MakingWaves - Drought Watch Issued; New HABs Mitigation Study; Great Lakes B-WET Funding; HABs Notifications
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 07/31/2020 01:00 PM EDTDEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
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MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water |
In This Issue:
Drought Watch Issued for Four Regions of New York(View map of drought regions on DEC website.) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced this week that the State has issued a Drought Watch for four regions of New York, including Long Island, the Upper Hudson/Mohawk area, the Adirondacks, and the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence area. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos issued the watch after consulting with experts from the State Drought Management Task Force. The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir/lake levels, and streamflow and groundwater levels in nine designated drought regions throughout New York. For more detailed drought information, visit DEC's drought webpage. A watch is the first of four levels of state drought advisories (“watch,” “warning,” “emergency” and “disaster”). There are no statewide mandatory water use restrictions in place under a drought watch. However, local public water suppliers may require such measures depending upon local needs and conditions. Visit DEC’s Saving Water Makes Good Sense webpage for conservation tips that homeowners can take to voluntarily reduce their water usage. New Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Mitigation Study AnnouncedDEC and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), led by the Engineer Research and Development Center, has announced a collaborative project to study an innovative HAB removal technology called Harmful Algal Bloom Interception, Treatment and Transformation System (HABITATS) on Chautauqua Lake. The system is designed to collect algae-laden water near the surface, clarify and clean the water, then return the water back to the waterbody. On July 28, DEC and USACE presented a public webinar about the pilot study. Learn more about HABITATS at DEC's Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Mitigation Studies webpage. Reminder: Great Lakes B-WET Request for ProposalsThe NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking proposals under the Great Lakes B-WET (Bay Watershed Education and Training) program. The program supports existing, high-quality environmental education programs, fosters the growth of new, innovative programs, and encourages capacity building and partnership development for environmental and place-based education programs throughout the Great Lakes watershed. Project proposals up to $80,000 must be submitted by August 21, 2020. More information is available on NOAA's website. The program is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. To help plan projects in New York, find resources at NY's Great Lakes Ecosystem Education Exchange. Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) NotificationsVisit NYHABS, DEC’s harmful algal bloom notification map, to view locations of freshwater HABs in New York State that were reported in the past two weeks. Click on a dot for more information, including the date it was reported, the waterbody name, and pictures. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen to view a list of reported HABs. Know it. Avoid it. Report it. If you see a HAB, please use the reporting form to submit a report to NYHABS. Because waterbodies may have HABs that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scums, and discolored water. If you, your family, or pet have been in contact with a HAB, please rinse with clean water and report any symptoms to your local health department. |