsawarm-waterfishcommunityandarecoveringcool-waterfisherywithseveralgamespecies.Over65speciesoffishhavebeendocumentedinthelake,reflect-inganimpressiveincreasefromthe9to12speciesthatwererecordedinthelakeduringthe1970s.

Warm-waterfishsuchassunfishandcool-waterfishsuchaspikeandsmallmouthbassnowresideinthelakeyear-round.ColdwaterfishsuchastroutaretransientandmigratetoOnondagaLaketributariesandtotheSenecaRiverduringthesummermonthsbasedondissolvedoxygenlevelsandtemperature.

FishhealthandspeciesdiversityinOnondagaLakeareinfluencedbyavarietyoffactorssuchaspollutionlevels,dissolvedoxygen,watertemperature,availablefood,andsuitablespawninghabitat.Decreasedconcentrationsofammonia,salinity,andmercuryinrecentyearshavecontributedtohealthierfishcommunitiesbutthebottomwatersofOnondagaLakeremainrelativelyuninhabitabletofishduetolowlevelsofoxygenduringthesummerfollowingther-malstratification(alsoknownastemperaturelayering.)Thiscondi-tionalsoexistsinnearbylakes,suchasOtiscoandOneida.

PlantandanimalcommunitiesinOnondagaLakeinteractincomplexrelationshipsthatareessentialtooveralllakehealth.Thesurvivalofeachplantandanimalisdepen-dentonitsrelationshipwithotherorganisms,aninteractionreferredtoastheaquaticfoodweb.FishareanimportantpartofthefoodwebandOnondagaCountyroutinelymonitorstheirpopula-tionsandreproductivesuccess.Fishdataarealsorecordedonanannualbasisfromanglersurveys.Additionalinformationislocatedatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.

Largemouth bass

Common carp

Figure 27. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto credit: Craig Nels

Table 1. Fish Species Documented in Onondaga Lake, Grouped by Relative Abundance, 2000 to 2008


Abundant Species

alewife,bandedkillifish,bluegill,brownbullhead,carp,channelcatfish,gizzardshad,goldenshiner,largemouthbass,pumpkinseed,shortheadredhorse,smallmouthbass,whiteperch,whitesucker,yellowperch

Common Species

blackcrappie,bluntnoseminnow,bowfin,brooksilverside,brookstickleback,emeraldshiner,fatheadminnow,freshwaterdrum,longnosegar,logperch,northernpike,rockbass,tessellateddarter,tigermusky,walleye

Uncommon Species

blackbullhead,browntrout,goldfish,greaterredhorse,greensunfish,johnnydarter,lakesturgeon,longnosedace,northernhogsucker,quillback,rainbowtrout,rudd,spotfinshiner,trout,perch,whitebass,yellowbullhead


What Types of Fish are Found in Onondaga Lake?

OnondagaCounty’smonitoringprogramhascaptured46differ-entfishspeciessince2000.WhencombiningtheCounty’sspecieslistwiththatofotherrecentstudies,therehavebeen65fishspeciesidentifiedinthelakeinrecentyears.Fishspeciesandtheirrela-tiveabundancearesummarizedinTable1.Asafurtherindicationofthelake’sremarkablerecovery,severalnewspecieshavebeencaughtinOnondagaLakeinthepastfewyearssuchaslakestur-geon,quillback,greensunfish,andblackbullhead.Additionalinformationaboutlakefisheriesisavailableatstatic.ongov.net/WEP/wepdf/FishFactSheet2007_2008.pdf.

Are the Fish Safe to Eat?Fishinghasbecomeincreasingly

popularonOnondagaLakeoverthepastfewyears.Nationalsport-ingcompetitionsandprofessionalfishingeventsarescheduledeachyear,andlocalanglersusethelakeontheregularbasisduringthesummermonths.

