[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6532005,"mediaKeyId","3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab","parentId",3428684,"title","Local implementers say permitting delays and limited staffing slow HAB mitigation projects","audioSeconds",1686,"startMs",2953000,"endMs",4639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab&start=2953&end=4639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab/thumbnail_2953000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6532005/New-York/Local-implementers-say-permitting-delays-and-limited-staffing-slow-HAB-mitigation-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532005-caf3af7b480971f6157e158fa798430b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787119&Signature=GICtbiICblKARQT-RnZ99G5X6F957xmngam3mMHNhI4RD4I300Ju96JKpN6Zsd7ecHkgq0fc8GA8HMSfhSOUl-TowUQxyqqWUwcYFQ4bgbweeZSgFQ5YSRxcvrkOneNX3HKGW5xK3StszqRjhplV27jAbntzxbZRq1zyHkJBqE64ef6L9bFSYN4CCIF9GxorftqaMFYtnRjLLe11~FefYXQvhXZOmgtPi3PT0yJ-yL2EWr-ksNb0hUjWgEJGbBLqjIOAwvaWnmoTq2iXFBUjGwl2PeKXQcjHwKwteegUNFO5mj9qH~pgTTmrz99MIOVhKa4qVvMJV4OgVKaTrqHlng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New York Legislature","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Local implementers told senators that state permitting timelines and capacity limits are hindering projects meant to reduce nutrients that fuel harmful algal blooms.

Blanche Hurlbut, executive director of the New York Association of Conservation Districts, said permitting, funding and staffing are the principal constraints facing county soil and water conservation districts. \"Permitting is still the biggest challenge districts face,\" Hurlbut testified, and she urged streamlining the review process so field projects can be completed inside funding windows.

Christy Lamont, program coordinator for the Finger Lakes‑Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLOPA), told the committee that monitoring, homeowner outreach, septic inspections and culvert replacements are among the projects partners fund, but that small per‑county allocations and bureaucratic delays limit what can be done. She said FLOPA's recent annual appropriation equates to about $137,000 per county and that the organization leverages those funds with county, federal and private funds.

Local managers and lake associations gave examples of projects stalled for a year or more awaiting DEC permits, which raises costs and reduces the number of projects accomplished in a field season. \"We have a project that's a simple stream crossing... 2 years now in the permit process,\" a conservation district representative said.

Officials asked the Legislature to sustain and expand funding for soil and water districts and to examine permit timing and general‑permit implementation so smaller projects are not forced into lengthy individual reviews.

Why it matters: On‑the‑ground best management practices—cover crops, vegetated buffers, septic replacements and stormwater retrofits—require timely permitting and local staffing to be effective and to be completed in grant windows. Multiple witnesses said the regionally distributed funding model works but is underresourced relative to need.

Funding context: FLOPA said its 2025 appropriation was $3.5 million split among 25 counties and that it requested $5 million in the 2025‑26 budget. Other witnesses noted recent statewide allocations including $42 million for water quality work in the Finger Lakes and broader Clean Water Infrastructure Act funds for sewage and stormwater projects.

Direct quote: \"Most of the problem is the DEC permitting process,\" one district manager said on the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New York State Senate Public Hearing - 05/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Soil and water districts, watershed alliances and municipal managers told the Senate committee that state permitting delays, limited district staffing and competition for grant dollars are slowing on‑the‑ground projects to reduce nutrient runoff and control HABs.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NY, New York","taxId",77685,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532010,"Jefferson Project and real‑time monitoring touted as model for lake‑scale HAB forecasting",234,4993000,5227000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab&start=4993&end=5227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab/thumbnail_4993000.jpg","/articles/6532010/New-York/Jefferson-Project-and-realtime-monitoring-touted-as-model-for-lakescale-HAB-forecasting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532010-c84f28db5e1d19cf04af3507deb4d2c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787119&Signature=Lb6a7XH2VcStXYtq4pUlLHU8M~dUu77lziEcdjQKRsBuSpYBjx3PFjL~FgB~yIWyac5oXMuLeWiUxMa31h6n0O5Do7c6Ef7l8rVvNPs14PX12CG38F7iV7iBlOdslpqS5ophqOmGZgATWeZr0o60n4CvnqksMGnGvuEAfz6IapwaiJzZQUhi7-puSsVvDac74xdEHxN1AetLRZr7ou09Hm6jBn309gNdPpOE~pZS4fiOFYfn4P7bP5wUOlVLEP-d0x~dMesa5zfmsOy169A8rhauyaQa35UrtqMUdBAU3WjVSLHR7u7zkvLNqWce2X6YW~BifccG~BwCPn8HT9QB8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Researchers and lake advocates told the Senate committee that a targeted expansion of real‑time sensors, forecasting tools and data integration could improve local responses to harmful algal blooms.

