Page 1 KLA Newsletter

Newsletter CELEBRATING 50 YEARS March 2006

T he variability of Keuka’s level has long been a concern, da-ting back to early settlement of

the surrounding region. Residents along the lake struggled through fre-quent flooding brought by rain and the annual spring snow melt, while commercial ventures built along the Keuka Outlet coped with an unde-pendable volume of water required to power their mill wheels. Early on, the need was recognized to provide a mechanism for dampening the ef-fects on lake level resulting from the variability of Mother Nature. Dams were installed in the Outlet at various locations in an attempt to exercise some degree of control. However, these provided only modest capabil-ity to regulate lake level. The modern gate system we now depend so heavily upon for flood control was installed in stages over the past forty years, largely through the advocacy of the KLA. The following article ap-peared in the Fall 1991 issue of the KLA newsletter, and describes the long-awaited construction of the high-capacity discharge gates:

“The Keuka Lake outlet gates, which help to control the level of the lake, are in the process of being replaced with aluminum gates with steel guid-erails and motorized shafts. The wooden Birkett Mills gate dates back to 1929. Installed in 1966, the An-drews gates, which are directly un-der the Mail Street bridge, are steel.

Engineering studies from 1984-1987 determined another set of gates was needed. The new gates will allow up to 1,000 cubic feet of water per sec-ond to pass through the gates. The present gates have a 500 cubic feet per second discharge capacity fol-lows a curve for projected lake levels

developed by the U.S. Army Corps of engi-neers. Using the curve, Stuck lowers the lake level in the fall and win-ter in preparation for the spring melt, rain and run-off. Ideally, the lake reaches a low of 712 feet above sea level on March 1 and a high of 714.6 feet in May.

Federal funds are pay-ing $369,800 for the project and the eight municipalities surround-ing Keuka Lake are dividing the re-maining cost of $123,000 among themselves.

Work on the new gates began on July 20. A.L.Blades Construction Co. is in charge of the project and antici-pates completion in 3 to 4 months.”

The Keuka Lake Outlet Compact (KLOC), composed of a representative from each of the eight municipalities around the lake, is responsible to managing the level of Keuka Lake. Bill Weber, Supervisor of the Town of Pulteney, currently chairs this commis-sion. The KLOC contracts with the Penn Yan Department of Public Works to maintain and manage the gate sys-tem. Ed Balsley, Director of Public Works, adjusts the gate settings ac-cording to the plan provided by the Army Corps of engineers. The control curves have been modified slightly over the years, and continue to pro-vide an excellent guide for lake level management.

LAKE LEVEL MANAGEMENT by Bill Oben

The Keuka Outlet Gates in Penn Yan and

the Main Street bridge

Newsletter Highlights

Lake Level Management………... 1 President’s Report ……………... 2 Former KLA Directors & Officers.. 3 Calendar & Website………... 4 New Members……………………. 4 Did You Know? …………........... 4 A Quiet Time .............................. 5 State of the Lake-Part 1…………. 6 Watershed: Eggleston’s Glen...... 7 Update: Docks & Moorings……… 8 Keuka Shoreline Views………….. 8 Book Review................................ 8 KWIC Policy Changes…………... 9 Hiking the Finger Lakes………... 9 KYC Junior Sailing………………. 9 Red Cross Blood Drives………… 9 Critter Corner…………………...… 10 Membership Committee............... 11 New Business Members……….... 11 Business Member Directory…..… 11 Advertising Info………………..… 12 KLA Office Info………… …………12 Member Application Form ........... 12 Order Forms ………….……..........13 Keuka Events Calendar ……........13 KLA Directors & Officers.…….......13 Lake Level Chart ……………........14

March 2006 Page 2

KLA UPDATE:

Report on Association Activities by President Bill Oben

This year, KLA is celebrating the 50th

Anniversary of our founding. In 1956, prompted in part by flooding that dam-aged property along the lake shore that year, a small group of lake property owners formed an organization “to associ-ate together the persons owning, or having an interest in, property bounded in part by Keuka Lake for their mutual benefit…”. Incorporated initially as Keuka Lake Shore Property Owners, Inc. (KLSPO), the organization was in-formally referred to as the Keuka Lake Association. (Our name was officially changed to the Keuka Lake Associa-tion in 1990, thereby adopting a name which recognizes the broader range of our membership throughout the wa-tershed.) During these past 50 years, KLA has championed numer-ous projects in line with our mission “to Protect the Quality of Keuka Lake”. These initiatives have led to the installa-tion of additional flood control gates (see article within newsletter), adoption of upland zoning, formation of the Keuka Lake Watershed District which resulted in the for-mation of KWIC [Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooper-ative] and implementation of uniform wastewater manage-ment regulations, an on-going water quality monitoring pro-gram, and enhanced boater education. Additionally, KLA has provided an oversight role for situations arising within the watershed which could potentially damage the lake. Throughout its history, the KLA has been guided by a dedi-cated group of Directors and Officers who have invested countless volunteer hours on behalf of the Association. (See following list of former Directors & Officers). We sa-lute them for their foresight in recognizing the need to ad-dress the many problems which have been confronted, and the progress that has been made on so many fronts. KWIC has announced that it will no longer be able to offer design support for new or replacement septic systems. This change is being made to provide sufficient time for the Watershed Manager to coordinate the overall inspection program for wastewater treatment systems. KWIC is available to assist residents with selection of alter-native sources for this design service. (See Paul Bauter’s article within.) Progress continues to be made by the inter-municipal com-mittee working to develop a Uniform Docking and Moor-ing law for Keuka Lake. (See Bob Worden’s article). We appreciate the input you’ve provided on this subject. The Communications Committee is planning a major up-grade of the KLA website (www.keukalakeassoc.org) in the coming months. A new edition of the Keuka Lake Calendar is also being prepared.

