Conclusion

This Guide documents that Cayuga Lake is extensively polluted and threatened by a wide array of contamination sources. Until the lake's pollution sources have been comprehensively assessed, long-range management plans have been adopted and public participation programs established, the lake's water quality is likely to deteriorate further.

That is why the Cayuga Lake Defense Fund believes it is imperative to make a concerted effort to prevent Cayuga Lake's existing pollution problems from becoming worse. Since this Guide documents that Cornell's Lake Source Cooling Project would exacerbate existing pollution problems, it must not be allowed to proceed at this time.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has determined that before its use impairments may be eliminated, southern Cayuga Lake and each of its major tributaries requires additional study and management plans for various point and non-point source pollution sources. Those studies must be undertaken and the resulting management plans must be formulated, publicly approved and implemented without further delay. Concurrently, the agency must enforce the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act pertaining to the Lake Source Cooling Project. As a first step, the agency should immediately rescind the project's discharge permit.

Prepared by the Cayuga Lake Defense Fund (CLDF).
For more information, Call: 275-9054 or 272-7914or emailinfo@cldf.org

CLDF 1998