Community Foundation Establishes Fund To Benefit Otsego Lake

SPRINGFIELD—The Community Foundation of Otsego County has established a fund of $500,000.00 to support projects to maintain and improve the health of Otsego Lake.

The Otsego Lake Watershed Sustainability Fund provides a coordinated approach to caring for Otsego Lake, which serves as the water supply for the Village of Cooperstown and is the Susquehanna River headwaters. The Otsego Lake Fund is planned to be a reliable financial resource for organizations seeking support for lake-related projects, officials said in a press release issued on Saturday, May 17.

The Lake Fund was launched in anticipation of a new Otsego Lake management plan, expected to be completed in 2026, and is based on similar funds that exist for Lake George and Skaneateles Lake. CFOC envisions the Otsego Lake Fund serving as a model for support of other lakes throughout Otsego County.

“The creation of the Otsego Lake Watershed Sustainability Fund shows CFOC responsiveness to residents’ requests and our ability to creatively address Otsego County issues. We hope to apply the success of the Otsego Lake Fund to assist all Otsego County lakes,” said Jeff Katz, CFOC executive director.

The Otsego Lake Fund idea grew from conversations with Cooperstown residents Doug and Rhonda Willies, who have a strong personal commitment to Otsego Lake. The Willies, along with neighbors Lou Allstadt and Melinda Hardin and Nancy and Chip Northrup, committed $200,000.00 to match other gifts to establish the fund. Generous donations from area individuals met and exceeded the match.

According to Katz, the Otsego Lake fund provides centralized funding and helps coordinate the efforts of various organizations to best manage Otsego Lake. A committee of representatives from CFOC, the Otsego Lake Association, the Watershed Supervisory Committee (Village of Cooperstown, Towns of Otsego, Middlefield, and Springfield), and the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station will annually review grant applications. Thus far, $25,000.00 in grants has been awarded to applicant projects aligned with the fund’s criteria, officials said.

Those who would like to contribute to the fund, or organizations interested in receiving funding should contact Katz at contact@cfotsego.org.

CFOC was founded in 2019 to lead and inspire community-wide efforts to improve the quality of life and the prosperity of Otsego County.

For more information, visit www.cfotsego.org.