I’m delighted to report that KLA membership is approach-ing 1600. As a reminder, our membership year now runs from May 1 – April 30. Our 2006 membership renewal process will get underway in April, and we hope you will continue your support by returning your membership re-newal promptly (and encouraging friends and neighbors who may not be members to join with us).

Bill

The “Big Falls” at Eggleston’s Glen in February. (See related article on page 7.)

Photo by Steve Knapp

Page 3 KLA Newsletter

Robert C. Albee*

Fuller J. Allen

John T. Andrews

John T. Andrews, Jr.

Franklin Aulls

John W. Bailey

Sue Bair

Ralph Baker

Helen Jane Bartron

George N. Blanchard*

Ken Blumenstock

Robert Canfield

Helen Canfield

F. Rudolph Carlson

Paul Carney

Tom Carroll

Phil Chase

Jean Chase

Jack Clancy

Don Clements

Harry C. Cohn

Jerry Denton

Tom Dickinson

Clarence O. Drake

Nancy Drum

G. Merlin Drumm

Kenneth R. Dunham

Jack Farmer

Jack Feeney

J. Peter Fennell

Suzanne Fenner

Kathy Ferron

John C. Fink

Gary Frasier

Dick Frey

Dave Fuller

Eugene Gilson

George F. Gleason

Rick Gordon

J. Lawrence Green

Michael Hanna

Judy Hart

Harvey Haynes

Gary Hickernel

Mrs. W. Holcomb

William D. Holcomb

F. Philip Hunt

Franklyn Hutchings

Joanna L. James

Herman Jimerson

Perry Johnson

Perry W. Johnson, Jr.

James Keeler

John E. Kelley

John W. Kelley

David Kennedy

Jeff Kennedy

Everitt Kiff

Bob Kinney

Kasey Klingensmith

Frederick S. Kriger

John R. Kuhl, Jr.

John M. Kuller

Ray Lane

Suzette Lepper

Dick Liebe

Michael Linehan

Marion Louden

Don Lovejoy

Don Manges

Peter Manikas

Charles Mashewske

Doug McCabe

James McCabe

George F. McGough

Don McGuire

Paul C. McMaster

Katherine Meade

Jack Miller

William L. Nesbitt

William H. Ness

Francis K. Norman*

Tom Noteware

Walter W. Oakley

Jean O'Neil

John O'Neill

Marty Opelt

Priscilla Osswald

Harold J. Palmer

Dale Pederson

James E. Personius*

Robert B. Peterson

Edward L. Phillips

Robert Pinckney

Gladys Pitbladdo

James E. Poland

Fred Porter

George Pratt

George W. Pratt*

Phay B. Rutan

Ann Sandroski

Kenneth L. Schull

Walter W. Scott

Bob Seurkamp

Robert F. Shay Jr.

Guy S. Shoemaker

J. Raymond Shoemaker**

Garth A. Shoemaker*

Robert B. Shuart

Kenneth L. Shull

Hugh M. Slawson, Jr.

Don A. Smith

Spaulding A. Smith

Richard D Smith

William Smith

Freeman H. Smith

John E. Stein

Paul Sturdevant

Kenneth Taft

Lawrence Tallman

Arthur Terwilliger

Alice S. Thiese*

Dick Trotta

Robert Turissini

E. Stewart Underhill Jr.*

Vincent Valicenti

John Vine

Robert G. Vyverberg

Herman H.

Wayne W. Wagner

Dr. Alexander Wahlig

William A. Weber

William S. Weeks

Leland Welker

William P. White

Mary Anne Whitmore

Gustave Wiedeman*

Ed Wightman

Leland Williams

Ephrain K. Willoughby

Samuel K. Wolcott

Pam Yunis

Ed Zemanick

* Founding Director

**Honorary Founding Chairman

NOTE: The foregoing list of former Directors & Officers was gleaned from a search of our archives. Please advise us of anyone who was inadvertently omitted.

Former Directors & Officers of the Keuka Lake Association

March 2006 Page 4

WELCOME to the following new

KLA members:

Mark & Jill Barden

Christian & Heather Carlson

Richard & Gale Galusha

Dan & Lisa Mutschler Hayes

Sarah & Murray Hestley

Warren & Marion Houston

Thomas Howitt III

Ray & Anne Leinen

Marty & Dan Marino

Frank & Sally Midgley

Justine B. Miller

Mark H. Mitchell

Pete & Cece Wasson Peterson

Don Schnapp

Ken & Debi Smith

Michael & Debbie Smith

Scott & Roxanna Smith

Mary & John Sothoron

Deborah & Harry Rubin

Douglas & Stephanie Stewart

Phil & Susan Sweet

Peter & Moira Szilagyi

Barbara Van Dine

Christian & Aimee Cox Wasson

Peggy Jane Wasson

William Wasson

Additions to 2005 KLA

Member Roster:

Ash & Rose Cutler

Carol & Joe Peworchik

Did You Know…..

