On May 22, four new dune stewards started their orientation to Eastern Lake Ontario's 17 mile stretch of barrier beaches and dunes. Supervised by chief dune steward Carol Flournoy, who returns for her second year in this position, the dune stewards are now a presence at four beaches this season.

Kylie Althouse is the steward at El Dorado/Black Pond Wildlife Management Area. She is a third-year geology student at SUNY Potsdam and a local resident from the Altmar area. Hoping to pursue a career in outdoor journalism, she is getting a lot of ideas in this beautiful area.

Adrienne Groman is excited about being the steward at Southwick Beach State Park/Lakeview Wildlife Management Area (WMA) this summer. She is a recent SUNY Oswego graduate who has had life-long ties to Sandy Pond, and will be attending graduate school in Oregon this fall.

A Sandy Pond resident, Irene Whitlock, is the steward at Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area and Bird Sanctuary. A charter member of the Friends of Sandy Pond Beach, Irene is familiar with their conservation efforts, and is looking forward to meeting many people on the shore.

Emily Spillett joins us from the Syracuse area; a recent graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a degree in environmental and forest biology. She's this year's steward at Deer Creek Marsh WMA's beach, dune trails and marshlands.

All of the stewards are looking forward to meeting many people out on the beaches this summer. For information about upcoming field trips or the project in general, call Carol Flournoy at 315.387.2311 or 315.778.7484.

Profiling the Department of Environmental Conservation and its responsibilities on the Eastern Shore isn't easy. For starters, Lake Ontario's dune and wetland system spans two of DEC's Regions. Jefferson County is in DEC Region 6 while Oswego County falls in DEC Region 7. Complicating this task further is the diversity of DEC's responsibilities and staff in the area. When working or recreating on the Eastern Shore you're likely to see DEC foresters, biologists, permit administrators, operations crews and enforcement officers. If you are in Jefferson County DEC staff are from DEC Region 6, but if you are in Oswego County they work out of DEC Region 7. The following descriptions might make this profile a little easier to understand.

DEC Foresters are charged with the management of Sandy Pond Beach and the Dunes on Sandy Island Beach. This task would not be possible without the partnership that has been developed with the Friends of Sandy Pond Beach and The Nature Conservancy. On Sandy Island Beach the partnership also includes Oswego County. Together we are enhancing recreational opportunities, restoring dunes and protecting important bird habitat. Questions or issues related to these properties can be directed to Dave Forness, Supervising Forester, in the DEC Cortland Office at 607.753.3095 extension 224 or to Dan Sawchuck, DEC's Forester based in Altmar, at 315.298.7467.

DEC Wildlife Biologists are responsible for Wildlife Management Areas on the Eastern Shore. (The Nature Conservancy is also a valuable partner in the management of these properties.) Questions about Black Pond and Lakeview Marsh Wildlife Management Areas should be directed to Dennis Faulknham in the DEC's Watertown Office at 315.785.2261. For Deer Creek Wildlife Management Area call Jim Glidden in DEC's Cortland office at 607.753.3095 extension 249.

DEC Operations Crews are the Department's construction and maintenance division. Their latest large project involved moving 44,000 cubic yards of sand last year to repair a dune blowout on Sandy Island Beach. For information about their activities the best contact would be the land manager for that specific property, as listed above.

DEC Forest Rangers are peace officers with powers to enforce all State laws and regulations. One of their duties is the enforcement of Environmental Conservation Law on all lands administered by the DEC. To report any illegal activities occurring on DEC properties in Oswego County you should call Ranger Ed Pizon at 315.451.2678 or Forest Ranger Captain Morgan Peace at 607.753.3095 extension 223. In Jefferson County call Forest Ranger Captain Louis Curth in Watertown at 315.785.2558.

DEC Conservation Officers are police officers with exactly the same powers as State Troopers. Their duty or assignment is the enforcement of all Environmental Conservation Laws. Environmental Conservation Law has grown from the former game protection assignments to now include timber theft investigations and the enforcement of a multitude of pollution prevention regulations. If you are unable to contact a Forest Ranger to report an ongoing illegal activity on DEC administered properties, the Conservation Officers are willing to assist. In Oswego County call the Syracuse Law Enforcement Office at 315.426.7433. For Jefferson County properties you should call the Watertown Law Enforcement Office at 315.785.2231.

