Letter to the Hon. Todd Semonite, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Schumer reveals: In 2019 alone, +1k toxic algal blooms plagued Upstate NY lakes, threatening upstate drinking water, residents, animals & economies; senator urges Feds to launch statewide effort to combat the blooms ASAP

Letter

Dear Lieutenant General Semonite,

I write to request that you include several important New York projects in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) FY 2020 Work Plan related to harmful algal blooms (HABs). I worked tirelessly along with my colleagues in Congress to secure an increase in funding for USACE in the Senate Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020 and will continue to fight for increased funding as appropriations negotiations continue, including for research and pilot programs aimed at combatting HABs, such as those within the currently authorized Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program (ANSRP) and the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program (APCRP). The impact of HABs on communities across New York has been severe. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, there have been at least 160 HABs reported in the Hudson Valley this year; at least 60 reported in the Capital Region; at least 220 reported in Central New York; at least 260 in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region; at least 100 in Western New York; and at least 95 in the Southern Tier. Therefore, in the FY 20 Work Plan I strongly encourage you to use your existing authorities to include similar pilot programs at these lakes:

-Skaneateles Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 24 HABs. For 123 years Skaneateles Lake has been an exceptionally clean drinking water source for currently 200,000 people in Onondaga County, New York. The highest of the Finger Lakes, Skaneateles Lake covers three counties at 16 miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide, with a maximum depth of 315 feet. In addition to approximately 2,000 year-round residences along the lakeshore and a booming tourism industry, 45% of the watershed is used for agriculture. Often regarded as the cleanest Finger Lake and one of the cleanest lakes in the United States, things changed in 2017 when a HAB outbreak was discovered in the lake's water intake pipe. During that outbreak surface water tests showed levels of algae toxins nine times higher than what the State Department of Environmental Conservation considers high levels. This HAB lasted for weeks, even stretching into October. HABs returned in 2018, and again in 2019. In May 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York state installed new technology that detects changing water conditions which could indicate the early stages of HAB formation. This technology is not only an early warning system but it also helps researchers gain a better understanding of HABs so they can develop treatment and preventive options. This or other technology could aid in preventing the spread of HABs in Skaneateles Lake.
-Conesus Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 10 HABs. Conesus Lake is a major drinking water source for approximately 20,000 residents in Livingston County, New York. As the westernmost Finger Lake, Conesus is a major tourism driver for the area, promoting fishing, boating, swimming, and other recreational activities. Conesus Lake is one of the most heavily and densely populated Finger Lakes, with the majority of residents living year-round. Unfortunately Conesus Lake suffers from frequent HAB occurrences. A 2018 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) report showed that Conesus had 13 observed HABs outbreaks since 2013, resulting in 46 lost beach days and associated beach revenue. Frequent HAB outbreaks, combined with the presence of excessive nutrients like phosphorus, have led to Conesus being designated as an "Impaired Waterbody." Conesus is also one of the shallower Finger Lakes with a maximum depth of 66 feet.
-Lake George: Dubbed the "Queen of American Lakes" by Thomas Jefferson, Lake George has immense historical standing and is a key driver of New York's upstate economy accounting for 42 percent of the region's tourism sales. Indeed, Adirondack tourism is a $1.4 billion industry supporting over 21,300 jobs. Lake George is also classified as an AA special waterbody suitable for drinking. New York has listed Lake George as high-risk for algae bloom, which would be devastating to the tourism industry. A recent study by the Jefferson Project showed algae growth in part of Lake George and scientists pointed to nutrient levels and fears that HABs could become an occurrence in Lake George.
-Seneca Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 89 HABs. The largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes, Seneca is a source of drinking water for nearly 100,000 people, as well as a driver of the regional economy. Seneca is surrounded by more than 50 wineries--as a result, the lake is a regular location for tourist activities, increasing the possibility of HAB exposure to humans and pets. This year marks the fifth year in a row that cyanobacteria have been confirmed in Seneca Lake, with at least 24 separate blooms reported in September 2019 alone. According to NYSDEC, on September 8, 2019, there were multiple reports of HABs with confirmed high levels of toxicity.
-Chautauqua Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 85 HABs. Used by lake residents and visitors as a source of drinking water, and the most important economic asset for the surrounding area, Chautauqua Lake has experienced more than 298 reported HAB occurrences since 2012. Alarmingly, there were 82 confirmed HABs in 2017 with 14 confirmed as highly toxic. Since 2017, these HAB outbreaks have caused 22 beach closures and led to a total of 286 lost beach days. With 1,515 commercial farms, 15,500 acres of grapes, and eight wineries, recent studies have shown that pesticide run-off is a contributing factor to HABs. These HABs have a major impact on local communities as there are 14 municipalities that are within Chautauqua Lake's watershed -- all economically dependent on the lake. This lake is listed as a National Historic Landmark, a huge draw for tourists, and it is consistently plagued by HABs. In the Water Resources Development Act of 2018, I was pleased to authorize a study of Harmful Algal Blooms at this lake. Now the time has come to allocate funding to begin study of this alarming environmental, health, and economic problem.
-Canandaigua Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 66 HABs. As a drinking water source for approximately 70,000 people, Canandaigua Lake has 21,000 people living along the Lake's shoreline. The fourth-largest of the Finger Lakes is 15.5 miles long, 1.1 miles wide, and 276 feet deep at its deepest point. In 2019, HAB occurrences led to the closure of public swimming areas and private beaches. As with Seneca Lake, these HABs continue to be a blight on the community.
-Owasco Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 55 HABs. As a drinking water source for approximately 44,000 people, Owasco is the sixth-largest of the Finger Lakes at 1.3 miles wide and 11.1 miles long with a maximum depth of 177 feet. Due to its shallow nature, the lake is a popular tourist spot in the summer as the water tends to warm up early and stay warm longer into the year. This tourist draw has been dampened in recent years as HABs have become a public health risk for the lake. For example, in 2016, HABs were detected in treated drinking water from Owasco Lake for the first time. HABs were also detected along the shoreline of the lake in 2017 and 2018
-Honeoye Lake: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 35 HABs. With over 100 confirmed HABs since 2012, Honeoye Lake has felt the negative impacts of HABs on its tourism industry. The lake is a popular destination for boating, swimming, and other recreational activities, but HABs have led to over 100 lost beach days.
-Croton Falls Reservoir: In 2019, NYSDEC reports that this waterbody may have experienced 4 HABs. This reservoir is part of the New York City watershed and a source of water for NYC, home to over 8.5 million people. As a reservoir that has been plagued by HABs, this could be a possible location to test ANSRP's Operational Strategies for HAB Management in Inland Reservoirs program.

These are only a fraction of the many freshwater bodies that upstate New York holds that are plagued by HABs. Located close together but also relatively isolated, these freshwater bodies, especially those in the Finger Lakes, make an ideal candidate for USACE to study, including but not limited to expanding the pilot programs funded within the ANSRP and the APCRP.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff.

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