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The Lakes of Westchester County: What We Know & What You Can Do to Help

Scott Kishbaugh Chief, Lake Monitoring and Assessment Section NYSDEC Division of Water 2

Location, Location, Location

Very high population density (PD) Nearly 1 million residents 2nd highest PD outside of NYC ↑ density north to south

Very high lake density (LD) 628 lakes, ponds, Highest LD in state!!! Large area in NYC reservoirs 3

Smaller than the typical NYS lake

All > 500 acre lakes are NYC reservoirs 4

What we won’t talk (much) about….

8 largest ponded waters in county are NYC Reservoirs

NYC management overseen by NYCDEP

Some lakes in NYC watershed subject to NYC watershed regulations 5

What we will talk about (at least a little)

Lakes are expected to support other uses Public bathing Recreation Aquatic life Fish consumption Aesthetics Property values Irrigation, flood control, …. Some of these uses not fully supported 6

Long Ago- Statewide Monitoring Programs

Conservation Department Biological surveys: statewide (1926-1934, 200+ lakes)- general biological condition

Eastern Lakes Survey (ELS): national/regional; statewide (1984-1986, 1700 US lakes, 220 NY lakes)- acid rain

EPA National Eutrophication Study (NES): national; statewide (1972, 26 NY large lakes and reservoirs)- eutrophication

EPA Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP): national; statewide (condition, trends, 1991-1993, 30 NY lakes)- WQ trends

Section 314/Federal Clean Lakes program: national; statewide (public; diagnostic/feasibility/State of Lakes…, late 1970s-1990s; 25 NY lakes) 7

Long (or not so long) Ago- Regional Monitoring Programs

Mohansic Lake Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation (ALSC): regional (1984-1987 in all regions; 1986-1987 high elevation “downstate” lakes)

NYC Reservoirs: Upstate Freshwater Institute, NYCDEP 8

Long Ago Programs in Westchester County Conservation Department Biological surveys: 1936 Lower Hudson- 10 lakes (, Reservoir, Lake Mohegan, Lake Waccabuc, Mohansic Lake, , North Lake, Osceola Lake, Peach Lake, )

Eastern Lakes Survey (ELS): Pocantico Lake

EPA Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP): national; statewide (condition, trends, 1991-1993, 30 NY lakes)- WQ trends: New Croton Reservoir

Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation (ALSC)- 37 lakes 9

Today (more or less) DOW Statewide Programs

LCI- statewide- DEC, 725+ lakes, water quality assessment, 50-75 annual, 1982-1991, 1996-present- Lake Innisfree, Mohansic Lake, Silver Lake, Wampus Lake

CSLAP- statewide- DEC 1986-present; 265+ lakes, 150 annually (FOLA, UFI, ESF,…)- 20 lakes (10 sampled in 2017)

HABs- statewide- DEC 2011-present (DEC, ESF, other partners)- all CSLAP lakes sampled and LCI lakes surveyed for HABs 10

Non-DEC DOW Statewide Programs

NYSDEC DFWMR Bureau of Fisheries: > 1600 lakes and ponds sampled in support of fish stocking and management (limited WQ data)- ~20 Westchester County Lakes

NYSDOH: 350 beaches sampled under BEACH Act (including Atlantic Ocean)

NYSDOH: surface water supplies- 1450 surface source water supplies municipalities and private water purveyors (overseen by DOH)- 15-30 Westchester County Lakes and Reservoirs

OPRHP: statewide: trophic assessment, plant communities of >100 lakes and ponds with NYS Parks system (not including beach monitoring)- FDR and Rockefeller SP 11

Survey says: Two “questionnaires” re lake problems in NY

FOLA 1980s, 1000 lake residents DEC Priority Waterbody List, 2002 1. Rooted aquatic plants 1. Acid rain/pH 2. Excessive boat speed 2. Rooted aquatic plants 3. Algae blooms 3. Algae blooms 4. Poor bottom conditions 4. Swimmers itch 5. Overcrowding 5. Toxics/fish flesh 6. Poor fishing 6. Oxygen deficits 7. Lake level issues 7. Lake level 12 2015 DEC DOW Prioritization of WQ Problems 13 Assessment criteria

