Annual Gathering

Date: Saturday August 10th, 2024.

Time: Meeting 8:30am-11:00am

Location: Otsego Sailing Club, 5992 NY-80, Cooperstown, NY 13326

Main Topic:

Otsego Lake Association Annual Gathering

All lake lovers welcome

The State of Otsego Lake:
water quality, fish, no-wake buoys, harmful algae blooms (HABs), awards.

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Spend a couple of your Saturday morning hours learning about what's happening in and around Otsego Lake. Meeting is open to members and non-members. Invite your friends and neighbors.

Become a Member Today

Presentations from the 2023 Annual Meeting

    Otsego Lake Science Update by Kiyoko Yokota

    New Otsego County HABs Website by OCCA

Presentations from the 2022 Annual Meeting

    Otsego Lake Science Update by Kiyoko Yokota

Presentations from the 2021 Annual Meeting can be viewed on YouTube.

    Entire 2021 Virtual Meeting

    Trophic changes of Otsego Lake since the invasion of zebra & quagga mussels           by Julie Gifford

    Quagga Mussels Replacing Zebra Mussels in Otsego Lake by Sierra Stickney

    The Invasive Rusty Crayfish by Alexander Hage

     Fish Fauna of Otsego Lake by John D Skelton

     Thwarting aquatic invasive species in Otsego Lake (2021) by Jared Stauss

Presentations from the 2020 Annual Meeting can be viewed on YouTube.

     Entire 2020 Virtual Meeting

    Thwarting Aquatic Invasive Species in Otsego Lake (2020) by Jared Stauss

    European Frogbit in Otsego Lake by Sierra Stickney

    Hybrid Pondweed Project (2020) by Mary Keefe

    Continuous Lake Monitoring Buoy (CLMB) What's that contraption in the lake?         by Kiyoko Yokota

Annual Gathering Photos

Photo credit: Paul Donnelly.

Annual "We Love Our Lake" Decorated Boat Parade

Date: Around July 4th, 2024
Time: Usually 3:00pm, Judging starts at 2:45pm, late arrivals may not be judged.
Location: Usually 3-Mile Point, Otsego Lake.

Notes: TBD

Please stay around for a few minutes at the end of the parade while the judges announce and give out the prizes.  All boats, large and small, are welcome - including antique or classic, human powered, wind powered, electric powered, jet powered, outboard powered, inboard/outboard powered and, of course, flying boats.  It can be unusually decorated, humorously decorated, patriotic theme decorated, joyful/party theme decorated, sports theme decorated, military theme decorated, etc.  If you prefer, you do not even need to decorate your boat - just join in the parade and view the other boats up close.  You can even join the parade at any time or anywhere along the route, especially for non-motorized boaters who might not want to travel the full route.  If you are unable to enter your boat in the parade, you can watch from shore at various points along the parade route including Three Mile Point, Brookwood Point, the Country Club (members only), the Otesaga Hotel, and Lakefront Park.  There are no fees, registration forms, rules, or regulations except travel slowly, stay in line, and be courteous to other boaters.  In the past, we have had over 50 boats participate in the parade.  The parade is meant to be a fun-filled, family event for all boaters to celebrate our love for Otsego Lake. 

 

Annual Boat Parade Pictures
Photo credit: Michael Santulli.

Otsego Lake Clean-Up

Date: Sunday August 11th, 2024.
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: Otsego Lake.

Notes: Time to clean up our shoreline. This is specifically for items found in/on the lake shore such as old tires, pieces of old docks, old pipes etc. Any lake debris you find, put at the end of your dock with a sign GARBAGE and we will pick it up and dispose of it FREE of charge. NO construction materials, NO household garbage. No dock, no worries bring your debris to 3 Mile Pt. for disposal only on date of cleanup.

Photo credit: Timothy Pokorny.

 

Susquehanna River Clean-Up

Date: Saturday in July or August, 2024.
Time: Usually 7:00am-1:00pm

Location: Susquehanna River.

Notes: Along with our friends at the Cooperstown Lions Club, Cooperstown Rotary and the Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers we are seeking volunteers to help with the sixth annual Susquehanna River Cleanup in Cooperstown on Saturday July 29, 2023. Volunteers are needed on the river and on the shore to pull trash out of the river, load it onto barges and rafts, and load it onto trailers. The day runs from 7am to 1pm. A sign up sheet with more information is available at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pLjw3-kFUk2QeXqZBp6gQi_QaA2uOGmeBshBMFwjwJU/edit#gid=0

Photo credit: Timothy Pokorny.

Springfield 4th of July Parade and Celebration

Date: Tuesday July 4th, 2023.
Time: See below.

Location: Parade begins at 11:00 a.m. in Springfield Center, Evening Concert and Fireworks at Glimmerglass State Park, concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Notes:

The Springfield 4th of July Parade is back!

Join us in Springfield Center for a Hometown 4th of July Parade starting at 11:00am sharp, followed by a patriotic celebration with Brooks’ chicken barbecue, the Cooperstown Community Band, Springfield Historical Society Open House, 4th of July Quilt show, raffles, games, and much more at the Springfield Community Center.

The Springfield 4th of July Parade first began in 1914 and is believed to be the second-oldest ongoing 4th of July Parade in the Country, welcoming fire departments, veterans’ groups, and community organizations from all over the region to be honored in our nearly hour-long parade featuring floats, marching bands, equestrians, and all kinds of surprises!

