OCCA has a long standing relationship with the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS) that started in the early 1970’s. Since then this relationship has produced several important studies, allowed for continuous monitoring of Otsego Lake and helped develop their water quality agendas. The two entities worked hand in hand monitoring Otsego Lake and its tributaries until the mid-1990’s. At this time the Oneonta Foundation was formed to give the BFS a formal entity through which to bring in research funding, and OCCA turned its attention to carrying out implementation projects to improve water quality based on data collected through previous studies. Today, both OCCA and the BFS still tirelessly work to monitor Otsego Lake and surrounding water bodies, and ensure there is clean water for all Otsego County residents to enjoy. OCCA still supports the BFS through internship funding and special projects aimed at maintaining a healthy watershed. Below is a small example of some of the work funded through this relationship.
2018 Intern Projects
Haley Brown – SUNY Brockport
- Monitoring the efficacy of EarthTec®QZ free copper concentrations on adult zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) mortality
- Preliminary evaluation of using optical brighteners as a biomarker for measuring estrogenic hormones in the plasma of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at the Cooperstown wastewater treatment wetland
Lauren Saggese – Milford Central School (Frederick Mecklenburg Fellow)
- Chlorophyll a monitoring on Otsego lake, summer 2016
- Baseline survey of rusty crayfish in the Upper Susquehanna River
2017 Intern Projects
Jim Peterson – Butternut Creek Biomonitoring
Kayla Dolce
Connor Murch
Elise Iwanyckyj
Past Research Successes
“A Survey of Otsego Lake’s Zooplankton Community, Summer 2009″
“A Brief Overview of the Physical Limnology of Otsego Lake”
Walleye Stocking Program in Otsego Lake
Otsego Lake Monitoring Data (aided by OCCA interns during the summer season)