How much Lower is Keuka Lake than:

Size Feet Owasco Lake....................... 52 Skaneateles Lake............... 122 Cazenovia Lake.................. 182 Dundee Village..................... 236 Waneta-Lamoka Lakes........... 39 Jerusalem Pinnacle............... 572 Bluff Point Summit................. 707 Ocean.................................. 718

How much higher

Keuka Lake is than:

Site Feet Canandaigua Lake................ 50 Lake Erie................................ 153 Seneca Lake.......................... 271 Cayuga Lake.......................... 331 Lake Ontario........................... 487

To Be Published in June:

The 2006-07 “KLAeidoscope of Keuka” Calendar

Preparations are now underway for the publication of our second edition of the KLAeidoscope of Keuka photo and event calendar. Our 2005-2006 edition, which came out in July of last year, was a tremendous success, with over 1000 copies sold. This year we sponsored a photo con-test, to encourage members to submit photos for cash prizes and to to pro-vide a wider selection of images to choose from for inclusion in the calen-dar. A jury is now reviewing the over 200 photos that were submitted. Three top prize winners will be announced in the next edition of the newsletter. The calendar will include an expanded section of discount coupons from 30 area businesses. Look for the calendar at area stores and wineries in early June. Many thanks to the Calendar Commit-tee: Nancy Feinstein, Marsha Senges, and Steve Knapp.

KLA Website Makeover

A committee is now working on a major overhaul of the KLA website. The makeover will in-clude a new, fresh and more colorful design, more popular and updated content, and a broadened scope. If you have suggestions regard-ing the website please email them to the KLA office so they can be forwarded to the com-mittee. Special and continuing thanks go to Vince Domeraski who has kept the website going for a long time now, and will continue to provide critical programming and updating support. - Steve Knapp

Communications Committee

Southward down the West Branch in Winter - Photo by M. McTaggart

Page 5 KLA Newsletter

Reprinted with permission of the Times Union of Albany, N.Y. Copyright 2006. Original copyright 1993.

A QUIET TIME By Dan Lynch Times Union ALBANY, N.Y. -- By the time you read this, I'll be on vacation and, quite frankly, monumentally unconcerned over whether you're reading this or not. That's the way I am about vacation. When I work, I work. When I vacation, I don't work. I don't even think about work. In fact, I don't think about anything. For however long I'm away from the Salt Mines -- my pet name for the Times Un-ion -- I let my mind go blank, not unlike the mind of your typi-cal broadcast journalist. This vacation will be spent in the modest but heavily mort-gaged little cottage I built a few years ago on a secluded mountainside in the Finger Lakes. It's about 4 1/2 hours from here, and there's no television. Instead, there's a weekly newspaper that runs wonderful police stories -- things like, "Sam Snurd, 66, of Route 14A was charged with Driving While Impaired after colliding with a Holstein cow owned by so-and-so ... " There's also a terrific local radio station that plays an intri-guing format. They broadcast the music of the last 50 years. This means you get Whitney Houston followed by Bing Cros-by followed by Stevie Wonder followed by somebody inquir-ing about the price of that doggie in the window. The station has three disc jockeys, one of them the station owner, and they do the voiceovers on all the local commer-cials as well. I'm talking about commercials like, "Be sure to drop by Captain Yogi's for some fresh seafood. After all, sev-en days without fish makes one weak." The cottage sits high on the side of a low, rolling mountain overlooking a big lake. I learned to swim in that lake. At 14, I swam across it, about a mile. I threatened not long ago to do the same thing to celebrate my 50th birthday in three years. My wife hasn't stopped laughing yet. The little village where we buy food, beer and other essen-tials is home to about 5,000 people, roughly a quarter of the county's population. The village has three grocery stores, eight eateries, a hardware store, three bookstores and six bars all within a few blocks of one another. Everybody is friendly. The last time I was there I saw a guy walking down the street wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with this message: "Nothing's wrong with my damn attitude." He must have been from out of town. Keuka Lake has an interesting history. A bit more than a cen-tury ago, a little boy named Harry Morse caught a fish in Keuka's waters by employing an unusual angling technique. Harry was out in a boat when he leaned over and, for some

