Cazenovia Lake

Cazenovia Lake
A Use & Care Manual
Cazenovia Area Community Development
Association, Inc. (CACDA) is a community-based
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that was formed
to provide full time assistance for local governments
and stakeholders. Our mission is to enhance economic
vitality and preserve the rural, historic character of our
region through education, consensus-building, and
project implementation.
We bring people together to learn about important
topics, like protecting Cazenovia Lake, then help locate
funding for key projects. Since 2005 CACDA has been
instrumental in leveraging more than $1,090,000 for
community initiatives.
Educate • Build Consensus • Implement
August 2007
Cazenovia Lake is a precious resource that needs protection. A healthy
lake is critical for maintaining a healthy community. Everyone who lives
within the watershed and nearby areas is ultimately responsible for how
well the lake survives. If each individual changes just one behavior in
favor of this important source of recreation and wildlife, it will make a
tremendous difference for the future of the lake and the entire region.
You are encouraged to utilize the practical information provided by this
manual and to supplement it with other materials that can be found
in the reference list. We hope you enjoy learning about Cazenovia Lake
and thank you for helping to preserve it.
arbara Henderson
B
Executive Director
Cazenovia Area Community Development Association
2
Acknowledgments
Publication of this manual was made possible in part by a donation
from the Central New York Community Foundation’s Spanfelner and
General Funds. The Community Foundation has served the Syracuse-area
community since 1927, receiving, managing, and distributing charitable
funds to not-for-profit organizations in Onondaga and Madison Counties.
The Foundation has more than $117 million in assets and awards nearly
$5 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations annually.
Additional funding was generously provided by:
J. Howland Auchincloss
Cazenovia Jewelry
Cazenovia Lake Association
Cazenovia Lake Foundation
Bob & Bobbie Constable
Ann S. Cross & Jack B. Rooney
Ann Hartt-Barbey
adison County (through
M
the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario
Watershed Protection Alliance)
Oneida Savings Bank / Bailey,
Haskell & LaLonde Insurance
Cindy Sutton
Linda Witherill
Special thanks to the Cazenovia Lake Association, for its support and
technical assistance, and to Scott Ingmire, Madison County Planning, for
providing maps and other essential data.
Appreciation is extended to the following people: Kristi Andersen, Roger
Cook, Robert Dubik, Jim Dungey, Preston Gilbert, Robert Kukenberger,
Elizabeth Moran, Tom Mullarney, Dave Ryan, Eric Schnabl, Sharye Skinner,
Larry Wetzel, and Robert Wondrack.
Project coordination, including contents and distribution, was
thoughtfully and effectively managed by Eric and Susie Johnson, Johnson
Communications.
Design and layout was provided by Kevin Mann, Camp Design.
Project administration was handled by CACDA staff.
We have decided not to copyright this material. If any of the information in
this booklet is helpful to those trying to preserve the water quality of their lake,
please feel free to use it.
Table of Contents
A Snapshot of Cazenovia Lake...................................3
The Lake Today...................................................................6
The Lake Tomorrow?. ................................................... 10
A “Do” & “Don’t” List................................................ 12
Phosphorus—a Weed’s Best Friend...................... 14
Septic Systems from Top to Bottom..................... 18
“A Hard Rain Is Gonna Fall”................................... 24
Pesticides More Threatening Than Pests............ 30
Weeds Be Gone!............................................................... 34
P-s-s-t…DON’T Pass It On!.................................... 38
All Aboard for Better Boating.................................. 40
Hooked on the Lake. .................................................... 44
It’s the Law!. ....................................................................... 48
What Can We Do?.......................................................... 51
Appendix:
Recommended Trees and Shrubs
for Cazenovia Lake Shoreline.................................. 53
Law Briefs: Town and Village................................... 62
Additional Resources.................................................... 72
Glossary................................................................................ 75
4
10’
10’
20’
Cazenovia Lake
30’
Surface Area:1,150 acres
(1.8 square miles)
Maximum Width:
.75 miles
Length:
4 miles
Maximum Depth:
46 feet
45’
Watershed Area:5,500 acres
(8.6 square miles)
Watershed Population: 1,600 households
(approx.)
Depth in feet
5
Map courtesy of Madison County Planning
40’
Your Guide to
Cazenovia Lake
Cazenovia Lake needs your help, and the clock is ticking.
The lake is critical for maintaining a vibrant community, but
it is not always clear what each of us can do to keep it healthy.
We are often unaware of the consequences, good and bad, of our
choices and actions.
For centuries, the clear lake that Native Americans called
Owahgena—Lake of the Yellow Perch—has supplied drinking
water, recreation, sport, and a hard-to-define attraction that makes
us pause whenever we catch a glimpse of its ever-changing surface.
For decades the lake has spurred the local economy by attracting
visitors and enhancing real estate values, regardless of proximity to
the shoreline.
But the lake is changing as a result of both natural and human
influences. Natural changes to the lake creep along over centuries,
much too slowly for humans to easily recognize. This aging process,
called eutrophication, is often thrown into “fast forward” by choices
we make and actions we take.
Within the lifetime of many local residents, homes have almost
filled the once abundant patches of open space around the lake.
Seasonal camps have been winterized, multiplying the year-round
lakeside population. Increasing residential development within the
lake watershed has accelerated the aging process, as more and more
land has been covered with pavement and other impervious surfaces
11
that do not allow rain or melting snow to be absorbed into the soil.
This increases the amount of harmful substances and nutrient-rich
runoff that enters and damages the lake. Higher numbers of septic
systems also increase the risk for harming the lake. There are other
dangers too.
Anyone who spends time on or in the water has probably
experienced the rapid growth of Eurasian Watermilfoil. This nonnative aquatic plant often reaches the surface and forms thick
mats that clog boat propellers and make swimming and other
water sports nearly impossible. Nutrients also stimulate the growth
of algae. Algal blooms lessen the lake’s visual appeal and may
eventually pose a risk to lake users and the lake ecosystem. Certain
types of algae can release toxins into the waters. In addition, as algae,
watermilfoil, and other plants decay, oxygen in the water is used up,
depleting the supply available for fish and other aquatic organisms.
This human-induced or “cultural” eutrophication is complex
and takes many forms. It can devastate a lake as small as ours in a
relatively short time. But while it threatens Cazenovia Lake with
accelerated degradation, there is some good news: because we are
responsible for the degradation, we can help cure it by changing a
few important behaviors.
The Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, Inc.
recognizes the importance of Cazenovia Lake to the futures of area
homeowners and businesses. Although much of this information has
been well presented before, our goal is to package it in an easy-touse format. We hope that you, particularly watershed residents, will
keep this handbook in a conspicuous place and consult it often as
your “how-to manual” for living in harmony with Cazenovia Lake.
If each reader makes one or two significant changes as a result of
this small book, it will have paid for itself many times over.
22
A Snapshot of
Cazenovia Lake
On some winter days it’s not difficult to imagine Cazenovia
being covered by a glacier. This happened during parts of the
Pleistocene Epoch that ended about10,000 years ago. As the
glaciers slowly ground their way south, they gouged valleys
through the landscape often hundreds of feet deep. When the
glaciers melted and receded to the north, lakes like ours were
formed in the troughs left behind.
Had nature alone been responsible, Cazenovia Lake would
have been smaller than it is today. In the mid-1850s, humans
began influencing the lake by building a dam near its outlet into
Chittenango Creek to create a reservoir for the Erie Canal. As
the water backed up behind the dam, the widest part of the lake’s
natural basin (what is now the south end) expanded and spread
northward submerging lowlands on the valley floor. The lake
eventually reached a surface area of about 1,150 acres, or almost
two square miles.
The water in Cazenovia Lake comes from a number of sources,
including water falling directly from the sky as rain or snow,
runoff from land and paved surfaces within the watershed, streams
flowing into the lake, several wetlands around the lake, and
“ground” water slowly seeping into the lake from its cradle of soil
and rock.
3
Cazenovia Lake’s watershed is loosely defined as all the land
area that drains water into the lake. The total watershed area is
about 5,500 acres, or 8.6 square miles. The
watershed is broader on the east side of the
lake. It extends to the ridge line that runs
During a 1-inch
north to south just east of Ridge Road. On
rainfall, nearly 30
the west, the watershed is generally defined
million gallons of
by the hills above NYS Route 92. The slightly
water fall directly
sloped watershed area north of the lake is
into Cazenovia
larger than the south drainage area. Within
Lake. That much
the watershed, land use is characterized as
water would
residential, pasture, forest, agricultural, and
fill nearly 1,000
wetland.
railroad tank cars.
The most important thing to remember
is that every drop of water that enters the
watershed as rain or snow (and doesn’t
evaporate or isn’t absorbed by plants and trees) eventually makes
its way into the lake, carrying all kinds of extra passengers with
it: soil from excavations, rubber dust from tires, livestock and pet
waste, septic system leakage, fertilizers and chemicals from our
lawns, road salt…the list is long and sometimes scary. So even if
you can’t see the lake from your home or place of business, if you
live or work within the watershed, you contribute your share of
what reaches the lake. As a result, any attempts to make the lake
healthier must be applied throughout the entire watershed, as well
as the area close to the lakeshore.
4
TH
PE
R
D
FALLS RD
KE
N LA
RD
EL
13
E
AK
LA
RD
W
KE
RD
BINGLEY RD
92
RD
POMPEY HOLLOW
FORMAN ST
FE
FEN NE R ST
MILL ST
13
ER
NN
E
CH
N
NA
GO
13
EAST R D
ST
20
Legend
Cazenovia Lake Watershed
Cazenovia Lake
Map courtesy of Madison County Planning
Roads
Streams
5
RD
The Lake Today
Lakes, if left alone, go through a natural aging process called
eutrophication that happens over hundreds, even thousands of
years. It is natural for lakes to accumulate silt, soil, and organic
matter and to grow shallower as they age. When this occurs, the
level of dissolved nutrients in the water also increases. As nutrient
levels rise, plant growth is encouraged.
Young lakes, often deep, clear, and very low in nutrients,
are called oligotrophic. Middle-aged lakes (mesotrophic) have
accumulated some silt and have higher nutrient levels that support
more active plant growth. Older lakes (eutrophic) tend to be
shallower, warmer, and loaded with nutrients that support lush
plant growth. Water in eutrophic lakes becomes murky and, as
the plants begin to decay in late summer, bacteria in the water
that feed on the decaying plants consume oxygen. The lake is then
unable to adequately support fish or other marine animals.
So where is Cazenovia Lake on this nutrient-driven aging
scale? Limnologists, or scientists who study lakes, rank it as
being somewhere near middle age—mesotrophic or moderately
productive. This classification is common for lakes that typically
support a wide variety of recreational uses. However, that is only
part of the story.
As a natural process, eutrophication can be very slow, but when
human activities dramatically increase the amount of nutrients
6
Evaporation
Rain
Rain
Water Table
The Cazenovia Lake watershed has an annual budget of “inflow” and “outflow”
like a family or municipal government, but instead of dollars, it’s measured in
gallons. The amount of water that enters the watershed through rain or snow, minus
the amount that evaporates or is used by plants and trees, equals the “water budget.”
flowing into the lake, the rate of aging can accelerate markedly.
This human-induced eutrophication can cause noticeable change
in a relatively short time.
Since the mid-1980s, local volunteers, led by the Cazenovia
Lake Association, have taken part in the Citizens Statewide Lake
Assessment Program (CSLAP) and have regularly tested various
aspects of Cazenovia Lake’s water quality. CSLAP’s goal is to
develop a comprehensive database that will help identify trends,
either positive or negative, in the lake’s water quality.
CSLAP teams measure many important variables throughout
the spring, summer, and fall. They check water clarity and color,
and whether it is acid, neutral, or alkaline. Chlorophyll-a levels,
which are important indicators of algal growth, and conductivity,
whether the water is “soft” or “hard,” also are measured.
77
A black and white “Secchi disk” is used to measure Cazenovia Lake’s clarity.
Increases in algae growth and leafy weeds reduce clarity.
Perhaps the most important measurement in fresh-water lakes is
the amount of specific nutrients present—especially phosphorus.
In fresh water, phosphorus is one of the major nutrients needed for
plant growth. The phosphorus levels in Cazenovia Lake support
abundant plant growth, making it a moderately productive lake.
