1. science
2. ecology
3. pollution

Save the Rain
First Quarterly Report 2015
January - March 2015
Joanne M. Mahoney
County Executive
www.savetherain.us
ONONDAGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
WATER ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
VISION
To be a respected leader in wastewater treatment, storm water
management, and the protection of our environment using
state-of-the-art, innovative technologies and
sound scientific principles as our guide.
MISSION
To protect and improve the water environment of Onondaga County
in a cost-effective manner ensuring the health and sustainability
of our community and economy.
CORE VALUES
Excellence
Teamwork
Honesty
Innovation
Cost-Effectiveness
Safety
Table of Contents
Report from Commissioner
Gray Projects Update
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Progress of Projects Under Construction
Fact Sheets
Green Projects Update
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Projects Summary
Fact Sheets
Green Improvement Fund Update
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Green Improvement Fund Program Summary
Fact Sheets
Metro WWTP Phosphorus Projects/TMDL/Ambient Monitoring Program Update
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Metro Phosphorus Optimization Project
Metro Phosphorus Work Plan Project
Onondaga Lake Water Quality Model
Ambient Monitoring Program
Water Quality Sampling
Tributary Sampling
Tributary Bacteria Compliance Assessment
Onondaga Lake Sampling
Biological Monitoring Program Sampling Summary
Legislative/Regulatory/Media Update
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Action Items for County Legislature
Action Items for the Environmental Protection Committee
Media Articles
Financial Update
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Contracts
New Contracts
Amendments to Existing Contracts
Change Orders
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Funding
State Bond Act Funds
Federal EPA Funds
Federal Army Corps of Engineers Funds
EFC Loans

Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
Fourth Stipulation of the ACJ
Clinton/Lower MIS CSO Improvement
Harbor Brook Drainage Basin CSO Abatement
Midland CSO Abatement
Sewer Separation of CSO Areas:
022/038/040/045/046A/046B/047/048/050/051/053/054
Save the Rain Education and Outreach Grant
Appendix
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Project Payments
Lake Improvement Project Status Report
Federal and State Grants/Loans Approved and Received
Chronology of Project Construction Starts
Contractors for Construction Projects
 Metro Treatment Plant
 CSOs
WEP Acronyms
GRAY PROJECTS UPDATE
Cit
FACT SHEET
Harbor Brook CSO 063
Conveyances Project
Project:
Project Owner:
Project Location:
Sewershed:
No. of CSOs Abated:
Completion Date:
Contract Amount:
Bid Date:
Prime Contractor:
CSO 063 Conveyances
Onondaga County
Harbor Brook, Erie Blvd. W.
Harbor Brook
1
October 2015 (projected)
$5,365,007
April 28, 2014
Marcellus Construction, Inc.
Project Description: The Harbor Brook CSO 063 Conveyances Project is the final conveyance pipeline
associated with the Lower Harbor Brook CSO Storage Facility. This connection will allow additional
wastewater to be stored at the facility for eventual treatment at the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment
Plant. The new project, Contract No. 5, consists of the following:
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


1,020 linear feet (LF) of pile supported 48-inch sewer pipe
New CSO 063 outfall and trash rack structure
156 LF of 48-inch pipe jacking under the SBNY Railroad
1,920 LF of 60-inch sewer pipe
New CSO 063 regulator structure and grit chamber
In addition, as part of the County’s floatable removal program, approximately 90 catch basins in CSO Area
063 need new hoods for oil and debris limitations. There are also provisions for catch basin cleaning,
rehabilitation or replacement if necessary.
Construction update: Marcellus Construction, Inc. continued construction on the pipeline and installed 740
LF of 48-inch conveyance sewer, 5 pile-supported manholes, the CSO 063 diversion structure, and the trash
rack manhole. The projected completion date for this project is October 2015.
Installation of the 48-inch sewer
pipe on a pipe cradle
Installation of 36-inch outfall
pipe between manholes
HW-10 & HW-10A
Installation of reinforced
concrete pile cap for
manhole HW-9
Version 3/30/15
GREEN PROJECTS UPDATE
Green Projects Update
As we begin the 2015 construction season, the Save the Rain program is working towards
wrapping up projects from last year and building momentum for future green projects.
Final punch list items are scheduled for completion at Comfort Tyler Park. Green
infrastructure solutions were included with capital improvements to the park. The majority
of construction work was completed in Fall 2014, with minor items scheduled for
completion this spring. Renovations to the park included: rain garden systems, tree
plantings, pavement removal and added green space with a new spray fountain feature
installed to prevent excess water from entering the sewer system. Additionally, the existing
basketball courts were redeveloped using porous asphalt in collaboration with the Jim & Juli
Boeheim Foundation’s Courts 4 Kids Program. In total, the Comfort Tyler Park project
captures an estimated 800,000 gallons of stormwater annually.
Construction of Phases 2 and 3 of the Connective Corridor, a collaborative project of
Syracuse University, the City of Syracuse, and Onondaga County, is expected to be
completed in 2015. The green infrastructure installed in this project includes porous paver
parking lanes and snow storage areas, tree pits, and underground infiltration trenches.
These final two phases will complete the Connective Corridor. Phase 1 and Forman Park
included similar green infrastructure and were constructed from 2011 to 2013. Upon
completion, the Corridor as a whole will provide significant runoff reduction for the Save
the Rain Program and also will create a valuable link between the Downtown and University
communities. The three phases of the Connective Corridor will capture a combined total of
approximately 26 million gallons of stormwater each year.
Continuing progress is being made to strategically advance green infrastructure projects
through the efforts of the Green Planning Committee (GPC). In 2014, the GPC held several
meetings and established a framework to identify a comprehensive list of potential green
infrastructure projects. For the 2015 construction season, the GPC has submitted several
project opportunities for future development including: CSO 052 mitigation project,
redevelopment at the Southwest Community Center campus, green street development
along the South State Street corridor, and several road reconstruction project opportunities
in the 060 and 077 sewersheds. The GPC is now in the early planning stages for additional
project identification in high priority capture areas in the city.
Project:
Project Owner:
Project Location:
Sewershed:
CSO:
GI Technology:
FACT SHEET
Comfort Tyler Park
Courts 4 Kids
Capture Area:
Runoff Reduction:
Bid Price:
Year Contracted:
Contractors:
Comfort Tyler Park
City of Syracuse Parks Dept.
1212-14 East Colvin St and
Comstock Ave
Midland
060/077
Rain Garden, Bioswale, Porous
Asphalt Basketball Court
38,300 sq. ft.
982,000 gal/yr
$584,603.09
2014
D.E. Tarolli, J&J Landscaping
Project Description: The Comfort Tyler Park project
highlights the continued partnership of the Save the
Rain Program with the City of Syracuse Parks
Department and the Jim and Juli Boeheim
Foundation’s Courts 4 Kids Program. Along with the
green
infrastructure
installation,
capital
improvements were implemented within the park
which were funded by the Parks Department.
The green infrastructure elements of this project
include a rain garden at the northeast corner of the
park. This rain garden captures runoff from both
Comstock Avenue and East Colvin Street and is very
similar to the rain gardens installed at Pass
Arboretum, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Entrance, and
Leavenworth/Barker Park.
Completed Porous Asphalt Basketball Court
Additionally, the existing basketball court was
replaced with a porous asphalt basketball court.
Comfort Tyler Park is the fourth park in the City of
Syracuse with a basketball court converted to porous
pavement by Save the Rain Program in partnership
with the Courts 4 Kids Program.
Finally, an infiltration trench and bioswale were
constructed along Vincent Street at the south end of
the park. This system will capture stormwater runoff
from Vincent Street and will also provide a defined
curb line that limits the illegal parking that commonly
occurs in this area.
These green infrastructure elements capture runoff
from within the park as well as from adjacent streets,
totaling approximately 982,000 gallons of
stormwater runoff capture annually. Construction of
the project began in August 2014 and was
substantially complete in November 2014.
Progress Photo of the Rain Garden Installed
at the Northeast End of Comfort Tyler Park
Version 4/3/15
Project:
Project Owner:
Project Location:
FACT SHEET
Connective Corridor:
Phases 2 and 3
Sewershed:
CSO:
GI Technology:
Capture Area:
Run-off Reduction:
Year Contracted:
Bid Cost:
Prime Contractor:
Connective Corridor – Phases 2 and 3
City of Syracuse
East Genesee St. from Forman Ave. to
State St. and West Fayette St. from
Townsend St. to West St.
Clinton/Lower MIS
026, 027, 029, 030
Green Street
623,000 sq. ft.
10,975,000 gal/yr
2013
$973,255 (Green Infrastructure Cost)
Barrett Paving Materials
Project Description: Significant progress on constructing Phases 2 and 3 of the Connective Corridor was
made in 2014, and both phases are scheduled to be completed in 2015. The project exemplifies the
continued partnership of Onondaga County with the City of Syracuse and Syracuse University. The
green infrastructure installed in this project includes porous pavers parking lanes and snow storage
areas, tree pits, and underground infiltration trenches. Also included in the project is the manufactured
treatment device, installed in the spring of 2014, providing water quality treatment for the West Fayette
Street Sewer Separation project that was completed in 2013.
The green infrastructure installed in Phases 2 and 3 of the Connective Corridor captures runoff from
streets, adjacent hardscapes, and upstream areas – a total of 623,000 square feet of drainage area. This
equates to an estimated 10,975,000 gallons of stormwater capture annually.
These final two phases will complete the Connective Corridor. Phase 1 and Forman Park included similar
green infrastructure and were constructed from 2011 to 2013. Upon completion, the Corridor as a whole
will provide significant runoff reduction for the Save the Rain Program and also will create a valuable link
between the Downtown and University communities. When complete, the three phases of the
Connective Corridor will capture an estimated total of 26 million gallons of stormwater each year.
Manufactured Treatment Device
Installed in the Spring of 2014
Porous Paver Parking Lane and Snow
Storage Area on E. Genesee St at
Firefighters Memorial Park
Version 4/3/15
GREEN IMPROVEMENT FUND
Green Improvement Fund Projects Update
The 2015 Green Improvement Fund (GIF) application period is scheduled to be announced
in early spring. During the winter, the annual program evaluation was conducted to refine
the GIF program scope and maximize capture opportunities in priority areas in the City. The
spring announcement will focus on updated program information for eligible funding zones
and guidelines for the 2015 construction season. Following the announcement, revised GIF
program documents will be available on the Save the Rain website.
In addition to the 2015 program modifications, work continues on GIF projects currently
under contract, moving toward completion. Currently, there are 36 projects under contract
or in the contracting process that have not yet been constructed, with 3 more under review.
Save the Rain will also continue to work with owners of completed GIF projects on
infrastructure maintenance compliance and documentation.
Green Improvement Fund Summary (as of 3/31/15)
Projects Completed
74
Contract/Implementation Phase
36
Projects in Award Phase
0
Applications Under Review
3
Inactive/Ineligible
25
Total Applications Received
138
METRO WWTP PHOSPHORUS
PROJECTS /TMDL/AMBIENT
MONITORING PROGRAM
UPDATE
Metro WWTP Phosphorus Projects, TMDL, & Ambient Monitoring
Metro WWTP Projects
Metro WWTP Phosphorus Optimization Project
The Metro WWTP Total Phosphorus Treatment Optimization design project is currently in the design
phase. The improvements include provisions for isolating the Biological Aerated Filter (BAF) trains and
adding a chemical feed system for Polyaluminum Chloride (PAC) among other miscellaneous
modifications. Construction of these improvements will be completed in 2017.
Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP)
Tributary Compliance Assessment
The AMP data supports the evaluation of water quality conditions and compliance with New York State
ambient water quality standards (AWQS). The 2014 tributary AMP data continued to indicate that the
major tributaries were generally in compliance with these standards. The primary exceptions in meeting
AWQS in the tributaries were total dissolved solids (TDS) and fecal coliform bacteria (FC). Contravention
Several segments of Onondaga Lake’s tributary streams are included on the 2012 NYSDEC compendium
of impaired waters (http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/31290.html). NYSDEC places waterbodies on this
list when there is evidence that water quality conditions do not meet applicable water quality standards
and/or the water bodies do not support their designated use. The regulatory goal of the ACJ is to bring
segments of the Onondaga Lake tributaries affected by Onondaga County’s municipal discharges into
compliance with designated best uses pursuant to 6 NYCRR (New York Code, Rules and Regulations)
Parts 701 and 703. As outlined in the ACJ, specific NYS water quality standards and guidance values that
will be used to assess the extent to which these actions are successful include the following:
 Dissolved Oxygen: 6NYCRR Sec. 703.3
 Ammonia: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.5
 Phosphorus: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.2
 Nitrogen: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.2
 Bacteria: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.4
 Floatable Solids: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.2
 Turbidity: 6 NYCRR Sec. 703.2
 Water Quality Standards & Guidelines (NYSDEC TOGS 1.1.1)
Onondaga Creek by the Kirkpatrick Street Bridge
Tributary Bacteria Compliance Summary (First Quarter 2015)
Fecal Coliform compliance was not assessed for the months of November 2014 - January 2015. As per
the AMP 2014 Work Plan, five (5) Fecal Coliform samples per month at the AMP Tributary sampling sites
are limited during the April to October disinfection period.
Tributary Sampling Event Summary (First Quarter 2015)
January 2015:
 Tributary Biweekly sampling events: January 6, 13 and 27
February 2015:
 Tributary Biweekly sampling events: February 10 and 24
March 2015:
 Tributary Biweekly sampling event: March 10
 Tributary Quarterly sampling event: March 26
Onondaga Lake Water Quality Monitoring
Designated Uses in Onondaga Lake
A white paper presenting an evaluation of the extent to which Onondaga Lake is currently meeting its
designated uses (for Class “B” and “C” waters), including public bathing and recreation, aquatic life
support, fish consumption, natural resources habitat/hydrology, and aesthetics is included with this ACJ
quarterly report. The paper entitled “Attainment of Designated Uses in Onondaga Lake”, dated April
2015, was prepared by the Upstate Freshwater Institute. Conclusions of the white paper are generally
consistent with those reached by the NYSDEC in the most recently updated (2014) Waterbody Inventory
and Priority Waterbody and Priority Waterbodies List (WI/PWL). In order to fulfill certain requirements
of the Federal Clean Water Act, the NYSDEC must provide regular, periodic assessments of the quality of
the water resources in the state. These assessments reflect monitoring and water quality information
drawn from a number of programs and sources, both within and outside the NYSDEC, and compiled by
the NYSDEC Division of Water into an inventory database of all waterbodies in New York State. This
inventory of water quality information is the NYSDEC’s WI/PWL. The routine monitoring AMP data and
information were interpreted by the NYSDEC to determine the level of support of designated uses and
to arrive at an overall assessment. AMP water quality data [bacteria levels, water clarity (Secchi disk),
total phosphorus concentrations, chlorophyll-a), and biological data (macroinvertebrate and fish
community) were evaluated to assess the support of specific water uses (public bathing and recreation
uses, aquatic life use support).
Onondaga Lake Quarterly Sampling Event Summary
No lake sampling events were conducted during the winter months from January through March 2015.
The AMP has been tracking the development and extent of ice cover on Onondaga Lake since the winter
of 1987. Observations for the winter of 2014-2015 indicate ice cover in the north end of the lake
beginning on January 7, 2015. Lake wide ice cover was first observed on January 15, 2015. Sampling will
resume in April once the lake is ice free.
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAM
Sampling Program Summary (First Quarter 2015)
January 2015
 Completed larval fish identification.
February 2015
 Started age and growth analysis.
March 2015
 Continued age and growth analysis.
 Conducted macroinvertebrate training session
Macroinvertebrates
Since 2000 Onondaga County has sampled the macroinvertebrate communities of Onondaga Lake and
several of its tributaries to characterize the existence and severity of use impairment, and to evaluate
the effectiveness of control actions [improvements to wastewater collection and treatment, both at
Metro and the combined sewer overflows (CSOs)]. Macroinvertebrates are an important component of
the aquatic food web. Freshwater macroinvertebrate taxa include aquatic insects (Insecta), worms
(Oligochaeta), snails (Gastropoda), clams (Bivalvia), leeches (Hirudinea), and crustaceans (Crustacea).
These organisms provide the link in the food web between microscopic organisms and fish, and facilitate
the transfer of energy and materials between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
There are important differences among groups of macroinvertebrates that influence the structure and
function of a particular community. Differences in tolerance to environmental conditions is the basis for
using these organisms as biological indicators of environmental quality. The biological community
integrates the effects of different pollutant stressors and thus provides a holistic measure of their
aggregate effect. Benthic macroinvertebrates are good indicators of localized conditions; their limited
migration patterns and largely sessile existence make them well suited to assess site-specific impacts of
point and nonpoint source discharges. Many state agencies, including NYSDEC, examine the structure
and abundance of the macroinvertebrate community as an indication of long-term water quality and
habitat conditions. One important difference between groups of macroinvertebrates is their tolerance
to organic (oxygen-demanding) wastes. Macroinvertebrates can be grouped into three broad
categories: intolerant, moderately tolerant, and tolerant to this class of pollutant. The intolerant group
includes species of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, riffle beetles, and hellgrammites; the tolerant group
includes worms, some midges, leeches, and some snails. The moderately tolerant group includes most
snails, sowbugs, scuds, blackflies, craneflies, fingernail clams, dragonflies, and some midges. Tributary
macroinvertebrate monitoring will be conducted in 2015, allowing approximately one (1) year for the
benthic community to reach a new equilibrium to the changed water quality conditions, and in 2017 to
assess the community three years following improvements. Sampling will be conducted at the same
locations as sampled in the baseline program in Onondaga Creek (four sites), Ley Creek (three sites), and
Harbor Brook (two sites).
WEP Technicians collecting macroinvertebrates
with a kick screen in Harbor Brook in 2010
Stonefly collected from Onondaga Creek at
Tully Farms Road in 2010
ATTAINMENT OF DESIGNATED USES
INONONDAGALAKE
A white paper prepared for Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection Prepared by Upstate Freshwater Institute April 2015
TableofContents
0 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ vii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 1.1 Objectives of this Report .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Historic Conditions ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 ACJ‐Required Upgrades to Meet Water Quality Standards ............................................. 3 1.4 TMDLs and SPDES Permits ............................................................................................... 5 Onondaga Lake and its Watershed ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Morphometry ................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Watershed and Land Use ................................................................................................. 8 Ambient Monitoring Program .............................................................................................. 10 3.1 Water Quality Monitoring .............................................................................................. 10 3.2 Biological Monitoring ..................................................................................................... 11 Loading Reductions and Related Water Quality Improvements .......................................... 12 4.1 Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate ....................................................................................... 12 4.2 Phosphorus ..................................................................................................................... 15 4.3 Algal Biomass .................................................................................................................. 17 4.4 Water Clarity .................................................................................................................. 18 4.5 Dissolved Oxygen ........................................................................................................... 20 4.6 Fecal Coliform Bacteria .................................................................................................. 22 4.7 Comparisons to Regional Lakes ...................................................................................... 25 Designated Uses of Onondaga Lake and Current Level of Attainment ................................ 26 5.1 Public Bathing and Recreation Uses ............................................................................... 26 5.1.1 Indicator bacteria .................................................................................................... 27 5.1.2 Water clarity ........................................................................................................... 28 5.1.3 Phosphorus ............................................................................................................. 29 5.1.4 Chlorophyll‐a ........................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Aquatic Life Use Support ................................................................................................ 31 ii | P a g e 5.2.1 Biological data ......................................................................................................... 31 5.2.2 Physical/Chemical data ........................................................................................... 36 5.3 Fish Consumption Use .................................................................................................... 38 5.4 Natural Resources Habitat/Hydrology Uses................................................................... 39 5.4.1 Wetland and riparian habitat ................................................................................. 39 5.4.2 Tully Valley mudboils .............................................................................................. 40 5.4.3 Invasive species ....................................................................................................... 40 5.4.4 Weather variations and climate change ................................................................. 41 5.5 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................... 42 5.5.1 Water clarity ........................................................................................................... 42 5.5.2 Algal blooms ............................................................................................................ 42 5.5.3 Macrophytes ........................................................................................................... 43 5.5.4 Floatables ................................................................................................................ 44 6 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 45 7 References ............................................................................................................................ 48 iii | P a g e ListofTables
Table 1–1. Levels of severity for restricted uses. ........................................................................ 2 Table 1–2. Metro compliance schedule. ..................................................................................... 4 Table 1–3. CSO compliance schedule. ......................................................................................... 5 Table 5–1. Percentage of measurements in compliance with ambient water quality standards (AWQS) and guidance values in the upper waters of Onondaga Lake at South Deep, 2007‐2013. ............................................................................................................... 30 Table 5–2. Fish species identified in Onondaga Lake, 2000–2013. ........................................... 33 iv | P a g e ListofFigures
Figure 2–1. Bathymetric map of Onondaga Lake, with tributaries and primary sampling locations (South Deep, North Deep) identified. ........................................................ 7 Figure 2–2. Annual average inflows (gauged and ungauged) to Onondaga Lake, 1990–2013. ... 8 Figure 2–3. Land use in the four largest Onondaga Lake watersheds. ........................................ 9 Figure 4–1. Decreases in ammonia‐N (NH3‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). ...... 13 Figure 4–2. Decreases in nitrite‐N (NO2‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–
2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). ................... 14 Figure 4–3. Increases in nitrate‐N (NO3‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–
2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). ................... 15 Figure 4–4. Decreases in total phosphorus (TP) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). ...... 16 Figure 4–5. Summer average (June–September) chlorophyll‐a concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters) of Onondaga Lake, 1990–2013. .............................................. 17 Figure 4–6. Percent occurrence of summer (June–September) algal blooms in Onondaga Lake evaluated annually for the 1990–2013 period, based on chlorophyll‐a measurements. ........................................................................................................ 18 Figure 4–7. Summer (June‐September) Secchi disk transparency in Onondaga Lake (South Deep), 1990–2013: (a) summer observations plotted for each year (limits for impaired, stressed, and threatened included for reference), and (b) the percentage of observations less than 1.2 meters (impaired). .................................................... 20 Figure 4–8. Minimum dissolved oxygen (DOmin) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐4 meters average) of Onondaga Lake during October, annually 1990–2013. Horizontal lines represent water quality standards applicable to daily average (5 mg/L) and instantaneous (4 mg/L) measurements. ................................................................. 21 Figure 4–9. Color contour plot of dissolved oxygen concentrations in Onondaga Lake (South Deep) during 2013, based on daily vertical profiles of 1‐meter depth resolution. . 22 Figure 4–10. Decreases in annual loading of fecal coliform bacteria to Onondaga Lake from Metro+Bypass and tributaries, 1991–2013. ............................................................ 23 v | P a g e Figure 4–11. Percent contributions to fecal coliform bacteria loading to Onondaga Lake in 2013. ................................................................................................................................ 24 Figure 4–12. A comparison of trophic state metrics in Onondaga Lake and selected regional lakes: (a) summer average (June to September) total phosphorus concentrations and (b) summer average (June to September) chlorophyll‐a concentrations. ....... 25 Figure 5–1. Map of AMP monitoring locations, with Class B waters shaded dark blue and Class C water shaded light blue. ....................................................................................... 26 Figure 5–2. The percentage of months in compliance with the water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria for nearshore stations in Onondaga Lake, April–October 2013. 28 Figure 5–3. Percentage of nearshore Secchi disk transparency measurements greater than 1.2 meters (4 feet) during June–September 2013. ....................................................... 29 Figure 5–4. Summary of aquatic life use support assessments for 2000, 2005, and 2010, based on macroinvertebrate surveys conducted at five littoral zone sites in Onondaga Lake. ......................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 5–5. Distribution of fish nests between the south and north basins of Onondaga Lake, 1993–2013. .............................................................................................................. 34 Figure 5–6. Trend in annual average catch rates (number per hour) of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass combined in Onondaga Lake from 2000 to 2013. ...................... 35 Figure 5–7. Percent of adult fish captured during AMP sampling with DELTFM abnormalities. 36 Figure 5–8. Coolwater and coldwater fish habitat, 1990–2013: (a) the percentage of the lake volume with dissolved oxygen and temperature conditions suitable for coolwater and coldwater fish, and (b) the percentage of days in the May 15 through November 15 interval with habitat available for coolwater and coldwater fish. ... 37 Figure 5–9. Macrophyte coverage in Onondaga Lake, 2000–2013. Percentage represents coverage of the littoral zone (to depth of 6 meters). .............................................. 43 vi | P a g e 0 EXECUTIVESUMMARY
This report presents an evaluation of the extent to which Onondaga Lake is presently meeting its designated uses, including public bathing and recreation, aquatic life support, fish consumption, natural resources habitat/hydrology, and aesthetics. Water quality conditions in Onondaga Lake have improved markedly since the 1990s as a result of Onondaga County’s major investments in wastewater collection and treatment. The 1998 Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) between Onondaga County, New York State, and the Atlantic States Legal Foundation required improvements to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. In addition, the ACJ required an extensive ambient monitoring program (the AMP) to document improvements in water quality and biological communities. This evaluation focuses on achievement of best uses designated for class “B” and “C” waters and status with respect to applicable New York State ambient water quality standards and guidelines. This assessment emphasized the following water quality parameters because they are cited specifically in the ACJ: dissolved oxygen, ammonia, turbidity, floatables, phosphorus, nitrogen, and bacteria. Major investments in advanced wastewater treatment by Onondaga County have transformed Onondaga Lake from a highly polluted waterbody into a system that now supports a variety of recreational uses and a diverse fishery. The lake is now meeting ambient water quality standards intended to protect aquatic life and human recreation uses. Water quality conditions in the northern two‐thirds of the lake are now suitable for swimming. A total of 53 species of fish have been identified in the lake since 2000, including warmwater, coolwater, and limited coldwater species. A parallel lake cleanup program being implemented by Honeywell is addressing industrial contaminants and the recovery of an edible fishery. Treatment upgrades at the Syracuse Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant (Metro) in 2004 and 2005 greatly reduced inputs of phosphorus and potentially harmful forms of nitrogen to Onondaga Lake. Loading of ammonia was reduced by 98% as a result of treatment upgrades at Metro. Water quality standards for ammonia are no longer exceeded in Onondaga Lake and the lake was delisted as impaired by ammonia in 2008. In addition, loading of nitrite, another form of nitrogen potentially toxic to aquatic biota, was reduced by 90%. Increased nitrate loading from Metro has substantially decreased the transport of phosphorus and mercury from the sediments to the water column. Implementation of advanced treatment at Metro has resulted in an 85% decrease in total phosphorus loading to Onondaga Lake since the early 1990s and a 99% reduction since the early 1970s. Summer average total phosphorus concentrations decreased from vii | P a g e over 50 µg/L during the 1990s to 21 µg/L during 2007–2013. Total phosphorus levels are now close to the guidance value of 20 µg/L established by New York State for protection of recreational uses of lakes. Reduced phosphorus loading has caused marked decreases in algal biomass and the occurrence of algal blooms. No major algal blooms have been observed in the lake during summer since 2005 and no minor blooms have been documented since 2007. Levels of total phosphorus and algal biomass in Onondaga Lake are now comparable to concentrations in other regional lakes. Reductions in algal biomass have resulted in improved water clarity in both open water and nearshore regions of the lake. Water clarity now exceeds the swimming safety guidance value of 1.2 meters (4 feet) 96% of the time at South Deep and 90% of the time at nearshore locations in Class B areas of the lake. Uncontrolled inputs of clay particles from the Tully Valley mudboils continue to cause diminished water clarity in the Class C segment located at the south end of the lake proximate to the mouth of Onondaga Creek. Treatment upgrades at Metro have also eliminated depletion of dissolved oxygen in the upper waters of the lake during fall turnover. Dissolved oxygen conditions in the lake now provide habitat for a diverse fishery, including both warmwater and coolwater fish species. Coldwater species are found in Onondaga Lake on a seasonal basis, but their habitat is restricted during summer due to a lack of cold, oxygen‐rich water. The available evidence suggests that depletion of dissolved oxygen in the lower layers of Onondaga Lake is a natural condition related to the lake’s morphology. This situation is not unique to Onondaga Lake. In fact, low oxygen levels were documented in the lower waters of more than 70% of the thermally stratified lakes included in a recent NYSDEC survey. Onondaga County has completed a variety of “gray” and “green” infrastructure projects that have reduced discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and associated bacteria loading to the lake. To date, 45 CSOs have been eliminated or captured. Green infrastructure projects are reducing storm water runoff by over 108 million gallons per year and CSO discharges by approximately 51 million gallons per year. Sampling sites located in the Class B portions of the lake were in continuous compliance with the fecal coliform standard throughout the 2008–2013 interval. Water clarity and bacteria levels in the northern two‐thirds of the lake now meet New York State standards for public bathing. Fecal coliform levels continue to exceed the water quality standard in Class C waters in the extreme southern portion of the lake following wet‐weather events. Lower fecal coliform concentrations in the southern end of the lake are a reasonable expectation as additional gray and green infrastructure projects are implemented as part of the Save the Rain initiative. viii | P a g e Guidelines presented in the New York State Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) served as the basis for evaluation of the extent to which Onondaga Lake is presently supporting the designated uses of public bathing and recreation, aquatic life support, fish consumption, natural resources habitat/hydrology, and aesthetics. The public bathing use is fully supported in Class B waters, which comprise the northern two‐
thirds of the lake. Public bathing is not a designated use in the southern third of the lake. Recreational uses of the lake are fully supported in Class B waters. Primary contact recreation is limited in the extreme southern end of the lake following runoff events due to elevated turbidity and high fecal coliform concentrations. The aquatic life use is fully supported throughout the lake as manifested in a diverse fish community and an improving macroinvertebrate community. The fish consumption use remains impaired on a lake‐wide basis due to mercury, PCB, and dioxin contamination. These conclusions are generally consistent with those reached by NYSDEC in the recently updated Waterbody Inventory and Priority Waterbodies List (WI/PWL). The water quality improvements achieved in Onondaga Lake are reflected in the recovery of lost uses, including swimming and other recreational uses, support of a robust biological community, and enhanced aesthetic appeal. Despite these improvements, water quality and biological conditions in Onondaga Lake will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors that are beyond the scope of current rehabilitation initiatives. Invasive species, such as dreissenid mussels, Alewife, and Round Goby, will continue to impact the food web and water quality conditions. Turbid inputs from the Tully Valley mudboils are presently uncontrolled and continue to cause deleterious effects on habitat conditions and aesthetics in Onondaga Creek and Onondaga Lake. Year‐to‐year variations in weather and long‐term changes in climate will influence water quality and the biological community. ix | P a g e 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 ObjectivesofthisReport
This white paper documents the extent to which Onondaga Lake is presently meeting its designated uses, including public bathing and recreation, aquatic life support, fish consumption, natural resources habitat/hydrology, and aesthetics. Water quality conditions in the lake have improved substantially over the last decade as a result of major investments in wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. Significant progress has been made in meeting the regulatory standards and water quality goals identified for Onondaga Lake in the Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ). This report focuses on achievement of best usage designated for class “B” and “C” waters pursuant to 6 NYCRR Parts 701 and 703, and New York State ambient water quality standards and guidelines, as applicable to Onondaga Lake. Standards for the following parameters receive particular emphasis because they are cited specifically in the ACJ: 