reason only kids might understand, stuck his face in the wa-ter. A trout immediately bit his nose. Harry, understandably startled, fell back into the boat and dragged the trout in with him. He was a major local celebrity for the rest of his days. Jemima Wilkinson was famous, too, but she worked at it. A few hundred years ago, she billed herself as the "Universal Publick Friend" and convinced a good many people that she had a special relationship with God. Pretty soon she had a cult following that numbered into the hundreds and maybe into the thousands. Her big mistake was bragging that she could walk across the lake. When several thousand people showed up to watch her make good her boast, she informed them that she could ac-complish this amazing feat only if everybody present had absolute, unwavering faith that God would let her do it. It was crucial, she told the crowd, that no one have the slightest doubt. Everybody swore they had absolute faith that she could walk across the lake. Jemima then told them that since everybody knew she could do it, it really wasn't necessary for her go to all that trouble. She went home instead. The cult got consid-erably smaller after that. The most important person who ever lived along the lake was Glenn Hammond Curtiss, a hotshot motorcycle racer in the early years of the century who came up with a plan for a flying machine. The Junebug, the seaplane he built, took off from the lake's surface and flew beautifully. The only problem was that a few days earlier a pair of broth-ers named Wilbur and Orville Wright had gotten their own flying machine aloft at Kitty Hawk. Curtiss and the Wright brothers were bitter rivals until World War I broke out and the federal government forced them to merge their companies into Curtiss-Wright Aircraft. The place is a lot calmer these days -- no experimental flights of flying machines, no cults and, as far as I know, no-body catching fish with their noses. There's really not much excitement around the lake any more. Which is just the way I like it on vacation.

March 2006 Page 6

Keuka Lake Phosphorus Trends

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The Summer of ‘05: Warm and Sunny Days….and “Foaming”

The summer of 2005 seems like a long time ago at this point, but do you remember how beautiful, warm and sun-ny it was? While we are setting records now for the num-ber of cloudy days and warm weather in January (the warmest since 1935), the summer of 2005 was noteworthy in terms of the number of warm and sunny days we experi-enced. The lake, in terms of water quality, also showed some interesting turns, particularly in August and Septem-ber when we started to see the extensive “foaming” on the lake.

More Evidence of Zebra Mussel Decline And an “Algae Bloom”

For the year overall, water clarity averaged 5.5 meters and total phosphorus levels were 8 parts per billion (ppb), con-sistent with a reduced zebra mussel presence in the lake. Chlorophyll a levels (a measure of algae concentration) were about 2 parts per billion, about half the long-term av-erage and indicative of the continued zebra mussel filtra-tion influence in the lake.

Examining the monthly data more closely, the first half of the year water clarity averaged about 7 meters and the phosphorus levels were between 4-5 ppb. Starting in July, however, phosphorus levels started to rise to 8 ppb and by August, the deep water sites averaged 12.9 and 11.6 ppb in August and September respectively. Algae levels rose to 3.6 and 7.3 ppb in these months, indicating an “algae bloom” was in progress. With more floating algae in the water column, water clarity decreased to 4.5 meters.

What happened in the middle of the summer to cause

this increase in nutrients and algae production? Was it from runoff? Was it more people at the lake using their septic systems? Could the warmer water and sun-shine play a role? Or, did those zebra mussels have some-thing to do with it? And, what about all that white foam on the lake, how did that fit in? Since there was virtually no runoff during the summer, run-off was not the cause. Septics are always a likely suspect, however, bacteria levels were measured to be quite low during this period. The warm and sunny weather certainly could have been part of the cause, as algae production is greatly enhance during a very warm and sunny summer. Mat growth algae was reported to be extensive in the lake and when this algae started to die off, the decomposition could have significantly contributed to the nutrient levels and the subsequent algae blooms in the water column.

Foaming Probably The Result of

Zebra Mussel Die-Off By many accounts, the extensive foaming on the lake start-ed to appear in August. The foam streaks and piles were present all around the lake when the wind kicked up. The heaviest foaming lasted several months and was very simi-lar to the event on Canandaigua Lake a few years ago. The foaming episode on Canandaigua was attributed to a massive die off of zebra mussels and we believe the same was the case on Keuka. The decomposition chemicals from the dead zebra mussels act as a surfactant in the lake and cause the foaming when combined with wave action. Together, these two factors seem likely to have caused the increase in phosphorus, the subsequent algae bloom and the decline in water clarity during August and September. By November, nutrient levels were back down to 5.5 ppb, algae levels were down to 1.5 ppb and water clarity levels were back up to 5.5 meters and the foam was less noticea-ble compared to earlier months.

The “State of the Lake” — Part 1 By Peter Landre, Cornell Cooperative Extension

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Keuka Lake Chlorophyll a Results

Page 7 KLA Newsletter

Take a plane ride over Keuka Lake and you will realize at once that Eggleston’s Glen is the most spectacular gully entering anywhere into the lake. Named for the Eggleston family who lived at its base and owned much of it in the 1860’s, it begins in a small stream just west of the Old Bath Road and just North of Knapp Road in the Town of Barring-ton. (Just a few hundred yards to the East, the Keuka wa-tershed ends and the Seneca watershed begins). A sec-ondary feed begins further south and west near the Keuka Vista Road (also off the Bath Road). Within a mile or so the main stream, aided by its secondary feeder to the south, deepens into a spectacular gully 200 or so feet deep and nearly a quarter mile across. Just before the southern feed-er enters the main creek bed, its stream drops down a beautiful 60 foot cascade known to the locals as the “Little Falls.” Within another mile or so the main stream carves and meanders through a beautiful, narrow 40 or so yard long gorge, only a couple of feet wide in places, and about 50 feet tall. Shortly it levels off on a flat bed of sandstone before dropping off a precipice 110 feet tall…...the spec-tacular “Big Falls” (see photo on page 2). Surrounding the falls is a massive cliff 200 or so feet tall, shaped by frost eating away at the brittle shale. During the famous flood of 1935, we are told that the water wall was 40 feet high as it plunged over the falls...creating a roar that could be heard for miles around. Following its drop over the falls, the stream flows through a creek bed littered with VW Beetle-sized boul-ders…….spectacular “erratics”, dumped off by the glacier over 10,000 years ago. After crossing under Route 54, it empties into the lake at Camp Arey, creating the larg-est delta anywhere on Keuka Lake. Native Americans undoubtedly climbed the steep trail, still navigated by the strong hearted, from the creek bed below the falls up along the beautiful northside cliffs to a ”humpback” atop the 200 ft. cliff sur-rounding the falls. As a teenager, Willie Knapp, whose family still owns much of the land above the falls, found a flint skinning knife along this cliff face…..just where a Seneca hunter left it hundreds of years ago. There are two photos (on pages 26 and 96) of Eggleston’s Glen in the