The lake’s retention period, the average time it takes for the lake
to flush and renew itself, is relatively slow—more than 2 1/2 years.
Since Cazenovia Lake’s retention time is longer, more nutrients can
accumulate. This gives aquatic plants and algae the nourishment
they need to bloom and flourish, assuming there is enough
sunlight and that nutrients continue to be added.
Seasonal changes, including a process called lake “turnover,” also
affect nutrient levels. Many lakes, including parts of Cazenovia
Lake, stratify in summer with a layer of warm, less dense water
on the surface and a layer of cooler water on the bottom. As water
temperatures change during the fall and spring, the layers “turn
over” or mix from top to bottom. In relatively shallow lakes like
ours, wind also mixes the water. When the layers mix in the spring,
nutrients including phosphorus that are stored in the sediment on
8
the lake bottom can be stirred up and fertilize algal blooms and
aquatic plants. In addition, deepwater phosphorus levels within
the lake are substantially higher than those measured at the lake
surface in the south basin. This is a result
of nutrient release from bottom sediments.
Careful monitoring of the lake has
documented reduced oxygen levels during
the summer.
The CSLAP teams also track perceptions
of the lake’s water quality, aquatic plant
and weed growth, as well as recreational
suitability. Although water clarity measured
better than normal in 2006, water quality
assessments were less favorable than usual.
That might have been the result of aquatic
plant densities—the highest ever recorded
by CSLAP. The recreational assessments
of Cazenovia Lake were less favorable in
2006 than in any previous season and were
associated with weed growth.
The lacy leaves of Eurasian
Cazenovia Lake is still a spectacular body
Watermilfoil, nourished by excess
of water. New York State continues to rate
phosphorus, clog boat propellers
and make swimming difficult.
it as “Class A,” a lake fit to be a source of
drinking water if it is properly treated. It is
also a lake that continues to attract visitors and
new residents to its watershed, which boosts
property values and business incomes at the same time. We are
fortunate to have this resource, but there are aspects of the lake we
cannot ignore if we want to restore and protect it for the future.
9
The Lake
Tomorrow?
Lake ecology is the study of how plants and animals (including
humans) within a lake and its watershed relate to each other. It
is a complex field that requires mastery of chemistry, biology,
geology, physics, weather, and, at times, even human behavior. The
overall principle is simple—given time, communities of plants and
animals establish a balance with each other, creating a more or
less regular rhythm until one or more of the variables change. For
instance, if a lake’s water temperature stays within a few degrees
of normal, along with other variables, the chances are that fish
and plant populations will stay about the same, too. That is why
natural systems within lakes tend to stabilize over a long period.
But if something upsets the stability, the results can be dramatic.
As an example, if, for some reason, water clarity were to improve
rapidly, then sunlight would reach deeper into the lake and aquatic
plants would probably start growing earlier in the season and
more vigorously. When zebra mussels began thriving in Lake Erie,
the water clarity began to improve because the mussels feed by
filtering tiny algae particles called phytoplankton from the water.
That may be what is happening in Cazenovia Lake, because of the
zebra mussels, a native of Asia’s Caspian Sea that originally hitched
a ride to the Great Lakes in the bilges of ocean-going ships.
10
A single zebra mussel may filter as much as a quart of water
each day, and a single square yard of lake bottom may be home to
70,000 or so mussels. The change in water clarity brought about
by the addition of this non-native species can trigger a whole
string of changes or damage in other parts of the ecological system
that have not been realized yet.
In such a relatively small ecological
system as Cazenovia Lake, even
small variations in conditions within
the watershed can cause important
changes to the lake. It comes as no
surprise that the sources of these
changes are most often the daily
When zebra
actions of those of us who live in the
mussels feed on the
watershed. Threats to Cazenovia Lake are
phytoplankton they
numerous and the results still impossible
filter from the lake
to predict, but if we can reduce the
water they make
known threats, lake ecologists and
life more difficult
area residents could perhaps feel more
for the lake’s fish
comfortable about the near future.
population because
In the next few sections you will learn
fish larvae also rely
about some immediate threats as well as
on phytoplankton
effective and relatively inexpensive ways
for food.
you can help mitigate those concerns.
Most of these threats are not that new,
and neither are the remedies. One new
critical element needed is a shift in thinking that moves the
condition of Cazenovia Lake nearer the top of residents’ and
governments’ long-term “to-do” lists. Along with that reordering
of priorities throughout the watershed must come the willingness
to spend more time, energy, and money to accomplish the goals
listed here.
11
11
Do . . .
Do remember…a healthy lake means a vibrant community for all.
Do think about how every action you take affects the lake.
Do test your soil before fertilizing.
Do use only phosphorus-free fertilizers.
Do use non-phosphorus dishwasher detergent.
Do have your septic system inspected regularly.
Do plant buffer strips of native plants to decrease runoff.
Do keep hard, impervious surfaces to a minimum.
Do keep toxic chemicals out of septic systems and off your lawn.
Do use natural methods to keep your lawn healthy.
Do treat insect and plant pests with the least toxic method.
Do remove floating watermilfoil fragments from the lake regularly.
Do clean your boat and trailer when going to or from other lakes.
Do use common sense and courtesy while boating.
Do operate your boat so as not to endanger others.
Do use bilge “socks” or “pillows” to keep oil and
gas out of the lake.
Do familiarize yourself with, then obey, Town and Village laws.
o check with the Town or Village before digging or
D
disturbing vegetation.
Do treat the lake like it belongs to you.
12
12
Don’t . . .
Don’t forget…everyone in the watershed plays a role in the lake’s health.
Don’t underestimate the damage done by phosphorus entering the lake.
Don’t stress your septic system by using too much water.
Don’t use a garbage disposal if you are on a septic system.
Don’t pour additives into your septic tank. They do more
harm than good.
Don’t plant trees or drive over your leach field.
Don’t let soil or pollutants flow into the lake from your property.
Don’t use thawing salt unless it’s absolutely necessary!
Don’t pollute your well water by letting your septic system fail.
Don’t build patios or other paved surfaces without checking
with the Town or Village first.
Don’t use storms drains as chemical dumps.
Don’t throw grass clippings into the water, wetlands, or drainage ditches.
Don’t apply chemicals to kill Eurasian Watermilfoil. It’s against the law.
Don’t drain your boat’s bilge water into the lake.
Don’t drive your boat more than 5 miles an hour within 100 feet of
shore or swimming areas.
Don’t forget…everyone must pass a New York State safety course to
operate a jet ski.
Don’t “hotdog” jet skis in shallow water.
Don’t risk a fine or jail term by violating Town or Village lake laws.
1313
Phosphorus—
A Weed’s Best
Friend
Our bodies need small amounts of phosphorus daily to remain
healthy, but Cazenovia Lake is getting too much of it.
Phosphorus, in the form of phosphates, is a powerful fertilizer.
It feeds both algae, the microscopic green plants that can cloud
our lake, and leafy green aquatic plants like
Eurasian Watermilfoil, the non-native species
that has become the lake’s #1 nuisance plant
during the spring and summer. If more
Did you know that
phosphorus is available, there will be more
Cazenovia Lake has a
algae and leafy weeds, or macrophytes.
two-and-a-half year
When algae and macrophytes die, they fall
retention time? That
to the bottom of the lake and decompose
means that pollutants
with the help of bacteria. The process uses
that flow into the
large amounts of oxygen—oxygen needed
lake remain in the
by fish and other marine animals. At the
lake that long before
same time, the phosphorus from dead algae
they are flushed out
and plants accumulates in the sediment on
and stop causing
the lake bottom, ready to nourish more algae
damage.
and plants the following year.
There are natural sources of phosphorus,
but we can’t blame Mother Nature for
Cazenovia Lake’s nutrient problem. Virtually all the excess
phosphorus that finds its way into the lake comes from human
activities like failing septic systems and lawn fertilizers. There also
14
15
are some agricultural sources within the watershed. Any fertilizer
that encourages grass or flowers to grow will also spur weed and
algal growth when it reaches the lake, and we all know the saying
about the grass always being greener above the septic tank.
You can tell the phosphorus content of
fertilizers by looking at the product’s “grade,”
the three numbers appearing prominently
on the container. The first number tells
you the percentage of nitrogen in the
mix, the middle number the percentage
of phosphorus, and the third number
the amount of potash or potassium. So
in a 100-pound bag of 5-10-5 fertilizer,
there would be five pounds of available
nitrogen, 10 pounds of phosphorus,
and five pounds of potash. In a
watershed like ours where phosphorus
is the most important nutrient to
control, residents should concentrate
on using non-phosphorus fertilizer, or at
least keeping that middle number low. The fact is you may save
money (and help save the lake and its feeder streams) by not using
any fertilizer. Many soils have enough phosphorus for a healthylooking lawn, and additional phosphorus will not make it grow
any better. It will, however, give a boost to algae and weeds in the
lake. For this reason, many lake associations promote a voluntary
pledge to refrain from applying phosphorus fertilizers on shoreline
properties. The key is a relatively inexpensive soil test that tells
you which nutrients your soil needs for plant or grass species.
For information on soil tests call or visit the Cornell Cooperative
Extension in Morrisville. (655.2075 or 315.684.3001;
www.cce.cornell.edu/madison)
16
Some agricultural practices contribute phosphorus to the
watershed. When manure is spread on farm fields during the
winter or early spring, nitrogen and phosphorus content in the
resulting runoff has been shown to be up to 15 times higher
than normal. Some states, like Vermont and Maine, have limited
the practice. In the winter, riparian buffer zones, or areas along
the edge of lakes, don’t absorb these pollutants. Research has
confirmed that planting the same crop year after year on the
same land increases the need for fertilizers and pesticides, so crop
rotation is recommended.
Although phosphorus was banned in laundry products,
detergents used in dishwashers continue to be a source of this
nutrient. Some dishwasher detergents may contain as much as
15% phosphorus, although some states limit it to less. There are
several brands of non-phosphate dishwasher detergent on the
market that do a good job of getting dishes and glassware clean
without feeding the algae and watermilfoil. They are available
in the area at Natur-Tyme, the Nature’s Marketplace section of
Wegmans, other grocery stores, or online.
17
Septic Systems
from Top to
Bottom
Septic systems, also known as on-site wastewater treatment
systems, are what most Town of Cazenovia residents within the
lake watershed rely on to properly treat their household waste. It’s
a vital, but often overlooked, part of your residence. System failures
can affect the lake, your water supply, your health, and your
checking account.
In simple terms, a septic system includes a tank that
accumulates and separates household wastes, and a leach field to
filter wastewater and pollutants. The entire system depends on
beneficial bacteria to consume much of the waste. Assuming it is
properly built, inspected, and maintained, a septic system should
last 20 to 25 years without flushing bacteria and nutrients, like
phosphorus, into the watershed or directly into the lake.
The system’s tank portion must be properly sized to store waste
at peak periods when everyone is showering and flushing at the
same time. Sewage flowing from the house enters the tank and
lighter materials float to the top as a layer of scum. The heavier
solids, or sludge, settle to the bottom. The wastewater in the
middle is passed into the leach field while a set of baffles restricts
the flow of scum and sludge. Tanks, which are sized according to
the number of bathrooms and the number of people using them,
must be able to hold the liquid portion for 24 hours before passing
18
Septic
Tank
Water
Supply
Well
Interceptor
Leach
Field
Soil absorption
Water Table
purified effluent
reaches water table
Cover
Manhole
locate stake
Ground
Level
inlet
Scum
Baffle
Sludge
outlet
Liquid
Level
19
Septic systems efficiently digest and treat the waste we generate in our homes, but they
require care, maintenance, and regular inspection to work correctly. Otherwise, they may
contaminate both well water and runoff into the lake watershed.
it on to the leach field. The sludge is slowly digested by a colony of
bacteria and eventually flows into the leach field.
The leach field is a collection of perforated pipes laid in
gravel-lined trenches. Liquid from the tank is distributed to the
pipes, then flows into the surrounding gravel and soil around
the pipes, which filters out any remaining solids. Bacteria in the
soil neutralize other contaminants. However, if the leach field
becomes saturated, it stops functioning and contaminated liquid
can reach the surface or seep into the lake with ground water.
