CLEAN GOLF TOURNAMENT - SAVE THE DATE 7/17/2027!!!
Citizen Led Environmental Action Network PO Box 64 Silver Lake, NY 14549
(4120 Dekonski Avenue)
EIN: 82-5461112
NYS Reg. No.: 46-77_91
The resource and advocate water quality at Silver Lake
RIPARIAN PLANTING FOR 2026
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED WITH OUR PLANTING PARTY ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH
CLEAN along with our partners at Wyoming County Water and Soil teamed up with (18) volunteers to plant over 175 trees, shrubs and native perennials in the tributary as well as a shoreline buffer area at the north side of the Warrior House property to help;
- Reduce tributary and shoreline erosion
- Filter runoff from the adjacent farm field
- Improve habitat
- Protect the long-term health of Silver Lake
Pictures and a list of plants can be found on the planting tab.
DREDGING UPDATE 10/10/26
WITH DEC APPROVAL, DREDGING NOW PLANNED FOR LATE 2027
This is a PILOT dredging plan only. If the pilot is successful, the next step will be a Phase 1 dredging from the walking bridge to the dam to remove the Class A contaminated materials. Dredging will be at least a 10 year process once started.
- APPLICATION WAS NOT SUBMITTED UNTIL 8/26/26 TO THE DEC. There is a 60 day response time per DEC requirements. Plan to dredge is now Nov. 2027. CLEAN will follow up with the County and DEC every 2 weeks until this is approved.
- The Pilot will focus on the north end outlet channel, from Walker Road bridge to the pedestrian bridge.
- $1 million is secured from Wyoming County for the Pilot. The funds from the County were approved a few years ago and are in the Capital Improvements Projects Account. These funds will need to be appropriated by the Board of Supervisors once the permit is issued (1-2 month approval process).
- The current County plan is to use the $1 million from Congresswomen Claudia Tenney to handle the Class A material from the pedestrian bridge to the dam. (Remember A&A Metals and Kaustine). The County has received the information to start the process for receiving these funds. (This is a HUD grant that does not expire!)
- Dredged sediment is planned for beneficial agricultural use, reducing disposal costs while addressing phosphorus‑rich legacy sediments.
- Based on successful pilot, future plans will be developed. CLEAN supports following the FX Brown Report – Lake Management Plan to remove heavy phosphorus laden material from the outlet, inlet and north end.
Why this matters: Dredging the outlet will increase water flow, remove nutrient‑laden sediments and supports long‑term water quality improvement, including reduction in HABs.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR THE APPLICATION. The engineering report can be found on the Dredging Tab
Harmful Algae Blooms
Reporting Harmful Algae Blooms is essential for protecting our lake. The reporting link can be found here:
Check to see the HAB status of Silver Lake here: NYHABS Public 2.0
As of 10/10/2026, there have been 48 reported HAB's. September and October have had lakewide blooms. The good news is that our community is now recognizing what to look for and reporting. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to report.
For more information and help identifying blooms, go to the DEC website here: Harmful Blue-Green Algae Blooms
CSLAP TESTING
CLEAN TEAM MEMBERS TEST OUR LAKE EVERY 2 WEEKS!
WHAT IS IT?
The Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) is a volunteer lake monitoring program directed by DEC staff in collaboration with the NYS Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA).. It is one of the longest running, continuous, volunteer monitoring programs in the nation. Through this program, relationships between lake associations, academic and private research institutions, and municipal, county and state entities are built statewide.
WHY DO WE DO CSLAP?
- Collect representative data for lakes throughout NYS
- Identify lake issues and changes in water quality
- To empower local stakeholders with contextualized water quality data for the protection/restoration of their lake and greater watershed.
FIND RESULTS HERE: CSLAP Sampling Activities - NYSDEC
LAKE WEEDS AND OTHER INVASIVES
DEC AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES UPDATE
DEC Conducted WEED Survey
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non‑native plants and animals that can harm lake ecology, recreational use, and water quality The NYSDEC Region 9 AIS Monitoring Program, launched in 2022, focuses on early detection, tracking spread, and guiding management decisions in high‑priority inland lakes, including Silver Lake
- Mechanical harvesting can improve navigation and recreation in heavily impacted areas.
- Importantly, harvesting removes plant biomass and bound phosphorus from the lake system.
- Harvesting is considered a management tool, not a cure, and is most effective when integrated with nutrient‑reduction strategies.
- Evaluation of the Weed Harvester program to align with the NYS EPA Aquatic Invasive Report is ongoing.
- European Frog‑bit - recommendations for hand plucking is being investigated and a DEC permit has been granted. Look for a 2027 work project.
- DEC Permit for Weed Harvesting for 2025 was denied. We are actively working with the DEC to get further direction on a weed treatment plan.
CLEAN WORKS TO ERADICATE JAPANESE KNOTWEED AROUND THE LAKE
CLEAN along with Wyoming County Water and Soil will be partnering with both the Silver Lake Golf Course, Silver Lake Institute and a property on Fairview Road this year to address the knotweed in these locations.
- Japanese knotweed along shorelines and tributaries contributes to erosion and nutrient runoff.
- CLEAN supports targeted treatment programs that prioritize containment and long‑term control over disturbance.
- Managing shoreline/watershed invasives helps reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery to the lake.
- Continued targeted treatments are planned in 2026 at the Silver Lake Golf Course, Silver Lake Institute and Fairview Drive. If you see knotweed development or areas please notify any member of the CLEAN group.
Knotweed's early spring emergence and dense growth give it a competitive advantage over native plants, enabling it to take over large areas. Its thick rhizomes can extend horizontally through soils for 60 ft. or more. Plants can emerge through concrete and asphalt, with potential impacts on infrastructure.
