Lake group hears forest issues

SENECA LAKE—The Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association’s (SLPWA) monthly meeting was held, Saturday, Dec. 11 with guest speaker Jodie Vanselow, District Ranger at Finger Lakes National Forest.
Although Finger Lakes National Forest is the second smallest national forest in the United States, it is the only national forest in New York. Situated on the hilltop in the town of Hector its watershed area contains both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.
The Finger Lakes National Forest is a multi-use area, one of the uses being cattle grazing. The cattle arrive in the spring, bringing with them a unique asset to the forest by providing support for a larger bird population. The cattle, however, also need to have access to the ponds and streams of the forest creating waste in the head section of the creeks.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative providing $475 million to the Great Lakes basin. The Finger Lakes National Forest is within that area and will receive approximately $150,000 for watershed improvements.
There has been a development of a “water resources study plan” to appraise the greatest needs. Some of the issues in the water resources study plan is to protect more ponds with fencing, repair stream banks, and improve the creek crossing areas.
The mission of the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association is to promote the understanding, preservation and improvement of the water quality, natural habitat and general environmental conditions of Seneca Lake.
Through partnering with other associations and working closely with entities such as the National Forest the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association has a better understanding of the issues and a greater voice when communicating with government officials.