Untreated wastewater that reaches the lake can have more serious
consequences, as well, since some residents continue to use the
20
lake for drinking water. Contaminated liquids
can also seep into your own well water.
About 40% of the
All residents within the lake watershed
water entering
should keep their…noses…open to the unique
the septic system
odor of raw sewage. We all know what it
is flushed down
smells like and the faintest sniff should alert
the toilet; 30% is
us to the possibility of a failing septic system
from baths and
within the neighborhood. It should also trigger
showers, 15%
an immediate call to the Madison County
from laundry;
Department of Health at 315.366.2361.
10% from the
Septic tanks require regular inspection and
kitchen, and 5%
pumping to keep them operating effectively.
can be classed as
A Town of Cazenovia law requires every
miscellaneous.
homeowner within 500 feet of the lake to have
their septic system inspected and pumped every
five years, or whenever the property changes
hands. Some proponents are seeking the same rule for every
household within the watershed.
Homeowners can
make sure they are
getting the greatest
benefit from their
15%
Laundry
septic systems by giving
them some tender
10%
loving care. This can
30%
Kitchen
reduce their treatment
Bathing
5% Misc.
costs and also ensure
they aren’t contributing
excess nutrients to the
40%
lake or contaminants to
Toilet
their drinking water.
21
21
TLC for Your
Septic System
The best way to extend the life of your septic system is to conserve
water and not overload the system. Fix leaks
and drips around the house, and gradually
replace existing fixtures with commonly
available “low flow” versions.
If you overload the system with wastewater,
you run the risk of causing a failure. If
everyone is using water early in the morning,
make sure you operate washing machines and
dishwashers later in the day.
Conserve water. Take shorter showers instead
of baths. Check for leaks. Even a small leak can
waste 20 gallons of water daily, or 600 gallons
a month—all of it helping to stress your septic
tank.
It is a good policy not to use a garbage
disposal. Sending more solids to the tank leaves
less room for sludge and shortens the time
between pumpings.
22
If it won’t dissolve in water, throw it in the trash. Paper towels,
disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and tampons don’t belong in
septic tanks. Oil and fat don’t mix with septic systems either.
DRAIN
XXX
Use harsh bleaches, drain cleaners, detergents,
and other household solvents very sparingly.
Pesticides, paint thinners, and automotive
additives don’t belong in a septic system.
Contact your local recycling center (655.2882)
to find out how to properly dispose of the
chemicals.
DRAIN
XXX
There is no need for additives in your septic
system. These products can disrupt the scum
and sludge layers and actually cause clogging of
the leach field pipes.
Limit any planting over the leach field
to grass. Tree roots can clog distribution
pipes and damage the system. The gravel
around the distribution pipes allows air
to evaporate some of the water. Adding
more topsoil or other materials would
prevent it from “breathing.”
Do not drive cars or trucks over the
leach field. Heavy weights can compact
the soil and damage the system.
A licensed professional should pump all the waste out of your
septic tank every two to five years. The bigger your family, the more
often the tank needs cleaning and a thorough inspection.
23
“A Hard Rain Is
Gonna Fall”
The Cazenovia Lake watershed is a magnet for people and
development. The lake’s clear waters, attractive shoreline, wealth of
recreational opportunities, and steadily rising land and home values
continue to attract a new breed of settler, but
it is a two-edged sword.
With development come changes that
In some parts of
alter the natural landscape and threaten the
Cazenovia Lake’s
attributes that attracted people in the first
north basin, silt
place. Most development brings “hardscapes”
has accumulated
instead of landscapes. New roads, roofs,
up to six feet in
parking lots, sidewalks, driveways, patios, and
depth. Silting is
porches are impervious surfaces that compel
part of the natural
rainwater to cascade downhill instead of
aging of a lake,
soaking into the soil.
but human activity
has undoubtedly
As gravity pulls the runoff toward
accelerated
Cazenovia Lake it accelerates, causing more
the process
erosion and picking up more unwanted
dramatically. Most
baggage in the form of soil particles, excess
of the runoff into
nutrients like phosphorus, petroleum
the lake is topsoil—
byproducts, agricultural chemicals and
topsoil that creates
wastes, pesticides, pet waste, even rubber dust
a fertile ground for
from car and truck tires, and carries it toward
weed growth.
the lake. It’s also important to remember
that eroded soil accumulates as silt on the
24
It all runs Downhill
Bag it now or swim in it
Lawn waste ends up downstream where
it pollutes lakes and streams. Worst
offenders: leaves and grass clippings
that move from yard to street to sewer
to water.
Thar’s oil
in them
driveways
A sloppy oil change
puts oil on driveways
and eventually into
lakes and streams.
Grab a Broom
Fertilizer can end up
washing into the lake
where it fuels hamful
algal blooms.
Good Dog,
Bad Owner
Dogs have to “go”
but owners don’t have
to let those droppings
wash off into the
street. Bag it and
dispose
of properly.
Ode to O2
Decaying
organic
matter releases
phosphorus,
which increases
algae growth.
That blocks
sunlight from
reaching oxygen
producing
plants.
Think of
the Fish
Leaves, grass,
and dog
droppings end
up polluting
their lake and
stream habitat.
A nice
glass of…
yard
waste?
Some residents
get their drinking
water from the
lake. Runoff from
yards and streets
threatens that
water supply.
Minnesota DNR, “Lakescaping for Wildlife” and Water Quality
lake bottom and can harm fish and other aquatic species. Streams,
storm sewers, and drainage ditches catch the runoff and channel
it around our homes until it ultimately deposits its harmful load
in the lake or streams that feed the lake. There are ways around it,
however.
To some watershed residents, the perfect view is a wide expanse
of lawn sloping gently down to the shore or one of the streams
25
Lakeside residents can plant effective buffer zones to reduce runoff and still enjoy
sparkling lake views by using low shrubs and trees with higher crowns.
that feeds Cazenovia Lake. To lake ecologists and water quality
experts, that’s exactly what residents should not want to see. In the
long term, this “perfect” view damages the lake and eventually will
erode property values.
When the land leading down to the lake (or streams feeding
the lake) is covered with typical lawn grass, or hard surfaces like
asphalt or concrete, pollutants and nutrients spill into the lake
nearly unimpeded. The riparian or shoreline zone should be
looked at as a final barrier, not a wide open door to substances
that can ruin Cazenovia Lake. Simple shoreline buffer zones using
native vegetation that slow down the runoff and help it soak into
the ground are one answer. (See pages 29 and 74.)
Native plants, especially woody shrubs, have deeper, thicker root
structures than ordinary turf grasses. They absorb nutrient-rich
runoff before it can feed the algae and non-native weeds that clog
parts of the lake. By slowing down the runoff these buffers reduce
erosion along the lakeshore and stream banks. The longer-rooted
native plants that make up these buffer strips are hardy, as well,
26
Sunken Island
At least a dozen
streams (some
permanent, some
seasonal) that feed
the lake are visible
on this map, along
with the spider
web of streets and
roads within the
watershed.
27
Lakeshore Vegetation profile
28
O
Wapen
ter
F
Sulboatin
veg me g &
eta rgen
tio t
n
L
(wake b
et an
soi k
ls)
E
e
vem
getrgen
ati t
on
Up
lan
d
G
Laroom
wn ed
and can generally withstand pounding by waves. Since they are
accustomed to our area’s soil, water. and nutrient conditions, they
also don’t require extra fertilizers or watering.
Any buffer is better than no buffer, but experts recommend
buffers at least 20 or 25 feet in depth measuring from the
lakeshore or creek—the greater the distance the more effective the
buffer. A properly constructed buffer can remove as much as 95%
of the nutrients and pollutants from runoff that would otherwise
feed the lake or the half dozen local streams that empty into it.
Those streams and wetlands are actually extensions of the lake
and require the same kind of care. To learn what kind of riparian
buffers are required along the streams that feed the lake, see “It’s
the Law,” page 48.
Solid buffers are better than those with breaks in them.
However, a mowed pathway or walkway made of stones or pavers
Algae throughout
to depth of
light penetration
Minnesota DNR, “Lakescaping for Wildlife” and Water Quality
This is only one possible example of how homeowners along the shoreline can plant native trees and
shrubs to create a riparian buffer zone to reduce runoff into the lake. For more examples, see page 74.
can provide access to the lake while still slowing down runoff and
giving it a chance to soak into the ground.
Buffer strips are good not only for the lake and the streams that
feed it, but they can enhance a landowner’s property by creating
privacy screens that also block noise and wind. There are some fine
examples of buffer strips along the Cazenovia Lake shoreline that
are visible from a boat, but watershed residents should remember
that buffers are just as important away from the lake as they are
on the shoreline. For a living model of how well buffer zones can
work, visit the renovated waterfront at Lakeside Park, a project that
was sponsored by CACDA in 2006. (See “Recommended Trees
and Shrubs for Cazenovia Lake Shoreline” on page 53.)
29
Pesticides More
Threatening
Than Pests
Chances are that nearly every Cazenovia Lake watershed
resident has some pretty potent chemicals stored in their garage,
garden shed, basement, or even kitchen—toxic chemicals that can
harm humans and wildlife in addition to the animal or plant pests
they were meant to eradicate. Knowledge and a little common
sense can keep this from happening.
Some pesticides, like chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, and 2,4,5 T, are
things of the past because of their demonstrated threats to humans
and the environment, but that doesn’t mean that the ones now
on the market are somehow milder and thus less threatening if
directions for their use, storage, and disposal are misunderstood
or ignored. According to a university study, a mixture of pesticides
that was well within what were considered safe guidelines
compromised frogs’ immune systems and resulted in fatal
infections.
Do not buy pesticides unless you have investigated other ways
of dealing with either plant or animal pests. Sometimes it’s easier
and more effective to pull a few weeds than it is to apply a liquid
or solid herbicide. If you do decide on a pesticide, think before
you spray or spread. Read the label thoroughly, make sure you
understand it, and then follow the instructions. Be sure you wear
the recommended protective clothing, like gloves, goggles, longsleeve shirt, and a face mask. When you are finished using the
chemical, store it in the original container in a locked cabinet away
30
from children and pets. Even though it sounds rudimentary, wash
your hands carefully after you finish the job.
Never apply pesticides near the lake, streams, or wetlands.
Nearly every pesticide carries an environmental warning about
toxicity to wildlife, fish, and other
aquatic animals. Never apply pesticides
near wells, either.
A word or two about
Some of the chemicals we use inside
road salt. In the winter,
the house or garage are as toxic as those
salting our sidewalks
we use outside. Materials like paints,
and driveways is a
paint thinners, oven cleaners, antiregular ritual. Just as
freeze, or products containing lye or
too much salt is bad for
strong acids have to be used with care
humans, it’s also bad
and also disposed of with just as much
for the lake and the
care. Do not pour these chemicals
creatures that live in it.
down the drain or into the toilet. Some
Research shows that
of them are dangerous if they get wet,
de-icing salt that
and septic tanks are not meant to
dissolves and runs into
treat them anyway. Do not dispose of
the lake and feeder
chemicals in storm drains or roadside
streams harms both fish
ditches since they often end up in the
and the animals that fish
lake. It is also against the law. The best
depend on for food. It
way to dispose of them is to follow
also kills some vegetation
the specific instructions that, by law,
while allowing nuisance
must be printed on the labels of most
species to spread.
household chemicals.
Remove snow and ice
with physical means
Lawns are a frequent source of
whenever possible. If
runoff containing both pesticides
you do use salt, use it
and excess nutrients like phosphorus,
sparingly.
but there are ways to enjoy healthy
turf while minimizing damage to
the watershed’s “liquid assets.” The
following suggestions are adapted from
31
31
the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network publication, Smart Steps for
Clean Water and other sources.