book Waterfalls and Gorges of the Finger Lakes, by Derek Doeffinger. Writes Doeffinger: “What is most remarkable about this glen are the large boulders in the stream….….these large boulders are called erratics. The glacier car-ried them here…” (p. 26). Eggleston’s is a case study in both “deep time” and glacial geology. When standing at the base of the cliff above the magnificent bank of crushed shale (“talus”) at the base of the falls, writes the author, “If the rock next to your ear is three hundred million years old, then that beside your toes is likely ten million years older.” The shale in Eggleston’s is “hardened mud and silt, depos-ited millions of years ago be an ancient river along an an-cient seashore.” (p. 96). Another fascinating feature of the glen is the spectacular, flat shale walls in and along the creek bed below the falls, which appear as though they were sliced by a knife. In fact, they were created by “joints,” fissures in the shale caused by continental collisions millions of years ago. And then there is the foundation of the partially built trestle of the old Corning, Bath and Sodus Bay railroad, still visible about a quarter of a mile up the creek from Rt. 54. The railroad went bankrupt, partly because of the challenge and ex-pense of crossing the gully in the 1870’s. Truly, like the beautiful lake she nourishes daily, Eg-gleston’s Glen is one of Keuka’s most valuable treasures, to be preserved if not revered. It is currently under the lov-ing stewardship of the Yunis and Knapp families.

A New Regular Feature:

The Watershed: KEUKA’S GULLIES & STREAMS

Introducing “Eggleston’s Gully” by Steve Knapp

Eggleston’s Gully and its Delta at Camp Arey

March 2006 Page 8

The process leading to the adoption of a uniform docks and moorings law for Keuka Lake is continuing through its anticipated steps. The Inter-municipal Docks and Moorings Committee has completed a revised draft of the law which is available for viewing on the KLA website. More-over, this committee, with a lot of help from Jerry Saxton, Town of Pulteney rep and KLA board member, has completed a draft of the SEQR form (state environmental review form). In December, the Town of Urbana passed a resolution of their intent to be the “lead agency” for this process and their attorney has sent a “Lead Agency Designation Request” to the other seven municipalities and involved agencies asking for their approval of Urbana being lead agency. Assuming a positive response from the other municipalities, the next step will be for the other towns and villages to have “official” hearings for the proposed law and SEQR. Then, any final edits can be made and municipal approvals ob-tained. How long will this take? These things seem to always take a bit longer than expected, but the Committee expects hearings to occur in the late Spring or early Summer, consistent with requests from some people to give the snow birds a chance to return. There is still plenty of time for citizens to express support or ask questions of their town and village officials.

UPDATE: UNIFORM DOCKS & MOORING LAW Bob Worden

Keuka Shoreline Views

Check out our website:

www.keukalakeassoc.org

Latest Keuka News

Docks & Moorings Update

Current Lake Level

Photo Gallery

Other Lake Related Info

Son Rise 1937-1959

By Gus Tillman

This book chronicles the life of a boy growing up during the Depres-sion in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. While he was born Robert Tillman, since there were four Roberts in his third grade at his Hammondsport school, he be-came Gus. He was a very bright student, having been tutored by his conscientious sister, and had al-ready accomplished the “new” schoolwork presented to him by his teachers. This situation did not make for a happy schoolroom or teacher. Living outside of Ham-mondsport, on a small farm, and later in the village, Gus Tillman relates the activities on the farm and in a small town during that era. The book is full of his zany friends who created a panorama of won-derful and zany experiences. The majority of his activities are cen-tered on the Village of Hammond-sport, Keuka Lake and the sur-rounding woods and hillsides. The book takes him through his years at SUNY Albany. In later life, Gus became an ecologist and worked for the New York Botanical Gar-dens, US Agency for International Development and the United Na-tions. He lived in Africa and in South America along the way. He retired in 1999 in Varskog, New York, not far from Hammondsport. The book was published in 2001 by Var Skog Press, Rock Stream, New York. It is available at local booksellers.

BOOK REVIEW Chuck McCausland

The Shoreline at Keuka Village

WANTED: KEUKA PHOTOS FROM THE 50’s and 60’s

As part of our 50th anniversary celebration we want to pub-lish photos which indicate changes the Lake and its shoreline have gone through since the founding of KLA in 1956. If you have “Then and Now” photos that you think would be of interest to our readers please send them to us. We hope to show some in a slide show at our annual meeting in July.

