Category: News

LYLPS Work Plan Review and 2023 Plan

The LYLPS Board has reviewed the work plan for 2022 and developed a plan for 2023. We believe our efforts to control milfoil have been successful, though we observed some new growth in several portions of the lake. 

With the control of milfoil, native species have returned in full force. In 2023 we intend to spend significant efforts to manage these in areas where they impact recreational use. 

Here is the summary of our 2023 work plan:

  • Monitoring
    • Monitor the lake through CSLAP
    • Expand the monitoring by developing a macrophyte monitoring program with Soil and Water (SWCD)
    • Develop a HABs monitoring program
    • Support C-OFOKLA flood rapid-response program
  • Prevention
    • Continuing support, through C-OFOKLA, of the boat steward program, CCStoptheInvasion.org and including support of the boat decontamination station.
    • Provide content for public outreach, both directly and through C-OFOKLA.
  • Treatments
    • Treat recurring VLM with ProcellaCOR
    • Treat starry stonewort, pondweed, and nuisance natives through weed harvesting
  • Management
    • Support SWCD shorescaping program
    • Continue support of septic education program
    • Participate in the Tioughnioga River LWRP Update project
  • Organizational
    • Continue to build community
    • Maintain the lake management plan
    • Explore establishing a “dredging” fund

You can read the full plan (as a PDF) here. The 2022 review is here.

Annual Meeting 2022

Our annual meeting will be held Saturday, June 18th at 10:00 a.m. in Calvary Baptist Church, 6753 State Route 281, Preble. We’ll have elections for president, secretary, and vice president (1-year term). We’ll also update everyone regarding our lake management activities as well as have an update on the lake district. See our newsletter for more details.

If you haven’t paid your dues already, please bring your payment to the meeting. Additionally, luminaries will be available for purchase.

2022 Work Plan

Our 2022 work plan is available here. In addition to other activities, the association is proposing to continue our treatment efforts to help manage the weeds.

We are planning to continue our campaign against milfoil with another, smaller, ProcellaCOR treatment primarily focused on the “seed” areas: the mouth of the stream in Dwyer Park and the channel from Goodale Lake.

This year we are moving away from other chemical treatments to focus on mechanical harvesting of starry stonewort and pondweeds. Our goal is to have two weeks of harvesting (not consecutive). We have one confirmed for the last week of June and are still working to secure a second week of harvesting.

Tax District Update

The Cortland County Legislature voted to create the Little York Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District subject to a referendum of eligible voters. Anyone who is registered at a residence in the district is eligible to vote.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Polling will take place at Calvary Baptist Church on Rt. 281 in Preble from 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The registration deadline is January 14 and the last day to apply for an absentee ballot is January 24. You can get the absentee ballot application here (pdf). 

LYLPS is holding a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, January 18th at 7 p.m. for property owners and eligible voters to answer questions and clarify any issues. You will need to register in advance to get the link to the meeting. Click on this link to register for the webinar. You will receive a link to join the webinar within 24 hours of your registration. Your link will only work for one device, so don’t share it.

Following the webinar we will publish the Q&A on the website.

If  you have any questions in advance of the webinar please email us at [email protected] or call 607-218-2550.

Starry Stonewort Treatment 7/26

Solitude Lake Management will complete our third and final treatment of the season on Monday, July 26th. We will be applying Captain XTR which is the same product we applied last year. The only restrictions are for domestic and potable water use. Please refrain from these uses until we report that testing has been completed.

See the poster below for details. This same poster will be posted along the affected waterfront.

LYLPS Pursues Sustainable Lake District

The Little York Lake Preservation Society (LYLPS) is meeting with Cortland County officials to establish a sustainable lake district around Little York Lake. This will create a mechanism for ensuring a long-term, predictable funding base for improving and maintaining the lake. 

A range of invasive species have been introduced to the lake, primarily through the public boat launch. These include zebra mussels, starry stonewort, Eurasian milfoil and variable leaf milfoil.  

While LYLPS has been working actively since 2014 to meet the challenges to lake usage presented by these invaders, it began aggressive herbicide treatments in 2019. Over the past three years LYLPS has raised over $40,000 from residents and received $18,000 in support from Soil and Water to provide $58,000 in treatments. 

The result has been a dramatic improvement in lake appearance and usability from a reduction in invasive species, primarily milfoils. 

While everyone has benefited from these efforts, the unfortunate truth is that the funds have been primarily raised from approximately 2/3 of the community. LYLPS realized that this is not sustainable and that short term gains could be quickly lost as people tired of shouldering the burden for others. 

LYLPS established an ad hoc committee of 10 community members to explore long-term funding alternatives. After considering several approaches the committee recommended the creation of a sustainable lake district. Because the lake straddles two towns, Preble and Homer, the district needs to be formed under the County. This also aligns with the County’s interests of ensuring that citizens can enjoy the lake from Dwyer Park. 

By establishing the new district LYLPS intends to develop long term management approaches to ensure the continued viability and access to the lake for everyone: boaters, swimmers, kayakers, and fishermen. 

While this district will provide a financial base, it cannot fully meet the ongoing financial needs of a sustainable lake management plan. Continued financial support from the County and citizens who use the lake will also be needed.  

LYLPS remains committed to its mission of improving and maintaining the lake for everyone to enjoy. 

2021 Work Plan Overview

Our 2021 work plan has been released Read on to learn the details

The Board has developed and approved a work plan for 2021. Below is a summary:

  • Prevention
    • Continuing support, through C-OFOKLA, of the boat steward program, CCStoptheInvasion.org
    • Support updating and improving the boat decontamination station at Dwyer Park
  • Monitoring
    • Monitor the lake through CSLAP
    • Expand the monitoring by developing a macrophyte monitoring program with Soil & Water (SWCD)
  • Treatments (see proposed treatment area)
    • Treat variable leaf milfoil in previously untreated areas, focusing on clearing it from “seed” areas.
    • Expand starry stonewort treatments
    • Explore treating pondweed in highly congested sections
  • Management
    • Support SWCD shorescaping program
    • Continue support of septic education program
    • Participate in the Tioughnioga River LWRP Update project
  • Organizational
    • Continue to build community
    • Maintain the lake management plan

You can view the full work plan here.

In addition to ongoing lake management activities, the Board is planning to pursue a treatment program targeting variable leaf milfoil (VLM), starry stonewort (SSW) and pondweed. We will follow our standard process for treatments:

  • Develop a detailed plan and budget
  • File for a permit in late January/early February
  • Notify all riparian owners by mail of our intent to treat and approximate dates
  • Conduct a public meeting to discuss any concerns
  • Raise money to cover the treatments
  • Complete the treatments

One of the key benefits of our treatment program over the past two years is the reduced amount of milfoil floating on the lake. We are asking everyone to donate to support the cost of treatment. We will also work with Soil and Water for financial support once budgets have been finalized.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please email us at [email protected]