August 5, 2019

Re: Waterfront Owner/User Notification Letter for the Use of an Aquatic Herbicide in Don’s Marina, Cayuga Lake, Genoa,

Dear Waterfront Owner/User:

To control and eradicate the aggressive aquatic plant, hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) present in Cayuga Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District proposes to apply the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K (endothall) to an approximately one-acre area near Don’s Marina in the Town of Genoa, New York (see Figure 1 enclosed).

The USACE has identified August 22, 2019 for the treatment, and in the case of inclement weather, a backup date of August 23, 2019 or the first date that weather permits treatment.

Based on the Aquathol Super K product label, there are no water use restrictions associated with the application of the herbicide in quiescent and flowing waters (Cayuga Lake). However, in accordance with the special local need product label, swimming is restricted during the application, and 24-hours following the application in the project area and notification area (within 1/2-mile north and ½-mile south of the marina). There are no restrictions on fishing, boating, or using the water for irrigation. Additionally, there are no restrictions for the use of treated water for watering animals or livestock. As an affected waterfront owner/canal user, you have the right to consent or object to the restrictions of water use resulting from the proposed treatment.

Please refer to the enclosures for additional information regarding the herbicides and the project. Product labels are available for review on Solitude Lake Management’s website: https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/product-labels-new-york-2017. Hard copies of the labels can be requested by contacting Katie Evans at (716) 684-8060 or [email protected].

You have 14 days to respond to this notice. As an affected property owner/water user, you have the right to consent or object to the restrictions of water use resulting from the proposed treatment. If you wish to object to the proposed treatments, please file a written document stating your objection to the proposed treatment and the water use restrictions resulting from the treatment. Lack of comment will be considered consent to the treatment and water use restrictions.

Please send your comments to the person listed below:

Katie Evans Ecology and Environment, Inc. 368 Pleasant View Drive Lancaster, NY, 14086 (716) 684-8060

For additional information about the treatment or if you have for questions regarding the project, please contact:

Michael Greer USACE Buffalo District (716) 879-4229 [email protected] Project Location

Don's Marina Water Sample Locations 8/2019 Hydrilla Treatment Area Treatment Plot 8/2019 0 0.075 0.15 0.3 Miles ³

Cayuga County Health Department Hydrilla – Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Endothall

Health and safety questions for Genoa residents and visitors regarding the application of endothall to treat Hydrilla

As part of an effort to eradicate Hydrilla from Cayuga Lake, the United States Army Corps of Engineers will be treating a patch of Hydrilla located near Don’s Marina in the Town of Genoa with endothall. The application is planned to occur on only one day in the middle of August.

Endothall is an herbicide primarily used to control underwater plants including the rapidly growing, invasive plant species Hydrilla. The herbicide damages the cells of susceptible plants at the point of contact. It is selective in the sense that some plants show greater susceptibility to endothall treatment than others; for example, hydrilla is very susceptible and elodea, a common native plant is not. Endothall kills the growing green vegetation that it contacts in the water by disrupting photosynthesis.

Endothall will be used in a granular form (trade name Aquathol Super K) to treat a small patch of Hydrilla in Cayuga Lake near Don’s Marina in the Town of Genoa by a New York State certified pesticide applicator. A map of the treatment area is attached. Property owners located within ½ mile north and within ½ mile south of Don’s Marina, referred to in this document as the notification area, will be sent information about the application by the Army Corps.

There is one public water system intake in the notification area. Although no impacts are anticipated, the users of this system, Atwater Association, will be advised, as a precautionary measure, not to drink the water during and after the chemical application until samples collected by the Army Corps in consultation with the Health Department show that the pesticide is not detected in their drinking water. This treatment is not expected to impact public water system intakes in other parts of the lake.

According to information provided by the applicator, the chemical will be applied below the water surface to create a concentration of up to 3 parts-per-million (ppm) or less in the vicinity of the Hydrilla plants. Due to the water mixing and dilution, the concentration will be reduced to a much lower level by the next day. Additionally, endothall has a half-life of up to 8 days in aquatic environments indicating it will also naturally degrade as it dissipates in the lake.

1. Does the Aquathol Super K label have restrictions on swimming and water use during treatment? People should not swim in the treatment and/or notification area until the day after Aquathol Super K is applied. This is to allow for adequate mixing of the product in the water. There are no restrictions on fishing, boating, or using the water for irrigation. Additionally, there are no restrictions for use of the treated water for watering animals or livestock.

1/2 Cayuga County Health Department

www.cayugacounty.us/health Last updated August 1, 2019

2. If I draw my water directly from the lake, will my water be safe to drink during the application of endothall? Regardless of whether endothall is applied to areas of Cayuga Lake, the New York State Department of Health advises that people should never drink untreated surface water (water that is drawn from the lake, at any depth) under any circumstances. Untreated surface water might contain bacteria, parasites, viruses, and harmful algal blooms. These contaminants can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with health issues are at higher risk from symptoms associated with these contaminants. People should never use untreated lake water for drinking, making ice, washing produce, preparing foods, making baby formula, or washing dishes. Users of the public water system operated by Atwater Association will be advised, as a precautionary measure, not to drink the water during and after the chemical application until samples collected by the Army Corps in consultation with the Health Department show that the pesticide is not detected in their drinking water.

3. If I draw my water directly from the lake, will my water be safe to shower or bathe with during the application of endothall? People in the treatment and/or notification area should not use lake water for showering or bathing until the day after Aquathol Super K is applied.

4. How can I find out when the endothall is being applied? Assuming that weather will not be a problem, it is anticipated that endothall will be applied to the water on August 22nd. Check the Cayuga County Health Department website at the following link: http://www.cayugacounty.us/467/Hydrilla for updated information.

5. How long is the endothall treatment period? It is anticipated that endothall will be applied only once this summer at this location. Treatment may need to be continued at this site for a number of years to fully ensure Hydrilla eradication.

6. Where can I find out more about endothall? For more information about endothall and the environment, please see the following links:  https://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/plants/factsheets/EndothallFactSheet.pdf  http://ccetompkins.org/environment/aquatic-invasives/hydrilla/management- options/herbicides/endothall/endothall-faq

For questions regarding Hydrilla in Cayuga Lake:  Please contact the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (FL- PRISM) at 315-781-4385 http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/

For questions regarding the pesticide application:  Please contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 Pesticide Office at 315-426-7400

2/2 Cayuga County Health Department

www.cayugacounty.us/health Last updated August 1, 2019

For questions regarding public health:  Please contact the Cayuga County Health Department at 315-253-1560 http://www.cayugacounty.us/health

To find out how you, your family, community group or school can help look for and report Hydrilla around Cayuga Lake:  Please contact the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network 607-319-0475 or email [email protected]  More information is available at: http://www.cayugalake.org/

3/2 Cayuga County Health Department

www.cayugacounty.us/health Last updated August 1, 2019