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LITTLE YORK LAKE PRESERVATION SOCIETY INC
Little York, NY · EIN 812747569 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE S20 · Community Improvement · Micro (<$100K) · littleyorklake.com
revenue
$16K
expenses
$2K
net assets
$22K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

To preserve Little York Lake, Cortland County, New York

profile · synthesized from sources

Preservation society focused on maintaining Little York Lake in Cortland County, New York. Conducts lake management activities including invasive species control, water quality monitoring, and mechanical harvesting to ensure navigability and ecological health. Organizes community events and outreach to engage property owners in conservation efforts.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Boat Parade
Annual community event featuring decorated boats with themed contests, held in coordination with local festivities and fireworks.
Boat Steward Program
Supports boat decontamination and public education through CD3 station at Dwyer Park and outreach via C-OFOKLA to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species.
Lake Management Plan
Comprehensive annual plan including water quality monitoring, invasive species treatment, mechanical harvesting, and septic education to preserve Little York Lake's ecological and recreational value.
Shoreside Harvesting Program
Pilot program offering property owners fee-based access to a county-owned harvester for clearing shoreline vegetation; initially $100 for 30-minute slots with plans for expansion.
Storm Response Initiative
Collaborative effort with Kettle Lakes Storm Response Team to monitor water quality after storms, assist with well testing, and provide homeowner education on flood preparedness.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 5 activities
    • Develops and implements a lake management plan for Little York Lake
      Creates and carries out a comprehensive lake management plan to restore and preserve Little York Lake and its surrounding watershed, including coordination with state and local agencies.
    • Implements Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) monitoring program
      Develops and carries out a monitoring program to detect and respond to harmful algal blooms in Little York Lake to protect public health and ecosystem integrity.
    • Monitors water quality through the Citizen Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP)
      Conducts regular water quality monitoring of Little York Lake in accordance with the NYS DEC CSLAP, measuring nutrient loading and clarity, particularly after storm events, and shares results with the community.
    • Participates in sediment monitoring research study
      Collaborates in a scientific study using buoys placed at lake inlets to measure incoming sediment loads during storm events, contributing data to watershed management planning.
    • Supports private well testing for contamination after storm events
      Provides homeowners with access to reduced-cost private well water testing following storm events to monitor for potential contamination affecting lake and human health.
  • Lake Invasive Species Management 3 activities
    • Applies herbicide treatments for invasive aquatic plants
      Applies ProcellaCOR and other herbicides to control invasive species such as variable leaf milfoil and curly leaf pondweed in targeted areas of Little York Lake, including the I-81 and lower channels.
    • Manages aquatic vegetation through mechanical harvesting
      Conducts mechanical and shoreside harvesting of aquatic plants, including pilot programs for dockside and shoreside harvesting, to maintain navigability and ecological balance on Little York Lake during key seasonal periods.
    • Operates boat steward and decontamination programs to prevent invasive species spread
      Supports the boat steward program, CCStoptheInvasion.org, and maintains a boat decontamination station through partnership with the Catskill Outreach for Lakekeepers Alliance (C-OFOKLA) to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species.
  • Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 2 activities
    • Communicates regularly with the community through multiple channels
      Provides consistent updates to residents via email, association website, Facebook, and USPS mailings to ensure transparency and engagement in lake preservation efforts.
    • Promotes septic system education to protect lake health
      Runs an ongoing septic education program to inform homeowners about proper maintenance and its role in preventing pollution and protecting water quality in the Little York Lake watershed.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
    • Conducts annual lake drawdown in compliance with DEC regulations
      Manages lake water levels through an annual drawdown process coordinated with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permitting requirements.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Hosts community meetings and events for outreach and engagement
      Organizes annual and fall community meetings, picnics, and boat parades—including events in 2025 and 2026—to share updates on preservation efforts, recognize participants, and gather community input.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$16K
Contributions & grants$2512%
Program service revenue$16K98%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$625
balance sheet
Total assets$22K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$22K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +112.5%
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Agricultural Preservation and Protection Program Partner — Provides the Lake Management Plan Tracker methodology used in collaboration with SWCD for expanded lake monitoring.
  • C-OFOKLA Partner — Collaborated with C-OFOKLA to develop and deliver community education programs on aquatic invasive species.
  • C-OFOKLA Partner — Partner organization supporting public outreach and boat steward programs to prevent invasive species.
  • Catskill Outreach for Lakekeepers Alliance Partner — Partner organization through which LYLPS supports the boat steward program, public outreach, and boat decontamination station.
  • Cortland County Highway Department Government — Manages the lake draw down process per DEC permit.
  • Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborates on placement of sediment monitoring buoys at lake inlets.
  • Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborates on weed harvesting, sediment monitoring, and public outreach programs.
  • Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Partner agency responsible for obtaining required permits for lake weed harvesting activities.
  • Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Partnered to operate a weed harvester, conduct herbicide treatments, implement a dockside harvesting pilot, and deliver public outreach on invasive species.
  • Kettle Lakes Storm Response Team Partner — Collaborates on storm preparedness, water quality monitoring, and well-testing coordination across the Kettle Lakes, including Little York Lake.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Follows NYS DEC Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) protocols for lake water quality monitoring.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Regulatory agency requiring permits for herbicide treatments and lake drawdown activities.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — State agency that regulates lake maintenance activities and requires permits for harvesting.
  • Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborates with LYLPS on lake monitoring expansion and permitting for harvesting activities.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Driven Lake Stewardship
    methodology: community-driven_preservation
    By centering community involvement and shared cultural practices in preservation efforts, the organization fosters sustained engagement and collective responsibility for the lake’s health, because local ownership increases participation and long-term commitment to environmental protection.
  • Data-Informed Adaptive Management
    methodology: data_driven_management
    By using standardized monitoring data (e.g., water quality, sediment levels) to guide interventions, the organization ensures that management decisions are responsive to ecological changes, because evidence-based adjustments improve long-term lake health and resource allocation efficiency.
  • Prevention-Focused Invasive Species Control
    methodology: invasive_species_prevention
    By prioritizing early intervention, public education, and preventive protocols like 'Clean, Drain, and Dry', the organization reduces the spread and establishment of aquatic invasive species, because early and community-wide prevention is more ecologically and economically effective than reactive control.