New York's Harmful Algal Blooms Crisis Imperils Public Health as New Confirmed Statewide HABs Record is Set

Total Number of Confirmed HABs Already Exceeds Previous 2023 Record (1,150) by 40%

Stunningly Inadequate Cayuga Lake Watershed Cleanup Plan Adopted After 22 Year Delay With Zero Dedicated Funding

Undemocratic Governor Hochul Reportedly Refuses to Accept Calls From Constituents Plagued by HABs

See: Owasco Lake Algae Blooms 9-13-2024

Follow the Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and New York Water Pollution Cleanup Campaign

Call Governor Hochul Today to Demand That All Waterbodies With HABs be Comprehensively Cleaned Up: 518 474 8390

Greetings,

Due to Governor Hochul's shockingly inadequate public health and environmental protection programs, New York's Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) crisis grows worse each and every day. The number of HABs is simply skyrocketing each week at a rate that is hard to believe.

New York's Statewide HABs Crisis Intensifies

So far in 2024, a total of 1,611 HABs in New York have been confirmed on a statewide basis. This exceeds the State's previous record-setting 2023 total of 1,150 HABs by 40%.

HABs will likely continue to proliferate into November before water temperatures cool off. It is entirely possible that the total number of confirmed HABs could double between 2023 and 2024. This proves how utterly ineffective Hochul's water quality protection programs are.

Confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State (9/19/2024) Map

Confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State (9/19/2024) List

Cayuga Lake TMDL is Insultingly and Unacceptably Inadequate After a Delay of 22 Years

Against this background of out-of-control water pollution hazards, a Total Maximum Daily Load comprehensive watershed regulatory cleanup program was finally adopted for Cayuga Lake, New York's #1 TMDL priority, after a delay of 22 years.

See: 9-9-2024 Cayuga Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Notice from NYSDEC

The TMDL is ridiculously, insultingly, unforgivably inadequate because it has:

a) zero dedicated funding,

b) no detailed plan of action to achieve a proposed 30% reduction in phosphorus by cleaning up thousands of nutrient and other pollution sources documented in the lake's vast watershed that cause HABs and other water quality hazards,

c) no timetable for eliminating water quality impairments that caused a total of 89 HABs so far this year and

d) no requirement to halt Cornell's Lake Source Cooling untreated discharge of Soluble Reactive Phosphorus that contributes to HABs in Cayuga Lake.

The TMDL is completely voluntary and utterly fails to resolve the technical concerns I detailed with excruciating care: 7-8-2021 Walter Hang's Comments on New York's Fatally Flawed Draft Cayuga Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Clean Up Proposal Originally Required as a "High Priority" Circa 2002

The TMDL also does not fulfill our: Coalition Letter Which Requests That Governor Hochul Take Immediate Regulatory Enforcement Action to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms Across New York

Governor Reportedly Refuses to Take More Calls From Constituents Plagued With Drinking Water Threats Caused by HABs

Governor Hochul is getting intensely phonebanked and reportedly refuses to take more calls from respectful constituents who are plagued with drinking water threats caused by HABs in Owasco Lake. Can you believe this undemocratic outrage?

Many thanks to the Honorable Auburn, NY City Council Representative, Terrence Cuddy, the Honorable Auburn, NY Mayor, James N. Giannettino, Jr., and members of Save Owasco Now (SON) for taking effective, reasonable and sustained super-focused action.

Governor Hochul's "Office Reportedly Will Not Take Any Calls in Regards to Owasco Lake HABs"

TAKE URGENT ACTION TODAY

Call Governor Hochul at 518 474 8390 and repeat this statement word for word:

"Governor, on 12/12/23 you promised that, "No one in New York should ever fear that they don't have access to clean water." You also promised, "We are reassuring communities across New York that your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids will always have access to clean and safe water." I am calling to demand that you keep your word.

Property HAB Concerns

Governor, I live on ____ Lake, ___ River or ___ Bay that is plagued with Harmful Algal Blooms. I am a signatory to a Coalition Letter Request That Governor Hochul Take Immediate Regulatory Enforcement Action to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms Across New York. I demand that you immediately require a Total Maximum Daily Load Comprehensive Watershed Cleanup Plan to be adopted to eliminate HABs that threaten my home and property value.

Drinking Water HAB Concerns

Governor, I drink water supplied from ____ Reservoir, ___ Lake, ___ River, ___ Bay that is inundated with Harmful Algal Blooms. I am a signatory to a Coalition Letter Request That Governor Hochul Take Immediate Regulatory Enforcement Action to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms Across New York. I demand that you immediately require a Total Maximum Daily Load Comprehensive Watershed Cleanup Plan to be adopted to eliminate HABs that threaten my drinking water and my health.

You get the idea. After you echo this detailed "ask," please feel free to say whatever else you like, within reason. Be your powerful, respectful, eloquent and knowledgeable best. Please try to stay "on-message." Demand a TMDL within two years for every waterbody in New York impaired with HABs.

Write a Personalized Demand That Governor Hochul Adopt a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Comprehensive Watershed Regulatory Cleanup Plan to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms That Threaten Your Health and Well-Being

Thanks for your help. Please keep slugging. Do not stop until you drop.

Best,

Walter

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