• Test your soil for pH and nutrients: Before selecting or planting
new grass or deciding to apply fertilizer, learn about the pH
(acidity or alkalinity) and fertility (nutrients and minerals) of
your soil by analyzing soil samples from different locations on
your property. The results tell you what, if any, soil amendments
are needed. Testing is recommended every three years. Call or
visit Cornell Cooperative Extension in Morrisville. (655.2075 or
315.684.3001; www.cce.cornell.edu/madison)
• Fertilize based on test results: Soil tests determine how much
fertilizer is needed in one year for the specific grass you are
growing. Fertilize once in early September, or divide the
recommended amount in half and apply half in mid-May or
early June and the rest in September. Using more fertilizer than
you need doesn’t benefit your lawn, but it may harm the lake
and certainly wastes money. Sweep up any fertilizer that lands on
your driveway or other impervious surfaces. Owners of shoreline
property should use non-phosphorus, “lake friendly” fertilizer.
• Choose grasses adapted to your site: If your site is shady, select
a shady seed mix. Also, buy the best grass seed you can. Some
new seeds are more resistant to pests. If you buy a “bargain” seed
you’ll pay for it later with weeds or perhaps clumps of grass.
Steep, shady, or acidic sites may be better suited to perennials
that may not require fertilizer, supplemental water, or pesticides.
Ajuga, with its spectacular purple flower spikes in the spring, or
fragrant creeping thyme can tolerate light foot traffic.
• Water properly (if at all): Healthy growing grasses thrive on an inch
of water, or less, each week. Use a rain gauge or tin can to determine
how much moisture your lawn is receiving. If you must water, do it
early in the morning when there is less evaporation and grass leaves
dry quickly. Many grasses go dormant in summer. Let nature reign.
32
Bluegrass or Fescue
Experts recommend that grasses grown in Central New York should never be mowed
shorter than three inches. Grass threee inches tall protects roots from heat.
The grass will start growing again when the rains come.
• Mow for healthy growth: Set mower height at three inches and
don’t remove more than a third of the grass height at a time. You
may need to mow twice a week during the peak growing season.
Leave the clippings on the lawn since they supply nitrogen. If
you remove them, compost them or use them as mulch. Don’t
throw clippings in the water, wetlands, the street, or in a drainage
ditch. Sharpen mower blades each 4 to 6 hours of use. Dull
blades increase the potential for diseased lawns.
• Treat pests with the least toxic method: Dense, healthy grass
will naturally defend against many pests. You may find you have
enough natural predators like ladybugs, toads, lacewings, or
Eastern garter snakes to take care of pests. If there are problems,
use the least toxic option that is still effective. If insecticides are
needed, apply them only on the spots where infestation is the
heaviest. Avoid wholesale spraying or spreading on a regular basis
as a preventive measure.
For help in identifying pests and for guidance about alternative
pest management strategies, call or visit Cornell Cooperative
Extension in Morrisville. (655.2075 or 315.684.3001;
www.cce.cornell.edu/madison)
33
Weeds Be Gone!
Exactly when and how aquatic weeds like Eurasian Watermilfoil
made their way into Cazenovia Lake isn’t known for sure. The
important fact is that they are here in abundant numbers and
seem to be increasing in coverage. Each year, a mechanical
harvester employed by the Cazenovia Lake Association removes
about 750 wet tons of weeds from the lake and the 3.5 tons of
nutrients they contain. But harvesting, like mowing the lawn
or giving your children a short summer haircut, is a temporary
solution to a
continuing
problem.
In the absence
of their natural
predators, “exotic”
or non-native
aquatic weeds like
watermilfoil spread
easily. As they
The “Weed-o-Saurus” munches tons of watermilfoil every year.
grow unchecked,
they form thick mats that may reach the surface of the lake in
mid-summer, creating a nuisance for boaters, swimmers, and
fishermen. They have other negative effects, too. Thick stands of
watermilfoil provide excellent cover for small fish. Since larger
predators can’t reach these small fry, the numbers of stunted fish
34
Benthic barriers weighted down with metal rods help keep watermilfoil from
sprouting if used early in the season and then removed by July 1.
increase. As the watermilfoil stems flourish, they also block light
and limit the growth of more desirable aquatic plants. In the fall,
as the watermilfoil forests die back and sink to the bottom, they
release nutrients that settle on the lake bottom forming a nutrient
warehouse that will encourage the growth of next year’s crop.
Cazenovia Lake Association’s harvester can cut watermilfoil
to a depth of about four feet, but only in water deep enough for
it to safely maneuver. However, homeowners can temporarily
control weeds on their own waterfronts in several ways. Tough,
dark-colored woven mats, weighted by metal rods, can be spread
across weedy areas in the early spring to prevent vital sunlight
from reaching young weeds. Rough water, however, will shift
these commercially available mats around so they occasionally
have to be repositioned. They are also fairly expensive considering
the amount of lake bottom they cover. State law requires them
to be moved into position before May 1 and removed by July 1
35
35
Its name is Euhrychiosis lecontei and it’s an aquatic weevil that feeds on
Eurasian Watermilfoil. The weevil and an aquatic moth (Acentria ephemerella)
have helped other lakes reduce watermilfoil infestations and may work here, as
well.
to ensure that fish are able to spawn and raise their young in the
shallows. These “benthic barriers” also require a permit from the
New York Department of Environmental Conservation. For more
information, visit this Web site: www.co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/
weedswatchout/documents/benthicbarriermilfoil.pdf.
Hand removal is a temporary means of keeping shallow areas
weed free. Homeowners can use a heavy metal garden rake to
scour the bottom for weeds. Rake heads can be tied to ropes,
cast into deeper areas, and retrieved with watermilfoil clinging
to them. Commercial contractors also offer various methods of
weed removal. Check to see if they are insured, have any required
permits, and are using legal removal methods.
Whatever methods are used, it’s important to make sure that
all severed watermilfoil segments are removed from the water
since even small fragments will drift to other parts of the lake and
eventually re-root. Throughout the watermilfoil growing season,
36
fragments cut by the harvester or boat propellers are liable to
wash up on the shore. With a daily or weekly “watermilfoil patrol”
homeowners can remove this flotsam from our lake and keep it
from re-growing. It makes excellent compost to feed the plants
and shrubs in your buffer strip.
What about chemical control of watermilfoil? Even though
aquacides that temporarily destroy watermilfoil exist, they also
destroy beneficial aquatic plants. Using these chemicals in the
lake is against the law without a State-issued special permit. The
process also requires a licensed applicator.
Even though Eurasian Watermilfoil is a persistent pest, there
may be some good news on the horizon in the form of a weevil
and a moth that spend a good part of their lives underwater
feeding on the watermilfoil stem and leaflets. In shallow portions
of Cayuga Lake the weevil and moth have dramatically reduced
the amount of watermilfoil. Cazenovia Lake has small indigenous
populations of both insects. Research into how the same results
could be achieved here is supported in part by the Cazenovia Lake
Association and continues at Cornell University.
Lowering the lake’s water level even more than usual during
the winter exposes both watermilfoil roots and zebra mussels to
lethal dryness and low temperatures, which could help reduce
the numbers of these pests. Since the lake is part of the water
supply for the New York Barge Canal system, any winter “draw
down” must be approved by New York State. The Cazenovia Lake
Association has petitioned the state to lower water levels during
the winter.
37
P-s-s-t…DON’T
Pass It On!
Cazenovia Lake has already been infested with non-native
species like Eurasian Watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Curly
pondweed also exists here but is not yet a menace. While the
chance to keep watermilfoil and zebra mussels out of the lake no
longer exists, it is possible to stop the introduction of additional
pests into the lake (such as water chestnut or
spiny water fleas), or the spread of
existing pests to other lakes, by
following a few simple boating
procedures when you leave the
lake or before you enter it.
These procedures may take
some extra time but they
are worth it since infestations
can cause a general lowering of
property values, keep tourists away,
and cost money. Once a lake gets a
reputation for being weedy, it’s
hard to change it.
When you leave Cazenovia
Water
Lake, drain your boat’s bilge
Chestnut
water and bait wells on dry land,
making sure the water can’t run
back into the lake.
38
Courtesy of the Bell Museum
Spiny Water Flea
Before returning, remove all plants and plant fragments from
your boat’s hull, motor, and propeller, and your trailer’s frame,
rollers, axle, and hitch.
Empty your bait bucket on land, never in the lake.
Never empty live fish from another lake into Cazenovia Lake, or
vice versa.
If you’re traveling between lakes, wash your boat and trailer
with high pressure or hot water. Flush parts of your boat’s cooling
system that normally get wet.
You can kill most nuisance species by letting the boat dry
(preferably in the sun) for five days.
Do not use anti-fouling bottom paint. It usually contains
extremely toxic substances like mercury, arsenic, or copper. There
are alternate products that are non-toxic and effective.
Areas to watch for Aquatic weeds
Wet Well
Hitch
Motor/prop
Rollers
Axle
39
39
All Aboard for
Better Boating
There aren’t many things more enjoyable than a day of boating
on Cazenovia Lake. Whether you’re fishing, waterskiing, tubing, or
just making a leisurely circuit of the lake under power or sail, it’s
a day well spent—providing, of course, you obey a few basic rules
for safety, the environment, and consideration of others afloat and
onshore.
The lake is popular with boaters of all kinds, but that popularity
and the possible overcrowding it brings can create a variety of
hazards for the lake and those who use it.
Besides alertness and good judgment, safe and environmentally
responsible boating also demands practical knowledge of boat
operation and regulations. In fact, individuals between the ages
of 10 and 18 who want to operate a boat must take an eighthour New York State boating safety course and pass the exam
given at the end of the course. The course is mandatory for every
person who wants to operate a personal watercraft or “jet ski,”
regardless of age, and has traditionally been jointly sponsored as a
community service by the Cazenovia Lake Association, the Willow
Bank Yacht Club, and the Madison County Sheriff at least once
during the boating season. (See www.cazlake.org)
Perhaps the greatest safety hazard is speed. Today’s powerboats
and “personal watercraft” are capable of speeds at which they
probably shouldn’t be driven. With so many other boats (and their
wakes) on the lake, a boat at high speed can be difficult to control.
40
When two boats are approaching each other at a total of nearly
100 miles an hour, there is little time for decision making and
almost no margin of error. If there is no posted speed limit, New
York regulations require boats to be “operated in a fashion so as
not to endanger others.” That speed obviously decreases the more
boats there are and the rougher the water. Close to shore, there is
a five mile-an-hour speed limit to protect the boater, swimmers,
fishermen, property, and the lake itself. The same is true near
marked swimming areas, docks, and moored boats,
At higher speeds, boat wakes crash against the shore and cause
erosion. This increases the amount of sediment that washes into
the lake, damaging fish spawning areas. Boats operating at higher
speed in shallow water can chop weeds like Eurasian Watermilfoil.
Those fragments spread, sink, and eventually sprout new plants.
Common courtesy adds enjoyment to everyone’s time on
the lake. If you’re in a powerboat, stay as far away as you can
from canoes, kayaks, racing shells, and other small boats that
can capsize when hit by a large wake. Sound carries a long way
over water and other people may not want to hear the music
you are playing on board; that’s especially true in the mornings
and evenings. Weekend sailboat racing has been a part of life
on Cazenovia Lake for decades. There is room on the lake for
everyone, so stay out of the sailing courses that are usually marked
by three bright orange buoys.
While violating state boating laws can result in fines and even
jail time, obeying a few “laws” of common sense can result in a
cleaner, more pleasant lake for all those within the watershed who
use it. Many of these common sense “laws” deal with the use of
gasoline and oil, two highly toxic substances for fish and wildlife.
Oil and gasoline enter the lake generally because of improper
fueling, bilge pumping, fuel system leaks, and the incomplete
combustion of fuel common with older or un-tuned engines.
Fuel also enters the water through older, inefficient engines,
41
Here are some tips
for sensible fueling:
• Make sure there are no lighted cigarettes, sparks, or open
flames nearby.
• If you are using a portable container, pour the fuel into the
boat’s fuel tank through a funnel.
• Pour slowly at both the beginning and end of the fueling
process. The same is true if you are using the fuel pump at the
Willow Bank Yacht Club dock.
• Know when to stop. Do not fill the tank completely or
“top off.” Leave about 10% of the tank empty to allow for
expansion and also to keep fuel from spilling overboard from
the vent.
• You may be able to install a fuel/air separator on the vent line
that allows air, but not fuel, to escape.
• If you spill a small amount of fuel, try to cover it with
absorbent materials. If none are available, let it evaporate.
