Phillips IDs Owasco Lake as top priority in campaign for NY Assembly
Ian Phillips is making Owasco Lake a top priority in the campaign for state Assembly with his plan to combat harmful algal blooms.
Phillips, D-Auburn, toured Owasco Lake on Saturday and called for state action to address the proliferation of harmful algal blooms. The blooms, which contain toxins that threaten the lake's water quality, develop during the summer and are present into the early fall.
One of Phillips' proposals is for the state to adopt and implement watershed cleanup plans for waterbodies affected by harmful algal blooms. He also supports the enforcement of federal and state laws to crack down on polluters.
The city of Auburn and town of Owasco attempted to update the Owasco Lake watershed rules and regulations, which hadn't been amended since 1984. After submitting the proposed changes in 2020, the state Department of Health released its own proposal last year that excluded nutrient management regulations and other local provisions.
In July, local officials were notified by the state Department of Health that the agency would not update the watershed rules .
"Harmful algal blooms are a serious issue in our community affecting every one of us," Phillips said. "Touring Owasco Lake (Saturday) once again underscored all the ways central New York suffers from these outbreaks. I am disappointed that New York state backed out of new regulations to combat HABs."
Phillips also visited Twin Birch Dairy, a farm in Skaneateles that has been recognized for its environmental practices . One plank of his water quality agenda is to drive resources that mitigate pollution sources. If elected to the state Assembly, he will support sustainable farming.
In the 126th Assembly District race, Phillips is highlighting the differences between him and Republican Assemblyman John Lemondes.
Lemondes, R-LaFayette, generally supports water quality protections, but opposed the local push to update the Owasco Lake watershed rules. He told the crowd at an Auburn town hall meeting in August that his opposition was due to concerns about the data used to justify the proposed regulations.
In a statement Friday, Lemondes' campaign said he is "a strong advocate for protecting the Finger Lakes" and noted his support for a state budget bill that provides $3.5 million in funding for the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance.
"As a farmer, I know firsthand the importance of local ecosystems. Without freshwater resources, there's no farms and no food," Lemondes said. "We need leaders who are committed to addressing these issues head-on instead of making political grandstands. It's time for us to come together to create commonsense solutions instead of promoting radical policies."
The 126th Assembly District includes parts of Cayuga and Onondaga counties. Three of the Finger Lakes — Otisco, Owasco and Skaneateles — are in the district.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or . Love Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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