Rulebook for evaluating lake uses Compares lake data to water quality standards and guidance values

Water clarity: 4 feet to support safe swimming (NYS Public Health Law) Phosphorus: 20 ppb to protect aesthetics and recreational uses (DEC Guidance Value) Chlorophyll a: 10 ppb to reduce likelihood of blooms (draft DEC guidance value) pH: between 6.5 and 8.5 to support aquatic life (DEC water quality standard) 14

Updated assessments likely in next few years Most lakes unassessed

Impairments associated with NYC reservoirs 15

Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP)

State volunteer lake monitoring program

Run jointly with NYS Federation of Lake Associations

Initiated 1985 with 25 lakes and 150 volunteers—no lake size limits, public and private lakes included

ECL 17-0305 (1988) mandates program 16 Continuous 1986-present

As of 2017: • >30,000 samples at appx. 260 lakes/275 sites • Lakes sampled 1-31 years • >2500 volunteers • 2017– 150 lakes

Program focus on eutrophication

Subsidized program: • State/EPA dedicates >$200k in analytical services, $25k contractual services, $25k shipping, $35k equipment, 0.6 workyears staff time • NYSFOLA lake associations contribute appx. $55k ($350-500 per lake) 17 CSLAP and Westchester County

Peach Lake Bedford Lake Cranberry Lake Blue Heron Lake Lake Kitchawan Katonah Lake Lake Meahagh Lake Lincolndale Plum Brook Lake Lake Oscaleta Shadow Lake Lake Rippowam Shenorock lake Lake Waccabuc Sugar Pond Mohegan Lake Teatown Lake Peach Lake Truesdale Lake Timber Lake Wallace Pond Lake Lincolndale 18

Westchester County Impaired Waters 303d list

Part 1- Lake Katonah, Lake Lincolndale, Lake Meahagh, Lake Mohegan, Lake Shenorock, Silver Lake, Teatown Lake, Truesdale Lake, Wallace Pond

(no Part 2 or Part 3 lakes)

Part 4a (TMDL already completed)- Amawalk Reservoir, , , New Croton Reservoir, Peach Lake, Titicus Reservoir

Part 4c (pollution, not pollutants)- Lake Lincolndale, Lake Meahagh, Lake Mohegan, Lake Shenorock, Peach Lake, Teatown Lake, Truesdale Lake, Wallace Pond 19

Of all the issues plaguing all (some) of the lakes in all (this part) the state…. Harmful algae blooms Invasive Species 20 Breaking it down- “Harmful Algal Bloom”

“Harmful”- cyanobacteria liver, nerve and dermal toxins and other substances affect drinking water, recreation, pets, wildlife, other lakes uses “Algal”- freshwater HABs associated with cyanobacteria (not “algae”) “Bloom” - overabundance of algae- cyanobacteria found in nearly all lakes, but bloom requires dense concentrations

20 21 The Main “Algae” Microcystis (“Mike”) • Unicellular- form late summer to fall • Produces Microcystin and other toxins • Can be highly toxic • Does not fix nitrogen Anabaena (“Annie”) • Filamentous- form in spring/summer • Can produce Microcystin, Anatoxin,..- • “Mid” level toxin • Strong nitrogen fixer (form heterocysts) Aphanizomenon (“Fannie”) • Filamentous- form in spring/summer • Can produce Anatoxin and other toxins • “Low” level toxin • Strong nitrogen fixer (form heterocysts) Oscillatoria (“Ozzie”?) aka Planktothrix • Filamentous- form early and late • Produces Microcystin, Anatoxin,..- • Highly toxic to non-toxic • Moderate nitrogen fixer 21 22

Three Main Toxins Microcystins (-LR and others) • Impacts liver • Produced by Microsystis, Anabaena, Oscillatoria • Most common toxin in New York Anatoxins (-a & -a(S)) • Impacts nerves • Produced by Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Oscillatoria • Potentially fatal to dogs Lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) • Skin irritants and allergens • Produced by most cyanobacteria Others (Cylindrospermopsin, Saxitoxins, Nodularin, BMAA, etc.) 23 How blooms form