• DO NOT use soap or detergent to “clean up” a fuel or oil spill
into the lake. The soap emulsifies the spill and will cause it to
sink. Using such materials is also illegal.
especially two-stroke engines in which fuel enters the combustion
chamber while the exhaust is exiting, carrying as much as a third
of the unburned fuel with it. The answer is keeping your boat
engine properly tuned or buying a newer four-stroke or two-stroke
engine that meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s new
emission standards.
Bilge water often contains oil and fuel, so pumping
contaminated bilge water overboard harms the lake, can kill
marine life, and is illegal. Most marine supply stores sell bilge
socks or pillows that are very effective at absorbing oil while
42
repelling water. According to independent evaluations, the most
effective are those that contain plasticizing polymers. The polymers
inside the socks solidify the petroleum products and keep them
from dripping out when the socks are changed and disposed of
at a landfill. Depending on their size, the socks or pillows may
absorb as much as 2.5 quarts of oily bilge deposits. They also
reduce the amount of explosive vapors
in the bilge area. When you consider
For more information on
that a single quart of oil can pollute
“green” cleaning,
two million gallons of water and form
try these Web sites:
a slick covering more than an acre, the
www.cleanboating.org
oil socks or pillows are clearly a good
www.costal.ca.gov
investment.
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/
Many products we use to keep our
marinas.html
boats clean are toxic both to humans
and wildlife in and around the lake.
There are less toxic alternatives:
• Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or baking soda and
hot water for a general cleaner.
• Mix a quart of hot water, a teaspoon of vegetable-based soap, a
teaspoon of borax, and two tablespoons of vinegar (and lots of
elbow grease) as a hull cleaner.
• A paste of baking soda and water also makes an effective
fiberglass cleaner.
While these common household products are far less toxic than
bleach, scouring powders, and chemical cleaners, even they should
not be disposed of in the water. Do your cleaning on shore.
By themselves, biodegradable bilge cleaners are fine, but once
they have been used to clean a bilge, they are no longer the
“environmental friendly” products they were advertised to be, so
they can’t legally be pumped overboard.
43
43
Hooked on
the Lake
On a calm day in the spring, you can look down in 10 feet of
water and see a three-pound largemouth bass darting to hide
beneath a fallen tree near shore. Even though bass season has
not opened yet, it still gets your heart pumping in anticipation.
Despite some changes in the last couple of decades, you can tell by
the number of fishing boats on the lake and the number of rods
in those boats that Cazenovia Lake supports an active fishery.
Many go after the prime game fish, smallmouth and largemouth
bass. There are walleye pike, too. Some fish for perch or other pan
fish like bluegills or pumpkinseeds. Others seek bullheads and the
alleged monster catfish that lurk near the bottom.
It is anecdotal evidence based on interviews, but long-time
Cazenovia fishermen say that “pressure” on the fish population
has increased in the last 30 years and claim that the number of
fish has not kept up with that demand. At the end of the day (or
night), however, they seldom get “skunked.” Anglers describe it as a
“robust fishery” that seems to sustain itself naturally without NYS
stocking support, although they also say that if more fishermen
practiced “catch and release” methods, pressure on the fish
population would be decreased.
Fish illustrations courtesy of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation
44
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Sunfish
45
There are threats, however, that could weaken the overall fish
population. Silting is probably the most significant since it can
cover spawning beds and reduce the number of hatchlings.
Environmental damage like silting has been traced to jet skis
(personal watercraft) performing high speed maneuvers in shallow
water.
Runoff that contains chemicals, including road salt from the
winter, can harm the fish population. Salt is a threat to the macroinvertebrates that growing fish rely on for food. The growing
population of filter-feeding zebra mussels also competes with fish
for the same food source.
Although fishermen look for “structure”—the sunken trees,
rocks, and native weed beds where fish feed and hide—the rapid
increase in Eurasian Watermilfoil has made fishing more difficult
by creating mats of vegetation that snag hooks. What may feel like
a hefty bluegill, perch, or bullhead on the line often turns out to
be a wad of watermilfoil that is a time-wasting nuisance to remove
from the hook. If those watermilfoil fragments are returned to the
lake, as many fishermen do, they will take root when they reach
the bottom and start a new weed patch. You can help slow the
spread of watermilfoil by depositing any watermilfoil fragments
attached to lures, anchors, or anchor lines in a small bucket and
disposing of them when you reach the shore.
Talk to fishermen on Cazenovia Lake and the one thing they
would like most of all (besides a lunker bass) is courtesy from
other lake users. “We share the lake with other kinds of users,” says
one fisherman who has been pursuing bass here for 35 years. “It
has become more crowded, but there’s still room for everyone as
long as we can be courteous and give each other a wide berth.”
46
Catfish
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
47
It’s the Law!
Many of us who live and work within the Cazenovia Lake
watershed know what we should do to preserve the lake’s water
quality, but there are relatively few who know what we must do
to comply with Town and Village laws regarding the lake. New
laws and changes to existing laws often go unreported in the
media but, as justices and magistrates across this country often
tell the surprised defendant standing before them, “I’m sorry, but
ignorance of the law is not a valid defense.”
The Town of Cazenovia legal “code” itself is two inches thick
and weighs more than four pounds, the Village’s is, too—so
offering every detail of each law dealing with septic systems, land
use, land disturbance, riparian buffers, storm water management,
and wetlands is not practical. It is, however, helpful to acquaint
residents with a few provisions of these important statutes. The
intent of these laws is to preserve and perhaps improve the water
quality within Cazenovia Lake and the streams that feed it, not
to punish residents. It is wise to keep in mind, however, that some
violations carry $250-a-day fines and jail sentences.
Here are a few basics:
Not everything is equal within the Town’s lake watershed.
Restrictions are more stringent within what is now called the
Critical Watershed Protection Zone, a 500-foot-wide band
encircling the lakeshore within the Town’s boundaries. The
48
outlying Lake Watershed Zone contains all the remaining land
within the watershed.
Perhaps the most important point to remember is this: before
you or any contractor you hire even touches a shovel, chain
saw, brush hog, bulldozer, or backhoe to any land or vegetation
within those two zones, STOP and CHECK with the Town Code
Enforcement Officer or, if your property is within the Village, the
Village Zoning Enforcement Officer. It may take a little longer but
it will save time and possibly a lot of wasted effort and money in
the long run.
There are numerous restrictions on what can be done and what
cannot be done without a permit within those two zones—even
thinning vegetation may be illegal depending on what and where
it is. As one Town employee very familiar with the laws says: “It’s
not so much that you can’t do anything, it’s how you plan to do it
and how any negative effects can be mitigated. In many cases, the
homeowner and the Town can work together to formulate a plan
that allows each of us to achieve our goals. But check with us first,
and check with us early so that the project won’t be delayed when
the contractor is ready.”
There are essentially four chapters of the Town legal code that
apply to the Cazenovia Lake watershed: Chapter 96, Freshwater
Wetlands; Chapter 107, Land Disturbances; Chapter 130, Sewers
and Sewage Disposal (including septic systems); and Chapter 165,
Zoning (land use). The Village has fewer ordinances that relate
directly to the lake, but they are just as important and taken just as
seriously. In the Village Code, the Freshwater Wetlands ordinance
is identical to the Town’s version. Both the Town and Village codes
continue to be updated and changed, and that’s another good
reason to check before starting a project.
For most homeowners, the two most important sections deal
49
49
with septic systems (construction, maintenance, mandatory
pumping, inspection) and land disturbance (what you can and
cannot do with the soil and vegetation on your property).
Even a condensation of these laws would double the size of this
“use and care” guide to the lake, but there are a few important
sections that are included in the appendix to this publication.
Under no circumstances should a watershed property owner rely
on these brief descriptions as complete or informed legal guidance.
In all cases, regardless of how small or innocent the project
seems, CALL the Town or Village enforcement officers before you
plant, cut, clear, or dig.
Town of Cazenovia . . . 655.9213
Village of Cazenovia . . .655.3276
50
What Can We Do?
Ask the people who live here to make a list of what sets
Cazenovia apart from other communities within the region and
chances are the lake will be near the top of those lists. There is
no doubt that Cazenovia Lake has fed the local economy and
enhanced property values even for those outside the watershed.
The lake is a critical element of Cazenovia’s vitality. If we
understand and accept that concept, then we also must accept the
opposite—without an attractive lake, we all suffer in one way or
another.
Cazenovia Lake has nearly two square miles of surface area, but
its watershed covers more than eight square miles. In reality, it
extends far beyond its shoreline. As a result, the struggle to bring
the lake back as close as possible to its original state requires the
broad efforts of everyone who lives within that watershed.
Many of the things we do, many of the decisions we make
every day have an effect on the lake’s future, good or bad. The
objective of this “use and care guide” has been to highlight the
environmental causes and effects of our actions. Armed with this
knowledge, we can each begin playing a larger role in the future of
the lake that means so much to the Cazenovia community.
51
Appendix
Recommended Trees and Shrubs
for Cazenovia Lake Shoreline
An easy-to-use nine-page chart
listing common names, sizes, and
characteristics of plants appropriate
for a riparian buffer zone. . .....................................53
Law Briefs: Town and
Village of Cazenovia
Excerpts of local laws that pertain
particularly to the lake watershed...........................62
Additional Resources
Contact information and Web sites
for local, regional, and state organizations
working to improve the quality
of “their” lake..........................................................72
More ideas for riparian buffer zones.......................75
Glossary
Quick definitions for
25 words used in this booklet..................................76
52
53
Picea glauca
Pinus strobus
Thuja occidentalis
Tsuga canadensis
Picea abies
White Spruce
White Pine
Eastern White Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
Norway Spruce
Botanical Name
Ilex glabra
Common Name
Inkberry
Evergreen Shrubs
Botanical Name
Common Name
Evergreen Trees
6-8
Height (ft)
40-60
75
40-60
210
40-75
Height (ft)
Moist soil; sun. Insignificant flowers, fruits are 58”cones,
picturesque, soft, green foliage, subject to blister rust.
Slow grower.
Moist soil, partial shade. Insignificant flowers, fruits are
1/2’ cones, light green, soft, scale-like foliage.
Squirrels, songbirds,
deer, chipmunks,
game birds
Deer, rabbit, red squirrel, songbirds
Moist to dry, acid to neutral soil; needs good soil and
drainage; sun or shade. Inconspicuous male and female
flowers on separate plants; lustrous green foliage yearround; blackberry-like fruit.
Birds, small
mammals
Moist, sandy soil; shade; will not tolerate heat or
Plant Characteristics
Not recommended for windy locations.
Used by:
Fairly resistant to deer
Moist soil, shade. Insignificant flowers, fruits are 3/4”
cones, soft, feathery foliage.
Moist soil; sun. Insignificant flowers, fruits are 2” cones,
light green foliage. Avoid near roadways (salt) or poor
drainage areas. Wind burn.
Deer, squirrels, songbirds, chipmunk
Deer. songbirds, squirrel, chipmunk
Plant Characteristics
Used by:
Recommended Trees and Shrubs for Cazenovia Lake Shoreline
54
54
Ilex glabra
Taxus canadensis
Inkberry
Canada Yew
50-75
75-100
70-100
Acer saccharum
Fraxinus americana
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Quercus bicolor
Quercus macrocarpa
Sugar Maple
White Ash
Green Ash
Swamp White Oak
Bur Oak
Common Name
Botanical Name
Medium Deciduous Trees
60-75
Acer rubrum
Red Maple
Height (ft)
75-100
40-60
Botanical Name
Height (ft)
1-3
6-8
Height (ft)
Common Name
Tall Deciduous Trees
Botanical Name
Common Name
Evergreen Shrubs
Plant Characteristics
Moist to dry soil; full sun. Fringed acorns; yellow to brown
fall color; large, inspiring tree.
Chipmunk, moths,
mice, beaver
Used by:
Moist to wet soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. Insignificant flowers; fruits are acorns; no fall color.
Moist soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. Insignificant flowers, fruits are winged samaras; orange to purple fall color;
dioecious (male and female plants).
Songbirds, squirrel,
turkey, mice, deer
Wood duck, songbirds,
squirrel, deer
Rich, moist but not wet soil; shade. Yellow flowers; fruits
are winged samaras; yellow, orange, or red fall color, salt
and stress sensitive.
