Today I will be writing about Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, NY. Although many people don't realize it, this lake is the most polluted in the United States. You may be asking:
How did it get so polluted? Short answer: many reasons, but here are the main problems.
Industrial Pollution
Dating back to the 19th century, numerous industries engaged in the consistent disposal of chemicals and waste materials, which encompassed mercury, salt processing r
emnants, ammonia, organic compounds, and PCBs, into Onondaga Lake. Consequently, this pollution imposed restrictions on the lake's recreational activities, diminished habitats for wildlife, and increased the presence of toxic substances in fish and other aquatic organisms.
2. Wastewater Pollution
The presence of ammonia and phosphorus in the sewage originating from Metro, which is owned by Onondaga County, had adverse effects on fish migration and reproduction, resulted in the proliferation of algal blooms and reduced water clarity, and caused a decline in oxygen levels.
3. Polluted Runoff
Stormwater runoff also sent untreated sewage and stormwater to Onondaga Lake's tributaries. Some of this runoff includes sediment from the Tully Valley mud boils, salt from highway ice removal, fertilizers and pesticides from lawns, gardens, and farms, animal waste, and debris and floating trash from nearby streets.
However, efforts have been made to try and reverse these detrimental effects. The PRPs have performed several interim cleanup actions, called IRMs, to address contamination at the various subsites under enforcement agreements between the PRPs and the State of New York. In addition, NYSDEC and EPA selected a cleanup plan in 2005 that called for dredging and capping of contaminated sediment. Dredging began in 2012 and was completed in 2014. Approximately 2.2 million cubic
yards of contaminated sediment were removed from the lake bottom and three shoreline areas. More can certainly be done to revitalize this lake and bring it back to its heath. Check out some more ways you can help on the Onondaga Lake Cleanup Page.
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