January 2008
Dear Friend of Otsego Lake,
If your yearly cycle resembles mine, things slow down, ever so slightly, at this time of the year (except when we are shoveling snow). This letter is intended to focus our attention on Otsego Lake and its protection at a time when many of us are not focused on the Lake. Unfortunately, adverse human impacts continue unabated in this time of the year when few of us are actually enjoying Otsego Lake.
The Biological Field Station (BFS) on Otsego Lake has been monitoring chloride levels in the Lake for decades. These levels are up 30-fold in less than 100 years and continue to rise. It appears the reason is pavement salting. Please compare and note the similarities in the following two graphs.
