Important first steps protect Cayuga Lake from fracking

Important first steps protect Cayuga Lake from fracking

Key waterways remain undefended as drilling draws closer

5:51 PM, Oct. 7, 2011 Ithaca Journal – Guest Viewpoints

Written by Hilary Lambert

Map by Karen Edelstein

Over a span of one month, four Tompkins County towns at the south end of Cayuga Lake passed amendments to their zoning ordinances affirming the inappropriateness of natural-gas drilling and support activities as land uses within their borders. The significance of these actions for protection of Cayuga Lake’s waters and creeks deserves comment, with a look at the map for better understanding.

» On July 11, the Ithaca Town Board unanimously passed TB Resolution No. 2011, which may be viewed in full at www.town.ithaca.ny.us/ minutes.

» On Aug. 2, the Dryden Town Board unanimously passed Resolution No. 126 (2011), which may be viewed at dryden.ny.us/information/ town-of-dryden-minutes.

» On Aug. 10, the Ulysses Town Board unanimously passed a resolution adopting Local Law No. 2 of 2011, which may be viewed at www.ulysses.ny.us.

» On Sept. 12, the Danby Town Board passed a resolution adopting Local Law No. 3; more information may be found at town.danby.ny.us.

Newly protected waterways

A look at the accompanying map helps us to better understand what these actions signify for protection of our water resources. Thanks to these actions, the following waterways are now protected from gas drilling, within each town’s borders:

» The Town of Ulysses contains part or all of numerous creeks that drain to Cayuga Lake, including Bolter, Trumansburg, Taughannock, Willow, Glenwood and numerous other creeks.

» The Town of Ithaca’s creeks draining to Cayuga Lake, in whole or in part, include Indian, Enfield, Cayuga Inlet, Williams, Coy Glen, Buttermilk, Lick, Six Mile, Cascadilla and Fall creeks; Renwick and Pleasant Grove brooks.

» The Town of Dryden’s creeks draining to Cayuga Lake include, in whole or in part, Six Mile, Cascadilla, and Fall Creek with its numerous upstream tributaries including Mill, Mud, Beaver, Virgil and Willow Glen creeks.

» The Town of Danby contains headwaters streams for Six Mile Creek, Lick Brook, Buttermilk Creek and Cayuga Inlet. Additionally, headwaters streams flowing south to the Susquehanna River include Danby, Miller and Michigan creeks.

Overall, these zoning ordinance amendments help protect about 65 percent of the water flowing into Cayuga Lake. This is a stunning achievement! Of course, these ordinances are only a first step on a long and difficult road to protect our lake, the Finger Lakes region, the state of New York and beyond from the under- researched effects of high- impact industrialized gas-drilling activities on water, air, lands, communities and ecosystems. To complicate matters, in mid-September a lawsuit was filed to try to overturn Dryden’s ordinance amendment.

Not yet complete

Also to be kept in mind, with another glance at the map, is that protection of even these Tompkins County waters is not complete. For example, the City of Ithaca gets its water supply from Six Mile Creek. While the towns of Dryden, Ithaca and Danby have passed ordinances protective of this water supply, Caroline has not yet done so — and the central portion of Six Mile Creek passes through Caroline. It takes the conscious actions of numerous local governments to protect an entire watershed.

Further, the map shows us that the Tompkins County towns of Enfield, Newfield and Groton hold the keys to protection of the upland headwaters of many of the creeks that drain to Cayuga Lake. Several of these headwaters streams are outside of Tompkins County, in adjoining counties. Along the northeastern edge of Tompkins County, the Town of Lansing — which has yet to take action regarding potential gas drilling activities there — is home to the heart of the majestic Salmon Creek drainage and many other creeks, large and small, that drain to Cayuga Lake. For more information about strengthening local laws, go online to www.cedclaw.org.

Gas lease maps available

Geologists say that Lansing and other towns northward on both sides of the lake are unlikely to yield productive gas wells in the Marcellus Shale formation because the shale’s decreasing depth in this area prevents effective fracking. This statement of geologic fact is contradicted by the proliferation of gas leases purchased by energy companies on properties in Lansing and in Cayuga County to the north. A map of leased properties in Tompkins County can be viewed at tcgasmap.org; a map of the gas leases in eight Finger Lakes counties can be viewed at www.citizenscampaign.org. A newly-issued map of Cayuga County’s leased properties is available from Terry Cuddy of the Cayuga Anti-Fracking Alliance, terrycuddy@me.com (this map updates Cayuga County lease information on the Citizens Campaign map). Concerned about leasing issues? Check out fleased.org.

Congratulations and thanks are due to the town boards of Ulysses, Ithaca, Dryden and Danby for these pioneering protective actions. While members and supporters of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network may think we can now rest easier, you are urged to consider what actions you can take to strengthen these water quality and watershed protections countywide and beyond.

Hilary Lambert is the steward of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network – steward@cayugalake.org

Karen Edelstein is a cartographer, GIS expert and works for FrackTracker – karen.edelstein@gmail.com