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OWASCO WATERSHED LAKE ASSOC INC
AUBURN, NY · EIN 222921543 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · Micro (<$100K) · owla.org
revenue
$54K
expenses
$66K
net assets
$147K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF COORDINATING, DOCUMENTING AND TRACKING ALL OF THE STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO RESTORE THE OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY FOR BOTH DRINKING AND FULL RECREATIONAL USE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) is a citizen-led nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring Owasco Lake and its watershed in upstate New York. The organization engages in water quality monitoring, invasive species management, public education, and advocacy to safeguard the lake as a source of drinking water for over 40,000 residents. OWLA coordinates with local agencies and volunteers to implement conservation strategies and promote watershed stewardship.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Bob Brower Scientific Symposium in Plain English
Annual public event educating the community on water quality issues, harmful algal blooms, and watershed management efforts.
Emerson Park Rain Garden
Volunteer-maintained rain garden that manages stormwater runoff and serves as a model for sustainable landscaping.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Campaign
Ten-year initiative involving volunteer monitoring, GPS mapping of infected trees, and treatment efforts to protect hemlock forests in the watershed.
Lake Friendly Living Outreach
Community education program promoting stewardship practices to reduce runoff and protect water quality.
Water Quality Monitoring
Volunteer-led collection of water samples from tributaries to assess pollution levels and track changes after storm events.
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 2 activities
    • Bob Brower Scientific Symposium
      Organizes an annual scientific symposium focused on freshwater quality issues in Owasco Lake, serving as a platform for citizen outreach, expert presentations, and public education on watershed health, HABs, and invasive species.
    • Community education and outreach events
      Hosts public events—including workshops, symposia, and informal gatherings—to educate residents about watershed protection, Lake Friendly Living practices, and stewardship opportunities, fostering community engagement in lake conservation.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
    • Erosion and pollution reduction projects
      Identifies, funds, and implements roadside ditch stabilization and streamside buffer projects to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into the Owasco Lake watershed.
    • Legislative advocacy
      Engages in policy advocacy by sending board members to meet with state representatives during events like Finger Lakes Advocacy Day in Albany to influence environmental legislation affecting the watershed.
  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 2 activities
    • Harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring
      Conducts shoreline monitoring for harmful algal blooms via volunteer observers who submit field reports to the DEC Harmful Algal Bloom Notification Page for official analysis and public alerting.
    • Water quality monitoring
      Collects water samples from mid-lake locations and tributaries, particularly after rain events, through trained volunteers to assess nutrient levels, pollution, and overall water quality in the Owasco Lake watershed.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 2 activities
    • Invasive species management: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA)
      Leads a long-term campaign to identify, map, and treat hemlock trees infected with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in collaboration with volunteers and university partners; includes GPS mapping of infested trees and ongoing treatment cycles to protect critical riparian forest ecosystems.
    • Rain garden installation and maintenance
      Plans, plants, and maintains rain gardens—such as at Emerson Park—to filter stormwater runoff using native plants and reduce contamination of Owasco Lake. Promotes rain gardens as a best practice for shoreline property owners.
  • Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
    • Annual reporting and documentation
      Publishes annual reports that document organizational activities, stewardship efforts, and progress toward watershed restoration goals.
  • Emergency Response Vehicle Operations 1 activity
    • Emergency water rescue operations
      Responds to emergencies on Owasco Lake by rescuing individuals from drowning and recovering drifting vessels, such as pontoon boats, ensuring immediate safety and preventing further hazards.
  • Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
    • Legal advocacy for lake protection
      Takes legal action to compel state authorities to uphold protections for Owasco Lake as a designated drinking water source, advocating for stronger regulatory enforcement.
  • Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
    • Public board meetings
      Hosts monthly board of directors meetings during the summer months that are open to the public, promoting transparency and community involvement in organizational decision-making.
  • Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
    • Recreational and community engagement events
      Organizes social events such as recreational boat trips and dinners to build community relationships and support engagement around lake stewardship.
