WATER QUALITY information

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New Watershed Map - Posted at the State Launch and waiting for approval to post at the Public Beach.   The map shows the native planting areas to date.

CSLAP REPORT - 37 years of data.   Overall the lake health has improved.  Chlorophyl is down, Clarity is up, phosphorous is down..  The Ammonia and PH are both up which is concerning.   Overall improvements by a factor of 2!   Correlation can be made that EVERY SINGLE LARGE FARM NOW HAS CONCRETE MANURE LAGOONS,.  Additionally, the native planting projects and education of homeowners/better practices all contribute to better lake health.  (See CSLAP report posted below)

Native Species Plantings -  3 Sites have been identified for Fall and future planting.

JAPANESE KNOT WEED - The sites sprayed last year were rereviewed and will be re-treated where necessary.  Native plants will be used to replant.

Perry Central School Activities  Todd Shuskey and his students will be placed Fyke nets in the lake the week of April 27 to study the health of the fish.  This will be ongoing throughout the summer.

Watercraft Inspection Steward:  The new Steward has started for the 2023 season.

Dredging     A two-pronged effort is underway. A property lease agreement is  being finalized along with a comprehensive dredging plan that will be submitted to DEC  for approval. The goal is to have both efforts in place by mid-year 2023 so that grant applications for the dredging project can be submitted with an eye toward  implementation in fall/winter 2024. There will be a maintenance piece within the dredging plan. There appears to be economic development buy in and there will be opportunities for SLA members to help with area boat tours.

Waterfront Revitalization Project. On January 04, 2023 notification was received that  a Water Resource Agency grant was awarded. The award is for $175k (15% is local  $$s). This is a study grant to develop a comprehensive plan for Silver Lake. The study  area includes the lake, Lake District, and the Outlet. The study scope will include  everything from water quality and watershed issues to economic development, tourism,  and access to the lake along with anything you can think of that benefits/impacts Silver  Lake. The study is expected to take 1.5-2 years to complete and will result in a  comprehensive plan. Once this plan is completed implementation grants will be sought.  A broad-based committee will be established and populated over the next several months. A consultant is also being identified. There will be SLA representation on this committee. This fits in with the Dredging Project.  

Golf Tournament   THE 2023 SLA Water Quality Golf Tournament will be July 22, 2023, at   9:00 am 

Native Species Plantings completed on 10/14/2022 - at the Silver Lake State Park (boat launch)   

LIST OF NATIVE PLANTS USED:  

Tress:  Sycamore, Swamp white oak, red oak, bald cypress, sugar maple

Shrubs:  Silk dogwood, button bush, Nannyberry, Am hazelnut

Perennials:  Wild ageratum, cutleaf coneflower, Joepye weed, hoary skullcap, NY ironweed, wild bergamot, clustered mountain mint

INVASIVE SPECIES MITIGATION - JAPENESE KNOTWEED   - SLA, CLEAN, Wyoming County, along with a small contribution from landowners funded a chemical treatment plan for elimination of this fast-growing invasive species.  The sites identified by SLA were sprayed 3 times and dead plants were removed.  More work in 2023 will be needed to complete this important project.  

Silver Lake Dams:  The Silver Lake Dam leak was repaired.

Perry Central School Activities  Todd Shuskey and his students performed their first gravity corer experiments (50 cm, ~20”)  into the lake bed. These types of samples can be used as a “time machine”, allowing students  to quantify the history of inorganic analytes (e.g., heavy metals, nutrients) and biologicals in  Silver Lake. The first samples are being analyzed at UB and PHS.  Todd and the students plan to carry out deeper core measurements to establish a more  complete time line.  

Watercraft Inspection Steward:  Silver Lake has been fortunate to have a dedicated steward in place at the State Boat launch  for the past several years.  2    Jenelle Grigelevich is serving as this year’s steward. She spoke at the last SLA meeting.  She is scheduled to be on-site from Friday, May 27 through Labor Day weekend (FridayMonday 8:00AM-6:30PM).  We will be giving Jenelle a gift card for all her hard work. 

Dredging  There was an update provided at the 07/21/2022 SLWC meeting. Steve Perkins formerly from the Wyoming County Health Department is still spearheading the efforts and he mentioned that the total project may be expanded to include Eberstein Tract. A $3.2-3.4M estimated budget was mentioned. The effort would be multi-faceted with a combination of in-lake, on nearby land, and off-site sediment relocation/removal. Current effort is centering on securing needed land approvals by Fall ’22 with an eye toward targeting grant funding sources after all arrangements and approvals are in hand. The next step after land approvals is in hand is a comprehensive planning grant submission.  

Golf Tournament 

The 2022 Annual Silver Lake Water Quality Golf Tournament was be held July 30th, 2022at the Silver Lake Country Club.    Proceeds are used to purchase native shrubs and perennials that Association members will plant along a tributary identified by the Wyoming County Soil & Water Conservation District as a problematic run-off location. Native plants help to stem the influx of nutrients and sediment into the lake.  

 THE 2023 SLA Water Quality Golf Tournament will be July 22, 2023, at   9:00 am