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Stand Up for Cayuga Lake!

In the heart of upstate NY lies 11 lakes called the Finger Lakes. The lakes are long, narrow, and oriented in the north–south direction. Carved out by glaciers around two million years ago, these lakes are now the home of over 1.2 million people and boasts a thriving economy in the wine and craft beer industries. Cayuga Lake, the second largest of the Finger Lakes, is about 40 miles long and reaches a depth of approximately 435 ft at its deepest point. As the main source of public drinking water for at least 40,000 people, it is important to safeguard the health of the lake.

Cayuga Lake might look pristine, but it is threatened by industry and it is already showing signs of distress.

Cayuga Lake is being jeopardized by many factors such as invasive species, inadequate treatment of wastewater, and emerging contaminants. Additionally, more intense weather events caused by climate change increases farm runoff and erosion of silt, leading to nutrient loading. Data indicates the increase in nutrients coupled with higher temperatures has been leading to harmful algal blooms.

Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) is an independent advocacy group that is working to protect Cayuga Lake. We are addressing industry polluters in an effort to highlight the need for remediation of industrial contamination. Based in Ithaca, CLEAN is working with researchers, local environmental groups, and a legal team to address water quality issues on Cayuga Lake. We are affiliated with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. CLEAN has fiscal sponsorship through the Chris Dennis Environment Fund. We are working to hold industry polluters accountable and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation responsible for protecting a resource that belongs to ALL of us: Cayuga Lake - from the waves up above to the salt down below.

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Cornell University Lake Source Cooling SPDES Permit

Cornell LSC Cover Letter

Cornell LSC Fact Sheet

Cornell LSC Final Permit

Cornell LSC Responsiveness Summary


Current Projects

Salt Mining:

Every day Cargill, Inc. operates a salt mine 2200 feet below Cayuga Lake with mining through permitted reserves under about 22% of Cayuga Lake. As the mine passes Taughannock Park and approaches Cayuga Power, the strong limestone that helps prevent the lake from hydraulically connecting with the mine is thinner due to glacial gouging in the last ice age. CLEAN’s geology advisers believe mining in these northern reserves should end and that Cargill should not be allowed to ream a 4th shaft at 1001 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY. Even if the mine closed today, there is a very real risk of the mine flooding and of saturated brine then venting into Cayuga Lake for more than 200 years. As a result of salt mining, the sodium content of the lake water is already twice the level recommended for people suffering from hypertension.

Coal Ash Landfill:

CLEAN is currently addressing issues regarding retiring the Cayuga Power Plant on the east shore of Cayuga Lake and concerns that leachate from Heorot Energy’s coal ash landfill could be affecting groundwater and water quality of the lake. CLEAN hired a consulting firm to review records and options for remediation of Cayuga Power’s coal ash landfill. Environmental researchers at CLEAN continue to sample and analyze discharges from the landfill into Cayuga Lake, which contain heavy metals and which total up to 30M gallons per year.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs):

In a study to determine causes of HABs, CLEAN researchers have been monitoring water quality on Cayuga Lake with a Eureka Manta+35 Water Probe which records lake water quality measures such as pH, temperature, conductivity, depth, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, sodium, chloride, chlorophyll a, and cyanobacteria. CLEAN has recently resumed water quality research work on Discover Cayuga’s weekly cruises on the MV Teal at the south end of Cayuga Lake. Some CLEAN members are trained as “HABs harriers” and patrol portions of lake shoreline in cooperation with the DEC, Community Science Institute, & the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network.

Latest News

  • Our Children’s Earth v. Cargill
    May 23, 2020
  • Cargill Agrees to Pay $318,000, Curb Salt Dust and Salt Runoff into Cayuga Lake in Proposed Bid to Settle a Federal Lawsuit
    May 23, 2020
  • Salting our freshwater lakes
    December 2, 2019
  • More Salt in Our Water Is Creating Scary New ‘Chemical Cocktails’
    February 19, 2019
  • Community Rallies for Cayuga Lake’s Day in Court
    November 26, 2018
  • Despite a century of salt mining, Cargill getting local pushback on environmental issues
    December 14, 2017, Ithaca Journal
  • SHOW TIME! Calls Mount for End to Secrecy at Cargill’s Cayuga Salt Mine
    December 8, 2017, Waterfront Online Blog
  • Legal struggle over salt mine continues
    November 29, 2017, Ithaca Times
  • Letters – I Am Not A Bond Villain – Setting The Record Straight
    September 29, 2017, Lansing Star
  • Cuomo Risks Turning Cayuga Into New York’s Great Salt Lake
    September 15, 2017, Waterfront Online Blog
  • Assembly members call to stop Cayuga Lake salt mining expansion
    July 21, 2017, Spectrum News
  • Letters – The Risk of Continued Salt Mining Under Cayuga Lake
    July 21, 2017, Lansing Star

See more News

CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

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CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

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CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

2 days ago

CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

Save the Date- We need YOU!

