LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (LWRP)
YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED TO HELP SHAPE SILVER LAKE'S WATERFRONT AREAS! TAKE THE SURVEY! DREDGING, WEED MITIGATION AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE STATE LAUNCH ARE CLEAN PRIORITIES!
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SilverLakeLWRP
Thev 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
7/31/25 Meeting Update:
At the most recent LWRP public meeting (07/31/25, Epworth Hall, 6-8pm) Steve Perkins, former WCWRA chair and Wyoming County Health Department, Director and Scott Schrader, WCWRA chair and Wyoming County Administrator explained the distinction between the on-going N-end dredging project and any new projects derived from the LWRP efforts.
Scott and Steve also explained why the original LWRP is being expanded to include the waterway leading from the Federal Street dam to the Genesse River. In short, NYS advised this expansion to make the final plan more comprehensive and to link up better with existing programs and plans.
A couple of key facts:
1) Failure to develop a comprehensive plan guarantees failure.
2) NO plan ideas are cast in stone. Many ideas have been suggested and vetted. Many continue to move forward because they have wide support while others have been dismissed.
a. OFF THE TABLE: A pedestrian right-of-way along the E-side of the lake.
b. ON THE TABLE: In-lake weed management strategies, targeted dredging, deep water (hypolimnic) aeration, and improvements to the State boat launch.
3) You (YOU!!!!) can influence the LWRP plans. Complete surveys, offer up ideas, attend meetings, ask questions, and get involved to help.
4) There will be three (3) integrated LWRPs from the Village and Town of Perry and the Town of Castile.
5) Solutions to problems often come from people with very different views and experiences during face-to-face meetings (see below).
BEWARE OF BLUE/GREEN ALGAE
Most of the entire lake has algae as do all bodies of water.
Learn how to identify problematic algal blooms and, if warranted, to report them online through the DEC New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS).
https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/harmful-algal-blooms/notifications
Do not swim in blue/green algae and do not let your dogs come in contact with it. Rinse off if you do!
CLEAN WORKS TO ERADICATE JAPANESE KNOTWEED AROUND THE LAKE
Ove the past 4 years, CLEAN Team members led by Frank Bright have worked tirelessly to eradicate Japanese Knotweed around the lake. This year, the team visited all previously treated sites. The overall JK kill-off has been excellent. Team members secured all property owner permissions and new vendor quotes to execute two (2) JK treatments at the Silver Lake Country Club in ’25. The sites are located at the creek paralleling Pvt Dr 1 (near the hole 14 “T” box) and along Luther Rd parallel to the Hole 13 fairway. .
Japanese Knotweed is known for its aggressive growth and invasive nature, making it a noxious weed. This plant can grow up to 10 feet tall and is often characterized by its bamboo-like stems and heart-shaped leaves. Its removal is challenging due to its persistent root system, which ranks it among the world's worst invasive species.
CLEAN DONATES WATER SAMPLING EQUIPMENT TO PHS PROGRAM
Clean has donated $1200 towards water sampling equipment for Todd Shuskey's PHS class for their program testing and monitoring Silver Lake. Todd serves on the CLEAN team and we appreciate all of the work he and his class do to support our lake.
CLEAN SELLS 750 LED FLARES FOR JULY 3RD RING OF FIRE
CLEAN is committed to improving the health and vitality of Silver Lake. We are promoting a CLEAN way to enjoy the July 3rd Ring of Fire with the use of LED FLARES. Chemical flares produce toxins that negatively impact humans, plants and water bodies. Help keep our lake clean and reduce excess nutrients and toxins in our air by making the switch to LED flares. This year, CLEAN sold 500 RED LED FLARES and an additional 200 Red/White/Blue Flares for the Ring of Fire!
CLEAN AT SLM LAKE LIFE EVENT!
Perry High School’s Teacher Todd Shuskey, and his students have been hard at work studying Silver Lake—conducting tests, mapping weeds, and researching fish populations. They were at the Lake Life event presenting their research to Silver Lakers!
2025 is the Year of the Milkweed! We gave away 130 milkweed plants to lake residents to start/add to their pollinator gardens! Thanks to Kelly McMurtry for all your work starting from seed over 100 plants and working at the event educating lakers about the importance of milkweed plants for monarch butterflies.