Dissolved oxygen (6 NYCRR § 703.3) Ammonia (6 NYCRR § 703.5) Turbidity (6 NYCRR § 703.2) Floatables (6 NYCRR § 703.2) Phosphorus (6 NYCRR § 703.2 and TOGS 1.1.1) Nitrogen (6 NYCRR § 703.2) Bacteria (6 NYCRR § 703.4) In most cases, the applicable water quality standards are numerical and status can be determined directly from measurements. For certain parameters (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), current conditions are compared to the applicable narrative water quality standard. Data and analyses from Onondaga County’s Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP) are used to support this analysis of use attainment. Annual AMP reports and supporting data sets are available on the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection website (http://www.ongov.net/wep/we15.html). The scientific literature is referenced as a source of additional information on certain topics. Our analysis of use attainment was guided by the New York State Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM), which describes how data and information are interpreted by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to determine the level of support of designated uses to arrive at an overall assessment of water quality. Once it has been determined that a specific use is restricted, the severity of water quality impacts is evaluated as either Precluded, Impaired, Stressed, or Threatened (Table 1‐1). Additionally, the water use impacts and levels of severity are identified as Known, Suspected, or Possible based on the available documentation. Generally, impacts are identified as Suspected when the applicable monitoring data criteria is exceeded more than 10% of the time and Known when the data‐based criteria is exceeded more than 25% of the time. Table 1–1. Levels of severity for restricted uses. Severity Precluded Impaired Stressed Threatened Definition Frequent/persistent water quality, or quantity, conditions and/or associated habitat degradation prevents all aspects of a specific waterbody use. Occasional water quality, or quantity, conditions and/or habitat characteristics periodically prevent specific uses of the waterbody, or; Waterbody uses are not precluded, but some aspects of the use are limited or restricted, or; Waterbody uses are not precluded, but frequent/persistent water quality, or quantity, conditions and/or associated habitat degradation discourage the use of the waterbody, or; Support of the waterbody use requires additional/advanced measures or treatment. Waterbody uses are not significantly limited or restricted (i.e. uses are Fully Supported), but occasional water quality, or quantity, conditions and/or associated habitat degradation periodically discourage specific uses of the waterbody. Water quality supports waterbody uses and ecosystem exhibits no obvious signs of stress, however existing or changing land use patterns may result in restricted use or ecosystem disruption, or; Data reveals decreases in water quality or presence of toxics below the level of concern, or; Waterbody uses are not restricted and no water quality problems exists, but the support of a specific and distinctive use make the waterbody more susceptible to water quality threats. 1.2 HistoricConditions
Inputs of domestic and industrial waste to Onondaga Lake caused severe degradation of water quality and loss of uses, including swimming and fishing. Elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria and low water clarity made the lake unsuitable for swimming. The lake was closed to fishing in 1970 due to mercury contamination of fish tissue and a health advisory remains in place for certain species. The Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater 2 | P a g e Treatment Plant (Metro) has discharged its effluent directly to Onondaga Lake since the 1920s. Loading from Metro contributed to high levels of total phosphorus and nitrogen in the lake (Effler and O’Donnell 2010, Effler et al. 2010). The lake exhibited classical symptoms of extreme cultural eutrophication through the 1990s, including (1) high levels of phytoplankton biomass, including severe blooms of cyanobacteria (Auer et al. 1990, Effler 1996, Matthews et al. 2001); (2) low transparency (Effler et al. 2008); (3) rapid loss of dissolved oxygen from the hypolimnion (Matthews and Effler 2006); (4) large accumulations of oxygen‐demanding reduced byproducts of anaerobic metabolism (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, methane) in the hypolimnion (Matthews et al. 2008); and (5) severe depletion of dissolved oxygen in the upper waters during fall mixing associated with oxidation of the reduced byproducts (Effler and Matthews 2008). Water column concentrations of two forms of nitrogen, ammonia and nitrite, exceeded applicable water quality standards by wide margins through the 1990s (Effler et al. 2010). 1.3 ACJ‐RequiredUpgradestoMeetWaterQualityStandards
The 1998 Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) between Onondaga County, New York State, and the Atlantic States Legal Foundation required a series of improvements to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure, and an extensive ambient monitoring program (the AMP) to document the improvements achieved by these measures. Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection is responsible for implementing the AMP and reporting its findings. The ACJ stipulated a series of specific engineering improvements to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. Onondaga County has agreed to undertake a phased program of Metro improvements that focus on the reduction of ammonia and phosphorus concentrations in the effluent (Table 1‐2). The final limits for ammonia and phosphorus were achieved in February 2004 and November 2010, respectively. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which serve portions of the City of Syracuse, carry both sewage and storm water in a single pipe. During heavy rain and snowmelt, the pipes can overflow, and a mixture of storm water and untreated sewage flows into creeks and ultimately reaches Onondaga Lake. When these overflows occur, CSOs carry bacteria, floating trash, organic material, nutrients and solid materials through the CSOs to the waterways. Improvements to the wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure are scheduled through 2018. The 4th Stipulation of the ACJ requires phased reductions of CSO volume. The schedule of the percentage of CSO volume that must be captured or eliminated on a system‐wide annual average basis is provided in Table 1‐3. According to 3 | P a g e simulations from the stormwater management model (SWMM) the annual combined sewage percent capture in 2014 exceeded 95% and is ahead of schedule with respect to the mandated compliance milestones. Table 1–2. Metro compliance schedule. (lb/d = pounds per day; mg/L = milligrams per liter) Parameter Ammonia Total Phosphorus SPDES Limit Interim limit: 8,700 lb/d (7/1‐9/30) 13,100 lb/d (10/1‐6/30) Interim limit: 2 mg/L (6/1‐10/31) 4 mg/L (11/1‐5/31) Final limit: 1.2 mg/L (6/1‐10/31) 2.4 mg/L (11/1‐5/31) Interim limit: 400 lbs/day (12‐month rolling average) Interim limit: 0.12 mg/L (12‐month rolling average) Interim limit: 0.10 mg/L (12‐month rolling average) Final limit*: 0.10 mg/L (12‐
month rolling average pursuant to the TMDL approved by the USEPA on June 29, 2012) January 1998 Achieved Date January 1998 May 2004 February 2004 March 21, 2012 to March 20, 2017 February 2004 May 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006 April 1, 2006 to November 5, 2010 November 16, 2010 to June 30, 2012 June 30, 2012 January 1998 Effective Date April 2006 November 2010 November 2010 * The permit for Metro 001 will be modified to reflect the phosphorus waste load allocation (WLA) on a 12‐
month rolling average basis for Metro outfall 001 set at 21,511 pounds per year and 7,602 pounds per year set for Metro outfall 002 (Bypass) to meet the TMDL allocation endpoint. A bubble permit limit for phosphorus of 27,212 pounds per year to be applied on a 12‐month rolling average basis calculated from the monthly total loads from the two outfalls is proposed in the TMDL as an option for implementation by December 31, 2018. The bubble permit allows for the natural variability inherent of combined sewer systems. 4 | P a g e Table 1–3. CSO compliance schedule. Project Phase Goal Effective Date
Capture for treatment or eliminate 89.5% of combined Stage I sewage* during precipitation, within the meaning of Dec 31, 2013 EPA’s National CSO Control Policy Capture for treatment or eliminate 91.4% of combined Stage II sewage during precipitation, within the meaning of Dec 31, 2015 EPA’s National CSO Control Policy Capture for treatment or eliminate 93% of combined Stage III sewage during precipitation within the meaning of Dec 31, 2016 EPA’s National CSO Control Policy Capture for treatment or eliminate 95% of combined Stage IV sewage during precipitation within the meaning of Dec 31, 2018 EPA’s National CSO Control Policy * on a system‐wide annual average basis (per Fourth Stipulation to ACJ, Nov. 2009) 1.4 TMDLsandSPDESPermits
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued a new State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit for Metro on March 21, 2012. Subsequently, a total maximum daily load (TMDL) allocation for phosphorus inputs to Onondaga Lake was developed by NYSDEC and approved by USEPA on June 29, 2012. A total phosphorus concentration limit of 0.10 mg/L on a 12‐month rolling average basis was established for Metro outfall 001, and became effective upon TMDL approval. In addition, phosphorus loading reductions are to be implemented for other SPDES permits by 1/1/2016, CSOs and Metro outfall 002 by 12/31/2018, agricultural lands by 12/31/2022, and for MS4 areas by 12/31/2025. Phosphorus loading reductions from small farms are voluntary and incentive based. 5 | P a g e 2 ONONDAGALAKEANDITSWATERSHED
2.1 Morphometry
Onondaga Lake is relatively small, with a surface area of 12 km2. The lake’s depth averages 10.9 meters (m) with a maximum of 19.5 m. The lake’s bathymetry is characterized by two minor depressions, referred to as the northern and southern basins, separated by a shallower region near the center of the longitudinal axis of the lake (Figure 2‐3). The littoral zone, defined as the region of the lake where 1% of the incident light reaches the sediment surface, and consequently supports the growth of rooted plants, is narrow as illustrated by the proximity of the depth contours on the bathymetric map (Figure 2‐1). Under current water clarity conditions, macrophyte growth extends to a water depth of approximately 6 meters; this is a more extensive littoral zone than existed in the late 1990s. The Onondaga Lake shoreline is highly regular with few embayments. Onondaga County owns most of the shoreline, and maintains a popular park and trail system. Syracuse residents and visitors use the parklands for varied recreational activities and cultural entertainment. The lake is increasingly popular for boating; sailboats, motorboats, kayaks and canoes are familiar sights on summer days. Local and regional fishing tournaments attract anglers to the lake each year. Water residence time is defined as the average time water remains in the lake, and is dependent on the ratio of inflow volume to lake volume. A large watershed with a small lake will have a shorter water residence time. Because of the relatively large watershed and abundant rainfall, the inflowing water is sufficient to replace the entire lake volume about four times each year. Therefore, the average water residence time is about three months on a completely mixed basis. 6 | P a g e Figure 2–1. Bathymetric map of Onondaga Lake, with tributaries and primary sampling locations (South Deep, North Deep) identified. Note: bathymetry based on data from CR Environmental Inc. 2007. 2.2 Hydrology
Surface water is delivered to Onondaga Lake by a number of natural tributaries, the Metro wastewater treatment plant, industrial discharges, and direct runoff. Onondaga Creek is the largest water source to the lake, followed by Ninemile Creek, Metro, Ley Creek, and Harbor Brook (Figure 2‐2). Flow in the four largest tributaries is gauged by USGS. Two minor tributaries, Bloody Brook and Sawmill Creek, drain small watersheds northeast of Onondaga Lake. Tributary 5A and the East Flume direct runoff and industrial discharges into the lake along its southwest shoreline. Much of the water flowing to Onondaga Lake through the Metro treatment plant originates outside of the watershed. Water supply for the City of Syracuse is drawn from Skaneateles Lake. Suburban towns and 7 | P a g e villages use Lake Ontario and Otisco Lake as water supplies. Onondaga Lake discharges into the Seneca River, which flows in a northerly direction and joins the Oneida River to form the Oswego River, ultimately discharging into Lake Ontario. The tributaries convey surface runoff and groundwater seepage from the watershed to Onondaga Lake. The volume of runoff, and consequently stream flow, varies from year‐to‐
year depending on the amount of rainfall and snow cover. Overflows from combined sewer systems also vary in response to the intensity and timing of runoff events. The annual volume of the Metro discharge is less variable, although the effects of extreme wet or dry years can be detected due to the portion of the service area served by combined sewers. Water quality conditions in Onondaga Lake are affected by material loading rates, which depend importantly on precipitation and stream flow. Bypass
2.9
0.6%
Tributary 5A
2.1
0.4%
East Flume
0.87
0.2%
Ungauged
27
5.5%
Metro
90
18.6%
Ninemile Creek
149
30.8%
Inflow shown as million cubic meters per year Harbor Brook
10
2.1%
Onondaga Creek
163
33.7%
Ley Creek
39
8.0%
Figure 2–2. Annual average inflows (gauged and ungauged) to Onondaga Lake, 1990–2013. 2.3 WatershedandLandUse
The Onondaga Lake watershed has an area of approximately 285 square miles (740 km2) and is located almost entirely within Onondaga County. Compared with other lakes in the region, the watershed of Onondaga Lake is relatively urbanized. According to the 2006 National Land Cover Dataset, 21% of the watershed is developed (urban/suburban), 33% is forested or scrub/shrub, and 30% is cultivated lands or pasture. Wetlands, lakes, and barren lands account for the remaining 9%. Onondaga Lake is bordered by the City of 8 | P a g e Percent Cover by Land Use Type
Syracuse, two towns, and two villages. The percentage of urban land is particularly high in the Ley Creek (55%) and Harbor Brook (41%) watersheds. Agricultural lands comprise 40% of the Ninemile Creek watershed and 31% of the Onondaga Creek drainage basin. Forested areas contribute importantly to both the Onondaga Creek (50%) and Ninemile Creek (41%) watersheds. 100
80
60
Forest
Agricultural
Urban
Other
40
20
0
Ninemile Creek Onondaga Creek
Ley Creek
Harbor Brook
Figure 2–3. Land use in the four largest Onondaga Lake watersheds. Aerial View of Onondaga Lake
9 | P a g e 3 AMBIENTMONITORINGPROGRAM
3.1 WaterQualityMonitoring
The primary objective of Onondaga County’s Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP) is to evaluate the impact of alterations and improvements to Metro and the CSOs on water quality. The program was designed to assess progress towards compliance with ambient water quality standards (AWQS) and attainment of designated uses. The AMP collects and analyzes data on the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of Onondaga Lake and its tributatries. As described in the ACJ, the AMP was designed to meet the following objectives: 





