Otsego Lake Association

Who are we and what are we doing?

The membership of OLA consists of those people who have a particular interest in the health of Otsego Lake. Most of the members own or rent property on the lake. We are not a fund-raising organization although some organizations and individuals contribute money for specific projects. Our primary goal is to draw attention to the Lake Management Plan and to publicize procedures to achieve the goals. At an Annual Meeting, a president is elected for a  one year term. Each year four persons are elected as members of the Board of Directors, each for a two year term. Our by-laws also permit the president, with the approval of the BoD, to appoint one or two directors-at-large who has voice and vote at meetings. Each member of the BoD resides in and represents one of the four towns around the lake. Currently these are:

President - Paul Lord

Mickie Richtsmeier, Director for the Town of Springfield, Vice President and Secretary

Mary Clarke, Director for the Town of Springfield and Treasurer.

John Lambert, Director for the Town of Otsego.

Scottie Baker, Director for the Town of Otsego, Public Relations Officer and

Merchandise Manager.

Carl Good, Director for the Village of Cooperstown.

Kai Mebust, Director for the Village of Cooperstown

David Sanford, Director for the Town of Middlefield.

Burnett Southworth, Director the for Town of Middlefield and Webmaster

Wayne Bunn, Director at Large

Other

Bryant Kolner, Law Enforcement Liaison

Win McIntyre, Technical Advisor

Tom Gergel, aerial photographer

Past accomplishments include the buoy program There are now 21 buoys around the lake indicating the 200 foot no-wake zone. Law enforcement provides 16 hours per week of patrolling to assist in the maintenance of these buoys. Control of zebra mussels is a key point in maintaining the health of the lake. OLA was instrumental in the provision to wash boats before they can be launched at the Cooperstown boat launch. The Town of Springfield no longer permits the launching of boats at Public Landing unless the owner is a resident and can certify that the boat has not been in another body of water for two weeks. We have provided signage at other launch sites explaining mussel control. We have also published a pamphlet on mussel control and control of exotic species of plants. We will continue to support these programs in the future.

Our primary focus for 2005 (and for the next several years) will be sediment loading. About 9000 tons of mud enter Otsego Lake each year. That is too much! We want to use aerial photography to call people's attention to the problem. Photography can also be used for study. This form of photography is not easy. One needs run-off due to a thaw or a rainstorm followed by a clear, sunny day to facilitate picture taking. This is not our typical weather pattern. By the time the skies clear, the run-off is greatly reduced or stopped.

In conjunction with sediment loading, we will be publishing information on the construction of riparian buffers to ameliorate run-off including various sources of funding to finance these buffers.