Page 9 KLA Newsletter

Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative (KWIC) Policy Changes

Regarding Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Construction Permits and Design

By Paul Bauter, KWIC Watershed Manager

The core of the KWIC water quality improvement program is the periodic inspection of wastewater treatment systems.

In order to provide adequate time for the KWIC Watershed Manager to coordinate this inspection program, the KWIC

Board of Directors at their January 23, 2006 meeting voted

to change the policy regarding the design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Previously, KWIC had

offered a design service for new and replacement systems. In June, 2005 it became necessary to discontinue this ser-

vice for new systems, in the interest of focusing more at-tention on the inspection program. This action failed to

produce the necessary reduction of workload, and KWIC

has now decided to discontinue design service for replace-ment systems as well. Residents requiring such service will

now need to contract directly with qualified engineering firms. A list of professional engineers and onsite

wastewater installers is available from the KWIC office (315

-536-0917).

Evaluation of soil absorption characteristics and the review/

approval of wastewater system design are recognized by the KWIC Board of directors as being of primary im-

portance for onsite wastewater treatment system construc-

tion. The KWIC watershed manager will witness all soil investigations for the design of onsite wastewater treat-

ment systems, both new and replacement, and will review/approve all onsite wastewater treatment system construc-

tion permits.

The current fee schedule payable to KWIC shall remain the

same: onsite wastewater treatment system construction

permits ($75), site evaluation and design review ($75), repair permits and permit renewals ($30). Contact your

town watershed inspector to determine inspection fees for septic tank replacement and real property transfer.

KEUKA YACHT CLUB’S JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM – 63 YEARS OF

TEACHING CHILDREN TO LOVE THE LAKE

Keuka Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing Program is one of the oldest in the United States. Founded during WWII by Art Wilder, Phil Hunt, Irv Spear, and Mon-roe Evans, KYC today continues the philosophy that sailing is an excellent way for children to learn self-reliance, self-esteem, and sportsmanship. Today, KYC’s Jr. Sailing Program is a U.S. Sailing approved program (U.S. Sailing is the agency governing sailing and yacht racing in the United States, including the Olympics.) Our Head Instructor is a U.S. Sailing Level One Certified Instructor. We believe that sailing should be good education, a source of personal satisfaction, and fun. We use Sunfish and Laser boats. There are four two-week sessions, from 9 am-12 noon, Monday - Thursday. Classes are small - only twelve students per class. This year’s class dates are:

Session 1: June 26 – July 7 (no class on July 4th)

Session 2: July 10 – July 20 Session 3: July 24 – August 3 Session 4: August 7 – August 17

Tuition: KYC members: $185; additional students of same household: $150 Non-members: $215; additional students of same household: $170 Private lessons and Adult Sailing lessons are also available. Keuka Yacht Club was founded in 1872 and has a long and interest-ing history. We are a friendly, family oriented club and welcome new mem-bers, whether sailors, power-boaters or social. We hope to see you this sum-mer! Jr. Sailing Contact: Debbie Koop, 315-595-2523; Brookside-Farm@Frontiernet.net; KYC Membership Contact: Peter Gamba: 315-595-8899. Our website is: www.keukayc.org

HIKES on the FINGER LAKES TRAIL

If you are interested in joining a group of people that hike on the trail on Tuesday mornings from April 4th to June 19th, please call Tom and Donna Noteware at 607-868-4614 for more information. It is OK if you cannot come every week. We would like to have you with us when you can.

As a service to the American Red Cross the KLA is publishing the dates for Local Blood Drives:

Penn Yan First Presbyterian Church 211 Main St. 4/11/06 - 12-6 PM Branchport Branchport School 3369 Guyanoga Rd. (Future Locations TBA) 3/16/06, 5/18/06 - 1:30-6:30 PM Hammondsport Hammondsport Fire Dept. 8251 State Rte. 54 3/23/06, 5/25/06 - 12-6 PM Dundee Dundee Fire Dept. 12 Union Street

March 2006 Page 10

WHITHER THE SMELT? by Dave deCalesta CRITTER CORNER

FRIED SMELTS (Printed from COOKS.COM)

2 lbs. cleaned smelts 2 eggs, beaten 1 c. bread crumbs 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1 tbsp. parsley 1 tbsp. Romano cheese 1 clove garlic (chopped fine) 1/4 c. vegetable oil

Rinse fish in cold water. Drain; set aside. In a large bowl combine bread crumbs, flour, parsley, cheese, garlic and salt. Mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl beat eggs; set aside.

In a large skillet add oil and heat. Using a fork dip smelts into beaten egg, then into bread crumbs. Coat fish completely. Place fish into heated oil in skillet and cook until golden brown. Serve immediately.

When we began to vacation on Keuka Lake in the

late 1960’s, my father-in-law used a strange net (looked like small cyclone-fence mesh formed into a round, collapsible dip-net) to dip dozens of small, sil-very fish that ran up the creek next to his home on the lake. He said they ran only at night, and only for about 3 weeks in April. He froze them immediately in water in quart milk cartons, and later fried them up – they were delicious. Since moving to the lake 3 years ago, I’ve often thought about my father-in-law and those smelt, and where and how to catch them.

