Letter from Doug and Rhonda Willies

Working Together To Protect Otsego

Chip Northrup’s kind recognition of our contributions toward developing an updated watershed plan for Otsego Lake is greatly appreciated, albeit overstated. In short, efforts to protect the watershed that nurtures Otsego Lake has always been, and must continue to be, a community endeavor. For many decades, the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, so ably led by Bill Harman, worked tirelessly to address the evolving challenges.

More recently, triggered by the first harmful algal blooms (HABs), The Clark Foundation provided funding for the BFS to acquire equipment to test for the toxins produced by cyanobacteria with additional monies raised from the community through the efforts of Sage Mehta and Michael Robinson. Concurrently, and since the fall of 2022, the Watershed Supervisory Committee, comprised of volunteer representatives of the four municipalities that encompass the Otsego Lake Watershed, has been laser focused on pursuing a 9 Element Watershed Management Plan (9E Plan)— in addition to our traditional role of monitoring septic systems in the Lake Protection Zone.

The WSC is proud of the progress that we have made, but it would not have been possible without the community in the broadest sense actively supporting those efforts. At the risk of omission: SUNY BFS, Otsego Lake Association, Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District, Otsego County Conservation Association, the Community Foundation of Otsego County and other NFPs, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of State as well as our municipalities and county agencies have all played key roles.

Much of what has been accomplished to date has been “below the surface,” but we are now entering the public outreach phase and encourage everyone to attend the first public meeting later this summer to learn more about what is being done and, most importantly, what you can do. In the interim, and to that end, we also encourage you to attend the 2nd Annual BFS Open House at 4 p.m. on July 31, join the Otsego Lake Association, and attend the OLA Annual Gathering at 9 a.m. on August 9 at the Otsego Sailing Club.

The 9E Plan will ensure that the contributing causes and sources of pollution are identified, that key stakeholders are involved in the planning process, and that restoration and protection strategies are identified that will address the water quality concerns. The comprehensive implementation plan will include a schedule with milestones, the evaluation of progress and the identification of financial assistance required for implementation.

While the WSC has been successful in securing significant grants to support the development of the 9E Plan, matching funds are required to implement the prescribed best management practices (BMPs), support continuous water monitoring and provide for the ongoing management of the Otsego Lake Watershed and the 9E Plan. To that end, we have collaborated with the Community Foundation of Otsego County to create the Otsego Lake Watershed Sustainability Fund. The fund will be a reliable resource for projects that will monitor and improve the quality of water in the Otsego Lake Watershed.

In conclusion, we have always believed that we all share responsibility to be good stewards of the precious resources that nourish us. We respectfully ask that you join us in taking responsibility and ownership by making a contribution to the Otsego Lake Watershed Sustainability Fund and, if possible, consider making it a five-year commitment: https://cfotsego.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1047

Doug and Rhonda Willies
Cooperstown