Eradication:
Knotweed can be very difficult to control, depending on the extent (size) and location of the infestation. A stem injection or foliar treatment with systemic herbicide is the most effective management. Individual plants can be dug, if all pieces of the root are removed. However, keep in mind that knotweed roots extend up to 6 ft. down and very small pieces of roots are able to re-sprout. For the same reason, be mindful when mowing or otherwise cutting knotweeds, as plant fragments transported on mowers, etc., will spread the species. Whether using chemical or manual means of removal, 3-5 years of treatment should be expected.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Japanese Knotweed – Profile and Resources | Invasive Species Centre
DEC ANNOUNCES HAB ROADMAP
HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS
Although significant progress has been made in understanding and managing HABs and their causes and impacts, a deliberate plan is needed to guide DEC in its mission to reduce HAB occurrences. This roadmap provides that guide.
Roadmap Goal Statement: Design and implement monitoring approaches to identify the presence and abundance of cyanobacteria and other HABs or their indicators and support the evaluation of new HAB in-waterbody mitigation and reduction strategies. Develop monitoring approaches to improve data usage for various objectives (e.g., HAB screening,assessment, or modeling) and fill knowledge gaps.
FIND THE ROADMAP HERE: Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Roadmap: A Five-Year Plan to Study, Manage, and Reduce HABs in New York State
Learn how to identify problematic algal blooms and, if warranted, to report them online through the DEC New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS).
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) - NYSDEC
We look forward to the any progress and strategies DEC's Roadmap can offer to help clean up Silver Lake.
CLEAN@SILVER LAKE STATE OF THE LAKE MEETING JUNE 6TH
TO VIEW THE ENTIRE MEETING, GO TO: WYOMING COUNTY/Silver Lake/State of The Lake meeting/hosted by Clean@SilverLake
The PowerPoint Presentation can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RDM1n7cuCU8NpcO4jED3Kp29_YGYR6LU/view?usp=sharing
Thank you to all who attended the State of Silver Lake Meeting on 6/6/26. We had an outstanding turnout with more than 200 community members joining us. It was stated several times how important it was that so many people were there and our attendance to this meeting will help bring more action and funding for projects like dredging. Also mentioned was the campaign that CLEAN did last year asking residents to contact our govement leaders regarding dredging which resulted in the one million dollar federal funding award! Those actions brought real results!
There is a lot of concern regarding the dredging plan but we are closer to actually dredging than we have ever been with both the county and federal funding in place and the DEC permit application for the pilot scheduled to be submitted within the next few weeks. CLEAN will continue to advocate for north-end in-lake dredging as was recommended by the FX Browne Lake Management Plan and supported by the LWRP.
Some additional meeting highlights:
Philip Gow from Congresswoman Claudia Tenney's office announced that Silver Lake has been awarded a one‑million‑dollar federal grant to begin the dredging project. This funding is now secured and will not expire, unlike many grants that must be used within a specific time frame.
Wyoming County Administrator Scott Schrader shared that the 440 page pilot dredging permit application is currently being reviewed for submission to the DEC. The projected timeline for pilot dredging in the OUTLET ONLY will depend on the DEC approval and the hope is late Fall of 2027 start for this pilot dredge- October/November are the only months dredging can be done. Scott also reported that the goal of this project is to remove nutrient rich sediment to improve water quality. The entire project will extend over 5 to 10 years.
Allen Fagan from Wyoming County Soil and Water announced that $2 million in grant funding was awarded for 5 watershed projects and 27 BMPs. These projects are so important to help keep the sediment/nutrients out of the lake that cause the harmful algae blooms.
John Snyder reported that New York State has passed its budget, which includes funding for a new state boat launch, with completion planned for late Fall of 2027.
DEC Representatives: Lisa Czechowicz, Erin Kane and Lindsay Yoder provided updates on permitting, the Harmful Algae Bloom Roadmap, and aquatic weeds. CLEAN@Silver Lake is actively exploring the new grant opportunities presented and will be attending the webinar on Monday.
A reminder that reporting Harmful Algae Blooms is essential for protecting our lake. The reporting link can also be found here:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e5dec19912454731a308bbb7af605fb3/
Again, all of our presenters emphasized how important an engaged community is to help advocate for our lake. The more we demonstrate our commitment at the state, county, and local levels, the stronger our voice becomes. CLEAN@Silver Lake serves on the Water Resource Agency, the Watershed Commission, Wyoming County Water & Soil, the Drinking Water Commission, the LWRP, and more. Your support helps reinforce our position on these boards and ensures our concerns are heard.
We provided over 160 Native Plants to the attendees and sold over 100 LED flares for the July 3rd Ring of Fire in support of our Make the Switch in 2026 to LED Flares.
We remain committed to advancing projects that protect and improve Silver Lake and appreciate your continued support.
CLEAN@SILVER LAKE
ORDER FLARES HERE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (LWRP)
THE LWRP WILL BE THE GATEWAY FOR FUNDING CRITICAL LAKE/WATERHSED INIATIVES. DREDGING, WEED MITIGATION AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE STATE LAUNCH ARE CLEAN PRIORITIES!
Th LWRP is a partnership with waterfront communities across NYS to address local waterway issues, improve water quality and natural areas, guide development to areas with adequate infrastructure and services away from sensitive resources, promote public waterfront access, and provide for redevelopment of underutilized waterfronts. The LWRP uses substantial public input and then serve as keys to unlock doors to resources to implement (for CLEAN@SILVER LAKE – dredging and weed mitigation and improvements at the State Launch are the focus). More information on the LWRP can be found at: https://dos.ny.gov/local-waterfront-revitalization-program
The draft for the Phase 1 of the LWRP has been distributed to the WAC committee for review/editin. . Five CLEAN members are on this board and have submitted updates to make sure our priorities are included.