10x-1000x concentration at each step of the process 24

HAB sampling challenges Imagine a lake with five possible bloom sampling locations

S1 = mid lake (open water): representative? (S2 = near the bottom in the middle)

S3 = shoreline not used S4 = SE corner, some use S5 = boat launch, heavy use 25 26

Bloom Report and/or Digital Photos Received DEC Bloom Status Designation

Is the bloom in a regulated Yes swimming area? BG Chla ≥ 25 µg/L Collect a &/or cyano SUSPICIOUS sample for No majority; or a BLOOM analysis regulated (if possible) swimming area Is the observer Yes closed a professional? Microcystin BG Chla < 25 ≥ 10 (open water) or Does DEC HABs staff µg/L CONFIRMED No ≥ 20 µg/L (shoreline) determine or non-cyano BLOOM (lay or high risk of other person) descriptions/imagery majority are credible/likely to cyanotoxin exposure be cyanobacteria? CONFIRMED WITH HIGH TOXINS BLOOM based on surveillance NO BLOOM and sampling data No 27

Web Notification (Fridays, May - October)

Map Waterbody Extent of Type of County Status Date Change in Status Number Name bloom Sample 1 Allegheny Chautauqua Confirmed Large 10/7/17 Lab Updated listing Reservoir localized sample 2 Beaver Orange Confirmed Small 10/7/17 Lab Updated listing Dam Lake localized sample 3 Browns Orange Suspicious Widespread/ 10/3/17 Visual No change Pond lakewide report 4 Burden Rensselaer Confirmed Small 9/29/17 Lab No change Lake localized sample 28

HABS in New York 2012-2017

High Year Suspicious Confirmed Total Toxins 2012 18 33 9 60 2013 16 40 21 77 2014 19 54 22 95 2015 37 65 33 135 2016 40 93 38 171 2017 31 90 32 153 12-17 91 154 81 326 29

Is the problem getting worse?

Cumulative # HAB Reports in NYS Waterbodies 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 200

150

100

50

0 end May end June end July end Aug end Sept end Oct 30

63 Common lakes

Year % Lakes HABs 2012 43% 2013 46% 2014 44% 2015 49% 2016 38% 2017 49% 31 Y: The argument for nutrients 32 Y: The argument for nutrients 33

One More Y

Δ Water Δ TP Δ TN Δ Zsd Δ Chl.a Δ N : P Temp No Shore Bloom Year to 0.004 0.00 -0.2 3 -0.1 0.2 Bloom Year Shore Bloom Year to -0.003 -0.07 0.2 -4 -1.2 0.3 No Bloom Year

No Open Bloom Year to 0.009 0.16 -0.3 18 2.6 0.1 Bloom Year Open Bloom Year to -0.018 -0.17 0.4 -18 2.4 -0.5 No Bloom Year 34 35 36

HABs in Westchester County 2012: 3

2013: 8

2014: 8

2015: 7

2016: 12

2017: 6 37 Y (not): The argument against nutrients

Y ? 38 39 40 41 42 43 NYS AIS(P) Frequency

Myriophyllum spicatum- 396 waterbodies Potamogeton crispus- 225 waterbodies Trapa natans- 148 waterbodies Myriophyllum heterophyllum- 75 waterbodies Najas minor- 59 waterbodies Cabomba caroliniana- 45 waterbodies Hydrocharis morsus-ranae- 41 waterbodies Hydrilla verticillata- 24 waterbodies Egeria densa- 17 waterbodies

Total number of infested waterbodies (as of 2016) = >640 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Legislation to permitting: DEC

Permits issued out of DEC regional offices- they enforce regulations Policy established in DEC Albany office based on: • Staffing/expertise • Politics/political philosophy • Priorities/hot issues Individual permit decisions informed by individual regional staffing/ politics / priorities Recipe for inconsistency? DEC Environmental Permit Administrators are on front line 51

