Auburn renews call for NY state action as harmful algal blooms increase on Owasco Lake

AUBURN — As harmful algal blooms increase on Owasco Lake, Cayuga County stakeholders are renewing their call for state action to address the years-long problem.

A press conference was held Thursday at Auburn's Memorial City Hall to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to adopt a total maximum daily load for Owasco Lake. A total maximum daily load would control the pollution entering the lake and could help reduce or prevent the development of harmful algal blooms, which threaten the drinking water supply for 45,000 local residents.

Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, an Ithaca-based environmental database firm, told reporters that the number of harmful algal blooms on Owasco Lake has increased from 72 in 2023 to 93 already this year.

Hang explained that too much nitrogen and phosphorus are entering the lake by runoff from the land. Both elements contribute to the development of harmful algal blooms.

"It's not going to get better unless the governor fulfills our request," he said.

Toxins from harmful algal blooms were found in water supplies for the city of Auburn and town of Owasco in 2016. The state responded with funding to install filtration systems that remove toxins from the finished water.

While those systems have been effective at protecting the water, local leaders are concerned that the increasing toxicity of the blooms will overwhelm the filters.

Auburn City Councilor Terry Cuddy explained that trials were performed to test the toxicity of the harmful algal blooms, but testing on the lake has found the blooms are 10 times more toxic than the samples in the trial.

"We're in uncharted territory when it comes to toxicity," he said.

The problem is not limited to Owasco Lake. Hang shared data for other Finger Lakes, including Cayuga Lake, where the number of harmful algal blooms has increased from 89 in 2023 to 137 this year. There have been 304 blooms reported on Seneca Lake, up from 50 in 2023.

Although harmful algal blooms have been reported throughout the state, Hang praised Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino and Cuddy for speaking out about the need for action.

The city of Auburn, along with the town of Owasco and Owasco Watershed Lake Association, are suing the state Department of Health over its handling of a process to update the watershed's rules and regulations.

After the state Department of Health indicated it would update the rules, the agency backed off that commitment this year.

Speaking at the press conference Thursday, Giannettino utilized one of New York Yankees great Yogi Berra's famous quotes.

"It's like deja vu all over again," he said. "The state should not be surprised by this. We have been sounding the alarm since 2016 when it first happened here. We have been saying the same thing over and over and over and over again. The state refuses to listen to us."