FishingonOnondagaLakeisarecreationalsportandtherearespecifichealthadvisoriesthatpro-viderecommendationsregardingfishconsumption.Theseadvisoriesareforsportfishthatpeoplecatchandarenotforfishandgamesoldinmarkets.StateadvisorieswhichapplytoOnondagaLakeandotherwaterbodiesinNewYorkStateareissuedbecausefishmaycontainenvironmentalcontaminantssuchasmercuryandPCBsthataccu-mulateinfishandhumantissues,

andmayposehealthconcernsifconsumed.FishadvisoriesinNewYorkStateareprimarilybasedoncontaminantlevelsinfishtissuethatarecollectedbytheNYSDEC.ThecurrenthealthadvisoriesforOnondagaLakearelistedinTable2.Thecomplete2010-2011healthadvisoryisavailableatwww.nyhealth.gov/environmental/out-doors/fish/fish.htm.

InadditiontothecontinuingproblemofelevatedmercurylevelsinOnondagaLakefish,PCBlevelshaveincreasedinrecentyearsinsomefishspeciesfromOnondagaLake.Basedonthesedata,thehealthadvisoryissuedbytheNewYorkStateDepartmentofHealth(NYSDOH)recommendseatingnocarp,channelcatfish,andwhiteperch.Inaddition,theadvisoryforOnondagaLakebrown

bullheadandpumpkinseedrecom-mendseatinguptofourmealspermonth.Theadvisorystatesthatnolargemouthandsmallmouthbassover15inchesorwalleyeshouldbeconsumed.Onemealpermonthcanbeconsumedforallotherfishspecies.However,womenundertheage50andchildrenundertheageof15areadvisednottoeatanyfishcaughtinOnondagaLake.

Bluegill

White bass

Table 2. Chemicals in Sportfish and Game: 2010-2011 Health Advisories for Onondaga LakeData source: NYSDOH

Species Advice* Chemical(s) of Concern

Largemouthbassandsmallmouthbassover15”andwalleye

Don’teat Mercury,PCBs

Brownbullheadandpumpkinseed Eatuptofourmealspermonth

Mercury,PCBs

Carp,channelcatfish,andwhiteperch Don’teat PCBs,Mercury,Dioxin

Allfishnotlisted Eatuptoonemealpermonth

Mercury,PCBs

* Woman under the age of 50 and children under the age of 15 should not eat any fish from Onondaga Lake.


Aquatic Plants

WiththerecentimprovementsinOnondagaLakewaterquality,nearlyafour-foldincreaseinaquaticplantcoverhasbeendocumentedbetween2000and2009.Lowerphosphoruslevelshaveledtofewerandlessseverealgaeblooms.Thewaterclarityhasimprovedwhichmeansthatsun-lightcanpenetratetogreaterdepths.Aquaticplantsinthelakearenowgrowingatsixmeterdepths.

TheOnondagaLakeplantcommu-nityhasalsobecomemorediverseandabundant.Aquaticplantsprovidevaluablespawningandnurseryhabitatnecessaryforfishcommunities.Plantsalsoprovidefoodandshelterforavarietyofadditionalaquaticanimalsandinsects,andtheirrootsystemshelptoreduceerosionbystabilizingthelakeshoreline.OnondagaCounty

monitorstheplantcommunitiesthroughtheuseofaerialphotographsandgroundtruthing.Tenplanttypeswereidentifiedduringthe2008sam-pling.Eurasianwatermilfoil,coontailandelodeawerethemostwidelydis-tributedplantspeciesfoundatmostofthetensites.Additionalinforma-tionaboutaquaticplantgrowthandthesamplingprogramisavailableatwww.ongov.net/wep/we15.html.

Eurasian water milfoilFigure 28. Aquatic Plant Coverage in Onondaga Lake, 2000 and 2009



ConclusionForthepastseveralyears,OnondagaLakewaterqualityhasshownremarkable

improvementandthelakeisonceagainbecomingarecreationdestinationpointforoutdoorenthusiastswhileservingasasourceofcommunitypride.Followingalong-terminvestmentoffunding,combinedwithstrongregionalpartnershipsandstrategicrestorationplanning,thelakeisnowevolvingintoavaluedlocalresource.