Assess compliance with ambient water quality standards in the lake and tributary streams Estimate loading of materials to the lake, including the volume and loading of materials from the combined sewer overflows Evaluate physical habitat conditions in the lake and tributaries Evaluate the lake’s trophic state (level of productivity) Model the assimilative capacity of the Seneca River in the region of the Onondaga Lake outlet to support a decision regarding diversion of Metro effluent Characterize the lake’s biological community In New York State, most of the promulgated AWQS and criteria reference maximum concentrations of chemical parameters. Chemical monitoring is consequently a significant component of the AMP. The lake and tributary monitoring programs include sample collection and analysis for a large suite of chemical parameters to support assessments of compliance with NYS AWQS and guidance values. Chemical monitoring is supplemented with assessment of indicators of the ecological integrity of the lake and its tributaries. Improved habitat for aquatic organisms is a critical element of the rehabilitation of Onondaga Lake. Both the chemical and ecological assessments are used to track progress towards achieving “swimmable and fishable” conditions. Monitoring is conducted at two main lake stations, South Deep and North Deep, to support compliance assessment, trend analysis, and evaluation of trophic state. In addition, weekly monitoring is conducted at a network of ten near‐shore locations during summer to evaluate suitability for water contact recreation. 10 | P a g e 3.2 BiologicalMonitoring
The objectives of the biological monitoring program for Onondaga Lake as stated in the ACJ are to “…assess the densities and species composition of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, macrobenthos, and fish”, and to “evaluate the success of walleye, bass, and sunfish propagation (quantitative lake wide nest surveys, recruitment estimates, and juvenile community structure) in the lake.” Based on the more qualitative nature of the objectives, analysis and interpretation of the biological data are primarily focused on changes over time. Phytoplankton and zooplankton samples are collected each year and analyzed for numbers, biomass, biovolume, and species composition. Long‐term trends and seasonal variations are tracked. Aerial photographs and littoral zone surveys provide information on the areal coverage and community composition of macrophytes in the lake. Community composition of benthic macroinvertebrates was assessed at multiple littoral zone locations in 2000, 2005, and 2010. The next macroinvertebrate survey is scheduled for 2017. Annual monitoring of the fish community supports assessment of the densities and species composition of fish and evaluation of the success of walleye, bass, and sunfish propagation in the lake. OCDWEP Technicians Electrofishing in Onondaga Lake 11 | P a g e 4 LOADINGREDUCTIONSANDRELATEDWATERQUALITY
IMPROVEMENTS
4.1 Ammonia,Nitrite,andNitrate
Major reductions in loading of ammonia (NH3‐N) to Onondaga Lake from Metro have been achieved through implementation of state‐of‐the‐art wastewater treatment technologies. The most recent Metro upgrades were designed to meet specific water quality goals in Onondaga Lake. The loading reductions required to meet these water quality goals were established as part of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis for ammonia (NYSDEC 1998). As a result of treatment upgrades the status of Onondaga Lake has improved substantially with respect to the water quality standard for ammonia toxicity (Effler et al. 2010), enabling large populations of dreissenid mussels (Spada et al. 2002) and Alewives (Wang et al. 2010). Upgraded aeration treatment at Metro in the late 1990s and addition of a Biological Aerated Filter (BAF) system in January 2004 substantially reduced ammonia loading to Onondaga Lake (Figure 4‐1a). The BAF system provides year‐round nitrification of ammonia, a potentially toxic form of nitrogen (N). These treatment upgrades resulted in a 98% decrease in ammonia loading to the lake from Metro since the mid‐1990s and reduced Metro’s contribution to the total annual load (Metro + tributaries) from 91% during 1990–2004 to 47% during 2007–2013 (Figure 4‐1a). Ammonia loading from the tributaries also decreased significantly over the 1990–2013 interval (linear least‐squares regression, R2=0.68, p<0.01). The average rate of decrease over this 24‐year interval was 2.8 metric tons per year (MT/yr). Ammonia concentrations in the upper waters of Onondaga Lake decreased markedly in response to these major loading reductions (Figure 4‐1b). Since 2004 ammonia‐N concentrations have averaged 0.06 mg/L, a 96% reduction from the levels of the 1990s. 12 | P a g e 2000
(a)
Metro
Tributary
Load t-NH3
(MT/yr)
1500
1000
500
Upper Waters t-NH3
(mgN/L)
0
2.5
(b)
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0.0
Figure 4–1. Decreases in ammonia‐N (NH3‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). Nitrite (NO2‐N), another form of nitrogen that is potentially toxic to aquatic organisms, was produced at Metro as a result of incomplete nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate). The loading of nitrite from Metro was greatly reduced with implementation of BAF treatment in 2004 (Figure 4‐2a), which achieved more complete nitrification on a year‐
round basis. Nitrite loading to the lake from Metro has decreased 90% since the mid‐
1990s, reducing Metro’s contribution to the total annual load from 79% during 1990–2004 to 25% during 2007–2013 (Figure 4‐2a). The summed tributary nitrite load exhibited no consistent temporal pattern. Summer average nitrite‐N levels in the upper waters of Onondaga Lake decreased from values greater than 0.13 mg/L through the mid‐1990s to values consistently less than 0.05 mg/L since 2006 (Figure 4‐2b). 13 | P a g e 100
(a)
Metro
Tributary
Load NO2
(MT/yr)
-
80
60
40
20
Upper Waters NO2
(mgN/L)
-
0
0.25
(b)
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0.00
Figure 4–2. Decreases in nitrite‐N (NO2‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). Loading of nitrate (NO3‐N) from Metro has increased by a factor of 3.7 as a result of the BAF treatment process (Figure 4‐3a), mirroring the decreases for ammonia and nitrite (Figure 4‐1a, 4‐2a). Water column concentrations of nitrate‐N have approximately doubled since implementation of efficient year‐round nitrification in 2004 (Figure 4‐3b). Nitrate can accelerate algal growth in systems where primary production is limited by the availability of nitrogen. However, this is not a concern in Onondaga Lake because algal growth is distinctly phosphorus limited. Higher nitrate levels have been beneficial to the lake by diminishing the transport of phosphorus and mercury from the bottom sediments to the water column (Matthews et al. 2013). 14 | P a g e 1600
(a)
Metro
Tributary
Load NO3
(MT/yr)
-
1200
800
400
0
Upper Waters NO3
(mgN/L)
-
(b)
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0.0
Figure 4–3. Increases in nitrate‐N (NO3‐N) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). 4.2 Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an important water quality indicator because the availability this nutrient regulates algal growth in most lakes. Since the 1970s, phosphorus concentrations in the Metro effluent have decreased progressively as wastewater treatment has improved (Effler and O’Donnell 2010). The latest improvement was a physical‐chemical High‐Rate Flocculated Settling (HRFS) treatment technology, known as Actiflo® that came on line in February 2005. This treatment resulted in an 85% decrease in total phosphorus (TP) loading since the early 1990s (Figure 4‐4a) and a 99% reduction since the early 1970s. Metro’s contribution to Onondaga Lake’s total annual phosphorus load decreased from 61% prior to implementation of Actiflo® (1990–2004) to 24% during 2007–2013. Loading of soluble reactive phosphorus, a form of phosphorus immediately available to support algal growth, was also reduced significantly as a result of Actiflo® treatment. 15 | P a g e Substantial decreases in the summer average (June to September) concentration of total phosphorus in the upper waters of the lake have been achieved from the Actiflo® upgrade (Figure 4‐4b). From 1990 to 2004 the total phosphorus concentration during summer ranged from 39 to 125 µg/L and averaged 67 µg/L. This level of total phosphorus is typically associated with eutrophic (i.e., highly productive) lakes and degraded water quality conditions. During the post‐ Actiflo® interval of 2007–2013 total phosphorus concentrations averaged 21 µg/L, slightly higher than the guidance value of 20 µg/L established by New York State for protection of recreational uses in lakes. Similar total phosphorus concentrations are observed in several nearby lakes with intermediate levels of phytoplankton production. Total phosphorus concentrations were below the 20 µg/L guidance value in 2008 and 2009, the two recent years when the absence of Alewife enabled efficient grazing of both organic and inorganic particles by Daphnia (Matthews et al. 2015). 160
140
(a)
Metro
Tributary
Load TP
(MT/yr)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Upper Waters TP
(µgP/L)
120
(b)
100
80
60
40
20
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0
Figure 4–4. Decreases in total phosphorus (TP) loading to Onondaga Lake and lake response, 1990–2013: (a) annual loading from Metro and tributaries, and (b) summer average (June–September) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters). 16 | P a g e 4.3 AlgalBiomass
Reduced phosphorus loading to Onondaga Lake has caused major decreases in concentrations of chlorophyll‐a, a photosynthetic pigment widely used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass. NYSDEC (2009) lists three levels of chlorophyll‐a that serve as recreation use assessment criteria. Chlorophyll‐a concentrations greater than 15 µg/L, 12 µg/L, and 8 µg/L correspond to impaired, stressed, and threatened conditions, respectively. Summer average chlorophyll‐a concentrations, which commonly exceeded 15 µg/L during 1990–2004, have remained less than 12 µg/L since 2007 (Figure 4‐5). Accordingly, recreational uses are fully supported with respect algal biomass. In addition, occurrences of algal blooms, subjectively defined as chlorophyll‐a concentrations of 15 µg/L and 30 µg/L for minor (impaired conditions) and major blooms (nuisance conditions), respectively, have decreased dramatically since implementation of Actiflo® (Figure 4‐6). According to laboratory measurements, no major blooms have occurred since the Actiflo® upgrade in 2005 and no minor blooms have occurred during summer since 2007. The composition of the phytoplankton community in the lake has also improved from one dominated by undesirable taxa such as blue‐green algae (Cyanobacteria) to a more diverse assemblage of more desirable forms, including diatoms and green algae (Onondaga County 2015). Figure 4–5. Summer average (June–September) chlorophyll‐a concentrations in the upper waters (0‐3 meters) of Onondaga Lake, 1990–2013. 17 | P a g e Percent Occurrence
100
major bloom (>30µg/L)
minor bloom (>15 µg/L)
80
60
40
20
no blooms
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0
Figure 4–6. Percent occurrence of summer (June–September) algal blooms in Onondaga Lake evaluated annually for the 1990–2013 period, based on chlorophyll‐a measurements. 4.4 WaterClarity
Water clarity has also improved in Onondaga Lake as a result of decreases in phosphorus loading and algal biomass, though food web effects have contributed to noteworthy interannual variations in this water quality metric. Visual clarity, as measured with a Secchi disk, is a commonly measured optical attribute in lakes that is closely coupled to the public’s perception of water quality (Effler 1985, Smith and Davies‐Colley 1992). The Secchi disk measurement is regulated importantly by both organic (i.e., phytoplankton) and inorganic particles. Secchi disk values ranged widely over the 1990–2013 interval, from 0.5 to 7.5 meters (Figure 4‐7). The higher Secchi disk observations during some years were associated with non‐selective filter feeding by Daphnia, a large cladoceran zooplankton. Dense populations of Daphnia developed annually for 1 to 4 week intervals over the 1990–2002 period and caused abrupt decreases in chlorophyll‐a and increases in Secchi disk (Effler et al. 2008). Such events are described as the “clear water phase” (Lampert et al. 1986). The increases in Secchi disk were particularly dramatic because concentrations of both phytoplankton and non‐phytoplankton particles were reduced greatly by Daphnia during these events. Dense populations of Daphnia and the clear water phase were eliminated during 2003–
18 | P a g e 2007 and 2010–2013 by large populations of Alewife (Wang et al. 2010), a planktivorous fish that feeds on Daphnia. The potential for large Alewife populations has been linked to reductions in ammonia concentrations (Wang et al. 2010). Alewife Invasive dreissenid (quagga and zebra) mussels, which filter up to two liters per day as adults, also have the potential to increase water clarity. The effects of dreissenid mussels on water clarity in Onondaga Lake are likely to be most significant in the near‐shore zone where they are abundant. Interestingly, the invasion of Onondaga Lake by dreissenid mussels was also likely enabled by the decreases in ammonia levels (Matthews et al. 2000, Spada et al. 2002). The macrophyte (rooted aquatic plants) community is a critical component of lake ecosystems. Macrophytes provide food for waterfowl and wildlife, serve as spawning habitats for fish, act as refuges for zooplankton and small fish, and oxygenate water. Increased light penetration has expanded macrophyte coverage in the lake by a factor of five since 2000. Presently, aquatic plants are present in approximately 400 acres of the lake’s near‐shore zone. NYSDEC uses three values of Secchi disk transparency to differentiate between impaired (1.2 meters), stressed (1.5 meters), and threatened (2.0 meters) conditions. Impaired conditions correspond to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) swimming safety guidance value of 4 feet or 1.2 meters. Occurrences of Secchi disk values less than 1.2 meters have been substantially reduced since the phosphorus treatment upgrade at Metro in 2005 (Figure 4‐7b). This improvement in water clarity was caused by reduced algal growth (Figure 4‐5) and the elimination of algal blooms (Figure 4‐6). The continued, infrequent occurrences of Secchi disk values less than 1.2 meters are associated with large inputs of inorganic particles (e.g., clays) during major runoff events. The Tully Valley 19 | P a g e mudboils, located along Onondaga Creek, are an important source of this turbidity (Prestigiacomo et al. 2007, Kappel 2014). Figure 4–7. Summer (June‐September) Secchi disk transparency in Onondaga Lake (South Deep), 1990–2013: (a) summer observations plotted for each year (limits for impaired, stressed, and threatened included for reference), and (b) the percentage of observations less than 1.2 meters (impaired). 4.5 DissolvedOxygen
Adequate dissolved oxygen content is critical for sustaining aquatic life. Accordingly, NYSDEC has established water quality standards for dissolved oxygen that are protective of aquatic organisms. The applicable standard for non‐trout waters, such as Onondaga Lake, is a minimum daily average of 5 mg/L and never less than 4 mg/L. Contraventions of this standard were common in the upper waters during the approach to fall turnover through the early 2000s (Figure 4‐8; Matthews and Effler 2006). Low dissolved oxygen conditions 20 | P a g e during fall were associated with the entrainment of hypolimnetic waters enriched with oxygen‐demanding byproducts of anaerobic metabolism (Effler and Matthews 2008). The severe depletions observed during certain years have been attributed to nitrification of ammonia (Gelda et al. 2000). Elimination of severe depletion of dissolved oxygen in the upper waters was identified as a high priority goal for rehabilitation of Onondaga Lake. This goal has been achieved through reductions in Metro loading of both ammonia (Figure 4‐1) and total phosphorus (Figure 4‐4). Figure 4–8. Minimum dissolved oxygen (DOmin) concentrations in the upper waters (0‐4 meters average) of Onondaga Lake during October, annually 1990–2013. Horizontal lines represent water quality standards applicable to daily average (5 mg/L) and instantaneous (4 mg/L) measurements. Additional improvements in dissolved oxygen status have been observed, particularly within the deeper layers (hypolimnion) of the lake. Following the onset of summer stratification in May, these layers are subject to oxygen depletion from decay of depositing algae and demand from the underlying sediments. Decreased deposition of phytoplankton from reductions in Metro phosphorus loading have resulted in lower rates of dissolved oxygen depletion and a delay in the onset of anoxic conditions from late May to mid‐July (Matthews and Effler 2006). Despite these improvements, dissolved oxygen concentrations below the 4 mg/L standard continue to occur in the lower waters during the summer stratified period (Figure 4‐9). Oxygen depletion is not uncommon in stratified lakes where the volume of the lower stratum (the hypolimnion) is relatively small. In New York State, 21 | P a g e an estimated 70% of assessed lakes do not meet the minimum dissolved oxygen standard in the deep waters (NYSDEC 2009). Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
Depth (m)
3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
6
9
12
15
18
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
2013
Sep
Oct
Nov
Figure 4–9. Color contour plot of dissolved oxygen concentrations in Onondaga Lake (South Deep) during 2013, based on daily vertical profiles of 1‐meter depth resolution. 4.6 FecalColiformBacteria
Onondaga County has completed a variety of “gray” and “green” infrastructure projects to reduce wet weather discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and associated bacteria loading. Completed gray infrastructure projects have separated storm and sanitary sewers, captured floatable materials, and maximized system storage capacity. In 1998, there were 72 active CSOs discharging to three tributaries to Onondaga Lake: Onondaga Creek, Harbor Brook, and Ley Creek. Through 2014, forty‐five (45) CSOs have been closed or captured for storage by separating combined sewers where feasible, maximizing the capacity of the sewerage system, building the Hiawatha and Midland regional treatment facilities, and constructing the Clinton and Lower Harbor Brook Storage Facilities. Green infrastructure projects increase infiltration, capture, and reuse of storm runoff before it enters the sewer system. Green infrastructure solutions are being implemented to help manage urban storm runoff before it enters the CSO system. More than 175 green infrastructure projects have been completed to date as part of Onondaga County’s “Save the Rain” initiative, reducing inputs of storm water runoff and pollution to Onondaga Lake and its tributaries. These projects include replacement of traditional pavement with porous pavement, construction of vegetated roofs, installation of rain barrels and infiltration trenches, removal of pavement from some areas, and other techniques to reduce storm water runoff. By preventing storm water runoff from entering the combined sewers, more 22 | P a g e capacity is available for sanitary sewage flow to reach Metro for treatment. The completed green infrastructure projects are reducing storm water runoff by over 108 million gallons per year and providing CSO reduction of approximately 51 million gallons per year. An informational website (http://savetherain.us/) describes current initiatives and incentive programs for watershed residents to reduce impervious areas. Green infrastructure facility at Amy Street, Delaware Avenue, and Grand Avenue Substantial reductions in fecal coliform loading to Onondaga Lake have been achieved since the 1990s (Figure 4‐10). Decreasing inputs from the Metro Bypass have been the primary driver of these loading reductions. In 2013 the largest sources of fecal coliform bacteria to the lake were Onondaga Creek (37%), Metro Bypass (21%), Ninemile Creek (19%), and Ley Creek (16%; Figure 4‐11). However, bacteria loading to Onondaga Lake and the relative contributions of the sources can vary widely from year‐to‐year as a result of interannual variations in precipitation and runoff. 1000
Metro+Bypass
Tributary
Fecal Coliform
4
(CFU 10 )
800
600
400
200
Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
0
Figure 4–10. Decreases in annual loading of fecal coliform bacteria to Onondaga Lake from Metro+Bypass and tributaries, 1991–2013. 23 | P a g e Figure 4–11. Percent contributions to fecal coliform bacteria loading to Onondaga Lake in 2013. Sunset on Onondaga Lake 24 | P a g e 4.7 ComparisonstoRegionalLakes
Major decreases in total phosphorus and chlorophyll‐a have been achieved in Onondaga Lake through implementation of advanced wastewater treatment at Metro. A comparison of total phosphorus and chlorophyll‐a concentrations in Onondaga Lake to conditions in other regional lakes provides context for the magnitude of the water quality improvements that have been achieved. During the 1998–2005 interval total phosphorus and chlorophyll‐
a concentrations in Onondaga Lake far exceeded those measured in some of the eastern Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake (Figure 4‐12). Since 2007, levels of these important water quality indicators have been similar to those measured in Otisco Lake and Oneida Lake. Moreover, the absence of algal blooms in Onondaga Lake stands in contrast to the widespread occurrence of blue‐green harmful algal blooms in lakes across New York State (see http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html for more information). Total phosphorus
(µg/L)
60
50
40
(a)
Finger Lakes
Oneida Lake
Onondaga Lake
30
20
10
Chlorophyll-a
(µg/L)
0
20
15
(b)
Finger Lakes
Oneida Lake
Onondaga Lake
10
5
0
es
ga
el
yu
at
e
Ca
n
a
Sk
O
co
ti s
O
a
id
ne
98
19
05
20
a
a
ag
ag
nd
nd
o
o
n
n
O
O
13
20
70
20
Figure 4–12. A comparison of trophic state metrics in Onondaga Lake and selected regional lakes: (a) summer average (June to September) total phosphorus concentrations and (b) summer average (June to September) chlorophyll‐a concentrations. Note: Skaneateles Lake data from 2011, courtesy of the Town of Skaneateles. Cayuga Lake data from 2013, courtesy of Cornell University. Otisco Lake data from 2010‐2011, courtesy of NYSDEC. Oneida Lake data from 2013, courtesy of Dr. Lars Rudstam. 25 | P a g e 5 DESIGNATEDUSESOFONONDAGALAKEANDCURRENTLEVELOF
ATTAINMENT
5.1 PublicBathingandRecreationUses
Although swimming and other recreational uses are evaluated using similar indicators of water quality, these uses are evaluated separately (NYSDEC 2009). The public bathing use is evaluated only in those waters classified for primary contact recreation by New York State (i.e., Class B, SB, A, AA, A/AA‐Special, SA). Although primary contact recreation is specified as a designated use in Class C, D, and SC waters, these waters are generally not suitable as bathing areas because of their natural physical characteristics. The southern third of Onondaga Lake and the area near the mouth of Ninemile Creek are designated as Class C waters and the remainder of the lake is Class B (Figure 5‐1). Three forms of monitoring data are used to assess the suitability of a waterbody for public bathing: bacteria levels, water clarity (Secchi disk), and total phosphorus concentrations. Recreational use assessment is based on measurements of total phosphorus, chlorophyll‐a, and clarity (Secchi disk). Figure 5–1. Map of AMP monitoring locations, with Class B waters shaded dark blue and Class C water shaded light blue. 26 | P a g e 5.1.1
Indicatorbacteria
Public health concerns, including potential exposure to pathogenic bacteria, are the primary focus of evaluations regarding the level of public bathing use support. Inputs of bacteria to Onondaga Lake’s tributaries occur in both urban and agricultural portions of the watershed. There are myriad sources of bacteria in the watershed, including CSOs, agricultural runoff, pets, wildlife, and faults in the sewerage system. Shoreline areas of the lake, adjacent to stream inflows, are most susceptible to elevated bacteria levels, particularly during major runoff events. In New York State, fecal coliform bacteria (a class of bacteria present in the intestinal tract of all mammals) are used to indicate the potential presence of raw or partially treated sewage in water. Although most strains of fecal coliform bacteria are not harmful, the abundance of fecal coliform bacteria in water is correlated with the risk of encountering pathogenic (disease‐causing) microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The applicable New York State ambient water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria in surface water, as set forth in 6NYCRR Part 703.4, is as follows: for classes A, B, C, D, SB, SC ‐ the monthly geometric mean concentration of fecal coliform bacteria (colony forming units, cfu, per 100 mL), from a minimum of five examinations, shall not exceed 200 cfu per 100 mL. The fecal coliform standard for classes B, C, D, and SB shall be met during all periods: (1) when disinfection is required for SPDES permitted discharges directly into, or affecting the best usage of the water; or (2) when NYSDEC determines it necessary to protect human health. The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) criterion for fecal coliform in bathing beaches are ≤ 1,000 per 100 mL for a single sample and ≤ 200 per 100 mL for a 30 day geometric mean. The fecal coliform standard was applied on a monthly basis from April to October to assess compliance at 10 locations in nearshore regions of Onondaga Lake during 2008–
2013 (Figure 5‐2). The five sampling sites located in the Class B portion of the lake and the site located in Class C waters proximate to the mouth of Ninemile Creek were in compliance with the fecal coliform standard throughout the 2008–2013 interval. Fecal coliform levels in southern portions of the lake often increase following significant rainfall, and concentrations can vary widely due to the event‐driven nature of the sources. Contraventions of the fecal coliform standard were documented in Class C waters located in the extreme southern end of the lake during each of the six assessed years. Exceedances were most common at the two sites located near the mouth of Onondaga Creek and the Metro discharge. The Class C sites were in compliance with the standard during at least 50% of the assessed months, with one exception in 2010. Lower fecal coliform concentrations in the southern end of the lake are a reasonable expectation as additional 27 | P a g e gray an green infrastructure projects are implemented as part of the Save the Rain initiative. (a) 2008 (d) 2011 90 - 100%
50 - 89%
(b) 2009
(c) 2010 (e) 2012
(f) 2013 <50%
Figure 5–2. The percentage of months in compliance with the water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria for nearshore stations in Onondaga Lake, April–October 2013. Note: Compliance is calculated for each location by comparing the monthly geometric mean of a minimum of five samples with the water quality standard (200 cfu/100 mL). 5.1.2
Waterclarity
Poor water clarity is a safety concern with respect to swimming and turbid water can discourage other recreational uses. Moreover, clarity is closely coupled to public perceptions of overall water quality. The narrative water quality standard for turbidity in New York State is “No increase that will cause a substantial visible contrast to natural conditions.” Public bathing and recreational uses are considered to be impaired at Secchi disk values less than 1.2 meters (4 feet). Exceedances of this value were evaluated based 28 | P a g e on summer (June–September) measurements made at 10 locations in nearshore regions of Onondaga Lake during 2008–2013 (Figure 5‐3). Since 2009, clarity has exceeded the 1.2 meter standard more than 90% of the time at all sites located in Class B waters. Diminished water clarity is a persistent issue in the Class C segment located at the south end of the lake and proximate to turbid inputs from Onondaga Creek, Ley Creek, and Harbor Brook. Clarity has been particularly poor near the mouth of Onondaga Creek due to loading of clay particles from the Tully Valley mudboils (Prestigiacomo et al. 2007). (a) 2008 (d) 2011 90 - 100%
50 - 89%
(b) 2009
(c) 2010 (e) 2012
(f) 2013 <50%
Figure 5–3. Percentage of nearshore Secchi disk transparency measurements greater than 1.2 meters (4 feet) during June–September 2013. 5.1.3
Phosphorus
Phosphorus can have deleterious impacts on public bathing and recreational uses by causing increases in algal growth. This concern is reflected in the narrative water quality standard for phosphorus in New York State: “None in amounts that will result in growths of algae, weeds and slimes that will impair the waters for their best usages.” For ponded 29 | P a g e waters the narrative standard is interpreted using a guidance value of 20 µg/L, calculated as the average total phosphorus concentration in the upper waters of the lake between June 1 and September 30. Since 2007, summer average total phosphorus concentrations at South Deep have ranged from 16 to 25 µg/L (Table 5‐1). The guidance value for total phosphorus was met in 2008, 2009, and 2011. With the decrease in the Metro load (Figure 4‐4), contemporary year‐to‐year variations in total phosphorus are driven importantly by loading from the tributaries and the effects of Daphnia grazing (Matthews et al. 2015). In addition, current phosphorus levels are not causing major algal blooms that would impact public bathing or other recreational uses (Figure 4‐6). Table 5–1. Percentage of measurements in compliance with ambient water quality standards (AWQS) and guidance values in the upper waters of Onondaga Lake at South Deep, 2007‐2013. Parameter Dissolved Oxygen (>4 mg/L) Dissolved Oxygen (>5 mg/L)1 pH Total Phosphorus2 Ammonia Nitrite Total Dissolved Solids Dissolved Mercury Fecal Coliform Bacteria3 South Deep ‐ Upper Waters 2009
2010
2011
2007 2008
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.9% 2012 2013
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 100% 100% 0% 100% 0% 0% (25 µg/L) (16 µg/L) (17 µg/L) (25 µg/L) (20 µg/L) (22 µg/L) (25 µg/L) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% ‐‐ ‐‐ ‐‐ ‐‐ 100% 67% ‐‐ 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Notes: Dashed lines indicate that compliance was not evaluated; parameters listed in bold are cited in the ACJ; occurrences of less than 100% compliance are highlighted in italic red text. 1
Dissolved oxygen compliance based on buoy data from 2 m and 12 m depths (between 1 and four profiles per day). 2
Total phosphorus compliance based on the average for the June 1–September 30 period. 3
The AWQS for fecal coliform bacteria is specified as the monthly geometric mean being less than or equal to 200 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters (mL) during the period of Metro disinfection (April 1–October 15). 30 | P a g e 5.1.4
Chlorophyll‐a
High levels of algal biomass in lakes can cause turbid conditions that are unsafe for swimming and may deter other recreational uses. A chlorophyll‐a concentration of 15 µg/L has been established as the threshold for impairment of recreational uses in New York State. This value has not been exceeded in Onondaga Lake on a summer average basis since 2006 (Figure 4‐5) or on weekly basis since 2007 (Figure 4‐6). Blooms of blue‐green algae (cyanobacteria) can reduce the recreational value of lakes by causing unpleasant appearances and odors. Contact with harmful (toxic) blue‐green algae blooms can cause health effects in humans and animals. Blue‐green algae, which used to dominate the summertime phytoplankton community of Onondaga Lake, are no longer an important component of the ecosystem (Onondaga County 2015). 5.2 AquaticLifeUseSupport
5.2.1
Biologicaldata
Different types of monitoring data may be used to determine if the aquatic life use is supported, including biological, physical/chemical, and toxicity monitoring data. The NYSDEC Statewide Waters Monitoring Program relies on biological sampling to provide an integrated assessment of aquatic life support. The assemblage most frequently used is macroinvertebrates; however, periphyton and fish community assessments have been incorporated to a lesser degree. Aquatic Life use support is generally determined according to an assessment of macroinvertebrate community data, when such information is available and considered definitive. In cases where the assessment of the macroinvertebrate community is inconclusive, determination of aquatic life use support may be informed by comparison of monitoring data with applicable water quality standards and criteria for the protection of aquatic life. 5.2.1.1 Macroinvertebratecommunity
Onondaga County conducted surveys of the macroinvertebrate community in the littoral zone of Onondaga Lake in 2000, 2005, and 2010. The next survey is scheduled for 2017. According to biological assessment profiles conducted at five sites, the macroinvertebrate community of the littoral zone showed considerable improvement over the 2000‐2010 interval (EcoLogic 2011). Improvements were most pronounced at Site 3 – Metro and Site 4 – Ley Creek, which were in the poorest condition in 2000 (Figure 5‐4). Although the macroinvertebrate community at Site 3 continued to be categorized as severely impacted in 2010, conditions at this site have improved steadily since 2000 and are approaching a moderately impacted state. Three (Sites 2, 4, and 5) of the five sites were categorized as 31 | P a g e slightly impacted in 2010. These changes have been attributed to improved water quality, decreased organic loading, improved dissolved oxygen conditions in littoral sediments, and increased macrophyte abundance and coverage. Figure 5–4. Summary of aquatic life use support assessments for 2000, 2005, and 2010, based on macroinvertebrate surveys conducted at five littoral zone sites in Onondaga Lake. Although noteworthy improvements in the macroinvertebrate community of Onondaga Lake have occurred over time, Site 3 in the south end of the lake remains severely impaired. Because the sediment habitat was particularly poor in this area of the lake, it will likely take longer to recover from decades of impacts from municipal and industrial inputs. Diversity and richness of the macroinvertebrate community at this location may never equal that seen in other areas of the lake due to the poorer habitat quality of the predominantly fine sediments at the south end of the lake. Inputs of clay particles from the 32 | P a g e Tully Valley mudboils undoubtedly contribute to the poor habitat conditions of the littoral sediments in this area of the lake. 5.2.1.2 Fishcommunity
Fish communities are good indicators of aquatic ecosystem conditions because they integrate physical, chemical, and biological factors and express them in terms of species composition, age and growth characteristics, and reproductive success. Since 2000, the Onondaga County AMP has conducted an extensive fisheries monitoring program to track various life stages of the fish community. Improved water quality and habitat conditions in Onondaga Lake have been reflected in a changing fish community. The major reductions in ammonia and phosphorus loading from Metro have resulted in expanded habitat for fish in both the littoral and pelagic zones. Since 2000 more than 166,000 individual fish have been captured or observed from Onondaga Lake by Onondaga County’s sampling program, representing 53 species (Table 5‐2). Table 5–2. Fish species identified in Onondaga Lake, 2000–2013. Abundant Species
(>1000 individuals)
Alewife
Golden Shiner
Common Species
(50-1000 individuals)
Bluntnose Minnow Longnose Gar
Uncommon Species
(<50 individuals)
Black Bullhead
Quillback
Banded Killifish Largemouth Bass Bowfin
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
Rainbow Smelt
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Brook Stickleback
Rainbow Trout
Round Goby
Brown Trout
Rudd
Pumpkinseed
Channel Catfish
Brown Bullhead Smallmouth Bass Emerald Shiner
CommonCarp
White Perch
Fathead Minnow
Shorthead Redhorse Chain Pickerel
Silver Redhorse
Gizzard Shad
White Sucker
Freshwater Drum
Tessellated Darter
Creek Chub
Spotfin Shiner
Logperch
Walleye
Goldfish
Spottail Shiner
Brook Silverside Yellow Perch
Greater Redhorse
Tadpole Madtom
Green Sunfish
Tiger Muskie
Johnny Darter
Trout Perch
Lake Sturgeon
White Bass
Longnose Dace
Yellow Bullhead
Northern Hogsucker
Annual nesting surveys have been conducted in the littoral zone of the lake to estimate the number and spatial distribution of the nests of Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Rock Bass, and Brown Bullhead. The number of nests observed in the south basin of Onondaga Lake has increased since 2008, resulting in a more even distribution of nests between the north and south basins (Figure 5‐5). The increased nesting activity observed in the southern basin of the lake may be influenced by increased 33 | P a g e macrophyte coverage, which shelters nesting areas. Pumpkinseed nests have been most common, accounting for 38% of the 3,492 nests observed in 2013. Larval, young‐of‐year, and juvenile fish are common in Onondaga Lake, with particularly large numbers of Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass observed. Figure 5–5. Distribution of fish nests between the south and north basins of Onondaga Lake, 1993–2013. Centrarchid Nests The relative abundance of adult fish in Onondaga Lake has shifted substantially with improvements in water quality. Populations of Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Brown Bullhead have increased in recent years. In contrast, populations of Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and White Perch have decreased. The divergent population trends for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are particularly striking 34 | P a g e (Figure 5‐6) and likely reflect the expansion of macrophytes in the littoral zone, which has created habitat more suitable for Largemouth Bass. Figure 5–6. Trend in annual average catch rates (number per hour) of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass combined in Onondaga Lake from 2000 to 2013. The occurrence of physical abnormalities in adult fish from Onondaga Lake has been monitored by Onondaga County using a standardized protocol of identifying Deformities, Erosions, Lesions, Tumors, Fungus, and/or Malignancies (DELTFM). Fish abnormalities can result from chemical contamination; biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi; or interactions among multiple stressors. Overall, DELTFM abnormalities increased from 2003 to 2009 and decreased from 2009 to 2013 (Figure 5‐7). A definitive cause for the increase is not known, but it may have been related to several pathogens that affected Brown Bullhead in 2008. The incidence of lesions and tumors in Brown Bullhead in Onondaga Lake in 2013 was 10% and is again approaching the range associated with regional reference sites. Additional information on the fish community of Onondaga Lake can be found in the 2013 AMP Report (Onondaga County 2015). 35 | P a g e Figure 5–7. Percent of adult fish captured during AMP sampling with DELTFM abnormalities. 5.2.2
Physical/Chemicaldata
The vertical distributions of dissolved oxygen and water temperature in stratifying lakes largely determine the amount of habitat available for different fish species. Adequate dissolved oxygen levels are necessary for most forms of aquatic life, and coldwater fish require a combination of high dissolved oxygen concentrations and low temperatures to maintain a population. Establishment of low dissolved oxygen levels or warm temperatures during summer can exclude a major volume of the lake to habitation by certain species of fish. Dissolved oxygen can become depleted in the deeper, colder layers of stratifying lakes during summer. The upper layers, which typically remain oxygen enriched, may become too warm for coolwater and coldwater fish species during summer. As a result, the habitat available for certain fish may be diminished or eliminated. The habitat available for coldwater and coldwater fish communities in Onondaga Lake has been tracked from 2000 to 2013 using high frequency measurements of dissolved oxygen and temperature taken at multiple depths. The 6‐month period from May 15 through November 15 (185 days) has been used for this analysis because it encompasses the summer season when the upper waters of the lake can reach temperatures that are potentially stressful to the coldwater fish community. The percentage of the total lake volume available to coldwater fish increased significantly (t‐test, p<0.01) from 32% during 2000‐2005 to 41% during 2006‐2013 (Figure 5‐8a). Similarly, the habitat available to coolwater fish increased from 43% to 50% (p<0.01). The percentage of days with at least 1 36 | P a g e meter of vertical habitat available for coldwater fish averaged 72% during 2000‐2013 and ranged from 51% in 2002 to 87% in 2004 (Figure 5‐8b). Conditions were better suited for coolwater fish species, with 95% of the days meeting habitat requirements during an average year. 100
Percent of
Available Habitat
(a)
60
40
20
0
Percent of
Days in Range
coldwater
coolwater
80
(b)
80
60
40
20
Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
0
Figure 5–8. Coolwater and coldwater fish habitat, 1990–2013: (a) the percentage of the lake volume with dissolved oxygen and temperature conditions suitable for coolwater and coldwater fish, and (b) the percentage of days in the May 15 through November 15 interval with habitat available for coolwater and coldwater fish. The New York State Consolidate Assessment and Listing Methodology (NYSDEC 2009) notes that low dissolved oxygen is likely to occur at lower depths of lakes as a result of natural conditions. In fact, more than 70% of the thermally stratified assessed in a recent NYSDEC survey experienced hypoxia in the hypolimnion (NYSDEC 2010). Lakes with small hypolimnetic volumes, such as Onondaga Lake, are particularly susceptible to oxygen 37 | P a g e depletion during summer stratification. The suite of water quality models used to support development of the TMDL for phosphorus in Onondaga Lake was applied to hindcast dissolved oxygen in the hypolimnion for pastoral (pre‐1800) conditions (NYSDEC 2012). Model simulations indicated that oxygen depletion in deep water during summer was likely an annual occurrence. Additional chemical factors that could impair aquatic life use support include harmful levels of ammonia or nitrite and pH values outside the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Exceedances of the ambient water quality standards for ammonia and nitrite were eliminated in 2004 by implementation of the BAF treatment process. The reductions in ammonia concentrations in the upper waters of the lake have enabled a more diverse biota. In 2008, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) delisted Onondaga Lake as impaired by ammonia in the 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies. Onondaga Lake is a well‐buffered system with moderate pH values that typically remain within the 7 to 8 range. The available biological and physical/chemical data indicate that Onondaga Lake is meeting its designated use of aquatic life support. The macroinvertebrate community has improved since 2000, with three of the five sampling sites categorized as slightly impacted in 2010. Although the macroinvertebrate community remains severely impacted at the extreme southern end of the lake, conditions at this site have improved steadily since 2000. The lake supports a diverse and productive warm and cool water fish community, and is popular with recreational anglers. 5.3 FishConsumptionUse
Advisories issued by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) form the primary basis for assessment of the fish consumption use. The general NYSDOH advisory is that people can eat up to four, one‐half pound meals a month (which should be spaced out to about a meal a week) of fish from New York State fresh waters. An additional NYSDOH advisory is in place for Onondaga Lake due to mercury, PCB, and dioxin contamination. The current advisory recommends that women under age 50 and children under age 15 consume no fish from Onondaga Lake. In addition, the following species specific consumption guidelines are provided for men over age 15 and women over age 50: 



Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass over 15 inches – Don’t Eat; less than 15 inches – one meal per month Walleye, Carp, Channel Catfish and White Perch – Don’t Eat Brown Bullhead and Pumpkinseed – four meals per month All fish not listed – one meal per month 38 | P a g e Accordingly, the fish consumption use is precluded for women under age 50 and children under age 15 and impaired for men over age 15 and women over age 50. Honeywell International is proceeding with a number of projects to address industrial contamination issues, with oversight by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NYSDEC. About 2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment has been removed from the lake and about 450 acres of the lake bottom are being capped to provide a new habitat layer, prevent erosion, and isolate remaining contaminants. Capping and habitat restoration are scheduled for completion in 2016. 5.4 NaturalResourcesHabitat/HydrologyUses
Natural resources habitat/hydrology uses are included in New York State’s assessment methodology to better incorporate wetlands and other natural resources concerns in water quality assessments. Although water quality conditions may support designated uses, various other conditions, including habitat, invasive species, and hydrology, can result in degradation of natural resources. Various anthropogenic and natural perturbations have affected the natural resources, habitat, and hydrology uses of Onondaga Lake and its watershed. 5.4.1
Wetlandandriparianhabitat
Wetlands and riparian zones provide a variety of ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, nutrient removal, and aesthetic value (Mitsch and Gosselink 1993). These habitats and their related services have been greatly diminished or eliminated through various alterations to the Onondaga Lake ecosystem that accompanied urbanization of the area. In 1822, a channel was cut to connect the lake with the Seneca River. As a result, the lake level was reduced by four feet and wetlands at the south end of the lake were drained. In addition, the lake’s tributaries have been channelized and riparian zones have been lost to development. For example, the channel of Onondaga Creek was altered substantially (deepened and straightened) to promote rapid removal of flood water and sewage and Ninemile Creek was rerouted to accommodate disposal of ionic waste from soda ash production. Honeywell recently completed a habitat restoration project along Geddes Brook and Ninemile Creek, transforming 44 acres of the Onondaga Lake watershed into a diverse new habitat for wildlife. Additional work is under way to improve wetlands on the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries. About 1.1 million plants, shrubs, and trees are being planted to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife in the Onondaga Lake watershed. Additional details can be found on Honeywell’s website (http://www.lakecleanup.com). 39 | P a g e 5.4.2
TullyValleymudboils
The Tully Valley mudboils are created by fine‐grained sediment and water brought to the land surface by artesian discharge (Kappel 2014). Sediment from the mudboils, which is composed mostly of clay minerals, is loaded directly to Onondaga Creek and transported to Onondaga Lake. The high sediment load and extensive in‐stream deposition have negatively impacted the stream’s biota and the aesthetics of the Inner Harbor (Prestigiacomo et al. 2007). Onondaga Creek is the dominant source of inorganic particulate material to Onondaga Lake and an important source of particulate phosphorus. Through the early 1990s the mudboils were loading sediment to Onondaga Creek at a rate of approximately 30 tons per day. Sediment loading from the mudboils was reduced to about 1 ton per day in the mid‐1990s through an array of remedial measures. A new “rogue” mudboil area developed in 2010 that increased sediment loading to more than 20 tons per day. Kappel (2014) has outlined the technical and practical issues related to potential remedial strategies to reduce mudboil discharges and improve water quality and habitat conditions in Onondaga Creek. 5.4.3
Invasivespecies
Because Onondaga Lake is an open system, connected to Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake, and certain Finger Lakes by the Three Rivers System, it is particularly susceptible to invasion by aquatic invasive species. Many invasive species have colonized the Great Lakes as a result of ballast water transfers from international ships. A variety of invasive species have entered the Great Lakes since the early 1800s, including include fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, other invertebrates and plants. In the past 200 years more than 145 different plants and animals have invaded the Great Lakes. In the absence of natural predators, many of these exotic invaders have spread throughout aquatic ecosystems, limiting food and habitat and competing with or even displacing native species. Some of the more noteworthy invasive species present in Onondaga Lake include dreissenid (zebra and quagga) mussels, fishhook waterfleas (Cercopagis pengoi), Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), and the Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus). Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) were first recorded in Onondaga Lake in 1992, although they did not become abundant until 2000 and 2008, respectively (Mills et al. 1993, Spada et al. 2002). By 2009, quagga mussels largely replaced zebra mussels in water depths of 3 to 6 meters (Rudstam and Gandino 2014). However, zebra mussels remained co‐dominant with quagga mussels in shallower water. Both zebra and quagga mussels can alter ecosystems through filter feeding and alteration of benthic habitat. They filter particulate matter (e.g., algae) from the water 40 | P a g e column, producing dissolved nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and consuming oxygen. Dreissenid mussels likely have a significant positive impact on water clarity in nearshore areas of Onondaga Lake; however, the ecological impacts associated with these filter feeders are not fully understood. The Alewife is a planktivorous fish that feeds preferentially on large zooplankton, which are more efficient grazers of algae than smaller zooplankton. The development of large populations of Alewife in Onondaga Lake during 2003–2007 and 2010–2013 nearly eliminated large‐bodied zooplankton such as Daphnia (Wang et al. 2010, Onondaga County 2013). In years when Alewife were abundant, the absence of Daphnia caused higher levels of phosphorus and chlorophyll‐a and diminished water clarity (Matthews et al. 2015). The potential for large alewife populations has been linked to reductions in ammonia concentrations (Wang et al. 2010). A Rock Colonized by Dreissenid Mussels 5.4.4
Weathervariationsandclimatechange
Water quality conditions in Onondaga Lake are subject to substantial year‐to‐year variations as a result of interannual differences in meteorological conditions. Air temperature and wind speed influence the stratification regime and, therefore, dissolved oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion. Precipitation, as the primary driver of stream flow, is the single most important meteorological attribute affecting material loading from the tributaries. Increased nutrient loading during high runoff years can enhance algal growth, and large inputs of inorganic particles can cause poor clarity. In contrast to random year‐to‐year variations, climate change is forecast to cause major systematic shifts in 41 | P a g e climate. In the Northeast, climate change is expected to result in warmer temperatures and an increase in the occurrence of high intensity storms. Model simulations of the response of Onondaga Lake to climate change indicate increases in the magnitude of peak flows and nutrient loading, water temperatures increases of 5 °C during the 2040–2069 time period, and a prolonged summer stratification interval (Taner et al. 2011). 5.5 Aesthetics
Evaluation of the extent to which a waterbody supports the aesthetics use is necessarily more subjective than for the other uses assessed in this report. NYSDEC (2009) recommends the use of available objective information for assessment of aesthetic use support, such as lake perception surveys and preponderance of citizen complaints. Although this type of information is generally lacking for Onondaga Lake, a reasonable evaluation of the aesthetics use can be performed on the basis of available data related to water clarity, the frequency of algal blooms, macrophyte coverage, and floatables control. 5.5.1
Waterclarity
Public perceptions of the overall health of a waterbody are influenced importantly by water clarity. Water clarity, as measured by Secchi disk transparency, has improved in both open water and nearshore areas of the lake. Impaired water clarity conditions, which correspond to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) swimming safety guidance value of 4 feet or 1.2 meters, have been substantially reduced since the phosphorus treatment upgrade at Metro in 2005 (Figure 4‐7b). Since 2005, just 12 of the 194 (6%) Secchi disk measurements made at South Deep were less than 1.2 meters. These infrequent occurrences of low transparency were primarily associated with inputs of inorganic particles during major runoff events and not with excessive algal growth. Since 2009, water clarity at nearshore sites has exceeded the 1.2 meter standard more than 90% of the time in Class B waters (Figure 5‐3). Turbid inputs from Onondaga Creek, Ley Creek, and Harbor Brook continue to cause diminished water clarity in the Class C segment located at the south end of the lake. Uncontrolled loading of clay particles that originate from the Tully Valley mudboils is the primary cause of poor clarity at the mouth of Onondaga Creek during runoff events. 5.5.2
Algalblooms
Excessive algal growth is one of the most common complaints reported by residents and users of New York’s lakes (NYSFOLA 2009). Algal blooms discolor the water and may cause odor problems, resulting in conditions unsuitable for swimming and other forms of recreation. Toxins emitted by blue‐green algae during harmful algal blooms (HABs) can 42 | P a g e cause health effects when consumed by dogs, cats, cattle, and humans. While the occurrence of HABs has increased in New York State in recent years (http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html), the frequency and severity of algal blooms in Onondaga Lake has diminished (Figure 4‐6). In fact, no major algal blooms have occurred in the lake since the upgrade in phosphorus treatment in 2005 and minor blooms have been absent since 2007. Blue‐green algae are no longer important in Onondaga Lake, and there have been no problems with toxic forms. 5.5.3
Macrophytes
In a survey of lake residents in New York State, the most frequently reported problem was nuisance macrophytes or weeds (NYSFOLA 2009). Although macrophytes serve a variety of beneficial ecological functions in lakes, dense populations of invasive plants can cause nuisance conditions that inhibit lake uses. Macrophyte coverage in Onondaga Lake increased from less than 20% in the early 2000s to approximately 50% in recent years (Figure 5‐9). The current level of macrophyte coverage is in the optimum range for Largemouth Bass, which may explain recent high catch rates. Dense plant growth, which is limited to shallow, nearshore areas where light can reach the lake bottom, isn’t a significant impediment to swimming and boating in most areas of the lake. Water stargrass (Zosterella dubia), stonewort (Chara vulgaris), and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) were the most abundant species in the lake in 2013 (Onondaga County 2015). Although invasive species such as Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and water chestnut (Trapa natans) are present in Onondaga Lake, they have not become dominant. Figure 5–9. Macrophyte coverage in Onondaga Lake, 2000–2013. Percentage represents coverage of the littoral zone (to depth of 6 meters). 43 | P a g e 5.5.4
Floatables
The occurrence of floating debris in lakes and streams can negatively affect public perceptions of water quality. Floatable debris consists of a wide variety of plastic, wood, paper, glass, rubber, metal, and organic waste materials that float or are suspended in the water column and may eventually be deposited along shorelines. Common sources of floatable debris include street litter, storm water discharges, decaying shoreline structures, pleasure boaters, anglers, and CSO discharges. Onondaga Lake is particularly susceptible to floating debris because of its urban setting. The ACJ requires “elimination or minimization of floating substances in Onondaga Lake attributed to the County’s CSOs.” Onondaga County has implemented a number of programs that are reducing the amount of floating debris in Onondaga Lake and its tributaries. The County contracts the services of a skimmer boat for collection and disposal of floatable debris in the Inner Harbor of Syracuse, along the mouth of Onondaga Creek, and in near shore portions of Onondaga Lake near the mouth of Onondaga Creek. The skimmer boat is typically operated eight hours per week during April, May, September, October and November, and 16 hours per week during June, July, and August. The debris collected typically consists of the following elements (listed in the order of frequency): leaves and grass, tree limbs, plastic and Styrofoam food packaging, plastic containers, glass bottles, cigarette butts, dead fish, Rx bottles, playground equipment, construction barricades, syringes, condoms, and feminine hygiene products. From 2002 to 2013 more than 195 tons of debris was collected by the skimmer boat. The County currently operates four Floatable Control Facilities (FCF) on Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. Onondaga County Department of Water Environmental Protection (OCDWEP) personnel inspect the FCFs weekly and after wet‐weather events. In 2012 more than 25 tons of debris were collected at FCFs and disposed of – this value increased to more than 29 tons in 2013. When the FCF and skimmer boat operations are considered together, the amount of floating debris removed from Onondaga Lake and its tributaries was 37.3 and 49.6 tons in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In addition, the County performs a number of maintenance tasks at its green infrastructure projects, including general trash clean up, catch basin filter insert cleaning, and porous pavement vacuuming. In 2012 Onondaga County completed a characterization study of eighteen (18) CSOs to assess the need for creating the most effective strategy for controlling floatables from these CSOs (ARCADIS 2013). This assessment found that material presumed to originate predominantly from sanitary sewage (textiles, colloidal and health/hygiene) generally represented a small fraction of the floatables contained in discharges from these CSOs. Composition results obtained from sampling of floatables from the individual CSOs 44 | P a g e indicated 52‐98% of material sampled was natural debris unrelated to sanitary sewage. This finding is consistent with the high percentage of natural materials captured at both the Harbor Brook FCF (88%) and Inner Harbor (92%). Debris derived from street litter (i.e., paper, plastics, foam) accounted for 68 to 100% of the floatables from the individual CSOs. The control of floatables into Onondaga Lake and its tributaries remains an important water quality objective. The available data indicate that the majority of floatable material discharging from CSOs is natural and/or street derived debris associated with storm water. Accordingly, source control such as street sweeping, catch‐basin modifications, and cleaning programs would likely be an effective method for floatables control. In addition, an aggressive public education program focused on appropriate disposal of hygienic and other personal care products could further reduce floatables associated with sanitary sewage. 6 CONCLUSIONS
The water quality improvements achieved at Onondaga Lake have been striking in the context of lake rehabilitation examples from North America and beyond. Lakes usually respond positively to reductions in nutrient loading; however, responses are often slower and less evident than anticipated (Cooke et al. 2005). In contrast, the water quality improvements at Onondaga Lake were both tangible and immediate following wastewater treatment upgrades at Metro. The lake has been transformed from a highly eutrophic system that failed to support a number of designated uses through the early 2000s to a mesotrophic system that now supports a variety of recreational uses and a diverse fishery. Noteworthy examples of water quality improvements include: 
Loading of ammonia and nitrite, two potentially toxic forms of nitrogen, was reduced by 98% and 90%, respectively, as a result of treatment upgrades at Metro. Water quality standards for ammonia are no longer exceeded in Onondaga Lake and the lake was delisted as impaired by ammonia in 2008. 
Increased loading of nitrate from Metro has substantially decreased the transport of phosphorus and mercury from the sediments to the water column. 
Upgraded phosphorus treatment at Metro has resulted in an 85% decrease in total phosphorus loading to Onondaga Lake since the early 1990s and a 99% reduction since the early 1970s. 45 | P a g e 
Summer average total phosphorus concentrations averaged 21 µg/L during 2007–2013, close to the guidance value of 20 µg/L established for protection of recreational uses of lakes. 
Reduced phosphorus loading has caused marked decreases in algal biomass and the occurrence of algal blooms. No major algal blooms have been observed since 2005 and no minor blooms have been documented since 2007. 
Reductions in algal biomass have resulted in improved water clarity in both open water and nearshore regions of the lake. Water clarity now exceeds the swimming safety guidance value of 1.2 meters (4 feet) 96% of the time at South Deep and 90% of the time at Class B nearshore locations. 
Depletion of dissolved oxygen in the upper waters of the lake during fall turnover has been eliminated. The lake’s dissolved oxygen resources now provide habitat for a diverse fishery, including both warmwater and coolwater fish species. Coldwater species are found in Onondaga Lake, but their habitat is restricted during summer due to a lack of cold, oxygen‐rich water. 
Onondaga County has completed a variety of “gray” and “green” infrastructure projects that have reduced CSO discharges and bacteria loading to the lake. Forty‐five (45) CSOs have been eliminated or captured. Green infrastructure projects are reducing storm water runoff by over 108 million gallons per year and CSO discharges by approximately 51 million gallons per year. 
Although Onondaga Lake currently has no public bathing beach, water quality conditions in the northern two‐thirds of Onondaga Lake are now fully supportive of the public bathing use. Using the New York State Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) as a guide, we have documented the extent to which Onondaga Lake is presently supporting the designated uses of public bathing and recreation, aquatic life support, fish consumption, natural resources habitat/hydrology, and aesthetics. The public bathing use is fully supported in the northern two‐thirds of the lake. Public bathing is not a designated use in the southern third of the lake. Recreational uses of the lake are fully supported with the exception of the extreme southern end of the lake following runoff events. Levels of turbidity and indicator bacteria become elevated in this portion of the lake following significant rainfall. The aquatic life use is fully supported throughout the lake as manifested in a diverse fish community and an improving macroinvertebrate community. The fish 46 | P a g e consumption use remains impaired on a lake‐wide basis due to mercury, PCB, and dioxin contamination. Improved water quality has resulted in a more balanced ecosystem, with increased habitat for aquatic organisms and enhanced aesthetic appeal. However, Onondaga Lake is subject to a variety of effects that are beyond the scope of current rehabilitation initiatives. Invasive species, such as dreissenid mussels, Alewife, and Round Goby, will continue to impact the food web and water quality conditions. The impact of Alewife on water clarity and phosphorus levels has been particularly conspicuous. Turbid inputs from the Tully Valley mudboils continue to affect habitat conditions and aesthetics in Onondaga Creek and Onondaga Lake. Finally, lake water quality and biota will continue to be influenced by both interannual variations in weather and long‐term changes in climate. The conclusions reached in this report regarding the attainment of designated uses in Onondaga Lake are generally consistent with those provided by NYSDEC in the recently updated Waterbody Inventory and Priority Waterbodies List (WI/PWL). The WI/PWL entry for Onondaga Lake, which was updated on October 20, 2014, documents the marked improvements in water quality and concludes that the lake now supports most uses (see http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/36737.html). Specifically, the WI/PWL reports that the public bathing, recreation, and aquatic life uses are fully supported in the northern two‐
thirds of the lake. The aquatic life use is also fully supported in the southern end of the lake. Recreational uses are stressed in the southern end due to elevated bacteria levels following wet‐weather events. The WI/PWL considers fish consumption to be impaired throughout the lake. 47 | P a g e 7 REFERENCES
Arcadis. 2013. Floatables control facility plan amendment. prepared for Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, 17 p. Auer, M. T., M. L. Storey, S. W. Effler and N. A. Auer. 1990. Zooplankton impacts on chlorophyll and transparency in Onondaga Lake, NY. USA. Hydrobiologia/Dev 200/201:603‐617. Cooke, G. D., E. B. Welch, S. A. Peterson and S. A. Nichols. 2005. Restoration and management of lakes and reservoirs. Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. CR Environmental, Inc. 2007. Onondaga Lake Phase 1 Pre‐design Investigation Geophysical Survey Report. Prepared for Parsons, Syracuse, NY. East Falmouth, MA. 167 p. EcoLogic, LLC. 2011. 2010 Onondaga Lake littoral macroinvertebrate monitoring: significant findings and data summary. prepared for Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, 26 p. Effler, S. W. 1985. Attenuation versus transparency. Journal of Environmental Engineering 111:448‐459. Effler, S. W. 1996. Limnological and engineering analysis of a polluted urban lake. Prelude to environmental management of Onondaga Lake, New York. Springer‐Verlag, New York, NY. Effler, S. W., R. K. Gelda, M. G. Perkins, F. Peng, N. G. Hairston and C. M. Kearns. 2008. Patterns and modeling of the long‐term optics record of Onondaga Lake, New York. Fund. Appl. Limnol. 172/3:217‐237. Effler, S. W. and D. A. Matthews. 2008. Implications of redox processes for the rehabilitation of an urban lake, Onondaga Lake, NY. Lake and Reservoir Management 24:122‐138. Effler, S. W. and S. M. O'Donnell. 2010. A long‐term record of epilimnetic phosphorus patterns in recovering Onondaga Lake, New York. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 177/1:1‐
18. Effler, S. W., S. M. O'Donnell, A. R. Prestigiacomo, D. M. O'Donnell, R. K. Gelda and D. A. Matthews. 2010. The effect of municipal wastewater effluent on nitrogen levels in Onondaga Lake, a 36‐year record. Wat. Environ. Res. 82:3‐19. Gelda, R. K., C. M. Brooks, S. W. Effler and M. T. Auer. 2000. Interannual variations in nitrification in a hypereutrophic urban lake: Occurrences and implications. Wat. Res. 34:1107‐1118. 48 | P a g e Kappel, W. M. 2014. The hydrogeology of the Tully Valley, Onondaga County, New York ‐ An overview of research, 1992‐2012: U.S. Geological Survey Open‐File Report 2014‐1076, 28 p., plus 3 appendixes. http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141076. ISSN 2331‐1258 (online). Lampert, W., W. Fleckner, H. Rai and B. E. Taylor. 1986. Phytoplankton control by grazing zooplankton:A study on the spring clear‐water phase. Limnology and Oceanography 31:478‐490. Matthews, D. A., D. B. Babcock, J. G. Nolan, A. R. Prestigiacomo, S. W. Effler, C. T. Driscoll, S. G. Todorova and K. M. Kuhr. 2013. Whole‐lake nitrate addition for control of methylmercury in mercury‐contaminated Onondaga Lake, NY. Environmental Research 125:52‐60. Matthews, D. A. and S. W. Effler. 2006. Long‐term assessment of the oxygen resources of a recovering urban lake, Onondaga Lake, NY. Lake and Reservoir Management 22:19‐32. Matthews, D. A., S. W. Effler and C. M. Matthews (Brooks). 2000. Ammonia and toxicity criteria in polluted Onondaga Lake, New York. Water Environment Research 72:731‐741. Matthews, D. A., S. W. Effler, C. M. Matthews (Brooks), C. A. Siegfried and M. E. Spada. 2001. Responses of Onondaga Lake, New York, to early stages of rehabilitation: Unanticipated ecosystem feedbacks. Water Environment Research 73:691‐703. Matthews, D. A., S. W. Effler, S. M. O'Donnell, C. T. Driscoll and C. M. Matthews. 2008. Electron budgets for the hypolimnion of a recovering urban lake, 1989‐2004: Response to changes in organic carbon deposition and availability of electron acceptors. Limnology and Oceanography 53:743‐759. Matthews, D. A., S. W. Effler, A. R. Prestigiacomo and S. M. O'Donnell. 2015. Trophic state responses of Onondaga Lake, New York to reductions in phosphorus loading from advanced wastewater treatment. Inland Waters (in press). Mills, E. L., R. M. Dermott, E. F. Roseman, D. Dustin, E. Mellina, D. B. Conn and A. P. Spidle. 1993. Colonization, ecology, and population structure of the quagga mussel (Bivalvia, Dreissenidae) in the lower Great Lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 50:2305‐2314. Mitsch, W. J. and J. G. Gosselink. 1993. Wetlands (Second Edition). Van Norstrand Reinhold, New York. 722 p. NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation). 1998. Total maximum daily loads for ammonia in Onondaga Lake. Division of Water, Albany, NY. NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation). 2009. The New York State Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology. 23 p. 49 | P a g e NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation). 2010. New York State Clean Lakes Assessment. NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation). 2012. Total maximum daily load (TMDL) for phosphorus in Onondaga Lake. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, Albany, New York. NYSFOLA (New York State Federation of Lake Associations Inc. 2009. Diet for a Small Lake: The expanded guide to New York State Lake and Watershed Management (Second Edition). The Forager Press, LLC., New York State Federation of Lake Associations Inc. in cooperation with the NYSDEC, 313 p. Onondaga County. 2015. Onondaga Lake Ambient Monitoring Program: 2013 Annual Report. Available from: http://www.ongov.net/wep/we1510.html. 216 p. Prestigiacomo, A. R., S. W. Effler, D. M. O'Donnell, J. M. Hassett, E. M. Michelanko, Z. Lee and A. D. Weidemann. 2007. Turbidity and suspended solids levels and loads in a sediment enriched stream: implications for impacted lotic and lentic ecosystems. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 23:231‐244. Rudstam, L. G. and C. J. Gandino. 2014. Zebra and Quagga mussel dynamics in Onondaga Lake, New York, 2005‐2013. 26 p. Smith, D. G. and R. J. Davies‐Colley. 1992. Perception of water clarity and colour in terms of suitability for recreational use. J. Environ. Manage. 36:225‐235. Spada, M. E., N. H. Ringler, S. W. Effler and D. A. Matthews. 2002. Invasion of Onondaga Lake, New York, by the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) following reductions in N pollution. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 21:634‐650. Taner, M. Ü., J. N. Carleton and M. Wellman. 2011. Integrated model projections of climate change impacts on a North American lake. Ecol. Model. 222:3380‐3393. Wang, R. W., L. G. Rudstam, T. E. Brooking, D. J. Snyder, M. A. Arrigo and E. L. Mills. 2010. Food web effects and the disappearance of the spring clear water phase in Onondaga Lake following nutrient loading reductions. Lake and Reservoir Management 26:169‐177. 50 | P a g e LEGISLATIVE /REGULATORY /
MEDIA UPDATE
Legislative/Regulatory Update
Action items for the County Legislature (January – March)

