LAKE ONTARIO WATERS: NEW CONCERNS REQUIRE A NEW PLAN. Presented by NYSDEC on behalf of The Lake Ontario Partnership February 13, 2019

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1 LAKE ONTARIO WATERS: NEW CONCERNS REQUIRE A NEW PLAN Presented by NYSDEC on behalf of The Lake Ontario Partnership February 13, 2019

2 Agenda Lake Overview Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement About the Lake Ontario Partnership State of the Lake & Science Priorities Proposed Management Actions Questions, Comments and Feedback

3 Smallest in surface area & 2nd deepest. Over 80% of its water supply comes from the upper lakes, the rest from precipitation. Retention time is six years. The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Includes major urban centers & natural heritage areas Lake Ontario Overview

4 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Purpose is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Waters of the Great Lakes 1 : Areas of Concern 2 : Lakewide Management 3 : Chemicals of Mutual Concern 4 : Nutrients 5 : Discharges from Vessels 6 : Aquatic Invasive Species 7 : Habitat and Species 8 : Groundwater 9 : Climate Change Impacts 10 : Science

5 The Lake Ontario Partnership Management Committee Working Group Working Group Subcommittees Technical Outreach and Engagement

6 The Lake Ontario LAMP From the Niagara River out the St. Lawrence River

7 The State of Lake Ontario

8 GO#1,2,5&6 Nutrient & Bacterial Related Impacts FAIR and DETERIORATING Do excessive Nutrients contribute to nearshore algal blooms? Does offshore nutrient deficiency affect lower food web productivity? Science Priorities = Characterize nutrient loadings and concentrations from all sources Improve understanding of near/offshore nutrients cycling and harmful or nuisance algal bloom causes Photo by SUNY Brockport

9 GO 1,3,4&8 Critical and Emerging Chemical Contaminants FAIR and UNCHANGING Environmentally significant concentrations of critical pollutants remain in water and attached to suspended and lake bed sediments. CMCs: Legacy and other Consumer product sources (PBDEs, perfluorinated compounds and personal care products) Science Priority = Characterize environmental concentrations of critical pollutants (PCBs, Mercury, DDT & metabolites, Mirex, Dieldrin/Aldrin, Dioxin) and other emerging pollutants of concern PCBs (ųg/g) in Lake Trout

10 GO # 5 & 6 Loss of Aquatic Habitat and Species FAIR and UNCHANGING Causes: unsustainable shoreline development and alterations, water level management, and dams and barriers in streams and tributaries Loss of biological diversity due to habitat alteration, destruction and fragmentation on land, in tributaries Other threats include non point source pollution, non native invasive species, and climate change Science Priority = Evaluate status of coastal wetlands, sport fish and others??

11 GO 4,5&7 Invasive Species POOR and DETERIORATING AIS continue to expand their ranges into and within the Lake Sea Lamprey = controllable Dreissenid Mussels (Zebra and Quagga), gobies & zooplankton = uncontrollable Science Priority = Evaluate aquatic food web status and improve understanding of nearshore fish ecology and open lake fish dynamics

12 Management Actions Wastewater and stormwater management system/facilities: innovation and enforcement of regulations to control end of pipe sources of pollution. Nutrient and Bacteria Control: Build on existing integrated and systematic efforts within targeted watersheds to improve soil health and reduce the overland runoff of nutrients, sediments, and bacteria to the lake or tributaries.

13 Management Actions Enhanced wetland management: Protect, improve and monitor Lake Ontario coastal and watershed wetlands to support fish and wildlife diversity and habitat through a variety of initiatives Aquatic habitat protection and restoration: Engage stakeholders, public and ENGO s to improve and restore the physical and chemical aspects of aquatic habitat in near shore, shoreline, and upland/riparian areas

14 Management Actions AIS Early Detection: Prevent new aquatic and terrestrial invasive species AIS Rapid Response Prevent them from establishing self sustaining populations. Asian Carp: Monitor & prevent the introduction & establishment of invasive carp species.

15 Address point source and nonpoint source chemical contaminants Support the development and implementation of the Chemicals of Mutual Concern binational strategies Continue to restore Areas of Concern Management Actions

16 Management Actions Everyone Plays A Role Engaging diverse partners all around the lake. Projects by others are recognized as necessary to achieve lakewide goals. New partners include public citizens, universities, NGOs, local conservation authorities, farmers, stewardship councils, or church & community organizations.

17 Lake Ontario Partnership wants to hear from you! Why is water quality in Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers, the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers, important to you? What are your thoughts on the current conditions and ongoing/emerging threats to water quality in Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers? The Lake Ontario Partnership members are implementing strategies and actions to address threats to water quality in Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers. Do you have any feedback or input on the actions they are taking?

18 Your thoughts?? Are the science and monitoring priorities for water quality in Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers on target? What actions are you and/or your organization/community undertaking to address threats to water quality in Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers? Any recommendations on how to encourage collaborative action by residents around Lake Ontario and its connecting rivers to restore and protect water quality?

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20 Outreach and Engagement where you can Access LAMP information Lake Partnership Annual Reports Lake Ontario Partnership Outreach and Engagement Committee Binational.NET GLIN Announce To join glin announce, go to PlaceSpeak Link