Becauseofcontinuedwaterqualityandbiologicalimprovements,publicuseofthelakeisincreasing,butthereisstillmuchtoaccomplish.Federal,State,andlocalorganizations,residents,andlakeuserswillcontinuetoplayamajorroleintherevitalizationofOnondagaLakeforyearstocome.Projectswillcontinuetobedesignedandimplementedwithmeasurabledeliverables,well-definedgoals,andtimelinesforcompletion.Thefollowingprioritieshavebeenidentifiedforthenextseveralyears:• Conductacleanupofindustrialcontaminationfromthelakebottomandadditional

sitestomeethealthstandardsandtoimproveconditionsforthelakefishery;• Maintainlowphosphoruslevelsinthelakeandcontinuetoreducephosphorus

loadingfromMetroandotherwatershedsources;• ReducefloatablesolidsandbacterialdischargesfromCSOsandcontrolthevolumeof

stormwatercontributingtoCSOsinordertomeetwaterqualitystandards;• ImprovewaterqualityinOnondagaCreekandOnondagaLakebymanagingsediment

loadingfromsourcessuchastheTullyValleymudboilsandlandslideactivities;and• Restoreandmaintainahealthyanddiverseecologicalhabitatthatissuitableforthe

growthofrootedaquaticplantsandthemaintenanceofasustainablefishery.

TheplansforOnondagaLakearedesignedtomaintainwaterqualityimprovementtrendsthatwillsupportahealthyaquatichabitatforplantsandanimals,andthatwillcontinuetoenhancerecreationopportunitiesforthepublic.Inaddition,awaterqualitymodelisbeingdevelopedasapredictivetoolthat,whenutilizedwithmodelsalreadydevelopedforupstreamanddownstreamofthelake,willsimulatehowtheOnondagaLakesystemwillrespondtochangesinnutrientloading,sourcereductions,andwastewatertreatmentplantimprovements.

AscleanupprogramsprogressundertheleadershipoftheOLP,futureexpectationsarebrightforcontinuedimprovementofOnondagaLakeresources.ForadditionalinformationabouttheOLPandrevitalizationprograms,visittheOLPwebsiteatwww.onlakepartners.org.

Photocredit:LakeEffectRunClubPage30 OnondagaLakePartnership

Onondaga Lake Partnership Committees

TheOnondagaLakePartnership(OLP)promotescooperationamongFederal,State,andlocalgovernments,andotherinvolvedpartiesinthemanagementoftheenvironmentalissuesofOnondagaLakeandtheOnondagaLakewatershedintheSyracuse,NewYorkarea.

Executive Committee TheExecutiveCommittee,chairedbyU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,establishesandmaintainsthemissionofthepartnershipandthelakeimprovementeffort.Committeemembersinclude:

• U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers• U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency• NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmental

Conservation• NewYorkStateAttorneyGeneral• OnondagaCounty• CityofSyracuse

Project Committee TheProjectCommittee,chairedbytheNYSDEC,providestechnicalexpertiseforOLPprojectsanddevelopsandmaintainsfundingstrategies.CommitteemembersincluderepresentativesofExecutiveCommitteeagencies,aswellasthe:

• StateUniversityofNewYorkCollegeofEnviromentalScience&Forestry

• U.S.GeologicalSurvey• NewYorkStateCanalCorporation• OnondagaCountySoilandWaterConservation

District• CentralNewYorkRegionalPlanning&

DevelopmentBoard• MetropolitanDevelopmentAssociation

Outreach Committee TheOutreachCommittee,chairedbyOnondagaCounty,workstoenhancepublicknowledgeandunderstandingofthepartnershipandthestatusofthelakeimprovementeffort.CommitteemembersincluderepresentativesofExecutiveCommitteeagencies,aswellasthe:

• IzaakWaltonLeague• AtlanticStatesLegalFoundation• CornellUniversityCooperativeExtension,

OnondagaCounty• StateUniversityofNewYorkCollegeof

EnvironmentalScience&Forestry• OnondagaHistoricalAssociation• CitizensCampaignfortheEnvironment

Figure 29. Fishing on Onondaga LakePhoto source: Onondaga County Parks


Federal, State, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups are working together to improve conditions in Onondaga Lake and its watershed. Additional information about the Onondaga Lake Partnership is available by calling (800) 833-6390, by submitting questions and comments to [email protected], or by visiting the Onondaga Lake Partnership

web site at www.onlakepartners.org.

state of onondaga lake 2010

Documents

state of onondaga lake

onondaga lake partnership

local agencies

nonprofit organizations

citizen groups

following website

additional information