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the NYS Environmental
Facilities Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($30,000 for
Meadowbrook/Limestone WWTP).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the NYS Environmental
Facilities Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($50,000 for
EBSS evaluation study).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the New York State Empire
State Development Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements
($960,000 for Hiawatha Trunk Sewer Project).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the New York State DEC and
authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($1,800,000 for State Street green
infrastructure improvements).
Action items for the Env. Protection Committee (December – February)

A resolution approving proposed improvements for the Bear Trap-Ley Creek Drainage
District, consisting of the demolition of the Burnet Avenue Maintenance Garage.

A resolution authorizing the issuance of $500,000 Serial Bonds to pay the cost of
improvements for the Bear Trap-Ley Creek Drainage District, consisting of the
demolition of the Burnet Avenue Maintenance Garage.

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the NYS Environmental
Facilities Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($30,000 for
Meadowbrook/Limestone WWTP).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the NYS Environmental
Facilities Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($50,000 for
EBSS evaluation study).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the New York State Empire
State Development Corporation and authorizing the execution of grant agreements
($960,000 for Hiawatha Trunk Sewer Project).

A resolution authorizing acceptance of grant funds from the New York State DEC and
authorizing the execution of grant agreements ($1,800,000 for State Street green
infrastructure improvements).
1
2014 top environmental news stories: Onondaga
Lake, fracking and American chestnut
By Glenn Coin | [email protected]
on January 01, 2015 at 11:45 AM, updated January 01, 2015 at 12:55 PM
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The cleanup of Onondaga Lake has been one of the top environmental stories in
Central New York nearly every year for decades -- but this year it was good news that brought the lake
to the top of the list. The list also includes a final (sort of) decision on the fate of fracking in New
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/onondaga_lake_fracking_and_american_chestnut_revival_cnys_top_environment_storie.html
York, and a breakthrough at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry that could
restore the towering American chestnut to the Eastern landscape.
Here are our picks for the top environmental stories of 2014.
1. Onondaga Lake cleanup hits milestones. Honeywell finished the dredging of 2.2
million cubic yards of lake bottom in November, a year ahead of the schedule set in 2012. The
dredging was the most visible part of the decades long, multi-phase cleanup, much of which will
continue for years. Onondaga County also met court-ordered deadlines to reduce sewage leaking into
the lake through the Metro treatment plant. County officials said Onondaga Lake was
cleaner than some Finger Lakes.
2. Fracking banned in New York. In a move that delighted environmentalists and crushed many
Southern Tier landowners, New York's environmental commissioner announced in
December he'll ban fracking next year. After six years of study, and just six weeks after Election
Day, DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens said he will ban fracking "at this time." Fracking wasn't
going to come anytime soon to Central New York anyway because the richest deposits of gas in
the vast Marcellus shale beneath New York are in the Southern Tier.
3. Genetically engineered American chestnut created. SUNY-ESF researchers announced they
have created a blight-resistant strain of the majestic American chestnut, which once
dominated the landscape of eastern North America. Charles Maynard and William Powell said that
after 25 years of research they had successfully inserted a wheat gene into a chestnut that made the
tree resistant to the blight that wiped out billions of trees. Critics said genetic engineering of the
chestnut won't work and could cause environmental damage.
4. Onondaga Lake Amphitheater. In less than eight months, Onondaga County announced ,
the building of the Onondaga Lake Amphitheater, issued 1,377 pages of studies, approved those
studies, got special fast-track legislation approved by the state, and started site work. The state
also approved Honeywell's $20 million plan to cover over the wastebeds on the west shore of
the lake where the amphitheater will be built.
5. Researchers blitz Onondaga Lake. The first "Bioblitz" of Onondaga Lake, a 24-hour
marathon to sample as many species of plants and animals around the lake as possible, found a
greater diversity of life than previously suspected. The Bioblitz, held in conjunction with the
inauguration of SUNY-ESF's new president, Quentin Wheeler, also found that the problem
of invasive species around Onondaga Lakewas greater than scientists had feared.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/onondaga_lake_fracking_and_american_chestnut_revival_cnys_top_environment_storie.html
Return of regal visitors: Bald eagles again in
Syracuse, at Onondaga Lake
Sean Kirst | [email protected]
on January 23, 2015 at 1:34 PM, updated February 01, 2015 at 4:10 PM
Dennis Nett, an old friend and a longtime photographer with The Post-Standard, went Friday
to Onondaga Lake, hoping simply to see a bald eagle from afar. Accompanied by Marty Voss, an
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/01/return_of_regal_visitors_bald_eagles_again_in_syracuse_at_onondaga_lake.html
Onondaga County water quality official, Nett journeyed to
the shoreline near the outflow for the Metropolitan Syracuse
Wastewater Treatment plant, an area where the eagles
congregate.
He came back to the office, filled with awe. An eagle flew
much closer than he had dared to hope. Take a look at the
images and you'll get a sense of how Dennis is feeling.
The eagles of Onondaga are back. Their annual return to
the shoreline, in winter, has become a kind of quiet civic
miracle. They are drawn here, when the temperatures drop,
by the open water near the treatment plant, much cleaner
due to remedial efforts in recent years.
The numbers, this year, seem to have dropped a little. Chris
Gandino, a county biologist who works out of the treatment
plant, said the size of the wintering population directly
correlates to the cold: In an especially bitter winter, when
most open freshwater freezes up, the area just beyond the
plant remains open, due to the outflow. The warm water also
attracts gizzard shad, Gandino said, an invasive species of
fish that isn't especially hardy in the cold.
For hungry eagles, that provides easy eating.
From time to time, in recent years, there have
been 30 or more eagles wintering near that one
spot in Syracuse. Thursday, when I met Voss at
the lake, we saw a total of seven in the trees, in
flight or on the ice - several white-headed adults
along with a few juveniles, which look kind of
like enormous baby robins. Steve Bray, a
sanitary engineer at the treatment plant, said he
has seen as many as 15 at one time this year.
The birds are about three-feet tall, with wing
spans that often exceed seven feet. The presence of the eagles has particular meaning to the
Onondagas: The lake is equivalent to their Jerusalem, at the heart of the story that defines their faith.
It is where they believe their Peacemaker planted a tree of peace on the shoreline.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/01/return_of_regal_visitors_bald_eagles_again_in_syracuse_at_onondaga_lake.html
That tree is often depicted with an eagle at the peak, because longhouse beliefs hold that the eagle - by
flying so high - serves as a messenger to the Creator.
There are several places to observe the eagles, although biologists warn that they "spook" easily, and
should be watched from a distance, so as not to scare them or chase them off. Incredibly, they often
roost in the trees along the western ring road, near DestinyUSA. Rob Schoeneck, the mall's general
manager, says visitors are welcome, as always, to watch the eagles from the top deck of the Best Buy
parking ramp.
Occasionally, you can see one from the windows, by the mall's carousel.
The city's Onondaga Creekwalk also offers a magnificent view, at its northernmost point, next to
the lake; it can be accessed from the outer mall parking lots, to the south of DestinyUSA. Again, city
officials ask visitors to refrain from walking along the shoreline and bothering the eagles when they're
roosting in the trees.
One concern I'd raise: A few years ago, the eagles used to roost in the trees to the west of the
treatment plant, along the shoreline - trees that gave them a safe distance from human or vehicular
intruders. Many of those trees were lost in recent efforts to clean up the shoreline; it seems as if it
would be easy enough to replant and replace at least some of them.
In any event, if you've got some time today: The sun is out, the sky is blue ....
And the eagles have returned.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/01/return_of_regal_visitors_bald_eagles_again_in_syracuse_at_onondaga_lake.html
What's 'State of County?' Finances
Stable, Upgrading Area, Improvement
Coming to State Fair, etc
By CHRIS BOLT • MAR 4, 2015
Onondaga County's top Politician gave a
pretty positive review as regards budget
matters, progress and taxpayers. The State of
the County address also gave Joanie Mahoney
a chance to review her impacts and legacy as
she enters an election year.
Mahoney gave a number of reasons why over
her tenure in office property tax levies have
been reduced by some 22 %. She credits belt tightening, increased sales tax revenues
due to some wise investments and activities, as well as reduced mandates such as
Medicare.
"We recognize that we are all in this together and have a shared balance sheet. It
doesn’t do our taxpayers any good if we can reduce county taxes only to have taxes for
other municipalities increased. So we’re looking to consolidate outside of county
government.”
http://waer.org/post/whats-state-county-finances-stable-upgrading-area-improvement-coming-state-fair-etc
She says further consolidating can continue to save money. She cites working together
with the city and 47 different municipalities on shared services to save money.
Mahoney updated some major concerns of the area...The completion of toxics dredging
in Onondaga Lake is allowing a corner to be turned.
“And the debate now is about new parks and trails on the west side, rather than
pollution. It’s kind of amazing to me that we’re debating things right now that were really
unimaginable just a few years ago.”
And a different lake issue - the number of sewage overflows - also showing progress
The Amended Consent Judgment requires that we capture 95 % of our overflows by
2018. I am happy to tell you that with our recalibrated and validated storm management
model, we are already exceeding that capture rate.”
Mahoney further touted a range of infrastructure improvements, even during
recession. That included working with the city to pave some roads, acknowledging how
important the center city is to the county's well being.
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED BY ONONDAGA COUNTY