A little research turned up that the fish, called rain-bow smelt, freshwater smelt, or ice fish (so named be-cause they produce anti-freeze in their bodies to sur-vive in very cold waters) were not native to Keuka Lake. Rather, they are a coastal saltwater fish that runs up freshwater streams to spawn. Introduced into the Great Lakes in the 1930’s, smelt did just fine in freshwater, reaching Keuka Lake in the early 1960’s.

Smelt fry (the young fish) first eat zooplankton (small, single-celled animal life that floats in lakes), then graduate to small insects, freshwater shrimp, lar-val forms of zebra mussels and other smaller fish, pro-gressively eating larger fish as they get larger, and reaching a maximum length of about 6-8 inches.

Smelt were first acclaimed as food for lake trout, bass, and perch. Then people discovered how good these little fish tasted, and began to fish for them, either dip-netting in spring, or fishing through the ice with small hooks baited with pieces of fish or worms. Smelt run up streams when water temperature reaches 40-45o F, starting in April. Smelt may be dipped in a net not exceeding 14 inches in diameter anytime, sunset to sunset – the limit is 9 quarts. They should be frozen immediately, as they go bad quickly.

Excited about the prospects of catching and eating smelt, I began to inquire of local bait shops and fishery professionals just where to go to dip smelt. The an-swers were not encouraging.

For some reason (some blame the zebra mussel for eating too much zooplankton, others blame predation

by lake trout) smelt numbers plummeted in Keuka Lake in the 1990’s. Larger creeks had runs, including Cold Brook (Hammondsport) and Guyanoga Creek (Branchport). Now, it seems no one knows where, or if, they still run.

If you know of any smelt runs, please let us know. And if you catch any, terrific recipes are available at this website: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fish/smelt02.html.

Page 11 KLA Newsletter

The KLA Membership would like to welcome our newest twenty business members of the Keuka Lake Association who responded to our business membership drive in December 2005 and the Kaleidoscope of Keuka calendar survey in Janu-ary 2006. This brings our total number of business tier mem-bers to seventy-five. We grate-fully acknowledge their support and encourage all of our mem-bers to patronize these busi-nesses.

Bill Feinstein

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:

New Business Member

Solicitation

ACCOUNTING/BANKING Community Bank, N.A. - PY J. Carey & Co., CPA’s ARTS Keuka Studios - Artistic Iron Work The Village Gallery - Hammondsport BUILDING/PLUMBING/ ELEC. SUPPLIES Branchport Hardware Carey’s Farm & Home Centers Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Co., Inc. Penn Yan Plumbing & Heating Ribble's Septic Service The Corning Bldg./Bath Bldg. Co. Vine City Supply, Inc. BOOKS/OFFICE SUPPLIES Longs’ Cards & Books CONSTRUCTION/ARCHITECTURE/ PAINTING Connect-A-Service, Inc. D. A. Alderman Construction D.J. Builders & Remodelers, Inc. Design Works Architecture Grapes Lakes Painting Lakeside Kitchen Design Mike’s Hammer R & R Docks Ron Williams Consulting & Construction Veley Enterprises FOOD SERVICES Taste of Elegance, Personal Chef services ( formerly Chez le Boulanger– Dundee Morgan's Grocery P&C Foods – Penn Yan FURNISHINGS Coles Furniture & Floor Fashions GIFTS/CLOTHING Browsers Cinnamon Stick The Loomis Barn & Country Shops INSURANCE Beaumont & Stork, Inc Furman Kendall – Doug Miles Agency LIQUOR/WINE Landmark Wines & Spirits LODGING Best Western Vineyard Inn & Suites The Fox Inn

MARINE SERVICES/SUPPLIES Basin Park Marina Jake's Boat Livery Morgan Marine North End Marina MEDICAL SERVICES Dr. Gregory L. Schultz – Keuka Family Dentistry Henderson’s Drug Store NURSERY Jud’s Stone House Nursery REAL ESTATE SALES/RENTALS Century 21 Sbarra & Wells Curbeau Realty Finger Lakes Getaways Inc, Finger Lakes Realty John & Linda Vang – Century 21 L L Millennium Properties Lake Living.info ReMax Eastview- Mr. Jay Benesh Rental Plus Vince DiLaura – Exit Realty Pro Service RESTAURANTS Angel's Family Restaurant Esperanza Mansion Keuka Maid Dinner Boat The Switzerland Inn Valley Inn RECREATIONAL SERVICES Camp Good Days & Special Times Finger Lakes DJ Service Keuka Yacht Club Lakeside Country Club WINERIES Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars Heron Hill Vineyards, Inc. Hunt Country Vineyards- Art & Joyce Hunt Keuka Overlook Wine Cellars Keuka Springs Vineyards- Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Wiltberger McGregor Vineyard Winery- John McGregor OTHER American Red Cross Blood Services- Christopher J. Hoffman Branchport/Keuka Park Fire Department Camp Arey, Inc. Jim & Robin Hoagland Keuka College Mrs. Thomas Hereford Seneca Seals Yates County Soil & Water

The KLA urges you to support the following

KLA BUSINESS MEMBERS:

WELCOME

To the following new

business tier members:

Branchport Hardware Carey’s Farm & Home Centers

Camp Good Days & Special Times

Community Bank, N.A. - PY Finger Lakes DJ Service

Henderson’s Drug Store, Inc. J. Carey & Co., CPA’s

Jud’s Stone House Nursery Keuka College

Keuka Overlook Wine Cellars Keuka Yacht Club

Lakeside Country Club Lakeside Kitchen Design

Longs’ Cards & Books Loomis Barn & Country Shops

Mike’s Hammer Penn Yan Plumbing & Heating

R & R Docks Ron Williams Consulting &

Construction, Inc. Valley Inn, Inc.

