Protecting Owasco Lake will continue to require a mix of science, regulation and cooperation across the watershed, according to Adam Effler, PhD, executive director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council.
Effler discussed the state of the lake, recent legal battles over watershed regulations and the ongoing challenge of harmful algal blooms during a recent appearance on the program Inside Government with Guy Cosentino.
The conversation highlighted both progress and continuing uncertainty as local leaders work to safeguard one of Cayuga County’s primary drinking water sources.
Understanding the Owasco watershed
Effler began by explaining the basic geography behind Owasco Lake’s water quality challenges.
“The Owasco Lake watershed can be best described as a drainage basin,” he said, referring to the land area where rainfall and snowmelt ultimately flow into the lake.
That watershed covers about 208 square miles, an unusually large area relative to the lake itself. Effler said that characteristic makes Owasco particularly vulnerable to runoff from surrounding land uses.
Because of the lake’s size compared with its watershed, pollutants carried by rainfall and snowmelt—such as fertilizer, soil erosion and other materials—can more easily reach the lake.
Effler described these sources as “non-point source pollution,” meaning pollution that enters waterways through widespread runoff rather than a single identifiable discharge point such as a wastewater plant.
Planning and funding for water protection
Effler also discussed a major watershed planning effort known as the nine-element watershed plan, a clean-water strategy approved by New York State.
Despite the technical name, the plan does not refer to chemical elements. Instead, it outlines a structured process communities use to identify pollution sources and propose solutions.
“The plan is a pathway for funding,” Effler said, explaining that state approval allows local organizations to pursue grants tied to the plan’s recommendations.
Those projects can include efforts such as cover crops, stream corridor protection and other conservation practices aimed at reducing phosphorus and sediment runoff into the lake.
Local farmers have increasingly adopted practices such as winter cover crops to stabilize soil and prevent runoff, Effler said.
“These sorts of practices are supported by the agricultural community,” he said.
Lawsuit over watershed regulations
Effler also addressed the ongoing legal dispute involving the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco over efforts to update watershed rules first written in 1984.
The municipalities sued the New York State Department of Health after the state halted the process of updating the regulations.
According to Effler, the judge ruled that the state’s decision to end the rule-making process was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The ruling cited New York’s environmental rights amendment—often called the “Green Amendment”—which guarantees residents the right to clean air and water.
The state has since filed an appeal, leaving uncertainty about when or how the rule-making process will resume.
Harmful algal blooms remain concern
Like other Finger Lakes, Owasco has seen increasing occurrences of harmful algal blooms, commonly known as HABs.
Effler said monitoring programs have expanded across the region, with volunteers and watershed staff reporting potential blooms to state agencies.
While more monitoring can lead to more reports, Effler said long-term data suggests blooms are occurring more frequently.
“There is an increasing trend with regards to harmful algal blooms,” he said.
Warmer water temperatures linked to climate change are considered a major contributing factor.
In 2025, blooms appeared earlier than usual in some areas of the region, though timing varied between lakes.
Outlook for 2026
Despite heavy snowfall this winter, Effler said predicting bloom activity for the coming summer remains difficult.
There is currently no reliable model that can forecast harmful algal blooms in advance.
Instead, watershed managers focus on reducing pollution entering the lake and protecting tributary streams that feed it.
Shade from vegetation along streams helps keep water cooler, Effler explained, which may reduce bloom conditions in the lake.
“We know that warming water temperatures as a result of climate change are important,” Effler said.
For Effler and the watershed council, the long-term solution remains managing runoff across the entire watershed—an effort that requires cooperation from farmers, municipalities and residents alike.
Looking ahead
As legal disputes over watershed regulations continue and harmful algal blooms remain a seasonal threat, Effler said watershed protection will depend on sustained monitoring, funding and public engagement.
Those efforts will determine how effectively Owasco Lake can continue serving as a drinking water source and recreational resource for the region.
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