War Memorial: New roof, Seating, Locker Room improvements
Onondaga Community College: Athletic Fields and Sports Arena, Completion of
Classroom/Music Program space.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo: Elephant Exhibit, HVAC upgrade, Save the RAin projects
Covering Water Reservoirs
9-1-1 Interoperable Radios
County Buildings: New Windows in Civic Center, Justice Center New Roof
She wrapped up with a grand plan for the state fair, including the amphitheater
project...and a rebuilding of parking lots across from the fair entrance.
http://waer.org/post/whats-state-county-finances-stable-upgrading-area-improvement-coming-state-fair-etc
“We want to create main street, a mixed-use
development with residential , commercial,
restaurants, retail; we really want to show
people who come here from all across the
state and all across the country to the Great
New York State Fair what it’s really like to be
in Central New York.”
Governor Cuomo already included 50 million
dollars for fair upgrades in his state budget.
Mahoney beckoned to legislators to finish a development guide and come up with a plan
for the Carnegie building. But the core message was how well the community is doing,
as Mahoney enters a possible reelection year with no stated opposition as yet.
http://waer.org/post/whats-state-county-finances-stable-upgrading-area-improvement-coming-state-fair-etc
Major Rowing Events Return to
Onondaga Lake Park This Summer
By SCOTT WILLIS & JOHN SMITH • MAR 6, 2015
The shores of Onondaga Lake Park will be
making serious waves this summer. The US
Northeast Mid-Atlantic Masters Regional
Championship (NEMA) will be held here in
Syracuse. The county will be funding a new 7
lane 2,000 meters course. The course will be
located on the eastern shore of Onondaga
Lake. Syracuse Chargers President Joe
Bufano says it’s the first regatta here since
1993.
“This will bring approximately 500 – 750
athletes to the community to compete. It’s a
day long regatta. They will come here on Saturday and practice and get familiar with the
course. We haven’t hosted a race like this in over 15 years.”
The masters rowing event hosted in city of Grand Rapids last year reeled in about an
estimate 2.2 million dollars in 4 days. Visit Syracuse President David Holder says
Syracuse can expect significant revenue from the event.
“This is about a group of individuals that is dedicated to their passion, their activity, and
their ability to amplify that activity now into a national event, into a new facility for this
http://waer.org/post/major-rowing-events-return-onondaga-lake-park-summer
area. This is something that is going to create more economic activity and quite frankly a
higher caliber quality of life for our residents here.”
This summer’s master regatta is set for June 28. Registration opens in April. But before
anyone can say “You got a Regatta” a lot of ice has gotta melt.
http://waer.org/post/major-rowing-events-return-onondaga-lake-park-summer
Regional masters rowing
championship coming to
Onondaga Lake
By Kevin Tampone | [email protected]
on March 06, 2015 at 11:08 AM
Syracuse, N.Y— Onondaga Lake will host a major regional rowing championship this
summer.
http://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/03/rowing_onondaga_lake_masters_championship
.html
USRowing will bring the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic regional championship in masters
rowing to the lake on June 28. Visit Syracuse, formerly known as the Syracuse
Convention & Visitors Bureau, announced the event today.
The event will make use of a new, 2,000-meter rowing course. The hope is to use the
seven-lane course to attract future rowing events as well.
The course will be located on the lake's eastern shore with a starting line in Willow Bay.
The event will be hosted by the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club. Masters rowing
involves competitors at least 21 years old in categories up to age 80 and over.
The championship will include 50 different events.
The economic impact of the event will be in the millions, according to Visit Syracuse.
http://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/03/rowing_onondaga_lake_masters_championship
.html
A now-common sight, yet still
incredible: In Syracuse, three bald
eagles in a tree
By Sean Kirst | [email protected]
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 20, 2015 at 2:16 PM, updated March 20, 2015 at 10:14 PM
No matter how much it's become an annual tradition, it's impossible to be unmoved by the winter
colony of bald eagles that settles in every year along the Syracuse shoreline of Onondaga Lake.
Mike Greenlar, one of our photographers, captured this image Thursday, the final day of winter, of
three adult bald eagles in a tree across the railroad tracks from Onondaga Lake - a treeline near
Destiny USA that is a favorite roosting place for eagles. That means - whether shoppers realize it or
not - thousands of people arrive and leave each day from the mall with a magnificent view of
our national bird.
Greenlar, by the way, says the original image actually included four bald eagles - but cutting the shot
down to three maximized the power. We include the full photograph with this piece.
The eagles have been returning in large numbers - the total count often reaches into the
dozens - since Onondaga County dramatically improved water treatment at the Syracuse Metropolitan
Wastewater Treatment. The warm outflow keeps a spot open on the lake, and that area attracts
gizzard shad, by the thousands.
For hungry eagles, at a time when frigid weather freezes many freshwater lakes in the Northeast,
those fish provide easy hunting. The appearance of the great birds is something we've almost come to
take for granted in Syracuse, now a city of eagles - where it's staggering to think we can casually see a
handful of eagles in a single tree when many of us, only a few years ago, wondered if we'd ever a single
eagle, in the wild, in our lifetimes.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/a_common_sight_yet_still_incredible_in_syracuse_three_bald_eagles_in_a_tree.html
Such experts as Mike Allen, a retired state technician
who helped reestablish the bald eagle population in
New York, have told us the birds rarely assemble in
groups in warmer weather, but will tolerate that
situation in tough winter conditions. The
Onondaga Lake shoreline also attracts large
number of juvenile eagles, young birds that are
actually a little larger than the adults - and whose
heads and tails have yet to turn the familiar white.
The sustained nature of this cold March will
probably keep the eagles around town a little longer.
Best spots for viewing them: The upper level of the
Best Buy parking deck at Destiny, where mall
officials welcome eagle-watchers, or the northern
end of the Onondaga Creekwalk, by Onondaga Lake.
Occasionally - if you're lucky enough to be taking a walk when this happens - you'll see an eagle
settling into a tree near Onondaga Creek, along city portions of the Creekwalk.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/a_common_sight_yet_still_incredible_in_syracuse_three_bald_eagles_in_a_tree.html
Dear NCAA guests, a gift of our fierce
winters: Not far from downtown ....
the bald eagles of Onondaga
By Sean Kirst | [email protected]
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 28, 2015 at 9:31 AM, updated March 29, 2015 at 10:04 AM
A note to our thousands of NCAA guests, here for the grand tournament:
Welcome to Syracuse. I don't know how you feel about coming here to follow your team, but I worry
that you may have heard about the rumbleover an ESPN radio host essentially calling
Syracuse "a dump," and saying coming here to watch basketball is kind of a dismal March
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/ncaa_and_welcome_and_eagles_and_basketball_and_syracuse_and_visitors.html
Madness booby prize. And I know not everyone is exactly delighted, as our Hank Domin reports,
about the condition of the Carrier Dome.
I'll stay out of the volley. But I do have a suggestion that might provide some compensation: If you've
got a couple of minutes to spare, I'd suggest taking a walk on theOnondaga Creekwalk, or even
pulling onto the upper level of the Best Buy parking lot atDestiny USA. If you've got binoculars for
the game, bring them, and point them toward the treeline by Onondaga Lake:
It's the best way to see a bald eagle.
Seriously. We have at least 20 or so of the great birds, who come here each year to winter - right
within the boundaries of the city. The numbers, in some years, have gone close to 50. They are drawn
to open water near the regional treatment plant, open water that attracts thousands of gizzard shad,
which for the birds are good hunting.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/ncaa_and_welcome_and_eagles_and_basketball_and_syracuse_and_visitors.html
Until a few years ago, I'd never seen a bald eagle in the wild ...
Now I've probably seen 50 or 60.
Within the borders of our city.
Seeing one sometimes demands a little patience, but it's a gift of our fierce winters. The appearance of
an eagle never stops being a reverent, stunning moment. Oren Lyons, a faithkeeper at the Onondaga
Nation - the native territory just to the south of our city, native territory that has never left the hands
of the Six Nations in the recorded history of this continent - will tell you the eagles are the
messengers to the Creator, because they fly so high, and that it is the best of all good luck to
see one.
We hope that happens for you, in Syracuse.
As for that lake, Onondaga Lake? It is a sacred place to the Six Nations, their Jerusalem, the
birthplace of their system of beliefs. They believe their Peacemaker came across the lake in a stone
canoe, and that on the shoreline he convinced the leaders of the Six Nations to throw their weapons in
a hole, and atop that hole they planted a Tree of Peace.
To fully appreciate it, you might want to take a walk along Creekwalk.
Another other note: If you love basketball, you're in a town with a staggering basketball
heritage, even before there were crowds of 35,000 at the Carrier Dome. If you have a moment, for
instance, drive past the Blodgett School, on the Near West Side of Syracuse.
In August 1954, in a little gymnasium in that school, Danny Biasone - owner of the old Syracuse
Nationals of the National Basketball Association - staged a scrimmage that tried out this wild new
idea: They turned on a 24-second shot clock, which limited the time that a team could hold the
ball.
NBA executives were meeting in Syracuse. Men like Red Auerbach and Clair Bee went to Blodgett.
They decided to give the clock a chance. Bill Himmelman, a longtime basketball historian, called the
scrimmage one of the two most pivotal moments in the game's history - the other being the moment
James Naismith nailed a basket to the wall.
Once the NBA embraced the clock, scoring went up. The game became a fast-paced ballet. In that
same season, 1954-55, our Nats won their only NBA title; the three surviving members of that
team will reunite on April 10 at our War Memorial, exactly 60 years after capturing the
championship on an Easter Sunday.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/ncaa_and_welcome_and_eagles_and_basketball_and_syracuse_and_visitors.html
In honor of the moment - on the suggestion
of Dolph Schayes, an NBA Hall of Famer who
chose to settle here - we put up a monument
to the shot clock in Armory Square, a shot
clock that never stops counting down.
For those who love basketball, that might be
worth a photograph.
So. You've got a little time here, and I assume
you've heard about the standard places to go,
but you're looking for a few unusual things to
do? On Tipperary Hill, an Irish enclave not far from downtown, we've got a traffic signal where
the green light burns above the red; the story goes that Irish kids, in the 1920s, kept breaking
the red light until the city gave in and put green on top. It's iconic, and there are plenty of nearby
places for a sandwich or a drink.
Our National Grid Building - or to many of us, still, the Niagara Mohawk Building - has been
called one of the most beautiful and astounding art deco landmarks in the nation; you can
spend a long time just admiring it. A new coffee shop just opened, across the street on Erie
Boulevard; that gives you a chance to appreciate the view from indoors, with some warmth.
As for architecture, if you enjoy it, I.M. Pei designed our downtown Everson Museum of
Art, which includes some stunning work - including our own Adelaide Robineau's 'scarab vase.'
And the Syracuse Savings Bank, at Clinton Square, was the mad Gothic masterpiece of Joseph
Silsbee - who'd later influence such masters as Frank Lloyd Wright and Irving Gill.
This morning, by the way, at 11 a.m. at Hendricks
Chapel: Legendary space traveler Story
Musgrave, an SU graduate, will be the
main speaker as the university rededicates and
reopens its very cool Holden Observatory;
there'll be tours afterward.
Syracuse is also a city that rises from a valley,
which means we have some beautiful views; if you
want the full shot, drive to the corner of Stolp
Avenue and Hancock Drive, and take a walk to the
roundtop at theWoodland Reservoir.
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/ncaa_and_welcome_and_eagles_and_basketball_and_syracuse_and_visitors.html
I wish you could be here in apple season, when the hills south of Syracuse ignite in a riot of color
and you can look out for miles as you roam the orchards. I wish you could be here a few
weeks from now, when the warmth of our late spring kindles something in the maples, and the entire
region - for a day or two - explodes into a brief and luminous green.
But I'd better stop there. We have a terrible capacity in this community for shooting ourselves in our
collective foot, for too often making the wrong impression - it's why we can't seem to clean the
garbage from our major interstate gateways, no matter how much our citizens pressure the
politicians, who've promised for years to do something, then don't.
Yet once you settle in, you realize: There is much that's beautiful about this town.
And you're here. We hope you get a chance to glimpse it.
If you want more suggestions, you can email me: [email protected]. My wife and I came to this
town more than 25 years, in the middle of a nomadic life that we figured would soon take us
someplace else. We're still here. We raised our kids in Syracuse. We love the town. It's got its
problems and its struggles and its sorrows, absolutely, but if you're here for a few days and you're
looking for something to do?
Take a walk. See an eagle. In all ways, good luck.
- Sean Kirst
http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/03/ncaa_and_welcome_and_eagles_and_basketball_and_syracuse_and_visitors.html
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Financial Update
Contracts
New Contracts



Green Project Design – Master Services Agreement
Contract with Spectra Engineering for design of green streets.
Contract Amount: TBD.
Executed: 3/10/15.
Amendments to Existing Contracts












Legal Services
Contract with Melvin & Melvin amended for ongoing consultation relating to
construction contract claims.
Amendment Amount: $100,000.
Executed: 3/10/15.
Save the Rain Public Education
Contract with Cornell Cooperative Extension amended for continuing public education
and outreach relating to the Save the Rain program for the calendar year 2015.
Amendment Amount: $94,537.
Executed: 3/10/15.
Community Based Tree Planting
Contract with Onondaga Earth Corps amended for tree planting and maintenance for
2015.
Amendment Amount: $186,753.60.
Executed: 3/10/15.
Green Infrastructure
Contract with Onondaga Earth Corps amended for green infrastructure maintenance at
various locations for the calendar year 2015.
Amendment Amount: $35,000.
Executed: 3/10/15.
Change Orders
 None to Report.
1
Funding
Grants
State Bond Act Funds
 Reimbursements requested: None
 Reimbursements received: None
Federal EPA Funds
 Reimbursements requested: None
 Reimbursements received: None
Federal Army Corps of Engineers Funds
 Reimbursements requested: None
 Reimbursements received: None