Songbirds, deer,
raccoon, waterfowl,
squirrel, mice
Dry to wet soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. Insignificant
flowers; fruits are winged samaras; yellow fall color; salt
tolerant; weak wooded.
Moist, acid soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun to semishade. Red flowers, fruits are winged samaras; yellow,
orange or red fall color; salt sensitive.
Game birds, squirrel,
chipmunk, beaver,
deer, bear
Wood duck, birds,
deer, mice, beaver
Plant Characteristics
Used by:
Moist, sandy soil; shade; will not tolerate heat or
drought, but needs good drainage. Glossy, dark
green needles; prostrate habit.
Moist to dry, acid to neutral soil; needs good soil and
drainage; sun or shade. Inconspicuous male and female
flowers on separate plants; lustrous green foliage yearround; blackberry-like fruit.
Birds, small
mammals
Deer, birds
Plant Characteristics
Used by:
55
55
Ostrya virginiana
Ironwood
35-60
50-70
Wet to dry acid soil; tolerates poor drainage, sun. Catkins;
small cone-like fruits; yellow fall color, cinnamon colored,
peeling bark. Excellent choice.
Dry to moist soil, shade. Catkins; hop-like fruits; yellowish
fall color, elm-like leaves.
Songbirds, hares
Grouse, deer, rabbits, game
birds, squirrels, mice
Plant Characteristics
Moist to dry soil; full sun. Fringed acorns; yellow to brown
fall color; large, inspiring tree.
Chipmunk, moths,
mice, beaver
Used by:
Moist to wet soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. Insignificant flowers; fruits are acorns; no fall color.
squirrel, deer
6-20
Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier laevis
Carpinus caroliniana
Comus alternifolia
Crataegus sp.
Shadblow Serviceberry
Allegheny Serviceberry
American Hornbeam
Alternate Leaf Dogwood
Hawthorns
15
25
20-30
20-30
15-30
AInus rugosa
Speckled Alder
Height (ft)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Moist soil, shade. Catkins; fruits are small nutlets; orange
fall color, smooth gray muscle-like trunk.
Game birds, deer, rabbits,
squirrels
Deer, rabbits, grouse, bea-
Songbirds, deer, squirrels
Moist to wet soil; prefers full sunlight. Flowers in showy
Dry to moist soils; sun. White flowers; red fruits; yellow to
orange fall color; thorns; some species can be aggressive.
Cool, moist soil, shade. White flowers; blue-black fruits on
red stalks; maroon fall color.
Moist soil; partial shade. White flowers; edible red to blueblack fruits; orange to red fall color.
Birds, squirrels, chipmunks,
deer
Birds, deer, rabbits, beaver
Wet to moist soil; tolerates drought; sun to shade, white
flowers, dark purple fruit.
Wet soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. Catkins; small
cone-like fruits; no fall color.
Rabbits, muskrat, grouse,
beaver
Birds
Plant Characteristics
Used by:
Deer browse many of these, but trees usually recover well with no permanent damage.
Betula nigra
River Birch
Low Deciduous Trees
Botanical Name
Common Name
Height (ft)
70-100
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak
Medium Deciduous Trees
75-100
Quercus bicolor
Swamp White Oak
56
Salix lucida
Sorbus americana
Shining Willow
American Mountain Ash
15-25
6-12
12
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Hamamelis virginiana
Rhododendron
viscosum
Vaccinum corymbosum
Corylus cornuta
Common Buttonbush
Common Witchhazel
Swamp Azalea
Highbush Blueberry
Beaked Hazelnut
Common Name
Botanical Name
Medium Deciduous Shrubs
6-12
AInus serrulata
Smooth Alder
Height (ft)
15
15-20
Botanical Name
Height (ft)
10-30
30
15-20
15
Common Name
Tall Deciduous Shrubs
Salix discolor
Crataegus sp.
Tall Pussy Willow
Hawthorns
Moist, well drained soils; sun or shade. Nut has frilly
extension that is irritating to skin. Nuts are rich in protein
and fat. Provides good cover for wildlife.
Squirrels, chipmunks, birds,
rabbits, deer, mice
Plant Characteristics
Moist, acid, well-drained soil; full sun or partial shade.
White flowers; delicious blueberries; yellow, bronze,
orange, red fall color. Wonderful ornamental.
Birds, bears, chipmunks,
mice, deer favorite
Used by:
Moist to wet, acidic soils; sun or shade. Fragrant whitepink flowers; orange-purple fall foliage; spreads by
stolons; found along streambanks.
Moist soil; shade. Yellow flowers in October; insignificant
fruits; yellow fall color.
Moist to wet soil; sun to partial shade, tolerates full shade.
Fragrant, white flowers in dense clusters resembling buttons, hummingbird plant, nutlet food for waterfowl.
Moist soil; tolerates poor drainage. Yellow brown catkins
provide interesting color in winter.
Plant Characteristics
Moist to wet soil, sun to partial shade. White flowers; brilliant orange-red fruit; short-lived.
Moist to wet soil; sun to partial shade. Shiny green foliage; shrub or small tree; native along streams and in wet
meadow. Bank cover.
Moist to wet soil; prefers full sunlight. Flowers in showy
catkins; shrub or tree; native along streams and swamps.
Bank cover.
orange fall color; thorns; some species can be aggressive.
Insects
Birds, winter moths
Hummingbirds, deer, ducks,
birds, beaver
Birds
Used by:
Birds, deer, squirrels, mice
Deer, beaver
Deer, rabbits, grouse, beaver, birds
Songbirds, deer, squirrels
57
57
Corylus cornuta
8-10
Buddleia
Clethra alnifolia
Ilex verticillata
Lindera benzoin
Nemopanthus mucronatus
Rosa palustris
Rubus allegheniensis
Butterfly Bush
Coastal Sweet Pepperbush
Winterberry
Spicebush
Mountain Holly
Swamp Rose
Blackberry
Height (ft)
4-5
Botanical Name
Amelanchier stolonifera
Running Serviceberry
1.5-7
5-7
3-12
3-8
4-6
Common Name
Low Deciduous Shrubs
6-12
Aronia arbutifolia
Red Chokeberry
6-10
Botanical Name
Height (ft)
15
Common Name
Medium Deciduous Shrubs
Beaked Hazelnut
sum
Birds, chipmunks beaver
Dry soil; shade. White flowers; edible red fruits; orange
fall color; suckering habit.
Plant Characteristics
Moist soil; Sun to shade. White flowers; sweet black fruit;
suckering habit; good for naturalized planting.
Deer, rabbit, game birds,
turtles, songbirds, fox
Wildlife Value
Wet soil; full sun. Pink flower; red fruit.
Moist to wet acid soil; shade. Inconspicuous flowers; dark
red fruits; showy fall color; thicket forming, stoloniferous
shrub.
Birds
Birds, raccoon, deer
Birds, butterflies
Moist to wet acid soil; tolerate poor drainage; sun to partial shade. Dioecious, red fruits; yellowish fall color. Need
male & female plants.
Birds, deer, squirrel, mice,
raccoon
Moist soil, sun to partial shade, tolerates dry soil. Greenish yellow flowers; red fruits eaten by birds, lemon yellow
fall color; spicy aroma, can be difficult to transplant, but
very attractive.
Moist to wet acid soil; sun or partial shade; tolerates full
shade. White fragrant flowers; yellow to golden brown fall
color; spreads by suckers. Excellent choice.
Deer resistant.
Wet soil; tolerate poor drainage; shade. White flowers;
red fruits; red fall color.
Plant Characteristics
Moist, well drained soils; sun or shade. Nut has frilly
extension that is irritating to skin. Nuts are rich in protein
and fat. Provides good cover for wildlife.
orange, red fall color. Wonderful ornamental.
Butterflies, bees
Butterflies, hummingbirds
Birds
Used by:
Squirrels, chipmunks, birds,
rabbits, deer, mice
mice, deer favorite
58
Rubus allegheniensis
Blackberry
1-4
3-5
Gaylussacia baccata
Hydrangea arborescens
Myrica gale
Potentilla fruticosa
Rosa carolina
Spirea alba
Spirea tomentosa
Black Huckleberry
Hill-of-Snow
Sweetgale
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Carolina Rose
White Meadowsweet
Steeplebush
Common Name
Botanical Name
3-6
Photinia melanocarpa
Black Chokeberry
Bank Cover Shrubs
4-5
Amelanchier stolonifera
Running Serviceberry
Height (ft)
4
2-5
3-6
1-3
4
Height (ft)
Botanical Name
1.5-7
5-7
8-10
Common Name
Low Deciduous Shrubs
Rosa palustris
Nemopanthus mucronatus
Swamp Rose
Mountain Holly
Moist to wet slightly acid soil; sun. Purple-rose flowers;
upright shrub; native along streams and in meadows;
thicket forming.
Songbirds, game birds,
waterfowl, small mammals
Plant Characteristics
Moist to wet slightly acid soil; sun. White flowers; erect
shrub; can form thickets.
Deer, songbirds, butterflies,
moth, insects
Used by:
Well drained to dry soil; sun-partial shade; single pink
flower; red fruit; spreads by suckers and forms dense
thickets.
Medium to dry soil, good drainage; sun to part shade;
very adaptable; yellow flowers; light ferny leaves.
Moist to wet soil; sun to part shade; Glossy, dark green,
aromatic foliage.
Moist or dry soils, prefers sun or partial shade; tolerates
deep shade. White flowers.
Dry or moist, acidic, sandy soil; partial shade. Red flowers; black, edible berries.
Wet soil; shade. White flowers; black fruits; red fall color;
groundcover or shrub.
Dry soil; shade. White flowers; edible red fruits; orange
fall color; suckering habit.
Birds
Insects
Birds
Turkey, deer
Birds
Songbirds, upland upland
game birds, small mammals
Birds, chipmunks beaver
Plant Characteristics
Moist soil; Sun to shade. White flowers; sweet black fruit;
suckering habit; good for naturalized planting.
Deer, rabbit, game birds,
turtles, songbirds, fox
Wildlife Value
Wet soil; full sun. Pink flower; red fruit.
red fruits; showy fall color; thicket forming, stoloniferous
shrub.
Birds
Birds, raccoon, deer
59
59
2-4
1.5-6
6-10
30-50
5-8
Cornus amomum
Cornus sericea
Diervilla lonicera
Juniperus communis
depressa
Morella pensylvanica
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Physocarpus opulifolius
Prunus virginiana
Rhus aromatica
Rosa virginiana
Silky Dogwood
Redosier Dogwood
Bush Honeysuckle
Common Juniper
Northern Bayberry
Virginia Creeper
Common Ninebark
Chokecherry
Fragrant Sumac
Virginia Rose
4-6
2-6
30
6-12
6-10
3-4
Ceanothus americanus
Mountainsweet or NJ
Tea
Height (ft)
4
Botanical Name
Spirea tomentosa
Common Name
Bank Cover Shrubs
Steeplebush
Moist to wet soil; tolerates poor drainage; sun. White
flowers; white fruits; purple fall color; red twigs; spreading
habit.
Songbirds, game birds,
deer, beaver, rabbit
Birds
Birds, rabbits, deer
Squirrel, songbirds, skunk
Butterflies, birds
Birds
Birds
Game birds, deer, songbirds
Moist to dry soil; sun. Pink flowers; persistent red fruits
Dry soil; sun. Greenish-yellow flowers; red fruits; orangemaroon fall color; fragrant foliage; mounded habit. Excellent for steep bank conditions.
Moist or dry soil; sun to partial shade. White flowers,
purple fruit; red fall color; large shrub or small suckering
tree; good for bluff stabilization.
Dry to moist soil, partial shade. White flowers; red, capsular fruits; yellowish fall color; shredded bark.
Moist or dry soil; full sun or full shade. Inconspicuous
flowers; blue-black berries; purple red to crimson red fall
color; tough vine that can climb trees; good bank planting
in combination with other plants. Aggressive.
Dry to wet soil; tolerates clay soil; sun to part shade;
Inconspicuous flowers; aromatic grayish white berries;
dark green flowers.
Dry soil, sun. Insignificant flowers, light green fruits,
spreading evergreen, light green foliage.