March 2006 Page 12

MEMBER APPLICATION

Yes, I want to join the Keuka Lake Association! NEW RENEWAL (See membership expiration date

On your address label.)

NAME____________________________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS ________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP _________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER __________________________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS _________________________________________________ KEUKA ADDRESS_________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP __________________________________________________ KEUKA PHONE ____________________________________________________ Dates I wish to receive mailings at KEUKA address: From ___/___ to ___/___ month/day MEMBERSHIP TIER (Check one) METHOD OF PAYMENT (Check one)

Card number: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Expiration Date: __/__/__ Mail application and payment to: Keuka Lake Association, P.O. Box 415, Hammondsport, NY 14840

Basic $30 Check

Partner – $50 Visa

Sponsor – $100 MasterCard

Patron – $150 Amex

Guardian – $250 & more Discover

Business – $50

KEUKA LAKE ASSOCIATION OFFICE

The KLA office is located at 90 Pulten-ey Street in Hammondsport, just off the southwest corner of the square. The office will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please stop in if you are in the village. You can contact the office ei-ther by phone: 866-369-3781, local 607-569-3781 (answering machine at-tached) or e-mail: kla1@empacc.net. Margo G. McTaggart, KLA Administrative Assistant

Are your neighbors members of the KLA?

Whether they live on the lake or anywhere within the watershed, they have an interest in the future health and viability of Keuka Lake. Why not ask them if they are members...and encourage them to join? Why not give a KLA membership as a gift?

KLA MEMBERSHIP

PROCESS April - Dues renewal notices mailed.

June - Dues reminder cards mailed to those who have not renewed.

September - Last newsletter for those who have not renewed. Check the expiration date on your address label.

January - Membership for new members who join after Jan 1 will be extended through the next membership year.

MEMBERSHIP AND KLA OFFICE INFORMATION

ADVERTISING IN THE

KLA NEWSLETTER

The advertising section of the KLA newsletter is provided as a service to KLA members. Any advertisers must be members of the KLA. The 16 ads are restricted to 1/4 page, to fit into a 3 3/4 by 4 3/4 rectangle. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to contact the KLA office with a re-quest for ad space in an upcoming issue. The deadline for the June issue is May 1st and will be accept-ed in the order submitted. However, in an attempt to present an interest-ing diversity of ads, the KLA editorial staff reserves the right to limit the number of any specific type of ad in any given issue. KLA also reserves the right to decline acceptance of an ad deemed inappropriate for the publication. Ad cost for each issue is $50. Thank you to all of the KLA business members who have adver-tised with us .

Page 13 KLA Newsletter

President Bill Oben Barrington Tom Murrin

President-elect

Bob Worden Bebette Yunis

Treasurer Jim Stork Jerusalem Jim Stork

Secretary Lucy Knapp Marsha Senges

At-Large Art Hunt Milo Bill Laffin

Steve Knapp Bob Corcoran

Chuck McCausland

Pulteney Mike Gabrielli

John Webster Jerry Saxton

Mike Doyle Urbana Dick Honeyman

Trafford Doherty Pete Robbins

Wayne Bill Feinstein

Ex-Officio Ken Blumenstock Dave deCalesta

KLA DIRECTORS & OFFICERS

KLA ORDER FORM

DOCK PLATES are 6" x 15", painted reflective white, featuring KLA logo & “Member” distinction.

NAME: _________________________________________ ___ Dock Plate (excluding #s) - $23 including S&H*

ADDRESS: _________________________________________ ___ Numbers - $.50 each

____________________________________________________ Fill in your desired numbers here:

Please make checks payable to the Keuka Lake Association and send completed order to PO Box 415, Hammondsport, NY 14840.

____ License Plate Holders - $8.00 (Incl. S&H) (Available in local stores for $5.00)

____ Two KLA decals - no charge

____ KLA Directory - $10 (Includes S&H)

* $20 if purchased at the KLA Office, plus $.50 for each number

KEUKA CALENDAR

MARCH Lucky Leprechaun Chase Keuka Lake Wine Trail.....3/18-19 Polar Bear Plunge - The Switz...3/25

APRIL

Murder Mystery Tour Keuka Lake Wine Trail.......4/8-9 Community Luncheon Series Keuka College......................3/20

MAY Keuka In Bloom Keuka Lake Wine Trail....5/20-21 Antique Show & Sale Penn Yan Grange Hall.........5/27 Fly-In Breakfast - Dundee; Parades: Dundee, Penn Yan..............5/29

Keuka Lake Association, Inc. P.O. Box 415 Hammondsport, NY 14840

Non-Profit

Organization

US Postage Paid

Hammondsport, NY

Permit #10

KEUKA LAKE LEVEL GUIDE

YOUR MARCH KLA NEWSLETTER HAS ARRIVED!