GIGP Grants
Requested: None
Received: None
EFC Reimbursements Received:
LT Clinton $618,511.54 on 3/10/15
LT HB $612,445.12 on 3/10/15
LT Midland $160,967.63 on 2/26/15
LT Sewer Sep 022/045 $9,996.98 on 2/26/15
LT HB for $611,287.74 on 3/26/15
LT Clinton for $2,448,020.64 on 3/26/15
EFC Reimbursements Requested:
LT Sewer Sep 022/045 for $9,996.98 on 2/10/15
LT Midland for $160,967.63 on 2/10/15
LT HB for $612,445.12 on 2/10/15
LT Clinton for $618,511.54 on 2/10/15
LT HB for $611,187.74 on 3/19/15
LT Clinton for $2,448,020.64 on 3/19/15
Total reimbursement monies received to date through EFC loans for the funded ACJ
projects: $247,603,598 (short term) and $104,520,966 (long term).
Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
4th Stipulation of the ACJ
Clinton/Lower MIS CSO Improvements
Summary of Current and County Authorizations
Total Project Costs
Expended To
Total Proposed Budget
3/31/15
Project /Task/Line Item
Authorization
Remaining
Clinton Street CSO Facility Planning (Original)
Engineering Services (EEA)
$
751,266 $
751,266
$
(0)
Original Facility Plan Subtotal $
751,266 $
751,266
$
(0)
Clinton Street CSO Conveyances Project
Contract No. 1 - Phase 1 Conveyances (Delaney)
$
14,478,053 $
14,478,053
$
(0)
Contract No. 2 - Phase 2A Conveyances (Delaney)
$
4,074,455 $
4,074,455
$
(0)
Engineering/Construction Services (CDM/C&S)
$
Conveyances Subtotal $
2,738,000 $
21,290,508 $
2,738,000
21,290,508
$
$
0
(0)
Clinton Storage Project
(1)
Construction Estimate
$
77,742,858 $
73,984,036
$
3,758,822
Engineering Services (EEA and others)
$
12,122,013 $
11,719,158
$
402,855
Construction Management and Administration (CDM/C&S)
$
4,833,411 $
4,375,748
$
457,663
Construction Testing (CME)
$
327,847 $
276,910
$
50,937
90,355,851
$
$
4,670,278
$
3,100,000
CSO Storage Subtotal $
95,026,129 $
Facility Plan for CSOs 027 & 029
Construction Estimate
$
3,100,000
Engineering Services (Ch2MHill)
$
91,211
$
91,186
$
25
Engineering Services (TBD) Floatables Arcadis
$
782,032 $
12,605
$
769,427
County Administration and Other Costs
$
-
Facility Plan Subtotal $
$
-
3,973,243 $
103,790
$
3,869,453
38,508,611 $
15,900,000 $
54,408,611 $
27,159,478
11,069,826
38,229,305
$
$
$
11,349,133
4,830,174
16,179,306
Clinton/Lower MIS Green Implementation Program
Construction Contracts incl. GIF Public/Private
Ch2MHill Program Management & Engineering
$
$
Green Subtotal $
Program Management
Project Management (CDM/C&S)
Project Management for Facility Plan (CDM/C&S) (2)
$
Program Management Subtotal $
Miscellaneous County Costs
Land Acquisition
IMA
Legal
Consulting (John Clare & Mezey)
Debt
Other
Contingency
-
$
-
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Miscellaneous Subtotal $
3,726,350
4,861,000
126,115
301,334
234,885
310,738
489,863
10,050,285
$
$
$
$
$
$
3,726,350
3,959,746
261,849
226,334
803,593
360,643
$
$
185,500,042
$
Authorized Budget 185,500,042
Notes:
(1) Includes engineering costs from original Clinton RTF Project
(2) CDM/C&S Project Management costs are included in the total facility plan costs
$
$
$
-
9,338,515
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
901,254
(135,734)
75,000
(568,708)
(49,905)
489,863
711,770
160,069,235
$
25,430,807
Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
4th Stipulation of the ACJ
Harbor Brook Drainage Basin CSO Abatement
Summary of Current and Proposed Costs, and County Authorizations
Total Project Costs
Total Proposed
Budget
Project /Task/Line Item
Expended to
3/31/15
Authorization Remaining
Harbor Brook CSO Abatement Project
Original Engineering Expenses
$
5,500,000
$
5,500,000
$
HBIS Replacement and CSO Abatement Project
Construction Contract No. 1 (1) (JJ Lane)
Other Miscellaneous Work
Engineering/Construction Sevices (CDM/C&S)
County Administration and Other Costs
$
$
$
$
18,289,918
2,482,920
2,012,615
114,547
$
$
$
$
23,391,425
2,423,746
945,471
$
$
$
$
(5,101,507)
2,482,920
(411,131)
(830,924)
HBIS Replacement and CSO Abatement Project Total $
22,900,000
$
26,760,642
$
(3,860,642)
$
$
$
$
$
34,502,000
4,200,000
3,390,000
2,280,000
44,372,000
$
$
$
$
$
27,791,190
3,960,868
1,497,536
4,910,579
38,160,172
$
$
$
$
$
6,710,810
239,132
1,892,464
(2,630,579)
6,211,828
$
$
$
$
FCF Program Total $
12,000,000
1,878,731
800,000
400,000
15,078,731
$
$
143,683
15,300
$
158,983
$
$
$
$
$
12,000,000
1,735,048
784,700
400,000
14,919,748
Other Harbor Brook Green
Construction Contracts incl. GIF Public/Private & Rain Barrels
$
Ch2MHill Engineering & Program Management
$
Harbor Brook Green Project Total $
9,300,000
3,650,000
12,950,000
$
$
$
12,296,526
5,063,143
17,359,669
$
$
$
(2,996,526)
(1,413,143)
(4,409,669)
Program Management
Project Management (CDM/C&S)
$
Project Management for FCF Plan Implem (CDM/C&S)
$
Program Management Total $
499,269
499,269
$
2,668,730
$
(2,169,461)
$
2,668,730
$
(2,169,461)
Lower Harbor Brook Storage & Conveyance
Construction Estimate (with contingency)
Engineering Services (EEA)
Engineering Services (CDM/C&S)
Project Escalation to Midpoint of Construction
Lower Harbor Brook Storage & Conv Total
Harbor Brook CSOs FCF Program
Construction Estimate
Engineering Services (Arcadis)
County Administration and Other Costs
Project Escalation to Midpoint of Construction
-
Harbor Brook Mitigation
$
3,500,000
$
3,265,000
$
235,000
Total Costs for Harbor Brook CSO Area under 4th Stip
$
104,800,000
$
93,873,196
$
10,926,804
Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
4th Stipulation of the ACJ
Midland CSO Abatement
Summary of Current and Proposed Costs, and County Authorizations
Total Project Costs
Total Proposed
Budget
Project /Task/Line Item
Midland Ave. RTF & Conveyances
Midland Phase 1 Conveyances - Construction
Midland Phase 2 RTF & Conveyances - Construction
Midland Demolition Contracts - Construction
Other Construction
Phase 1 and 2 Engineering (Parsons & EEA)
CME Construction Testing
RTF Modifications (Construction, Eng, CM, Admin)
Facility Plan Total
Expended to
3/31/15
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,836,434
53,372,689
748,483
137,000
14,717,163
227,341
3,000,000
74,039,110
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,836,434
53,372,689
748,483
136,342
12,503,353
218,486
$
68,815,787
$
$
$
12,296,549
64,800
750,000
$
$
$
12,098,662
726,493
$
13,111,349
$
12,825,155
FCF Facility Plan
Construction Estimate
Engineering Services (Arcadis and others)
Construction Management and Administration
Project Escalation to Midpoint of Construction
Clinton Storage Project Total
$
$
$
$
$
5,000,000
623,954
210,000
5,833,954
$
$
Facility Plan for Midland CSOs
Construction Estimate
Engineering Services (Ch2MHill)
Engineering Services, County Admin, ect (TBD)
Facility Plan Total
$
$
$
$
14,900,000
121,401
3,720,000
18,741,401
CSO 044 Conveyances Project
Contract No. 6. - JJ Lane
Construction Contingency 5%
Engineering Services (EEA)
Construction Management Sevices (CDM/C&S) see below
Conveyances Project Total
Midland Green Implementation Program
Construction Contracts incl. GIF Public/Private
$
Ch2MHill Program Management & Engineering
$
Clinton Green Program Total $
Program Management
Project Management (CDM/C&S) includes CSO 044
$
Project Management for Facility Plan (CDM/C&S) (1)
Program Management Total $
Miscellaneous County Costs
Land Acquisition
IMA
Legal
Consulting (John Clare & Mezey)
Debt
Contingency
Other
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(0)
(0)
0
658
2,213,810
8,855
3,000,000
5,223,323
5,223,323
$
$
$
$
$
$
197,887
64,800
23,507
286,194
286,194
45,511
$
$
$
5,000,000
578,443
210,000
$
45,511
$
$
5,788,443
5,788,443
$
$
$
$
121,368
121,368
$
$
$
$
$
14,900,000
33
3,720,000
18,620,033
18,620,033
2,186,446 $
2,506,366 $
4,692,812 $
$
5,313,554
1,411,270
6,724,824
6,724,824
7,500,000 $
3,917,636 $
11,417,636 $
6,604,651
6,604,651
$
(74,049)
6,530,602
$
$
$
$
$
(74,049)
(74,049)
$
1,809,802
$
1,809,802
$
$
$
$
$
$
Miscellaneous Costs Total $
182,323
194,317
635,031
2,591,117
526,211
5,938,801
$
$
$
$
$
$181,975
194,317
689,294
528,309
3,403,696
$
$
$
$
$
$
348
0
(54,263)
2,591,117
(2,098)
2,535,105
135,612,853
$
$
39,103,872
Total Cost for Midland project under 4th stipulation
Authorized Master Budget $128,300,000
$
6,530,602
Authorization Remaining
96,508,981
-
Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
4th Stipulation of the ACJ
Sewer Separation of CSO Areas 022/038/040/045/046A/046B/047/048/050/051/053/054
Summary of Current and Proposed Costs, and County Authorizations
Total Project Costs
Total Proposed
Budget
Project /Task/Line Item
Expended to Date
Authorization
Remaining
Sewer Separation Construction Contracts
CSO 024 (Falter)
CSO 053/054 (Falter)
CSO 038//40/046A/046B (Falter)
CSO 047/048 (Falter)
CSO 050 (Lane)
CSO 051 (Lane)
CSO 022/045 (estimated Project Costs)
Construction Total
$698,864
$2,000,817
$3,598,931
$1,654,022
$4,362,188
$5,037,280
$6,750,000
$24,102,102
$698,864
$2,000,817
$3,524,487
$1,654,022
$4,362,188
$5,037,280
$5,611,423
$22,889,082
$0
$0
$74,444
$0
$0
$0
$1,138,577
$1,213,020
Service Contracts (Engineering
/Consulting /Program Management)
ACE
CDM/C&S
CME
Department of the Army
Spectra
Engineering/Management Total
$484,286
$1,446,468
$109,492
$153,504
$437,996
$2,631,746
$484,286
$1,997,539
$49,704
$153,504
$437,996
$3,123,029
$0
-$551,071
$59,788
$0
$0
-$491,283
Miscellaneous Costs Total
$135,084
$101,425
$116,269
$14,235
$13,540
$380,553
$135,084
$101,425
$142,816
$14,235
$4,093
$397,652
$0
$0
-$26,547
$0
$9,447
-$17,099
Total
$27,114,401
$26,409,763
$704,638
Miscellaneous County Costs
City of Syracuse
Consulting (John Clare & Mezey)
Debt
Legal
Other
Authorized by Legislature $27,684,286
Onondaga County Lake Improvement Project
Save The Rain Education and Outreach Grant
Summary of Current and Additional Costs, and County Appropriations
March 2015
Funding Sources
Appropriations
Program Funding
09,10,11 Appropriations
2011 Suburban Green Infrastructure
2012 Appropriation
2011 Trolley Lot Parking Mitigation Appropriation*
2012 Green grant education
2013 Green Grant education
2014 Green Grant education
2015 Green Grant education
Total Appropriation
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
875,000
200,000
400,000
125,000
200,000
400,000
400,000
100,000
$
2,700,000
Funding Uses
Contract Amount
Retz Advertising + Design
2010/2011 Marketing Services
2012 Marketing Services
Marketing Services Subtotal
$
$
411,789 $
224,303 $
411,789
224,303
$
636,092 $
636,092
Contract Amount
Environmental Finance Center Education and Outreach
2011 Education and Outreach
2012 Education and Outreach
2013 Education and Outreach
2014 Education and Outreach
Expended to Date
$
$
$
$
$
Expended to Date
(0)
Difference + (-)
$
$
$
$
346,677
241,815
237,758
350,125
$
1,176,376 $
1,176,376
$
0
$
$
$
$
$
2,930
8,510
1,590
12,483
21,152 $
2,050
$
$
$
$
$
2,930
8,510
1,590
12,483
19,102
Baltimore Education & Outreach $
46,665 $
2,050
$
44,615
Education & Outreach Subtotal
346,677
241,815
237,758
350,126
Difference + (-)
Baltimore Woods
Supplies
Transport
Travel
Env Educcator Hours
Administrative Hours
Contract Amount
Miscelaneous Ed/Outreach Expenses
2010/2011 Miscellaneous Exp.
2012 Miscellaneous Exp.
2013 Miscellaneous Exp
2014 Miscellaneous Exp
2015 Miscellaneous Exp
$
$
$
$
$
105,764
79,852
34,158
46,657
507,600
Travel
Purchase card/Petty cash
Page Seed Co
Just the right stuff
OEI - RB Workshops
Environmental Design and Research
2010/2011 media
2012 Media
Miscellaneous Subtotal
STR Education and Outreach Totals
$
$
$
$
105,764
79,852
34,158
46,657
$
$
$
$
494
57
2,334
1,600
Difference + (-)
$
$
$
$
$
16,585.00
20,000.00
28,750.00
1,500
-
$
$
$
$
20,000
28,750
1,500
-
$
$
840,866
$
321,166
$
Contract Amount
$
Remaining Balance
Expended to Date
2,700,000
Expended to Date
$
2,135,684
519,700
Difference + (-)
$
564,316
$
564,316
*Trolley lot parking mitigation money is from the Clinton CSO Storage Facility Budget and is funding education and outreach specific to that project
APPENDIX
March 2015
FINANCIAL TRACKING SUMMARY: FEDERAL & STATE GRANTS/LOANS APPROVED & RECEIVED
PROJECT NAME
METRO - CURRENT
AERATION SYSTEM UPGRADE
AMMONIA REMOVAL DEMO
BIOSOLIDS-MECHANICAL THICKENERS(c )
DIGESTER MOD/CHEMICAL STORAGE
DIGITAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS
ODOR CONTROL
AMMONIA REMOVAL FULL SCALE/
STAGE II PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL
PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL PILOT
CSO - CURRENT
CLINTON ST CONVEYANCE & RTF
ERIE BLVD SEW SEP STORAGE
FRANKLIN ST FCF
HARBOR BROOK FCF
HARBOR BROOK CSO ABATEMENT
(a)
HIAWATHA INTERCEPTOR/RTF
KIRKPATRICK ST PUMP STATION
MALTBIE ST FCF
MIDLAND AVE CONVEYANCE
MIDLAND AVE PHASE II & RTF
MIDLAND AVE PHASE III
MIDLAND AVE MITIGATION COSTS
(b)
NEWELL ST FCF
ONONDAGA CREEK FCF
SEWER SEPARATION(a)
SIPHON REHABILITATION
TEALL BROOK FCF
WEST ST SEWER SEPARATION
OTHER
AMBIENT WATER MONITORING
OXYGENATION DEMO
SEQR REGULATORY
TOTAL DOLLARS
PROJECT
BUDGET
NYS
GRANT
APPROVED
NYS
GRANT
RECEIVED
FED EPA
GRANT
APPROVED
FED EPA
GRANT
RECEIVED
SHORT-TERM SHORT-TERM LONG-TERM LONG-TERM
ACE
EFC LOAN
EFC LOAN
EFC LOAN
EFC LOAN
GRANT
APPROVED
RECEIVED
APPROVED RECEIVED APPROVED
$8,500,000
$2,000,000
$5,834,381
$1,145,109
$5,834,381
$1,145,109
$7,365,000
Full-Scale
$6,868,954
$202,078
$5,600,000
$2,900,000
$1,400,000
$7,700,000
$4,319,819
$1,563,317
$4,319,819
$1,563,317
$4,938,419
$1,849,000
$4,938,419
$1,849,000
$190,000,000
$5,000,000
$47,331,203
$47,331,203
$31,245,000
$3,000,000
$3,200,000
$250,000
$5,444,000
$8,000,000
$5,642,000
$250,000
$3,000,000
$45,000,000
$27,000,000
$54,870,000
$1,700,000
$3,828,053
$384,200
$3,880,000
$54,870,000
$1,700,000
$3,828,053
$384,200
$3,880,000
$7,502,302
$211,097
$26,055,238
$7,502,302
$211,097
$26,055,238
$1,310,000
$3,000,000
$7,704,000
$1,230,000
$175,000
$1,000,000
$367,737
$442,154
$367,737
$442,154
$870,768
$1,045,162
$2,299,460
$870,768
$1,045,162
$2,299,460
$54,705,015
$14,003,569
$34,900,616
$54,705,015
$15,378,304
$1,049,185
$14,613
$14,676,422
$775,509
$285,682
$14,711,148
$154,126
$3,833
$7,413,199
$7,389,197
ACE
GRANT
RECEIVED
$108,000,000
Full Scale
$105,860,930
$1,936,991
$17,200,000
$989,323
$70,288,890
$2,301,876
$4,726,762
$41,834,264
$2,094,314
$4,589,759
$53,689,500
$46,700,136
$12,000,000
$212,000
$10,940,632
$188,106
$78,568,119
$923,162
$1,179,012
$343,500
$62,477,416
$2,710,169
$4,246,376
$33,240,454
$216,543
$296,823
$348,596
$17,026,407
$37,749
$828,115
$15,000,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$37,339,317
$19,063,069
$1,024,433
$1,094,139
$2,481,443
$11,332,407
$140,623
$188,809
$395,540
$10,276,648
$1,958
$5,743
$6,621
$14,050,177 $14,050,177
$1,435,500
$1,236,594
$3,059,716
$247,603,598 $241,244,447 $104,610,966
$17,456,177 $17,456,177
$3,406,000
$3,406,000
$33,525,880
$8,000,000
$2,400,000
$50,000
*$380,000,000
$163,650,000 $163,650,000 $103,609,200 $103,609,200
*Original budget figures were based on 1997 dollars
NYS includes awards beyond original pledge (i.e. civic strip)
(a) NOTE: PROJECT IS US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECT
(b) NOTE: PROJECT RECEIVED $40,500 COST SHARE GRANT FROM (NYSERDA)
(c )NOTE: PROJECT RECEIVED $87,500 COST SHARE GRANT FROM (NYSERDA)
$296,103,257
Lake Improvement Project Status Report For The Period Ending 03/31/2015
ACJ START
DATE
Project Title
ACJ
FINISH
DATE
COUNTY
FINISH DATE
ORIGINAL
BUDGET(2)
AUTHORIZED
BUDGET
ENGINEER
METRO - Current
1 AERATION SYSTEM UPGRADE
2 AMMON. REMOVAL DEMONSTRATION
11/1/1998
7/1/2002
01/03/00 $
8,500,000 $
3/1/2000
12/31/99 $
2,000,000 $
3 BIOSOLIDS - MECHANICAL THICKENERS
$
6,925,115 EEA
1,350,000 EEA
15,100,000
4 DIGESTER MOD/CHEMICAL STORAGE
7/1/2002
10/31/00 $
5,600,000 $
5,092,545 C&S
5 DIGITAL SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS
7/1/2002
06/31/01 $
2,900,000 $
3,520,317 Systems Integrated
6 MISCEL. IMPROVEMENTS
7/1/2002
01/31/99 $
1,400,000 $
1,400,000
7,700,000 $
8,393,855 OBG
7 ODOR CONTROL
7/1/2002
12/20/00 $
AMMONIA REMOVAL FULL SCALE/
10/1/2001
11/1/2003
11/01/03 $
125,000,000
STAGE II PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL
10/1/2003
4/1/2005
$
65,000,000
4/1/2006
4/1/2007
12/31/00 $
CLINTON ST. CONVEYANCE/
5/1/2003
5/1/2007
10/28/06 $
15,987,190
CLINTON ST. RTF
5/1/2007
1/1/2012
12/28/10 $
15,258,090
7/1/2002
04/13/02 $
3,000,000 $
2,684,523 Barton & Loguidice
5/1/2000
05/01/00 $
3,200,000 $
5,216,618 EEA
13 HARBOR BROOK FCF
7/1/2002
07/01/02 $
250,000 $
14 HARBOR BROOK CSO ABATEMENT
7/1/2002
$
5,443,980 $
104,800,000 Moffa & Assoc.
15 HIAWATHA INTERCEPTOR/RTF
7/1/2002
12/31/00 $
8,000,000 $
6,047,183 EEA/Parsons
8
9 PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL - PILOT
$
129,386,187 EEA
5,000,000 $
4,300,000 EEA
CSO - Current
10
11 ERIE BLVD STORAGE SYSTEM
12 FRANKLIN ST. FCF
4/26/1999
16 KIRKPATRICK ST. PUMP STATION
17 MALTBIE STREET FCF
18 MIDLAND AVE RTF & CSO ABATEMENT
$
185,500,042 EEA
889,109 EEA
7/1/2002
10/29/02 $
5,641,860 $
12,558,335 EEA
8/31/1998
7/1/2002
04/26/99 $
250,000 $
362,028 EEA
5/1/1999
5/1/2004
12/06/00 $
75,000,000 $
135,612,853 EEA
19 MIDLAND AVE MITIGATION COSTS
$
3,000,000
20 NEWELL STREET RTF
7/1/2002
07/01/01 $
1,310,000 $
21 ONONDAGA CREEK FCF
7/1/2002
07/01/02 $
3,000,000 $
22 SEWER SEPARATION
1/1/2012
01/01/12 $
7,703,880 $
27,684,286 OBG
23 SIPHON REHABILITATION
7/1/2002
06/11/99 $
1,230,000 $
1,026,391 C&S
24 TEALL BROOK FCF
7/1/2002
12/01/01 $
175,000 $
01/14/00 $
1,000,000 $
25 WEST ST SEWER SEPARATION
5/1/1999
473,132 Moffa & Assoc.
648,342 Parsons
1,235,346 EEA
2,720,572 CHA
26 ERIE BLVD CSO ABATEMENT
New Project
OTHER
27 AMBIENT WATER MONITORING
28 OXYGENATION DEMO PROJECT
29 SEQRA REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
5/1/1999
7/1/2002
$
4/1/2003
02/25/04 $
2,400,000 $
$
50,000 $
* $
380,000,000 $
(1)
TOTAL DOLLARS (2)
*Original budget figures were based on 1997 dollars
(1) SEQR costs are reflected in the individual projects under total payments to date
(2) Original budget figures were based on 1997 dollars
A-3
8,000,000
10,087
50,000 Parsons
665,986,866
Lake Improvement Project Status Report For The Period Ending 03/31/2015
CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT
AMOUNTS
SOFT COST
CONTRACTS
1 $
352,747 $
6,473,110
TOTAL
PAYMENTS TO
DATE
$
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
COST
FORECASTED
COSTS
6,925,115
$
6,925,115 $
OVER/UNDER
BUDGET
% COMPLETED
EXPENDITURES
(1,574,885)
100.00%
(652,813)
100.00%
2 $
1,346,856
$
1,347,187
$
1,347,187 $
3 $
1,266,345 $
13,131,105
$
14,815,674
$
14,815,674 $
4 $
748,386 $
4,357,480
$
5,092,545
$
5,092,545 $
(507,455)
100.00%
5 $
451,713 $
2,974,514
$
3,520,317
$
3,520,317 $
620,317
100.00%
$
1,400,000
$
1,400,000 $
6
14,815,674
-
100.00%
7 $
999,299 $
6,956,868
$
8,393,855
$
8,393,855 $
8 $
21,289,868 $
106,962,810
$
128,688,040
$
128,688,040 $
(61,311,960)
100.00%
$
4,111,714
$
4,111,714 $
(888,286)
100.00%
25,430,807 $
185,500,042 $
$
2,684,523 $
2,018,689 $
6,967,205 $
9 $
4,055,734
10 $
34,050,812 $
121,145,711
$
160,069,235 $
11 $
901,556 $
1,734,929
$
2,684,523
12 $
973,543 $
3,920,238
$
4,948,516 $
693,855
100.00%
154,254,762
(315,477)
100.00%
86.29%
100.00%
3,767,205
71.03%
13 $
436,363 $
373,370
$
889,109
$
889,109 $
639,109
100.00%
14 $
22,443,093 $
70,980,609
$
93,873,195 $
10,926,805 $
104,800,000 $
99,356,020
89.57%
15 $
540,945
$
5,535,152
$
6,047,183 $
3,406,000 $
9,453,183 $
1,453,183
63.97%
16 $
2,520,394 $
9,882,154
$
12,558,335
$
12,558,335 $
6,916,475
100.00%
17 $
109,483 $
152,418
$
362,028
$
362,028 $
112,028
100.00%
18 $
27,405,920 $
69,534,597
$
96,508,982 $
39,103,871 $
$
3,000,000 $
19
-
135,612,853 $
60,612,853
71.17%
$
3,000,000 $
3,000,000
100.00%
20 $
472,572
$
473,132
$
473,132 $
(836,868)
100.00%
21 $
503,551
$
648,342
$
648,342 $
(2,351,658)
100.00%
26,409,763 $
515 $
26,410,278 $
18,706,398
100.00%
22 $
2,597,931 $
22,988,797
$
23
$
1,021,823
$
1,026,391
$
1,026,391 $
24 $
320,039 $
903,566
$
1,235,346
$
1,235,346 $
1,060,346
100.00%
25 $
403,332 $
2,311,126
$
2,720,572
$
2,720,572 $
1,720,572
100.00%
$
-
(2,389,913)
100.00%
26
27
28 $
10,087
$
19,351,389 $
$
10,087
-
$
(203,609)
-
$
10,087 $
80,886,687 $
668,645,873 $
29
$
124,200,567 $
451,340,378
$
607,110,575 $
A-4
100.00%
296,695,873
March 2015
Project Title
TOTAL
PAYMENTS TO
DATE 03-31-15
TOTAL
PAYMENTS TO
DATE 12-31-14
Change
METRO - Current
1 AERATION SYSTEM UPGRADE
$
6,925,115
$
6,925,115
$
-
2 AMMON. REMOVAL DEMONSTRATION
$
1,347,187
$
1,347,187
$
-
3 BIOSOLIDS - MECHANICAL THICKENERS
$
14,815,674
$
14,815,674
$
-
4 DIGESTER MOD/CHEMICAL STORAGE
$
5,092,545
$
5,092,545
$
-
5 DIGITAL SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS
$
3,520,317
$
3,520,317
$
-
6 MISCEL. IMPROVEMENTS
$
1,400,000
$
1,400,000
$
-
7 ODOR CONTROL