Dry soil; tolerates clay soils; sun or shade. Yellow flowers;
insignificant fruits; mounded habit; establishes quickly.
Moist to wet soil; partial shade. Yellowish white flowers;
bluish fruit.
Songbirds, deer, bear,
skunk, squirrel,mice
Songbirds, deer
Well-drained soil; tolerates drought; full sun or shade.
White plumes of flowers; bank cover.
Plant Characteristics
Moist to wet slightly acid soil; sun. Purple-rose flowers;
upright shrub; native along streams and in meadows;
thicket forming.
Butterflies, hummingbirds,
turkey, rabbit, deer
Used by:
Songbirds, game birds,
waterfowl, small mammals
60
Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality.
Nongame Wildlife Program - Section of Wildlife. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
2-8
Lobelia cardinalis
Asclepias incarnata
Lobelia syphilitica
Impatiens capensis
Verbena hastata
Caltha palustris
Iris versicolor
Eupatorium maculatum
Cardinal Flower
Swamp Milkweed
Great Lobelia
Jewelweed
Blue Vervain
Marsh-marigold
Blue Flag
Joe-pye Weed
Geranium maculatum
Cornus canadensis
Wild Geranium
Bunchberry
Wildflowers for Woodlands
2-3
Iris sibirica
Siberian Iris
2-8”
1-2
1-2
2-7
1-6
1-3
3-4
2-4
2
Botanical Name
Common Name
Height (ft)
3-6
Symphoricarpos
albus
Common Snowberry
Wildflowers for Wet Meadows
4-6
2-6
Rosa virginiana
Rhus aromatica
Virginia Rose
Fragrant Sumac
Full sun
July-August
Yellow
Blue
Full sun
Full sun to
shade
Full sun to
partial shade
July-August
July
May
July-Sept
June-July
Shade
Partial shade
to shade
Full sun to
partial shade
Blue
Partial shade
July-August
April-June
Blue
Full sun to
part shade
Aug-Sept
White
Pink or violet
Purple/pink
Orange
Pink
Full sun
July
Purple or
white
Full sun to
part shade
June
Red
Flower color
Birds
Songbirds, chipmunks
Butterflies, moths, bees
Fish, frogs, birds, butterflies, muskrat
Deer, game birds, frogs, insects
Muskrat, mice, rabbits, songbirds
Hummingbirds, orioles, mice, frogs,
grouse
Deer, hummingbirds
Birds, butterflies, muskrat, insects
Hummingbirds, butterflies, moths
Deer resistant
Used by:
Well-drained soil; medium shade. Small, pinkish flowers;
snow white berries; suckers profusely; bank cover.
Moist to dry soil; sun. Pink flowers; persistent red fruits
(hips); red stems; suckering habit.
Dry soil; sun. Greenish-yellow flowers; red fruits; orangemaroon fall color; fragrant foliage; mounded habit. Excellent for steep bank conditions.
Light needs
Blooms
Birds, small/large mammals
Birds
Birds, rabbits, deer
Stewardship in the Thousand Islands: A guide to help landowners care for their lands
The Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy and St. Lawrence Islands National Park.
61
61
.5-1
Viola species
Sanguinaria canadensis
Dicentra cucullaria
Trillium grandiflorum
Violets
Bloodroot
Dutchman’s Breeches
Trillium
1.5-2
1-3
Solidago species
Anemone cylindrical
Asclepias tuberosa
Coreopsis lanceolata
Aster species
Monarda didyma
Gentiana andrewsii
Goldenrod
Thimbleweed
Butterfly Milkweed
Lance-leaf Coreopsis
Asters
Bee Balm
Bottle Gentian
1-2
2-3.5
1-5
1.5-3
.5-5
Epilobium angustifolium
2-6
1
1
Fireweed
Wildflowers for Open Meadows
.5-1
Cornus canadensis
Bunchberry
2-8”
Geranium maculatum
Wild Geranium
1-2
2-8
Eupatorium maculatum
Joe-pye Weed
Wildflowers for Woodlands
2-3
Iris versicolor
Blue Flag
Aug-Sept
June-July
Aug-Sept
June-Sept
July-Aug
July
Aug-Sept
June-Aug
May-June
May
May
May-June
July
May
July-Sept
June-July
Partial shade
Full sun
Full sun
Full sun
Full sun
Full sun
Full sun
Blue
Red
Variety
Bees
Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees
Birds, butterflies, mice, chipmunks, rabbit, deer
Butterflies
Butterflies, birds, insects
Orange to
yellow
Yellow
Insects
Mice, rabbit, songbirds, deer, butterflies,
insects
Mice, deer
Deer
Bumblebees, ants
White
Yellow
Magenta
White
Shade to
partial shade
Full sun
White
Ants
Rabbits, mice, deer, game birds, butterflies
White, blue,
violet, yellow
White
Birds
Songbirds, chipmunks
Butterflies, moths, bees
Fish, frogs, birds, butterflies, muskrat
White
Pink or violet
Purple/pink
Blue
Shade
Shade
Shade
Shade
Partial shade
to shade
Full sun to
partial shade
partial shade
Law Briefs: Town of Cazenovia
This section contains excerpts of local laws, both Town and
Village, that pertain to the lake watershed. To see the complete law,
visit the Town of Cazenovia office at 7 Albany Street or the Village
Municipal Building, 90 Albany Street.
Chapter 96: Freshwater Wetlands
It is declared to be the public policy of the Town of Cazenovia
to preserve, protect and conserve freshwater wetlands and
the benefits derived therefrom, to prevent the despoliation
and destruction of freshwater wetlands, and to regulate the
development of such wetlands in order to secure the natural
benefits of freshwater wetlands….
REGULATED ACTIVITY — Any form of draining, dredging,
excavation, or removal of soil, mud, sand, shells, gravel or
other aggregate from any freshwater wetland, either directly or
indirectly; any form of dumping, filling, or depositing of any
soil, stones, sand, gravel, mud, rubbish or fill of any kind, either
directly or indirectly; erecting any structures or roads, the driving
of pilings, or placing of any other obstructions whether or not
changing the ebb and flow of the water; any form of pollution,
including but not limited to installing a septic tank, running a
sewer outfall, or discharging sewage treatment effluent or other
liquid wastes directly into or so as to drain into a freshwater
wetland; that portion of any subdivision of land that involves any
land in any freshwater wetland or adjacent area; and any other
activity which substantially impairs any of the several functions
served by freshwater wetlands or the benefits derived therefrom
which are set forth in § 96-3 (Statement of Findings) of this
chapter
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96-5. A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this section,
no person shall conduct a regulated activity on any freshwater
wetland or adjacent area unless such person has first obtained a
permit pursuant to this chapter.
Chapter 107: Land Disturbances
§ 107-2. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A. Conserve the character of Cazenovia, to promote the purposes
of the Cazenovia Land Use Guide and to protect the health, safety
and welfare of its citizens;
B. Protect critical environmental areas and vulnerable areas
mapped in the Cazenovia Land Use Guide;
C. Preserve the water quality of prime community water resources,
including Cazenovia Lake, watercourses and feeder streams,
wetlands, saturated soils and aquifer recharge areas;
D. Minimize flooding, erosion and sedimentation from land
disturbance activities and to protect downhill and/or downstream
properties;
E. Ensure that the volume and rate of stormwater runoff from a
given site shall not be significantly different than existed prior to
the development;
F. Minimize aesthetic devaluation of neighboring properties
during, and as a result of, land disturbance activities;
G. Establish specific control standards and practices during
construction phases of development when land is most vulnerable
to erosion; and
H. Minimize the amount of pollutants introduced into the
stormwater runoff negatively affecting community water resources.
Definition: LAND DISTURBANCE — The stripping of
vegetation and/or topsoil, or surface grading which changes the
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existing natural slope by 5% or more, excavation, filling, mining
and/or any other activity causing the addition and/or displacement
of soils by mechanical means.
§ 107-4. Permit required.
Except as provided herein, no land disturbance by mechanical
means is permitted within the Township of Cazenovia without a
permit. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as
limiting the normal use of land for the agricultural, horticultural
or gardening purposes defined in § 107-5.
A. Any land disturbance activity defined herein which does not
qualify for an exemption shall require a land disturbance permit
issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. Land disturbance permit
fees shall be established from time to time by the Town Board of
the Town of Cazenovia.
B. Applications for a land disturbance permit shall be made in
writing on forms available from the Code Enforcement Officer.
F. No land disturbance permit shall be issued within designated
wetlands, saturated soils, floodplains or steep slopes of 15% or
greater (D, E or F slopes) without approval of the Planning Board
and, if applicable, the approval of the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) or the Madison County Soil
and Water Conservation District.
G. No land disturbance permit shall be issued unless stormwater
management standards as hereinafter set forth are met by the
applicant.
§ 107-7. Stormwater management standards.
Erosion and sedimentation resulting from land disturbance
activities and/or extended periods of construction are not
permitted.
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A. No land disturbance permit shall be issued unless appropriate
stormwater management standards are incorporated therein by the
applicant pursuant to the following standards which will ensure
that the land disturbance shall be managed in such a way that
there shall be no:
(1) Flooding of downhill/downstream properties;
(2) Introduction of pollutants into stormwater runoff;
(3) Significant increase in the volume or rate of runoff from any
given site;
(4) Erosion or sedimentation permitted; and
(5) Direct stormwater runoff into Cazenovia Lake or its feeder
streams.
C. No land disturbance permit shall be issued without Planning
Board approval if a land disturbance has been initiated prior to the
issuance of a permit.
Chapter 107-7.1.: Watershed Impervious Surface
Requirements; Riparian Buffers.
The Planning Board shall have site plan approval review on any
property being developed in the Lake Watershed Zone.
Purpose. To limit for future development the amount of
impervious surface in the Lake Watershed Zone. In the riparian
corridor, the maximum impervious surface allowable shall be
l0% of the total size of the property area subject to improvement.
In non-riparian areas within the Lake Watershed Zone, the
maximum impervious surface shall be 25% of the total size of the
property area subject to improvement.
Policy for riparian buffers: Cazenovia Lake watershed.
(1) Purpose. The Town of Cazenovia, recognizing the importance
of the riparian corridor to water quality and habitat, has adopted
a policy directed at protecting and maintaining vegetation along
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shorelines, by establishing riparian buffers adjacent to streams
in the Town of Cazenovia and the shoreline of Cazenovia Lake
(called riparian buffers) that provide numerous environmental
protection and resource management benefits, which include the
following.
(a) Restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical and
biological integrity of the water resources. (b) To remove pollutants
delivered in stormwater runoff. (c) To reduce erosion and control
sedimentation. (d) To stabilize stream banks. (e) To provide
infiltration of stormwater runoff. (f) To maintain the base flow of
streams. (g) To contribute organic matter to the aquatic ecosystem.
(h) To provide tree canopy to shade streams and to promote
desirable aquatic organisms. (i) To provide riparian wildlife habitat.
(j) To furnish scenic value and recreational opportunities. All
proposed actions that disturb vegetation shall be subject to review
and approval by the Town Planning Board.
The following practices and activities are prohibited within
“Riparian Buffer Zone” except after approval by the Planning
Board. (a) Clearing any existing vegetation. (b) Soil disturbance
by grading, stripping, or other practices. (c) Filling or dumping.
(d) Drainage by ditching, or other systems. (e) Use, storage, or
application of pesticides, except for the spot spraying of noxious
weeds or non-native species consistent with permits issued
by NYSDEC. (f) Housing, grazing, or other maintenance of
livestock. (g) Storage or operation of motorized vehicles, except for
emergency use….
Chapter 130: Cazenovia Lake Uniform
Wastewater Management
§ 130-94. Purpose.
The purpose of this Part 5 is to preserve the quality of Cazenovia
Lake and surface and ground water in the Town of Cazenovia.
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These standards are established to ensure adequate performance
of wastewater treatment systems, to protect public health and to
optimize the effectiveness of the systems removing nutrients from
wastewater.
§ 130-95. Applicability.
This Part 5 shall be in effect throughout the Cazenovia Lake
Watershed Zone (herein referred to as the “Watershed”) and apply
to all wastewater treatment systems not subject to continuous
supervision by the New York State Departments of Environmental
Conservation and/or Health.
§ 130-98. Water quality protection zones.