\"We have developed the most sophisticated freshwater observing and forecasting system in the nation,\" said Dr. Brennan Wiltsie, executive director of the Lake George Association, describing the Jefferson Project, a long‑running partnership that combines lake sensors, atmospheric data and ecological models. \"In 2024 alone, the Jefferson Project collected over a quarter billion data points on Lake George,\" Wiltsie said, and he argued the project demonstrates how near‑term forecasting can guide management.

DEC officials said they are testing real‑time sondes and monitoring networks and that forecasting shows promise but requires continued resources. \"We have invested a lot of time and energy...on investigating whether or not real‑time monitoring...is something that would be beneficial,\" Alexander J. Smith said, noting the technology is expensive but promising for forecasting and public notification.

Local advocates urged the Legislature to back pilot expansions and to fund centers that translate research into operational forecasting tools. Wiltsie cautioned against one‑size‑fits‑all ‘‘silver bullet’’ technologies and urged emphasis on nutrient reduction in watersheds combined with targeted monitoring and modeling to predict high‑risk conditions.

Why it matters: High‑frequency, site‑specific monitoring can improve early warnings and help managers time mitigations and public notices; witnesses said the Jefferson Project provides an operational model but requires state investment to be replicated for smaller lakes.

Next steps requested: Witnesses asked the Legislature for sustained investment in high‑quality sensors, data management and partnerships between research centers and state agencies to build forecasting systems that inform local decisions about beach closures, public warnings and targeted treatments.

Direct quote: \"By integrating atmospheric data in lake sensor arrays and advanced ecological models, we are developing real time forecasting systems for inland lakes,\" Wiltsie said.","Researchers and local lake groups urged lawmakers to expand real‑time monitoring and forecasting; the Lake George 'Jefferson Project' was presented as a working model that collects high‑frequency data and could be scaled to other lakes with state support.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532015,"Auburn officials say updated Owasco Lake watershed rules stalled by DOH; legal dispute cited",176,3500000,3676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab&start=3500&end=3676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab/thumbnail_3500000.jpg","/articles/6532015/New-York/Auburn-officials-say-updated-Owasco-Lake-watershed-rules-stalled-by-DOH-legal-dispute-cited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532015-ae3e18309cf00785a52dc3a20059b5f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787119&Signature=SiA94wON-y265xTVnpo-A~uHWte7nIftjVBlXh7T2SluylP8vfKpZbYQYHWAWDAB3nBP~8HyoG~r4MHyzqw6YpStaG5WanjRwFCv5A3x6sUCh35jBtacyBal0Az~P9Et3ek3eRg1RmnBP-dzA0y7DXSDL6Zy110eBHnhtEuNmqLA57cxQ2nh0Qzy3Y6CD22BI0SYkJ5hmSDoJ6Y~mgNaCMu0JcTI5bZp5y5IuSNLb1mIaF-8knzYPrwEHgFWycl6hpSqq-7TZF4A-HNhGEI45pKzqr3rzf56AjwdvqP8xPVXR6DeUkeex2Jpm6FYF3zx1nigGWkwxlKTNxYvNfI1Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials representing the Owasco Lake watershed told the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation that recent court activity and a Department of Health decision have halted local efforts to update watershed rules aimed at limiting nutrient pollution.

Chuck Mason, city clerk for Auburn, presenting testimony on behalf of Mayor Michael Quill and the city council, described elevated microcystin detections in finished drinking water drawn from Owasco Lake in late September and February. \"In late September and February elevated levels of the microcystin derived from harmful algal blooms were detected in treated finished drinking water drawn from Owasco Lake and supplied to the public,\" Mason said, noting the detections prompted state assistance but underscored the long‑term nature of the problem.

Adam Heffler, executive director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, and other witnesses described a multi‑year process to update Owasco Lake watershed rules and regulations. Heffler said the update was completed and submitted for state approval in February 2023 but that the Department of Health informed local officials the proposed rules would not be approved and later terminated the community’s watershed rules project. \"The New York State Department of Health is failing to meet its responsibility under current New York State public health law,\" Heffler said, and urged the Legislature to clarify the path for municipal purveyors to adopt watershed protections.

Why it matters: Owasco Lake supplies drinking water to the City of Auburn and other municipalities. Local officials argued that approval of watershed rules would enable enforceable upstream controls on activities that contribute nutrients to the lake, including agricultural and shoreline practices.

Local officials asked the Legislature to review the Department of Health’s role and to provide clearer authority and timelines so municipalities and watershed councils can adopt and update rules intended to protect public drinking water.

What was said on the record: Mason said local volunteers and agencies spent years preparing the updated regulations and that the city and purveyors continue to seek state support. He provided senators with a copy of a recent court ruling related to the dispute and urged the committee to read it. \"We think it's very important,\" Mason said.

What was not decided: The hearing did not produce any administrative action by DOH or a new statutory change. Witnesses asked the committee to consider legislative steps that would create a clearer pathway for local watershed rules and for DOH to act on municipal proposals in a timely manner.