  • Marine and Coastal Education Programs 1 activity
    • Symposium content dissemination
      Makes recordings of the Bob Brower Scientific Symposium available online to extend public access to educational content on watershed science and management.
  • Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
    • Watershed cleanup events
      Organizes annual and recurring volunteer-led cleanup events across the watershed, including shoreline and roadside ditch trash removal, often in partnership with the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Committee (OLWMC).
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$54K
Contributions & grants$24K45%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$3K6%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$66K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$147K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$147K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -5.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 12
  • ALLY BERRY — DIRECTOR
  • CARL WEBER — DIRECTOR
  • DANA HALL — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL KUHN — DIRECTOR
  • GILDA BROWER — DIRECTOR
  • JIM BECKWITH — DIRECTOR
  • KEN KUDLA — DIRECTOR
  • KEN POST — DIRECTOR
  • LINDA VITALE — DIRECTOR
  • NANCY HART — DIRECTOR
  • PHILLIP GIOIA — DIRECTOR
  • WILLIAM FOSTER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • Auburn Government — City government that officially recognized the symposium's name change in honor of Bob Brower.
  • Auburn Public Theater Partner — Provides venue and hybrid event capabilities for the Bob Brower Scientific Symposium.
  • Auburn Skin Divers Association Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Auburn Tank & Manufacturing Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Aversa Agency Inc Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Brower family Funder — Sponsors the Bob Brower Scientific Symposium in Plain English.
  • Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Partner — Collaborates on events including the Business After 5 and recognized as Non-Profit of the Year
  • Cayuga Phoenix Properties LLC Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Cornell HWA Initiative Partner — Partners on hemlock woolly adelgid management, including monitoring, biocontrol, and public outreach.
  • Finger Lakes Land Trust Partner — Collaborated with the Finger Lakes Land Trust by participating in their Finger Lakes Advocacy Day event.
  • Letchworth Associates LLC Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • MEDENT Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • MICA Consulting Group Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Magill's Custom Restoration Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Midstate Mutual Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Nash's Framing Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Nucor Steel Auburn Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • OLWMC Partner — Co-hosted a volunteer clean-up day with OLWMC.
  • OLWMC Partner — Co-organizes volunteer clean-up events on Owasco Lake
  • OLWMC Partner — Co-organizes volunteer clean-up events with OWLA.
  • OLWMC Partner — Collaborates with OWLA on a volunteer clean-up day.
  • OLWMC Partner — Collaborates with OWLA on volunteer clean-up events and watershed protection efforts
  • OLWMC Partner — Collaborates with OWLA on volunteer clean-up events.
  • Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Partner — Co-organized a watershed cleanup event with OWASCO WATERSHED LAKE ASSOC INC.
  • Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Partner — Collaborates on watershed regulations, phosphorus reduction projects, and joint presentations at public events.
  • Owasco Yacht Club Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Pavlos Diner Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Post Farms Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Summer Street Kids LLC Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
  • Town of Scipio Partner — Business member of OWLA supporting the organization through membership.
+ 1 more
strategies · 5

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.

  • Advocacy-Linked Community Education
    methodology: advocacy-representation
    By combining public education with advocacy representation, we influence community decision-making and behavior change because informed communities are more likely to support and enact protective policies.
  • Community-Based Stewardship Model
    methodology: community-based_stewardship
    By engaging local citizens in hands-on stewardship and decentralized cleanup efforts, we improve lake health because community ownership leads to sustained protective behaviors and better long-term outcomes.
  • Lake Health as Public Health
    methodology: lake-health-community-health-link
    By protecting Owasco Lake, we directly support community health because residents depend on the lake for both recreation and drinking water, making ecological and human health interdependent.
  • Science-Driven Adaptive Management
    methodology: science-based_conservation
    By grounding conservation projects in scientific research and continuously measuring progress, we adapt strategies based on data to achieve lasting water quality improvements because science-based interventions are more effective and responsive to emerging threats.
  • Watershed-Wide Systems Approach
    methodology: watershed-based_protection
    By focusing on land use practices across the entire watershed, we protect lake water quality because runoff is a systemic issue that cannot be addressed parcel by parcel, requiring coordinated, basin-scale management.