Otisco Lake Preservation Association

Organizes community education workshops and events on lake stewardship, including topics such as native plants, rain barrel construction, septic system maintenance, and identification of invasive species. Provides educational materials, hands-on instruction, and free or raffled resources like native plants and rain barrels. Hosts annual events like Earth Day cleanups and Dumpster Day for waste disposal.

Hosts educational meetings on septic system care and maintenance, offering guidance to property owners and distributing vouchers for septic system services to selected properties around Otisco Lake to reduce pollution risks.

Recognized with the Legislature's Gold Seal Award for commitment and impact in preserving Otisco Lake and its water. Hosted an award ceremony coinciding with the launch of Lake Friendly Living Awareness Month, highlighting advocacy and community leadership in lake protection.

Operates an in-house aquatic weed harvesting program using an 11-foot harvester, removing over 200,000 pounds of aquatic weeds from Otisco Lake between early June and late August. Prevents nutrient loading by eliminating approximately 40 pounds of phosphorus and 1,100 pounds of algae growth annually. Organizes volunteer efforts to remove invasive water chestnut and conducts monitoring of invasive species distributions.

Provides funding for an annual invasive species removal initiative along the shoreline of Otisco Lake, supporting operational efforts such as mechanical harvesting and volunteer-based removal campaigns.

Allows members to nominate candidates and vote in board elections, provides access to the annual business meeting, and communicates lake initiatives through newsletters, email, Facebook, and the organization’s website.

Grows and sells local ecotype native plants, designs native plant landscapes, and installs gardens and meadows to reduce erosion and stormwater runoff into Otisco Lake. Uses these efforts to educate residents on land practices that support water quality.

Conducts regular water quality monitoring at multiple sites on Otisco Lake, including biweekly data and sample collection during summer months as part of the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). Collects and reports data on harmful algal blooms (HABs), having identified and reported 42 HABs to the NYSDEC in 2024.

Engages in collaborative watershed stewardship including land conservation, stream buffering with native vegetation, agricultural best-management practices, septic system upgrades, and promoting responsible shoreline use to sustain ecological health and reduce pollution in Otisco Lake.