The Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board (CNY RPDB), with assistance from the Oneida Lake Watershed Advisory Council, distributed a report in the fall of 2004 titled A Management Strategy for Oneida Lake and Its Watershed. This report provides:
- Information on the environmental and economic setting throughout the six-county watershed;
- A description of different components of the watershed initiative, such as education, agriculture, municipal outreach, grant recipients, and committee structure;
- Background information and recommendations on the priority water resource issues of concern throughout the lake and its watershed; and
- A summary of goals for the coming year.
From the early stages of the project, the Oneida Lake watershed management planning process has served as an opportunity to promote water resource protection efforts through the strength of regional partnerships and citizen participation. We have learned from other lake communities that comprehensive, long-term planning will protect the value and character of local lakes and streams while attracting business, tourism, and recreation dollars to enhance the region’s economic footing.
We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the agencies, organizations, municipalities, and homeowners that have contributed to the success of this program, and to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency for providing the necessary funding for us to reach this milestone. Throughout the coming years, we will continue working as a watershed partnership to implement programs for the improvement and protection of local water resources. Comprehensive watershed management planning is a step in the right direction.