Clarifying note: Witnesses referred to New York State Public Health Law authority used to establish watershed rules; the hearing record includes a request for legislative oversight and a recommendation that DOH and the Legislature provide a defined approval path for municipal watershed protections.","City of Auburn and Owasco Lake watershed officials told the Senate committee that the State Department of Health declined to approve updated watershed rules and regulations for Owasco Lake, prompting litigation and renewed calls for clearer pathways to protect drinking water sources.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532020,"New York highlights multi‑agency strategy, new funding to fight harmful algal blooms",2842,2000,2844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab&start=2&end=2844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428684-ba0d63020b08ad4174d864e5c2515dab/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6532020/New-York/New-York-highlights-multiagency-strategy-new-funding-to-fight-harmful-algal-blooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532020-a47f52964ef482c5d69889aa0fbbe9b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787119&Signature=h0gAhbeICuTp3t~Pf5gGw8vzUtU~EBI~CT0TCQ1-ukF39F6fO1IJpPXn-I0c4qWXTkJkIpViwnju4MC4WZaMCwEn29hEAT1VMHjMG0G3I~FRPxPUdTbUacpdBR77f2iqG~oDdrlONHZyWeYXwy7lCavNleN9nM93IxGviLN199PrkVpCqJFOVfbQVE6kDjHjuX4RmfgOW~eZEp85HoCSxwieDlSoGvavO0rgzbrjKGiDeBE9wsN~VMfU1nOMzEuL8evwuIg0UZR1nO9ycNftAxelFA3sx2rKfhePGIaDqnMNUzfRORr64XhaJZFNu9nDG-xgKpGTT79xXkATs1sErQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New York state agencies told the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on Wednesday that they are coordinating monitoring, watershed planning and targeted mitigation to limit harmful algal blooms, or HABs, and their effects on drinking water, recreation and ecosystems.

Alexander J. Smith, assistant division director for the Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Water, said New York has documented HABs in more than 650 water bodies and has invested heavily in prevention and research. \"Since 2018, New York State has invested more than half a billion dollars in projects aimed at reducing nutrient pollution to help reduce HABs,\" Smith said, pointing to grant programs, targeted phosphorus‑reduction plans and pilot projects testing mitigation techniques.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation described the effect blooms have had at state facilities and beaches. \"Documented incidences of HABs at New York State Parks are on the rise,\" Ron Rausch, deputy commissioner for environmental stewardship, said. He told senators that 40 percent of state park facilities have experienced a HAB and that Lake Welch’s multi‑week bloom in 2022 cost nearly $1 million in lost revenue and prompted a multiyear, $5 million commitment to wastewater and stormwater upgrades.

Richard Ball, commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, described partnerships with soil and water conservation districts and farm programs. He said the agency has directed nearly $125 million in the last five years to on‑farm projects to reduce nutrient runoff and cited the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition and other regional efforts that channel grants and technical assistance to farmers.

Why it matters: HABs are driven mainly by excess phosphorus and nitrogen delivered to water bodies through runoff, wastewater discharges and, increasingly, extreme weather and warming. State officials emphasized prevention at the source—keeping nutrients on the land—while also funding monitoring, research and, where appropriate, lake‑scale mitigation.

The agencies named several tools for reducing nutrient loads and improving resilience: regional watershed plans (including total maximum daily loads and nine‑element plans), grants for on‑farm practices, upgrades to wastewater treatment and targeted pilot projects. Smith said another $75 million in water quality improvement funding had recently opened through the state's consolidated funding application.

Officials and local speakers urged continued, steady investment and emphasized coordination. \"The most effective and resource‑efficient method to reduce frequency of HABs focuses on an integrated approach with prevention at the center,\" Smith said.

What was not decided: The hearing was informational; no legislation or formal votes were taken. Several witnesses, however, urged lawmakers to sustain or increase funding and to consider statutory or programmatic changes that would help scale monitoring and mitigation.

Funding and next steps: Agencies and local partners asked the Legislature to continue appropriations for water quality grants, to support centers of excellence that test new mitigation methods, and to expand monitoring programs that can support forecasting for high‑risk lakes.

\"We have to match long‑term watershed management with lake mitigation strategies and cutting‑edge research,\" Smith said.","State agencies told a Senate hearing that New York is expanding watershed protections, monitoring and targeted mitigation to address harmful algal blooms, and officials said recent state investments and interagency work aim to reduce nutrient pollution that fuels blooms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local implementers say permitting delays and limited staffing slow HAB mitigation projects

Jefferson Project and real‑time monitoring touted as model for lake‑scale HAB forecasting

Auburn officials say updated Owasco Lake watershed rules stalled by DOH; legal dispute cited

New York highlights multi‑agency strategy, new funding to fight harmful algal blooms