Water quality meeting at Sodus Bay Heights

Many people interested in water quality issues in the Sodus Bay watershed, attended the third Freshwater Resources Conference at the Golf Club to see demonstrations and displays and hear guest speakers.

Sponsoring the event were the Sodus Bay Improvement Assoc., the East Bay Assoc., the Port Bay Improvement Assn., Save Our Sodus (SOS, and North Wind Harbor, Inc.

The keynote address was given by Elizabeth Thorndike, founder and former director of the Center for Environmental Information. She said local input would be critical in the creation of a $4-6 billion Great Lakes Superfund, similar to the fund that exist in the Everglades.

David Scudder, Chairman of the Wayne County Water Quality Coordinating Committee was the moderator for the conference, introducing speakers of the day.

Matt Henderson: New York State DEC - Henderson described the types of aquatic plants that plaque the bays, and discussed the role of the plants in protecting fish habitat and waterfowl, stressing that their role is highly variable, and in addition, high vegetation may interfere with the feeding of some predator fish.

Dr. Bruce Gilman: FLCC - Aquatic Weed Identification - Gilman spoke of his research in that area, what affects plant type and growth, and why aquatic plants need management.

Robert K. Williams: Wayne County Soil & Water District - Williams focused on the mechanical weed harvesting being done in county waters, as well as other techniques to control weed growth, from commercial pond cleaners, commercial barriers, hand pulling, and using barley straw, Triploid grass, or hot water to control weeds in small ponds.

Gail Mortimer: New York State DEC - Mortimer discussed the DEC permit process.

Dr. Stephen J. Souza, Princeton Hydro, LLC - Souza is an authority on lake restoration using alum. He proposes a feasibility study on the use of aluminate sulfate locally to clean the water. Souza cautioned that a cleaner pond or bay would tend to have more weed growth.

Scott Kishbaugh: New York State DEC - Kishbaugh described the volunteer monitoring program that was carried on at Sodus Bay from 1980 until 1991, and what was learned. Kishbaugh revealed that water quality on the bay has doubled since 1990.

Charles O'Neil, New York Sea Grant - O'Neil lectured on the history of Lake Ontario levels, and dredging operations.

Local Perspectives on Water Quality: Over 1000 Waterfront members represented by their grassroots organizations followed the scheduled speakers.

Ed Leroux, President of S.O.S. (Save Our Sodus) explained that the mission of his four year old, 600 member organization was to protect, improve, and preserve the Sodus Bay watershed. and described the projects planned or being undertaken at this point, both long term (preventive) and short term (corrective). Leroux said that SOS is moving forward in areas such as the watershed management plan, harbor management, neighborhood network education, and science projects that support  cooperative efforts across the watershed.

Clay Bishop, of the 200 Member Sodus Bay Improvement Assoc. representing the east side of Sodus Bay, indicated that the 'weeds were so bad at one time that you literally walk on top of them.' Bishop described what has been done over the years to improve that situation.

Port Bay Assoc. President Barry Blake, 330 members- Blake spoke of the groups efforts since 1942 to improve the area, mechanical weed harvesting and policy to not use chemicals to control weeds.

The East Bay Assoc., Donna Graham, President, 60 members,- described efforts and costs to keep the channel open and control weeds.

Visit the Water Quality Coordinating Committee at www.lakeontario.net/wqcc. The mission of WQCC is to serve the public by 'Proactively addressing water quality issues as they relate primarily to Nonpoint Source Pollution.'

(Story and photos by John Zornow)

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