Sandy Bonanno of The Nature Conservancy's Eastern Lake Ontario Project's new office in Pulaski has announced an expanded Dune Stewardship program for the 17-mile long barrier dune system along Lake Ontario's eastern shore. At the Dune Coalition's Dune Management Conference last fall, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in Regions 6 and 7 asked TNC to expand the dune stewardship program to include Lakeview Wildlife Management Area and Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area. Sandy says with a smile, "I guess we have had some success in turning things around at Sandy Pond Beach, or they wouldn't be asking us to help." At Sandy Pond, The Nature Conservancy has been instrumental in working with the volunteer Friends of Sandy Pond Beach, to clean up, build protected areas and walkovers, plant dune grass and other dune protective flora, and set up a Bird Sanctuary, with enthusiastic response from the public.

The intention of the expanded program will be not only to have more presence on the dunes, but to increase public awareness of the wonderful natural dunes we have so close to us, and the need for ongoing conservation efforts to ensure their continuation. Part of this will involve more school presentations and field days at the different areas, and increased media releases.

New staff members for the program are: Chief Dune Steward Carol Flournoy, who grew up on a farm in Sandy Creek, and has for years been watching the progress of the preservation efforts of the eastern shore. Carol has her teaching certification, and has spent many years in various management positions. Dune Steward Julie Burgess, a native of Dexter, NY, returns for the second year at El Dorado and Black Pond. She holds a Bachelors degree in Biology from SUNY at Oswego, and may have been seen scooping up frogs for study in our marshes. A new hire is Brock Ryall, who will be the Dune Steward for Lakeview and Southwick Beach. He holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and has been a volunteer with the DEC office in Cortland. Brock is looking forward to moving to this area for the summer.

As you wander the beach and wildlife management areas this summer, and see a friendly face displaying the new Stewardship arm or hat patch, a cheery hello will be greatly appreciated.

The purpose of the Coalition is to promote and support the protection, stabilization, restoration, and optimum public use in keeping with private property rights of the Eastern Lake Ontario dunes and related land and water resources. Of the many Federal, State and local agencies in the Coalition, four local agencies from both Jefferson and Oswego Counties are hard at work towards this goal. Through Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Cornell Cooperative Extension, County Planning Departments and County Environmental Management Councils, the Counties provide a strong presence at Coalition meetings and events.

Oswego County's District is actively involved in the Technical Committee and has in the past, undertaken a number of technical studies and support projects along the eastern shore. These projects include development of the Sandy Pond Resource Management Plan and a video flyover of the Eastern shore assisted by NY Sea Grant. Both Districts provide educational and technical assistance to property owners. Assistance is generally in regard to the importance of the land and water resources of the dune system and related conservation practices.

Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in both Counties work hand in hand with NY Sea Grant on dune issues. Oswego County Cooperative Extension provides guided walks during the Mexico Bird Festival. In addition, Oswego County Cooperative Extension is involved with conservation field days and other educational programs in cooperation with Sea Grant, local schools and other groups and agencies.

The County Planning Departments are active members of the Coalition. Planning staff from both Counties are on the education committee. In 1996, the Oswego County Legislature adopted a County Wide Comprehensive Plan which identifies the eastern shore of Lake Ontario as an important natural resource and has designated it as a greenway planning area. The document serves as a guide to local officials when making land use decisions that may affect development and the natural environment along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Oswego County Planning staff recently passed the Dune Coalition secretary title to Jefferson County Planning staff.

Oswego County Planning is actively working with other agencies to recognize and maintain this important resource. Projects include improving public access to the Lake in appropriate locations, dune stabilization, and developing partnerships with other agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners.

Oswego County's EMC has completed a study of the Sandy Pond watershed and an aquatic weed management study for the Sandy Pond resource area. Jefferson County's EMC has participated in the Dune Coalition through Planning Department staff.

We were pleased to be invited to participate in the March meeting with Law Enforcement officials (DEC Rangers and Enforcement officers, State Police, Oswego Co. Marine Patrol, Park Police). This meeting was a direct result of the October 1998 Eastern Lake Ontario Ecosystem Conference held in Pulaski. Several landowners attended this conference and many of the problems discussed concerned property owners and law enforcement issues. Some members of the Coalition organized the March meeting so these issues could be discussed openly among the officials, landowners and Coalition members. It was an excellent meeting; officers expressed difficulties in enforcement in large areas with limited personnel; landowners expressed concerns and frustrations. I believe we all left with a better understanding of each other's needs. A full report will be given to all committee reps, so contact your Association rep for more details. There is a separate article on page 3 of this newsletter regarding who to contact for enforcement.

