NOON--Update on Onondaga Lake

I got the following letter from NOON acknowledging that they were able to get an extension on the public comment period for submitting proposals about the  future use of Onondaga Lake and thanked everyone that sent a letter. Here is copy of My Letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service

NOON THANKS everyone who asked for an extension of time! We got it!

NYS DEC and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has Announced New Opportunities for Public Input on Proposals to Restore Wildlife Habitat and Recreation on Onondaga Lake

The initial six-week public comment period on the draft plan has been extended 45 days to July 17, 2017. 

Public Comment Session & Additional Open House Scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at Syracuse Community Connections – Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., Syracuse, NY 13204, in the Clover Corner room.

5:00 p.m. Open House - Posters of projects outlined in the draft plan will be available for viewing and representatives from DEC and the USF&WS will be on hand to answer questions and explain the natural resource damage assessment and restoration process.

6:00 p.m. Public Hearing - All persons, organizations, corporations, or government agencies that may be affected by the proposed project are encouraged to comment on the proposed projects. It is not necessary to file a written request in advance to speak at the public comment session. Time available for oral comments is limited to three minutes per person to ensure that all persons have an opportunity to be heard.

Written and oral statements and comments on the proposed projects are encouraged.

July 17, 2017 deadline for written comments sent by mail to Anne Secord, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, New York 13045, by email to anne_secord@fws.gov, or phone at (607) 753-9334.

The May NOON Newsletter lists a series of projects to restore and protect wildlife habitat and water quality and increase recreational opportunities at Onondaga Lake, as well as additional back ground information.

NOON would like to bring to you attention the fact that information provided about the calculated losses and the proposed projects is way too limited to even guess whether the overall compensation proposed is enough OR whether the best, most beneficial suite of projects has been chosen.

Overall, this settlement needs more community-proposed projects. Many were proposed and rejected for lack of information, an absurdity because the form given was only two pages long, and the Trustees never asked for more information! These projects need to be given the time and opportunity to be considered properly.

Please consider raising the following possible additional restoration projects in your comments.

- There are no restoration projects planned for Lower Onondaga Creek, which is badly channelized as it flows through the city. Neighbors on the Southside are asking for projects that make the creek more accessible, more natural, and help reduce flooding risks for the Southside.

- Trails around the lake need to leave space for wetland restoration, and should not be built until the waste beneath them has been remediated to the point where there is no danger if walker/bikers leave the trail.

- ALL recreational fishing projects need to have adequate signage warning people not to eat the fish.

- The pollution of fish so that they are so unsafe to eat hurts not only the Onondaga Nation but all people in Syracuse – refugees, foodies, the poor - who wish to be able to catch local fish and eat them. There are currently no proposals to address this harm.

• The Onondaga Nation needs a place where they can take their children and safely teach them to fish, and continue cultural traditions. This land needs to be returned to them with no strings attached, in recognition of their full sovereign title to it which they have held for over 1000 years.

Again, THANK YOU for speaking up about these issues.