Q. What do I do if I see a bloom?

A1. Avoid it! A2. If the lake has a beach, contact the county DOH A3. If you live on a CSLAP lake, contact the sampler

If none of these….. A4. Contact DEC ([email protected] , 518-402-8179) A5. Contact DOH ([email protected]) A6. Look to see if the bloom already reported or sampled (http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/83310.html)

A7,8,9,… Avoid it! 52 Algae control

Physical Barley straw Artificial circulation Hypolimnetic aeration Hypolimnetic withdrawal (Dredging)

Chemical Algacides Inactivants (Precipitants)

Biological Food web manipulation (fish stocking) 53

Which of these Physical needs permits? Barley straw -NOT LEGAL IN NYS Hypolimnetic aeration - Article 15 (Protection of Waters) Hypolimnetic withdrawal - SPDES (Dredging) - Many many many permits Chemical Algacides - Article 15/Part 327 (Pesticides) and Article 17 (DOW) Inactivants (Precipitants) - NOT (YET) LEGAL IN NYS Biological Food web manipulation - Article 11 permit 54 So you find an AIS… Decision trees help guide initial decision-making process Can develop decision trees based on key factors for each infestation: • Management objectives • Efficacy • Logistics • Permitting • Side Effects • Longevity • Cost

How to manage? 55 Aquatic plant control Prevention Do Nothing

Physical Hand removal Benthic barriers Harvesting (cutting) Dredging Coloring agents Drawdown

Chemical Pesticides

Biological Grass carp Weevils 56 Physical Which of these Hand removal -None needed in Region 3 needs permits? Benthic barriers - If wetland, Article 24; if rock used, Article 15 Harvesting (cutting) - If wetland, Article 24 and Article 15 Dredging - Many many many Coloring agents - may require pesticides (Article 15/Part 327) Drawdown - may require Article 15 / Article 24 Chemical Pesticides - Article 15/Part 327 (Pesticides) and Article 17 (DOW) Biological Grass carp, Weevils - Article 11 57 Management actions in Westchester County

- Appx. 2200 grass carp stocked under 110 permits issued since 2015 (765 permits issued in Region 3)

- Appx 300 algaecide (copper) permits issued since 2015

- Appx. 150 aquatic herbicide permits issued since 2015 58 Yet more challenges for lake management

Concerns about non-target impacts Downstream pesticide modeling Enhanced copper testing Uncertainty about some tools Alum / nutrient inactivants Barley straw Other “pesticides” Focus on potable water Budget gaps- state and local 59 What can I do? (in the house)

Reduce water use to take pressure off the septic system

Repair water leaks, get a dual flush toilet and a low flow showerhead

Don’t flush other “stuff” down the sink or toilet- recycle or use the trash, not the drain 60 What can I do? (outside my window)

Reduce your own nutrient footprint- limit lawn fertilization (“a green lawn makes a green lake”), reduce shoreline erosion, plant vegetative buffers

Collect rain in a rain barrel and use it to water your garden and lawn during dry spells

Fight mud- cover bare spaces with mulch, grass or ground cover to reduce erosion 61 What can I do? (on the shore or in the lake)

Maintain your shoreline to limit favorable habitat for AIS

Minimize removal of native plants along shore and within lake

Report anything that looks like a new AIS or harmful algal bloom (and avoid all HABs!)

Look for hydrilla before it finds you….. 62

What more can I do? Stay in communication with your neighbors about HABs (“stay out of that stuff”), AIS, and other lake findings

Let your elected officials know about your concerns

Form a lake association if one doesn’t exist

Volunteer with your lake association to plant shoreline buffers, monitor water quality, pull new AIS, go to town meetings, or whatever else they need

Join NYSFOLA ! 63

What else can I do?

Offer to help local government to find and apply for grants

Ask the town librarian to purchase lake management books

Form a town lake management committee

Invite the town officials to the next (and every other local) lakes meeting 64

What else can I do?

Ask questions?