We hope many landowners will attend the July 15 forum being planned by the Education Committee. Please see insert for details. One of our main goals is to become more educated about all the areas that impact our fragile property. This will be another step toward that goal, following the 1997 forum and the 1998 meeting with the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control. Also, as chair of the Private Landowners' Committee I have been invited to participate in a roundtable discussion to be held the day of the Board's annual public meeting, June 2, in Canada.

Present members of our committee represent the following areas: Eastman Tract, Selkirk Beach, Renshaw Bay, Sandy Island Beach (South Pond Inlet), North Sandy Pond, North Rainbow Shores, Sandy Pond Beach, Friends of Sandy Pond, Montario Point, Sunset Bluff and North Jefferson Park. If you do not know who your representative is, or if you are in another area and would like to participate in our committee, please contact Dave White at Sea Grant 315.341.3042.

What a difference a year makes! Last year eastern Lake Ontario shoreline sands were drowned under above average water levels.  This year the sand lies exposed by below average water levels, and navigation is the worrisome issue. But the question of sand movement patterns transcends the vagaries of water level variation, and that question is still under investigation.

Last year, The Towns of Sandy Creek, Richland and Ellisburg received a grant from The NYS Department of State to undertake research to address the question. Under the grant, The Nature Conservancy has hired a team of geologists to assess the extent and depth of the sand and describe its patterns of movement. During the summer of 1998, the team, led by Dr. Donald Woodrow of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, tested a variety of analytical methods and gathered preliminary data in order to plan a fuller assessment. Joining Dr. Woodrow in the effort are Drs. Bill Ahrnsbrak and John Halfman of Hobart and William Smith, Dr. Jill Singer at SUNY Buffalo, Dr. Charles McClennen of Colgate University, and Dr. Norman Rukavina of Environment Canada. The team received major assistance from Jim Walker of Lighthouse Marina, who contributed generously of time, equipment, and expertise in support of the researchers.

The team reports a relatively thin, discontinuous sand mass being driven by wave patterns more complex than previously thought. A current meter moored in 90 feet of water off Sandy Pond channel recorded net northward currents sufficient to move sand over the summer, but during storms, there was southward movement. Analysis of sand grain size also suggests northward sand movement. Effects of lake level variation have yet to be evaluated. A small amount of sampling for sand depth suggests that the sand is, at most, a few meters thick, and concentrated in the area from Sandy Pond to Southwick Beach.

The Conservancy has received an additional grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this year's full assessment, and the Towns will reapply to New York State for a second year's funding as well. Field work will occur throughout the summer, to conclude this fall.

The scientists have a request for shoreline residents: the work would benefit greatly from drilling records associated with drinking water wells in the nearshore area. These records are kept by drillers, and include information about the kinds of materials the driller goes through in the search for water. Please call Sandy Bonanno at the Nature Conservancy (298-2040) if you think you can provide information of this sort.

A preliminary research report for the 1998 work is in preparation at this writing. Copies are available on request from The Nature Conservancy.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the decision that for those who need to report a violation of law in the dune area you should call 911. All agreed this is the best avenue to get the information to the closest law enforcement to respond or follow-up to your complaint. If you prefer to contact a law enforcement agency directly, below are the numbers you should call:  DEC Region #7: 315.426.7422; DEC Region #6: 315.785.2440.  Nights and weekends call 1.800.TIPPDEC (847.7332)

For the most up-to-date information on lake level issues the following web pages provide a wealth of information. If you do not have access to the web, contact NY Sea Grant at 315.341.3042 for information.

International Joint Commission:  www.ijc.org

Lake Level Forecasts:  chswww.bur.dfo.ca/danp/ wlgraphs.html

NY Sea Grant:  www.cce.cornell.edu/seagrant/gl-levels/processes.html

St. Lawrence River Board of Control:  www.islrbc.org

Grindstone Farm raises organic produce for the local market. DeGraff is hosting an open house at the farm on Saturday, July 26. "The open house would be a great opportunity for local landowners to see the beachgrass planting," he said. Grindstone Farm is located at 780 County Route 28, Tinker Tavern Rd., Pulaski, one half mile east of Interstate 81. Tours will be held at 10 AM and   2 PM.