To participate in the parade, just fill out the free online entry form at this link: https://forms.gle/EuK5YxA33saAZk6y6.

Free parking for the parade will be available at the Springfield Community Center.

Springfield... the place to be on the 4th of July!Springfield… the place to be on the 4th of July!

Any questions?  contact Springfield.July4@gmail.com or visit them on Facebook

Block Party at Hyde Hall & Glimmerglass State Park

Date: Usually Saturday in June, 2024.
Time: 10:00am-3:00pm

Location: Hyde Hall 267 Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown, NY

Notes:

The Hyde Hall and Glimmerglass State Park Block Party. The event marks the start of our area’s summer season and offers opportunities for the whole family from 10 AM – 3 PM. Over twenty local organizations and growing will participate with activities, animals, crafts, free programs, nature walks, and music around Hyde Hall’s campus and around Glimmerglass State Park.

Glimmerglass State Park, in partnership with Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship (FORCES), will offer programs, leave no trace, fishing, camp safety, and provide guided hikes throughout the day. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hyde-hall-glimmerglass-state-park-block-party-tickets-525744715597

Earth Festival at the Milford Central School

Date: Saturday April 20, 2024.

Time: 10:00am-3:00pm
Location: Milford Central School

Notes:
https://occainfo.org/earth-festival/

Founded in 2006, The Earth Festival is a gathering of Otsego County’s environmental community for a day-long celebration that features exhibits, workshops, and products with an environmental theme. The event takes place on Saturday, April 20, from 10am to 3 pm at Milford Central School. Last year’s event featured more than 30 exhibitors and vendors.

Earth Festival is an environmentally focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, workshops, vendors, food and entertainment, all with a fun, earth-friendly twist. OLA will be present to answer your questions. Stop by browse our handouts & posters. Fill out a membership form. Check out our stylish apparel.

Earth Festival Workshops and Program Schedule

Mark your calendars for a fun, full day of programs on April 20th. We are still adding vendors, exhibitors and more activities every day. The following workshops and programs are confirmed. Everything is FREE and open to everyone.

We would love to know how many people to expect at each workshop so registration through our website is appreciated.

  • 8:00 am: DOAS Bird Walk

  • 8:30 am: Garden-Based Service Project Milford Central School

  • All day: Seed Swap

  • All day: Clothing and gear exchange

  • All day: Children’s area

  • 10:00 am: Repurposing Everyday Items into crafts-Milford Envirothon Team

  • 10:30am: Enjoying Your Woodlot -Stacey Kazacos

  • 11:30 am: How a Net Zero Carbon Household Makes Sense-Susan O’Handley

  • 11:30 am: Tick Talk: Don't Let Them Keep You Inside-Celia Oxley

  • 12:00 pm: Utica Zoomobile

  • 12:30 pm: Making a DIY Spotted Lantern Fly Trap-Sarah Coney and CRISP

  • 12:30 pm: Herbs 101: Introduction to Herbs-Gert Coleman

  • 12:40 pm: Birds & Climate Change-Susan O’Handley

  • 1:30 pm: Birds, Butterflies, Bees and Beauty: Why Plant Native Plants?-Celia Oxley and Mary Ellen Calta

Earth Festival Photos
Photo credit: Unknown.
In 2011, OCCA Board Member Tier French entertained and educated Earth Festival visitors as the ChicoBag™ Bag Monster®. The costume was used to illustrate the impact of single-use plastic bags.

Otsego Lakes Festival

Date: This event has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.
Time:
Location:

Notes: Now called the Otsego LAKES Festival, this event is traditionally a day of educational outreach with a focus on water quality. Once a celebration that recognized Otsego Lake and its vital role to the region as the headwaters of the Susquehanna River, the festival focus has been expanded to highlight the importance of Otsego County’s other major water bodies, including Canadarago and Goodyear lakes.

The Otsego Lakes Festival is made possible thanks to the O(OCWQCC), established in 1992 as a sub-committee of the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District. The WQCC is comprised of a diverse group of people representing state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and lake associations. These members have technical expertise and knowledge and are committed to working to improve and maintain the quality of water in Otsego County through the reduction of nonpoint source pollution within its boundaries.

Photography & Arrangement: Richard and Elizabeth Walker

Buffer Strip Maintenance

Date: Usually Wednesday in May, 2024. Rain date in June.
Time: 9:00am-?.
Location: Lake Front Park Buffer Strip.

Notes: Come join the Lake and Valley Garden Club, BOCES and OLA for a fun few hours maintaining our most used and well-known buffer strip.
Don't forget your gloves and sunscreen.
Lake Front Buffer Strip photos
Photo credit: Timothy Pokorny.

Aquatic Invasive Species Training

Date: Typically, late April and May 2024.
Time: 9:00am - 4:30 pm.
Location: Biological Field Station Thayer Boathouse
7016 State Hwy 80 Springfield, NY.13333. ~7 miles north of Cooperstown.
Main Topic: Watershed Stewardship: Boat Inspections & Invasive Species Identification

Notes: FREE TRAINING. Learn how to become a steward for your lake. Spend a day with BFS staff learning about aquatic invasive species, how to prevent their spread & boat inspection procedures. Contact Paul.Lord@oneonta.edu for more information.
Stewardship Training Photos
Photo credit: Meredith Taylor

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