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Save the Date- We need YOU!
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CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

2 days ago

CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

Covert requests $10K in tourism promotion funds to maintain Camp Barton on Cayuga Lake | Fingerlakes1.com

www.fingerlakes1.com

Covert requests $10K in tourism promotion funds to maintain Camp Barton on Cayuga Lake Covert
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CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

4 days ago

CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

There seem to be no 'quick fixes' to the wastewater treatment facility's staffing woes - The Ithaca Voice

ithacavoice.org

ITHACA, N.Y.—Uncompetitive wages have driven staffing levels at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) into decline. The facility provides a critical service, eliminating contaminant...
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CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

5 days ago

CLEAN - Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now

Vital Signs of Change in our Watershed: FEMA Flood Hazard Areas Expand as Water Rises - Cayuga Lake Watershed Network

www.cayugalake.org

While flooding is not new to our region, historical data show a substantial increase in the frequency of heavy rainstorms since the 1960s and rising costs from flood damage. This trend is reflected in...
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#CayugaLake_EAN

  • The DEC has finalized the Cornell University Lake Source Cooling SPDES Permit. You can find links to the permit on
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    The DEC has finalized the Cornell University Lake Source Cooling SPDES Permit. You can find links to the permit on
  • Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now spent the day in court fighting to stop the mining under Cayuga Lake by the
    by cayugalake_ean 8 months ago
    Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now spent the day in court fighting to stop the mining under Cayuga Lake by the
  • Members of CLEAN took a tour of Cornell’s Lake Source Cooling Facility today. It was very interesting and informative.
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Members of CLEAN took a tour of Cornell’s Lake Source Cooling Facility today. It was very interesting and informative.
  • Please stop by Gimme! Coffee on Main Street in Trumansburg to view the Art Show Fundraiser for CLEAN. Donations from
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Please stop by Gimme! Coffee on Main Street in Trumansburg to view the Art Show Fundraiser for CLEAN. Donations from
  • We spent the day working on a collaborative monitoring partnership with the @communityscienceinstitute. Their lab analysis has been helpful to
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    We spent the day working on a collaborative monitoring partnership with the  @communityscienceinstitute . Their lab analysis has been helpful to
  • Thank you Giving is Gorges for offering an excellent fundraising platform for local nonprofits!
    by cayugalake_ean 4 years ago
    Thank you Giving is Gorges for offering an excellent fundraising platform for local nonprofits!
  • The 2019 CLEAN/CSI collaboration to record lake water quality in the north end of Cayuga Lake wrapped up with a
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    The 2019 CLEAN/CSI collaboration to record lake water quality in the north end of Cayuga Lake wrapped up with a
  • Spring 2020 CLEAN Newsletter
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Spring 2020 CLEAN Newsletter
  • *Who carries out operations in a lake? A sturgeon. *What do you get when you cross a lake and a
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    *Who carries out operations in a lake? A sturgeon. *What do you get when you cross a lake and a
  • We wrapped up a week long study of the north end of Cayuga Lake yesterday and dropped off samples to
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    We wrapped up a week long study of the north end of Cayuga Lake yesterday and dropped off samples to
  • https://waterfrontonline.blog/2020/05/21/cargill-agrees-to-pay-318000-curb-salt-dust-and-salt-runoff-into-cayuga-lake-in-proposed-bid-to-settle-a-federal-lawsuit/
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    https://waterfrontonline.blog/2020/05/21/cargill-agrees-to-pay-318000-curb-salt-dust-and-salt-runoff-into-cayuga-lake-in-proposed-bid-to-settle-a-federal-lawsuit/
  • CLEAN is underway with the 2020 Cayuga Lake Water Monitoring Program
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    CLEAN is underway with the 2020 Cayuga Lake Water Monitoring Program
  • Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now is collaborating with @communityscienceinstitute to conduct water quality research in the north end of Cayuga
    by cayugalake_ean 4 years ago
    Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now is collaborating with  @communityscienceinstitute  to conduct water quality research in the north end of Cayuga
  • Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) is sponsoring a showing of The Human Element on November 6 at Cinemapolis, 120
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) is sponsoring a showing of The Human Element on November 6 at Cinemapolis, 120
  • Prepping for a Great Lakes water conference
    by cayugalake_ean 2 years ago
    Prepping for a Great Lakes water conference
  • Fall 2020 CLEAN Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/a2e8a5350f09/fall-2020-clean-newsletter
    by cayugalake_ean 2 years ago
    Fall 2020 CLEAN Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/a2e8a5350f09/fall-2020-clean-newsletter
  • Winter 2021 CLEAN Newsletter https://cleancayugalake.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Winter-2021-CLEAN-Newsletter.pdf
    by cayugalake_ean 2 years ago
    Winter 2021 CLEAN Newsletter https://cleancayugalake.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Winter-2021-CLEAN-Newsletter.pdf
  • CLEAN Summer Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/11d102fc65c4/clean-summer-newsletter
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    CLEAN Summer Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/11d102fc65c4/clean-summer-newsletter
  • Event tomorrow!
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Event tomorrow!
  • Please join us in a fun distraction during our collective isolation. Take a “social distancing“ selfie near Cayuga Lake, one
    by cayugalake_ean 3 years ago
    Please join us in a fun distraction during our collective isolation. Take a “social distancing“ selfie near Cayuga Lake, one

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