The Boat Steward Erika and Emily and their invasive species/spin the wheel win a prize and promotion of the Clean/Drain/Dry boating message to stop the spread of invasive species into our lake were a hit with lakers!
We also sold 40 LED Flares and CLEAN hats!
Thanks to Silver Lake Marine for having CLEAN at your event!
Native Planting Plan for 2025/2026
Soil & Water has identified the creek along Private Dr 1 for planting after JK treatment is complete
CLEAN at Silver Lake has been passionately rejuvenating the lake’s ecosystem by restoring native plants. With six active planting sites in the watershed, we’re making a significant impact.
Beyond their environmental benefits, these plants create essential habitats for a diverse array of wildlife, including fish, birds, and crucial pollinators. Join us in our mission to protect and enhance Silver Lake’s natural beauty and health
2025 Is the Year of the Milkweed
Milkweed plants will be distributed to members while supplies last at the Silver Lake Marine Lake Life Event (06/21/25). Look for updates on Facebook.
Native plants are nature’s own filtration system, absorbing harmful nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that cause toxic algae blooms.
They also trap sediments and pollutants, significantly enhancing water quality. Their deep root systems are vital for stabilizing the shoreline, effectively preventing erosion from waves and runoff.
Native Planting Site Map Indicating areas completed to date
Native Planting Site Map Indicating areas completed to date
The Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD) staff are working with landowner(s) to secure appropriate permissions for potential planting sites for 2024 and 2025. .
2023-24 Aquatic Vegetation Survey-IT IS ALL ABOUT THE WEEDS
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
Bob Michalski is leading a taskforce and considering all options in combating the lake weed issue. CLEAN has secured a quote for chemically treating aquatic algae and non-native weeds within a small area. The group is assessing the aquatic vegetation and developing a robust assessment strategy to determine the effectiveness of any option
Bob Michalski is leading a taskforce and considering all options in combating the lake weed issue. CLEAN has secured a quote for chemically treating aquatic algae and non-native weeds within a small area. The group is assessing the aquatic vegetation and developing a robust assessment strategy to determine the effectiveness of any option. And, they are working with the Wyoming County Soil & Water Conservation District (WCSWCD) and other stakeholders to fund an activities. Finger Lakes - Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA) funds might be helpful. Read the full survey for more information and recommendations.
CURLY LEAF POND WEED
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) is dominant throughout New York and all of the United States. Vegetative reproduction through turions or hardened overwintering buds that begin to grow in autumn and persist throughout the winter in a slow-growing or dormant state, is the most important form of reproduction for curly-leaf po
Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) is dominant throughout New York and all of the United States. Vegetative reproduction through turions or hardened overwintering buds that begin to grow in autumn and persist throughout the winter in a slow-growing or dormant state, is the most important form of reproduction for curly-leaf pondweed. This makes it one of the first plants to appear each season, appearing as early as February/March. Curly-leaf pondweed often outcompetes native plants and may impede recreation. It typically dies off by July but has been persisting through the fall in many New York lakes in recent years.
EUROPEAN FROG-BIT
OVERALL DENSITY - 2023-2024
UNIDENTIFIED INVASIVE WATERMILFOIL
European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) is a free-floating aquatic plant with heart-shaped leaves that form rosettes. The species does have roots, but they are not typically anchored to the substrate, unless in shallow waters. However, both roots and rosettes can tangle with other vegetation and create dense clumps, which can p
European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) is a free-floating aquatic plant with heart-shaped leaves that form rosettes. The species does have roots, but they are not typically anchored to the substrate, unless in shallow waters. However, both roots and rosettes can tangle with other vegetation and create dense clumps, which can prevent light from reaching native submerged plants underneath. European frog-bit reproduces primarily through turions, or buds that overwinter and begin to grow when spring arrives. One European frog-bit plant can produce 100 to 150 turions in a single season.
UNIDENTIFIED INVASIVE WATERMILFOIL
strategies to manage excess nutrients in Silver Lake as a way to improve overall lake health and manage “weeds”.