DEC Permit Administrators include both engineers and environmental analysts. They help guide individuals through the permitting process required by several different environmental regulations. Some of the activities that are common in the Eastern Shore area which might require a permit are altering wetlands, crossing protected streams, major construction projects which disturb large areas, construction work in the dunes or on the shore, and open burning of materials. If you have any permitting questions in Jefferson County, call 315.785.2245. In Oswego County call 315.426.7438.

Our committee met on June 17^th at a landowner's cottage at Montario Point. We are holding our meetings in different areas in order to see the different shorelines and the impact of coastal erosion. In the past few years we have visited North Jefferson Park, Selkirk Beach, Renshaw Bay and North Rainbow Shores. We have been working with the Dune Stewards to help educate visitors on their impact on the dune areas. For example, many users leave their trash behind; there is no trash collection on the State, DEC or Nature Conservancy beaches.

The committee continues its communication with the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control regarding the level of Lake Ontario. Many landowners observed beautiful beaches early in the spring, only to have them diminish with higher levels in May and June. Of course, much of this is due to high rainfall, but we continue to remind the board of impacts on landowners and encourage whatever lake level regulation can be implemented to provide some relief. Committee reps were given a flyer with internet and mailing addresses of the lake board and other contacts. If you wish a copy, contact your association rep or Molly Thompson at Sea Grant 315.341.3042.

We welcome input from lakeshore landowners in our area. Please inform your association representative with your concerns. If you don't know who your rep is, call Molly at Sea Grant, and she will put you in contact with the appropriate person.

We wish everyone a safe and healthy summer.

Many of you are aware that on October 29, 1999 the International Joint Commission (IJC) released a Plan of Study describing in detail the work required to review the regulation of water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. What you may not be aware of is how this came about and what is occurring now.

In 1996 the IJC developed a Scope of Work identifying the studies needed to determine whether changes to the IJC's Orders of Approval were warranted. These changes include adding criteria to address recreational boating and the environment. Studies identified in the Scope of Work were never funded by the Governments of the United States and Canada.

Then, in April 1999, the IJC informed the Governments that it was becoming increasingly urgent to review the regulation of Lake Ontario outflows due to public dissatisfaction with lake levels and in light of environmental concerns and climate change issues. As a first step, the IJC established a binational work group made up of agencies and organizations from both the United States and Canada to transform the Scope of Work into the more detailed Plan of Study.

On October 15, 1999 the IJC transmitted the Plan of Study to the governments and requested the Governments' assistance in securing the resources needed to carry out the work. The Plan of Study describes in detail the technical studies, impact assessment and development of alternatives needed to review the regulation of Lake Ontario outflows. Ongoing public consultation will be an important component. The entire effort is projected to cost $10.1 million (U.S.) plus $15.8 million (Canadian) over five years.

In February this year, President Clinton announced that he has included $2.15 million in his budget for Fiscal Year 2001 to review the regulation of water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Currently, this funding has received strong support from the House and Senate and is moving forward in the Federal budget process.

For more information, consult the IJC's web site at www.ijc.org.  The Plan of Study can be found by clicking on Press Releases and then reading the October 29, 1999 Media Release.

Thompson will partner with Eastern Lake Ontario community leaders to establish education and outreach programs on issues of concern regarding the area's dune ecosystem. She will also edit the annual newsletter of The Ontario Dune Coalition and maintain the currently functional "Lake Ontario Sand Dunes and Wetlands" web site,  www.cce.cornell.edu/seagrant/dune/dune.html

Additional responsibilities will have Thompson working with Sea Grant staff and advisory committees to identify and develop educational programs focused on habitat management and restoration on private property along the New York shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Erie. An integral part of this process will be to receive feedback from local community residents, which will be collected during Thompson's periodic "Lore of the Shore" seminars beginning this July.

Molly can be reached at 315.341.3042 or by email at mat36@cornell.edu

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

The Ontario Dune Coalition newsletter is produced and distributed by New York Sea Grant and The Nature Conservancy  with a grant from the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes National Program Office