Two zones within the Cazenovia Lake Watershed are established
for the protection of water, public health and safety.
A. Zone 1, or the Critical Water Quality Protection Zone, shall
include the land within the Lake Residential Dye Test Zone or any
area within 500 feet of Cazenovia
Lake.
B. Zone 2 shall include all other land in the Lake Watershed Zone.
§ 130-99. Rules and regulations for disposal of human excreta.
A. No untreated wastewater from a wastewater system shall
be deposited or allowed to escape into any watercourse in the
Watershed, or allowed to surface or be washed over the ground.
B. No human excreta, either raw or partially decomposed, may
be dipped, pumped or shoveled from a septic, aerobic or holding
tank and placed in or on the ground of the Watershed without the
specific approval of the site by the Department of Environmental
Conservation of the State of New York.
C. Any septic or holding tank that shows evidence of leaking must
be replaced or repaired within the time period specified in § 130108.
§ 130-102. Wastewater system inspections and surveys.
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A. The Authority is empowered to enter upon all properties
within the Watershed serviced by septic or other like wastewater
treatment disposal systems to make regular and thorough
inspections of all wastewater treatment systems for the purpose
of protection of the health, safety and well being of the people
of the Town of Cazenovia and for the protection of Cazenovia
Lake by observation and testing of wastewater treatment systems.
Whenever it shall appear to the Authority that a wastewater
system is inadequate, a written notice of violation shall be given to
the property owner, to be served by certified mail, return receipt
requested, specifying the nature of the violation and required
corrective action. The owner of the wastewater system shall have
30 days from the date of mailing of the notice of violation to
obtain a wastewater systems construction permit. Completion of
work detailed in the wastewater system construction permit shall
be performed within the time period specified in the permit.
§ 130-103. Property transfer and refinancing inspections.
A. Prior to any property transfer, all septic or holding tanks must
be pumped by a DEC-licensed waste hauler at least 10 days prior
to the time of property transfer, unless it has already been pumped
and inspected by the Authority within the past two years. The
property owner must give the Authority at least 48 hours’ notice to
arrange for inspection of the tank.
B. The filtration and/or absorption area must be evaluated by the
Authority at least 10 days prior to the time of property transfer.
§ 130-104. Regular septic tank inspection.
A. All septic tanks in Zone 1 of the Water Quality Protection
Zones are required to be pumped at least once every five years
and concurrently inspected by the Authority to ensure baffles
are adequate; to check for holes or cracks; and to ensure proper
overall operation and to protect the filtration/absorption area from
clogging and extend the life of the system.
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B. After septic tank pumping, the DEC-certified contractor
is required to send a septic tank pumping inspection form to
the authority having jurisdiction, certifying the septic tank was
pumped and describing maintenance work completed.
Chapter 165: Designation of Cazenovia Lake and Certain
Surrounding Property as Critical Environmental Areas
I PURPOSE
In order to assist in the protection of important community
resources, the Town of Cazenovia has designated Cazenovia Lake
and certain surrounding property described in Section III as
critical environmental areas (“CEA’s”) as provided under the New
York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQR”). The
intent of the CEA designation is to protect this water resource in
the Town of Cazenovia.
If you are initiating an action which is subject to review under
SEQR and includes property which is within or substantially
contiguous to Cazenovia Lake as defined below, you will be asked
to document the effects that action might have on the area by
completing the long form environmental assessment form (“Long
Form EAF”) available at the Town municipal building. Through
such documentation, public agencies can make better-informed
decisions for actions which are subject to SEQR. All actions,
except Type II actions, within the CEA must be treated as Type I
actions by an involved agency….
Maintaining the quality of the water is vital to the future of this
resource (Cazenovia Lake). The present potential contamination of
the lake is from non-point sources and includes septic effluent and
lawn and agricultural fertilizers, as well as stormwater runoff from
construction sites, impervious surfaces, and disturbed or eroded
ground surfaces.
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As defined in the Land Use Guide for Cazenovia, Cazenovia
Lake is one of the most critical character zones within the Town.
More detailed descriptions of important lake resources can be
found in: Cazenovia Community Resources Project, Land Use
Guide (Cazenovia, NY, 1985, pp. 14, 30 and 54-57) [available at
Cazenovia Public Library]. The appearance of the lake is critical
to people’s enjoyment of this resource. The wooded shoreline and
ridges surrounding the lake create a natural setting. A tree- lined
shore and wooded ridges help to screen existing buildings within
the watershed. Of note is a unique stand of Norway Spruce along
the southwestern shoreline planted in about 1890 as a screen
along the West Shore Railroad. As land development continues to
take advantage of a “lake view,” the surroundings of the lake may
become over-built and the visual character destroyed. Therefore,
review of land use activities along the approximate nine miles
of shoreline must carefully consider visual resources as defined
within the Land Use Guide.
Law Briefs: Village of Cazenovia
§ 180-96. Lakefront and other shoreline lot standards.
A. All construction on any lakefront or any other shoreline lot
shall be carried out in such manner as to minimize interference
with the natural flow of such waterway, to avoid shoreline erosion
or waterway sedimentation to minimize increases in the rate of
surface runoff into the waterway, to remove only that vegetation
which is reasonably necessary to accomplish lot development, and
to generally maintain the existing aesthetic and environmental
quality and character.
B. Any boat pump-out or other equipment for removing sanitary
wastes from boats shall be connected to a public or approved
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private sewage disposal system.
C. Any commercial use involving any permitted use or storage
of gasoline or other petroleum products shall be located at least
100 feet from the shoreline and shall include adequate provisions
for insuring that any leak, rupture or spill will be contained and
not be introduced into or affect the waterway. In particular, a
raised earthen or paved berm or dike shall be constructed in such
manner so as to afford adequate containment.
D. Any paved or otherwise improved parking, loading or service
area within 100 feet of any shoreline shall be designed and
constructed so as to minimize surface runoff.
ARTICLE II Use of Public Sewers Required
§ 136-3. Deposit of waste restricted.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to
be deposited upon public or private property within the Village,
or in any area under the jurisdiction of said Village, any human
or animal excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste; except
such duly designated areas which are operated under the rules
and regulations of the Department of Health of the State of New
York and the Village. Provided, however, that this section shall not
be construed to prohibit or prevent the storage, use and spreading
of manure, fertilizer or other similar materials for purposes of
farming, gardening or horticulture.
§ 136-4. Discharge of waste into watercourses prohibited;
separation of storm and sanitary sewers.
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any watercourse in the Village
either directly or through any storm sewer, any sanitary sewage,
industrial wastes, or other polluted waters, except where treatment
has been provided in accordance with Article VI of this chapter.
Use of separate storm sewers and sanitary sewers is mandatory,
and no combined sewers will be allowed.
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Additional Resources:
Cazenovia Lake Association,
PO Box 55
Cazenovia, NY 13035
e-mail: info@cazlake.org
www.cazlake.org
Native Plants of the Northeast
A Guide for Gardening and
Conservation
by Donald J. Leopold
www.timberpress.com
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
PO Box 303
Interlaken, NY 14847
Phone: 607.532.4104
e-mail: steward@cayugalake.org
www.cayugalake.org
New York Sea Grant
62B Mackin Hall
SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126-3599
Phone: 315.312.3042
e-mail: SGOswego@cornell.edu
www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/
Central New York Regional
Planning & Development
126 North Salina St., 100 Clinton
Square, Suite 200
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315.422.8276
www.cnyrpdb.org
Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Madison County
PO Box 1209; 100 Eaton St.
Morrisville, NY 13408
Phone: 655.2075 or 315.684.3001
e-mail: madison@cornell.edu
www.cce.cornell.edu/madison
Finger Lakes - Lake Ontario
Watershed Protection Alliance
309 Lake St.
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Phone: 315.536.7488
www.fllowpa.org
Madison County:
Health Department
Phone: 315.366.2361
Recycling and Sanitation
Phone: 315.361.8408
www.madisoncounty.org/waste/waste.
htm
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North American Lake Management
Society
www.nalms.org
NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation/Region 7
1285 Fisher Ave.
Cortland, NY 13045-1090
Phone: 607.753.3095
www.dec.ny.gov
NYS Federation of Lake
Associations, Inc.
NYSFOLA
PO Box 84
Lafayette, NY, 13084
Phone: 800.796.3652
e-mail: fola@nysfola.org
www.nysfola.org
Town of Cazenovia
7 Albany St.
Cazenovia, NY 13035
Phone: 655.9213
www.townofcazenovia.org
Village of Cazenovia
90 Albany St.
Cazenovia, NY 13035
Phone: 655.3041
www.villageofcazenovia.com
Thanks for letting us adapt
some of your material:
2006 Annual Report—Cazenovia Lake
NY Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP)
Fingerlakes Landscape: Landscaping for Erosion Control
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga, Tompkins and Yates
Counties
Life on the Lake—a primer for life on Cazenovia Lake
Cazenovia Lake Restoration and Management Plan prepared by
Coastal Environmental Services, Inc.
Cazenovia Lake Association, Inc.
Our Lake Book
Lake George Association
Smart Steps for Clean Water
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Survey of Fish and Habitat in the Littoral Zone of Cazenovia Lake
Lucas Kirby and Neil Ringler, SUNY College of Environmental
Science and Forestry
The Lake Book: Actions You Can Take To Protect Your Lake
Congress of Lake Associations, Yarmouth, Maine
The Lake Book, A Guide to Reducing Water Pollution at Home
Biology Department, State University College at Oneonta
Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality.
Nongame Wildlife Program - Section of Wildlife.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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This lot has been cleared to create
a panoramic lake view, sacrificing
privacy and speeding up runoff.
Landscaping on this lot began
by planting a difficult-to-mow
slope with trees, flowers, and ferns
creating a “framed” view. The
beach and lawn are still usable even
though reduced by half.
Ultimately, a double buffer zone is
created to protect the lake. Besides
reducing runoff into the lake, the
landscaping also provides separate
“rooms” for people and wildlife.
Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality.
Nongame Wildlife Program - Section of Wildlife. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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Glossary
algae—aquatic plants that do not have true leaves, roots, or stems
aquacide—chemical used to destroy or control a waterborne
organism
benthic barrier— materials that are laid across sections of lake or
river bottoms to obstruct weed growth
Eurasian Watermilfoil—non-native plant species, Cazenovia
Lake’s #1 nuisance plant
eutrophication— a lake’s natural aging process that can take
hundreds or thousands of years, and results in changes to its
appearance and life-supporting quality
eutrophic— term applied to older lakes characterized as
shallower, warmer, and loaded with nutrients
ground water—water held underground in soil or rock, often
feeding springs and wells
herbicide—chemical preparation designed to kill plants, usually
weeds, or to inhibit their growth
impervious surface—hard surface, like a road, that prevents
rainwater from soaking into the soil
lake ecology—study of how plants and animals within a lake or
watershed relate to each other
leach field—specially prepared areas that filter wastewater and
pollutants from a septic tank
limnologist—scientist who studies lakes
macrophyte—a plant, especially aquatic, large enough to be
observed using the unaided eye
mesotrophic— term applied to middle-aged lakes with
medium levels of nutrients, and intermediate clarity, depth and
temperature.
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oligotrophic— term applied to young lakes that are often
deep, clear, and very low in nutrients
pesticide—chemical substance used to kill pests, especially
insects
pH—measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution or damp
substance, such as soil
phosphorus—a chemical element that, among many other
things, is a nutrient for aquatic plants
phytoplankton—very small free-floating aquatic plants such
as one-celled algae
plankton—mass of tiny animals and plants floating in lakes,
usually near the surface
riparian buffer zone—protective area near a lake or stream’s
shoreline
runoff—rainfall that does not soak into the soil but flows into
surface waters
water clarity—the quality of being clear or transparent
water quality—a measure of water’s biological, chemical, and
physical aspects
watershed—land area that drains into a particular lake, river,
or larger body of water
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Rolland Opaque 80# cover & 70# text, smooth finish
Recycled - 20% Post Consumer Waste - Acid Free
Cazenovia Area Community Development Association
7 Nickerson Street
Cazenovia, NY 13035
Phone: 315.655.7651
Fax: 315.655.7129
director@cacda.net
www.cacda.net