UNIDENTIFIED INVASIVE WATERMILFOIL
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and Hybrid watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum x Myriophyllum sibiricum). Eurasian watermilfoil is widespread throughout the U.S. and has also been found to hybridize. Hybrid milfoil is a hybrid between Eurasian watermilfoil and Northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum). Although N
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and Hybrid watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum x Myriophyllum sibiricum). Eurasian watermilfoil is widespread throughout the U.S. and has also been found to hybridize. Hybrid milfoil is a hybrid between Eurasian watermilfoil and Northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum). Although Northern watermilfoil is native to New York, hybrid milfoil is considered invasive and shares many of the characteristics of Eurasian watermilfoil. Both watermilfoils can withstand low water temperatures, giving it the ability to overwinter beneath ice and begin to grow earlier each season than most other native aquatic plants. Hybrid watermilfoil also has the propensity to form dense canopies, impeding recreation and contributing to declines in native aquatic plant diversity and abundance. Fragmentation is believed to be the main source of spread. A piece of plant no larger than 2 inches, so long as there is a stem and a node with leaves, can establish an entire new infestation.
strategies to manage excess nutrients in Silver Lake as a way to improve overall lake health and manage “weeds”.
strategies to manage excess nutrients in Silver Lake as a way to improve overall lake health and manage “weeds”.
strategies to manage excess nutrients in Silver Lake as a way to improve overall lake health and manage “weeds”.
60-80% of the excess nutrients in Silver Lake are legacy nutrients meaning they are currently in the lake sediment. (All our efforts to remediate steam banks, etc. are focused on the 20-40% of nutrients that flow into the lake.) Given this, strategies to either tie these legacy nutrients up and / or remove them are preferable. In th
60-80% of the excess nutrients in Silver Lake are legacy nutrients meaning they are currently in the lake sediment. (All our efforts to remediate steam banks, etc. are focused on the 20-40% of nutrients that flow into the lake.) Given this, strategies to either tie these legacy nutrients up and / or remove them are preferable. In the past alum was a treatment tool used to lower the dissolved phosphorous in freshwater lakes. Unfortunately, NYS DEC no longer allows alum treatments.
The plant matter removed during a harvesting and removal campaign contains nutrients. Thus, removal of harvested plant matter from the lake will eventually lower the nutrient load in the lake. Herbicide treatments, cut-and-drop harvesting, or benthic mats will not lower the nutrient load in the lake. Hypolimnetic aeration (HA), also known as deep-water aeration, is a technique that supplies oxygen to deep water without disturbing the water's natural stratification. HA is used to increase oxygen in the water layer nearest the sediment which helps to keep the phosphorous tied up within the sediment layer. Dissolved phosphorous is the key nutrient feeding algae and plants. Keeping phosphorous tied up in the sediment keeps it from feeding algae and plants. (Note: A typical HA system covers ~20 acres; Silver Lake is ~840 acres.) Another strategy for addressing excess nutrients within the sediment is to physically remove sediments that contain high nutrient loads. Clearly, this can become very expensive for a lake-wide campaign. Fortunately, we thought about this issue many years ago and Todd Shuskey (Perry High School) and his students have mapped out the entire lake bed of Silver Lake and they have discovered there are nutrient “hot spots”. In principle these hot-spots could be targeted for nutrient removal efforts. (Todd’s labs are unfortunately not certified by NYS. As such, sediment testing would need to be repeated, but we know where to focus any testing.) All these efforts could become part of a LWRP.
DON'T RAKE IN THE LAKE - IT IS AGAINST DEC LAW!
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
Contact DEC’s Law Enforcement Conservation Officers if you have any questions or concerns. (716) 851-7050)
CREATES MORE WEEDS IN THE LAKE
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
Removing excess weeds in the lake is much harder than disposing of your yard waste properly. When the weeds are this bad, they need to brought on shore and removed.
WHICH CAUSES HARMFUL ALGEA BLOOMS
It is against DEC law to rake in the lake
WHICH CAUSES HARMFUL ALGEA BLOOMS
Please help educate your friends and neighbors regarding this law and encourage them to properly dispose of their yard debris.
DEC’s officers do routine boat patrols on the lake.
Temperature Array
The Silver Lake temperature array has been successfully rebuilt, relocated, and reinstalled. A BIG shout out to Rob Ritz and Karl Hanafin for designing and constructing the new, more robust array. Rob and Karl also installed the new system at its new location.
The temperature array is designed to accurately record depth- and time-dependent data from the lake at 15-minute time intervals throughout the year. These data are used to observe in-lake mixing events / ‘turn over’ in real time. In the warmer summer season, lake-wide mixing events are often precursors to algae blooms (nutrients from sediment in the lake sediment + delivery to the lake surface + sun light = algae growth).