$
8,393,855
$
8,393,855
$
-
8 AMMONIA REMOVAL FULL SCALE/
$
128,688,040
$
128,688,040
$
-
STAGE II PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL
9 PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL - PILOT
$
$
4,111,714
$
$
4,111,714
CSO - Current
10 CLINTON ST. CONVEYANCE/
CLINTON ST. RTF
$
$
160,069,235
$
156,262,185
-
$
-
$
-
$
3,807,050
$
-
11 ERIE BLVD STORAGE SYSTEM
$
2,684,523
$
2,684,523
$
-
12 FRANKLIN ST. FCF
$
4,948,516
$
4,948,516
$
-
13 HARBOR BROOK FCF
$
889,109
$
889,109
$
-
14 HARBOR BROOK CSO ABATEMENT
$
93,873,195
$
91,726,986
$
15 HIAWATHA INTERCEPTOR/RTF
$
6,047,183
$
6,047,183
$
-
16 KIRKPATRICK ST. PUMP STATION
$
12,558,335
$
12,558,335
$
-
17 MALTBIE STREET FCF
$
362,028
$
362,028
$
-
18 MIDLAND AVE RTF & CSO ABATEMENT
$
96,508,982
$
96,397,517
$
19 MIDLAND AVE MITIGATION COSTS
$
3,000,000
$
3,000,000
$
-
20 NEWELL STREET RTF
$
473,132
$
473,132
$
-
21 ONONDAGA CREEK FCF
$
648,342
$
648,342
$
-
22 SEWER SEPARATION
$
26,409,763
$
26,409,763
$
-
23 SIPHON REHABILITATION
$
1,026,391
$
1,026,391
$
-
24 TEALL BROOK FCF
$
1,235,346
$
1,235,346
$
-
25 WEST ST SEWER SEPARATION
$
2,720,572
$
2,720,572
$
-
26 ERIE BLVD CSO ABATEMENT
$
$
-
$
-
-
$
-
OTHER
2,146,209
111,465
27 AMBIENT WATER MONITORING
$
19,351,389
$
19,351,389
$
-
28 OXYGENATION DEMO PROJECT
$
10,087
$
10,087
$
-
29 SEQRA REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
TOTAL DOLLARS
$
607,110,575
$
601,045,851
$
6,064,724
Chronology
of
Project Construction Starts
Status
Location
Complete
Complete
Metro
Metro
Digital Systems Upgrade
Ammonia Removal Demonstration
Aeration System Upgrade
Hiawatha RTF - ACOE
Newell St. RTF Demo/Improvements
Maltbie St. FCF
Siphon Rehab
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Metro
Metro
Metro
Regional Market
W.Newell/Vale St.
Maltbie/Plum St.
Various
Digester Modifications/Chemical Storage
Franklin St. FCF
West Street Sewer Separation
Complete
Complete
Complete
Ammonia Trackdown
Complete
Metro
I-690/Franklin
W. Genesee, Plum, Tracy,
N. West St.
Metro
Midland Ave. Conveyance Phase I
Phosphorus Removal – Phase I Pilot
Complete
Complete
Tallman/Oxford St.
Metro
Erie Blvd. Storage System Upgrade
Full Scale Ammonia Removal/
Stage II Phosphorus Removal
Kirkpatrick St. Pump Station & Force Main
Onondaga Creek FCF
Teall Brook FCF
Water Street Sewer Separation (CSO 024)
Complete
Franklin to Teall
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Metro
Kirkpatrick St.
Inner Harbor
Teall Ave.
Water Street
Harbor Brook FCF
Brighton Ave Sewer Separation (CSO 053/054)
Complete
Complete
W.Hiaw./I-690
Brighton/Bishop Ave
Pre-ACJ Signing (1/20/98)
General Improvements
Odor Control and Residuals Handling
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Project
Status
Location
Tallman/Onondaga Sewer Separation
(CSO 038, 040, 046A &046B)
Midland Phase II RTF/Conveyances
Complete
Tallman/Onondaga
Complete
Blaine/Oxford St.
Phosphorus Removal – Phase II Pilot
Biosolids Handling Improvements
Complete
Complete
Metro
Metro
Sewer Separation – CSO 047 & 048
Complete
South Ave/ Bissell St.
Sewer Separation – CSO 050
Clinton Phase I Conveyances
Complete
Complete
Parkway/Rockland
Clinton Phase IIA Conveyances
Complete
Sewer Separation – CSO 051
Complete
Colvin St.
Harbor Brook Interceptor Sewer
Authorized/Underway
Velasko/Fayette
Midland CSO 044
Clinton Storage Facility
Lower Harbor Brook (Conveyance & Storage)
Save the Rain Green Projects
CSO 022 Sewer Separation Project
CSO 045 Sewer Separation Project
Authorized/Underway
Authorized/Underway
Authorized/Underway
Authorized/Underway
Authorized/Underway
Authorized/Underway
W. Castle/South Ave
Armory Square
Hiawatha/State Fair Blvd.
Various
West Genesee/Franklin
South Avenue
Save the Rain Green Projects
Completed
Various
Save the Rain Green Projects
Completed
Various
Save the Rain Green Projects
Harbor Brook CSO 063 Conveyances Project
Completed
Underway
Various
Hiawatha/State Fair Blvd.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Metro Treatment Plant
AERATION SYSTEM UPGRADE
Bongiovanni Construction (General)
Ridley Electric (Electrical)
$ 5,626,956.41
$
846,154.00
DIGITAL SYSTEM UPGRADE
Systems Integrated
$ 2,974,514.27
ODOR CONTROL CONTRACT #1
Falconet, Inc. (General)
Scriba Electric (Electrical)
Burns Bros. (Heating/Ventilation)
Burns Bros. (Plumbing)
$ 4,872,660.53
$
315,580.30
$
82,459.00
$
50,168.00
ODOR CONTROL CONTRACT #2
Murnane Construction
$ 1,636,000.00
PHASE III IMPORVEMENTS CONTRACT 1 - DIGESTER & LAGOON
IMPROVEMENTS
Maxim Construction
$
645,730.74
PHASE III IMPROVEMENTS CONTACT 2 - CHEMICAL STORAGE & FEED
FACILITIES
C.O. Falter Construction Corp. (General)
Barry & Barry Electrical Co. (Electrical)
Burns Bros. (HVAC)
Edward Joy Company (Plumbing)
$ 2,527,300.08
$
193,665.22
$
224,232.51
$
38,669.35
PHASE III IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT 3 - DIGESTER & LAGOON CLEANING
Waste Stream Environmental Inc.
$
727,881.80
$
$
$
$
28,388.00
112,224.00
32,295.00
18,440.00
FULL SCALE AMMONIA/PHOSPOHORUS REMOVAL - FIELD OFFICE
James & Son Constrcution
Resun Leasing, Inc.
Ridley Electric Co.
Burns Brothers
FULL SCALE AMMONIA/PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL
U.S. Filter - Kruger Products, Inc.
U.S. Filter - Kruger Products, Inc.
$ 8,261,182.00
$ 3,918,080.00
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Metro Treatment Plant
FULL SCALE AMMONIA/PHOSPHORUS REMVOAL
SITE PREPARATION - CONTRACT 2
C.O. Falter Construction Corp. (General)
Ridley Electric (Electrical)
C.O. Falter Construction Corp. (Pile Testing)
Moretrench Environmental
$ 22,243,604.98
$
255,627.00
$
431,008.00
$ 4,602,086.57
PILE INSTALLATION - CONTRACT 3
M.A. Bongiovanni Construction
$ 9,045,731.95
GENERAL - CONTRACT 4
The Pike Company (General)
Ridley Electric Co. (Electrical)
Edward Joy Company (HVAC)
Burns Brothers (Plumbing/Fire Protection)
$
$
$
$
46,860,263.46
6,927,238.00
3,009,057.61
1,217,583.74
BIOSOLIDS HANDLING IMPROVEMENTS
C. O. Falter Construction Corp. (General)
Ridley Electric (Electrical)
Airside Technology (HVAC)
Burns Bros. (Plumbing)
Independent Fiedl Svs (Cogen)
$ 10,929,016.19
$ 1,476,223.00
$
532,187.00
$
173,679.09
$
18,019.75
CSO's
CLINTON CONVEYANCES PHASE I & 2A
The Delaney Group, Inc.
The Delaney Group, Inc.
SIDA
MOU (City of Syracuse)
MOU City of Syracuse (Connective Corridor)
$ 14,478,053.39
$ 4,074,455.32
$ 2,634,999.43
$
168,000.00
$3,825,000.00
CLINTON CSO ABATEMENT
Ruston Paving (Farmers' market Lot)
Davis Wallbridge (Pearl St/Lot 3)
Davis Wallbridge (Townsend St.)
J&B (Pirro Conv. Center)
C.O. Falter (War Memorial)
Ridley (War Memorial)
Economy Paving (On Center)
J&B (Erie Canal Museum)
Jett Industries (Clinton Storage)
Joy Process Mechanical (Cistern War Memorial)
C&S Technical (Cistern War Memorial)
Green Culture (Rain Barrels)
Syracuse Utilities (Duct Bank)
Water Cooling Corp. (Storage Tank)
$
188,046.14
$
635,873.93
$
476,625.39
$ 1,083,727.39
$
692,298.87
$
447,957.66
$ 1,094,119.49
$
73,480.00
$ 75,940,182.16
$
82,615.00
$
233,652.56
$
44,335.50
$
59,982.56
$
2,875.00
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CSO's (cont)
MOU City of Syracuse (Road Reconstruction)
MOU City of Syracuse (Dr. Weeks)
MOU City of Syracuse (Bank Alley)
MOU City of Syracuse (Upstate)
Walbridge (Streetscape/Water St)
Ruston Paving (Sunnycrest Parking Lot)
MA Bongiovanni Inc.
Acts II Construction (Skiddy Park)
D.E. Tarolli (Otisco Street)
Orchard Earth & Pipe (Syr School dist Park Lot)
Slate Hill Construction (E. Water St)
Davis Wallbriddge (Onon Cty Pub Library)
Tumbers, Schichtels Nursery (Trees), Martisco, Dixie, Pro Scapes
Acts II (Seymour Academy)
Paul R. Vitale (City Lot 4)
John R. Dudley (Leavenworth Park)
VIP (Onon Public Library)
Ballard Construction (Westcott Comm Ctr)
Cornerstone Paving (Oswego St)
John Dudley Construction (W. Onondaga St.)
Barrett Paving (W. Fayette St.)
Davis Wallbriddge (Westcott St.)
ProScapes (Sunnycrest Arena)
Acts II (E. Washington St)
John R. Dudley (690 Downspout)
Josall (Maganelli Comm Ctr)
Jeffrey DeRoberts (GIF)
King & King Architects (GIF)
Jefferson Clinton Commons (GIF)
ESF Foundation, Abby Lane Housing (GIF)
Hotel Skyler (GIF)
Near West Side Initiatives, Inc. (GIF)
Near West Side Initiatives, Inc. (GIF)
Tash Taskale (GIF)
St. Lucy's Church (GIF)
Putnam Properties (GIF)
Centro (GIF)
500 W. Onondaga St. Inc. (GIF)
CNY Jazz Arts Foundation (GIF)
Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation (GIF)
Home Headquarters, Inc. (GIF)
Galleries of Syr, 147 E. Onondaga St. (GIF)
Syracuse Housing (GIF)
Kopp billing Agency (GIF)
American Beech (GIF)
Park Central Presbyterian Church (GIF)
CNY Philanthropy (GIF)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
638,997.06
89,000.00
108,000.00
1,500,000.00
1,432,437.86
410,372.20
3,000.00
550,916.44
1,847,459.81
430,172.42
147,952.84
320,291.95
528,233.93
373,309.00
607,852.44
719,311.20
54,160.06
52,500.00
109,046.54
1,371,475.75
588,982.07
870,263.89
87,585.22
795,523.24
597,965.65
378,400.00
99,311.00
100,000.00
100,000.00
78,000.00
100,000.00
22,730.69
78,000.00
100,011.00
125,000.00
75,757.00
65,390.00
52,740.00
52,188.00
163,203.51
40,500.00
100,000.00
120,290.00
25,300.00
53,050.00
61,050.00
62,700.00
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CSO's (cont)
Loon Creek (GIF)
NHW Syracuse (GIF)
McMahan/Ryan Child Advocacy (GIF)
St. Lucy's Church (GIF)
Bethany Baptist Church (GIF)
St. Lucy's Church (GIF)
500 W. Onondaga St. Inc. (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Gemmi Boy (GIF)
Mr. Lady Bug (GIF)
Grace Episcopal Church (GIF)
Snapse Downtown (GIF)
360 Warren Associates (GIF)
Housing Visions Unlimited (GIF)
Near West Side Initiatives, Inc. (GIF)
Scannell Properties (GIF)
Genesee Armory (GIF)
Third National Associates (GIF)
Center for Peace & Social Justice (GIF)
Graham Millwork (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
Onondaga Commons LLC (GIF)
PEACE (GIF)
Syracuse Business Center (GIF)
Erie Bruce Corp (GIF)
Visiting Nurses Association (GIF)
Near West Side Initiatives, Inc. (GIF)
JNJ Syracuse (GIF)
UAS (GIF)
Brewster Medical (GIF)
Southside Community (GIF)
J C Smith Inc. (GIF)
Burnet Railroad (GIF)
Taksum Assoc. (GIF)
Zip Networks (GIF)
Ra lin Inc. (GIF)
Ra lin Inc. (GIF)
Butternut St. LLC (GIF)
Nojaim Inc. (GIF)
St. Joseph's Hopital Health Center (GIF)
University Hill Apts. (GIF)
Auto Row (GIF)
J C Smith Inc. (GIF)
Housing Visions Unlimited (GIF)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
137,350.00
129,400.00
178,050.00
17,700.00
372,311.50
69,000.00
34,347.00
124,200.00
199,500.00
198,949.00
77,800.00
47,537.00
46,700.00
99,000.00
35,700.00
107,864.00
194,650.00
34,500.00
204,000.00
144,400.00
533,300.00
57,700.00
90,500.00
124,100.00
33,400.00
294,300.00
52,200.00
288,400.00
151,700.00
60,349.20
94,300.00
32,600.00
57,600.00
221,000.00
59,800.00
337,250.00
357,400.00
45,200.00
276,529.00
221,350.00
206,450.00
104,430.00
234,800.00
145,900.00
36,500.00
132,000.00
79,800.00
70,200.00
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CSO's (cont)
Thomas J Cerio (GIF)
R J Westcott (GIF)
R J Westcott (GIF)
R J Westcott (GIF)
$
$
$
$
36,750.00
77,392.00
119,687.00
13,500.00
ERIE BOULEVARD STORAGE SYSTEM
M. Hubbard Construction
Rdiley Electric (Electrical)
Endeco/YSI (SE33923)
$ 1,556,752.00
$
154,059.00
$
24,117.90
FRANKLIN STREET FCF
Burns Bros (Mechanical)
Scriba electric (Electrical)
Burns Bros. (Plumbing)
Maxim
$
179,167.67
$
144,640.61
$
28,400.00
$ 3,568,029.43
HARBOR BROOK CSO ABATEMENT
Joseph J. Lane Construction (Interceptor Sewer Replacement)
Bette Cring (Elephant Barn Greening)
John Dudley Construction (Geddes St)
J&B Installaions (Hazard Library/Erie Canal Museum)
Economy Paving (Rosamond Gifford Zoo)
J.J. Lane (Lower HB)
A.J. Montclair (HB CSO Storage)
C.O. Falter (HB CSO Storage)
Davis Wallbridge (Onon Cty Pub Library)
Cornerstone Paving (Parking Lots)
Green Culture
Tumbers, Schichtels Nursery (trees), Proscapes, Dixie
City of Syracuse
VIP
Steadman Old Farm
Marcellus Const. (CSO 063)
OnSite
J J Lane (CSO 18)
Patricia Electric (Wetland Pilot)
MOU City of Syracuse (Road Reconstruction)
Davis Wallbridge (Wadsworth Park)
Acts II (Lewis Park)
Knapp Electric (Wetlands)
Vitale Excavating (Bedding Sand), Butler Fence
Bette Cring (Zoo Wetlands)
DE Tarolli (Green Structures)
J & J Landscape
Vibrant Spaces, LLC (GIF)
NYSARC, Inc. (GIF)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
23,391,425.07
207,701.00
279,068.06
67,275.00
688,638.00
5,249,753.76
260,000.00
30,259,100.80
378,920.43
149,195.48
80,665.00
300,207.19
3,342,875.63
54,160.06
11,480.00
5,365,007.00
8,755.00
4,175,758.46
130,440.00
138,165.00
345,524.55
217,285.58
41,856.00
232,533.35
1,290,064.10
1,027,932.69
33,640.00
153,618.00
78,907.14
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CSO's (cont)
Consuela's Westside Taqueria (GIF)
Consuela's Tato Britter (GIF)
James Ranalli, W. Genesee (GIF)
Vibrant Spaces, LLC (GIF)
Brooklyn Pickle (GIF)
St. Patrick's Loft (GIF)
Smith Housing (GIF)
All Times (GIF)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
29,988.00
8,249.50
616,100.00
198,680.00
30,555.00
177,300.00
52,600.00
76,500.00
$
373,370.21
HARBOR BROOK FCF
C.O. Falter Construction Corp. (General)
KIRKPATRICK ST. PUMP STATION & FORCE MAIN
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
Patricia Electric
King & King Mechanical
G.J. Adams Plumbing
$ 4,398,009.12
$ 4,425,766.31
$
761,184.63
$
245,569.51
$
51,624.16
MALTBIE STREET FCF
Over & Under Piping
$
152,418.00
MIDLAND AVENUE CONVEYANCES
Marcellus construction (General)
$ 1,836,434.47
MIDLAND AVENUE PHASE II CONVEYANCES & RTF
Empire Dismantlement Corp. (Demolition)
Murnane Building Contractors, Inc. (General)
Ridley Electric Company (Electrical)
Edward Joy Company (HVAC)
Edward Joy Company (Plumbing)
$
457,681.50
$ 47,929,392.75
$ 2,904,771.00
$ 2,053,808.50
$
484,717.17
MIDLAND AVENUE PHASE III CONVEYANCES
Titan Wrecking & Environmental, LLC (Demolition)
J.J. Lane
Acts II (Hugh's Magnet School Parking Lot)
Davis Wallbridge (Onon Cty Pub Library)
VIP (Onon Public Library)
Green Culture (Rain Barrels)
Tumbers, Schichtels Nursery (Trees)
Weather Guard Tecta (USPO Salina St)
MOU City of Syracuse (Road Reconstruction)
MA Bongiovanni (storage Tank)
MOU City of Syracuse (ESF)
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse (GIF)
$
290,801.39
$ 12,098,662.37
$
314,439.81
$
116,033.35
$
27,080.03
$
44,335.50
$
158,942.90
$
242,860.00
$
408,332.04
$
66,130.00
$
100,000.00
$
100,000.00
CONTRACTORS FOR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CSO's (cont)
Dunbar Association, Inc. (GIF)
Syracuse Model Neighborhood (GIF)
People's AME Zion Church (GIF)
People's Community Dev. Corp (GIF)
Salina Shoe Salon (GIF)
People's AME Zion Church (GIF)
Matawon Development Group (GIF)
Tucker Missionary Baptist Church (GIF)
Lauren Tawil (GIF)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
99,840.00
250,000.00
61,400.00
80,825.00
48,000.00
5,000.00
24,214.00
195,000.00
212,400.00
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 022/045
Joy Process Mechanical (Plumbing)
Joseph J. Lane Construction
$
853,536.68
$ 4,867,219.35
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 024
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
$
698,863.74
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 053/054
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
$ 2,000,817.40
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 038, 040, 046A&B
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
$ 3,524,487.29
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 047 & 048
C.O. Falter Construction Corp.
$ 1,654,022.34
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 050
Joseph J. Lane Construction
$ 4,360,527.06
SEWER SEPARATION - CSO 051
Joseph J. Lane Construction
$ 5,029,323.00
SIPHON REHABILITATION
Insituform Metropolitan
$ 1,021,822.99
TEALL BROOK FCF
C. O. Falter Construction Corp. (General)
Scria Electric (Electrical)
$
$
877,095.43
26,470.20
WEST STREET AREA SEWER SEPARATION
Maxim Construction (General)
$ 2,311,125.85
WEP ACRONYMS
ACJ
Amended Consent Judgment
AMP
Ambient Monitoring Program
AMSA
Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies
ARRA
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ASLF
Atlantic States Legal Foundation
AWQS
Ambient Water Quality Standards
BAF
Biological Aerated Filter (Biostyr)
BMP
Best Management Practices
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand
BPJ
Best Professional Judgment
Brew
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Brewerton Wastewater Treatment Plant
Bville
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Baldwinsville Wastewater Treatment Plant
CAA
Clean Air Act
CALM
Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology
CAMP
Community Air Monitoring Plan
CIP
Capital Improvement Plan
CMOM
Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance
CSLAP
Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program
CSO
Combined Sewer Overflow
CWA
Clean Water Act
DMR
Discharge Monitoring Report
DO
Dissolved Oxygen
EBM
Ecosystem-Based Management
ECL
Environmental Conservation Law
ECM
Energy Conservation Measures
EECBG
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
ELAP
Environmental Laboratory Approval Program
EMS
Environmental Management System
ERM
Environmental Resource Mapper
FCF
Floatable Control Facility
FOG
Fats, Oil, and Grease
GIF
Green Improvement Fund
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HRFS
High Rate Flocculation Settling
I&I
Inflow & Infiltration
IW
Industrial Wastewater
km
Kilometers
km2
Square Kilometers
LA
Load Allocations
LF
Linear Feet
m
Meters
MCP
Municipal Compliance Plan
MDV
Multiple Discharge Variance
Metro
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater
Treatment Plant
MGD
Million Gallons Per Day
mg/L
Milligrams Per Liter
MIS
Main Interceptor Sewer
ML
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Meadowbrook/Limestone WWTP
MS4s
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
mt
Metric Tons
NACWA
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
NBP
National Biosolids Partnership
NELAC
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NYSDEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
NYSDOH
New York State Department of Health
NYSEFC
New York State Environmental Facilities Corp.
NYWEA
New York Water Environmental Association
OAK
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Oak Orchard WWTP
OLP
Onondaga Lake Partnership
OLWQM
Onondaga Lake Water Quality Model
OU
Odor Unit
P2
Prevention Program
P2CO
Prevention Program County Operations
PdM
Predictive Maintenance
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PIDs
Photo-ionization Detectors
PFRP
Process to Further Reduce Pathogens
PLA
Project Labor Agreement
POTW
Publicly Owned Treatment Works
PWL
Priority Waterbodies List
RTF
Regional Treatment Facility
SCA
Sediment Consolidation Area
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
SEPS
Secondary Effluent Pump Station
SEQR
State Environmental Quality Review
SGIP
Suburban Green Infrastructure Program
SHB
Solids Handling Building
SMPs
Storm Water Management Practices
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SORP
Sewer Overflow Response Plan
SPCC
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures
SPDES
State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
SRP
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus
SSES
Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study
SSI
Sewage Sludge Incinerator
SSV
Site-Specific Variance
SUNY-ESF
State University of New York College of Science and Forestry
SWMM
Storm Water Management Modeling
SWMP
Storm Water Management Plan
SWPPP
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
TBEL
Stechnology-Based Effluent Limits
TDP
Total Dissolved Phosphorus
TMDL
Total Maximum Daily Load
TP
Total Phosphorus
TSI
Trophic State Index
UAA
Use Attainability Analysis
UFI
Upstate Freshwater Institute
ug/l
Micrograms per Liter
USEPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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USFWS
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
USGBC
United States Green Building Council
USGS
United States Geological Survey
UST
Underground Storage Tank
VOC
Volatile Organic Compounds
WAN
Wide Area Network
WLA
Waste Load Allocations
WEF
Water Environment Federation
WEP
Water Environment Protection
WET
Whole Effluent Toxicity
WLA
Waste Load Allocations
WQBEL
Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits
WR
WEP’s Standard Abbreviation for the Wetzel Road Wastewater Treatment Plant
WSE
Waste Stream Environmental
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