Blog

The possibility that water resources could become contaminated from hydrofracking is a major reason that many opposed the gas extraction method. While the recent announcement of a ban on fracking in New York comes as a relief to those concerned about water quality, it does not mean that New York’s water resources are immune toRead more

It’s easy to get caught up in the scenic waterfalls and award-winning wines found along the shores of Seneca Lake. These well-known features of the Finger Lakes deserve the attention they receive, but won’t be the only focus of the upcoming “Seneca Lake Academy”, a free full-day event to explore the natural and cultural historyRead more

When one thinks of scientific data collection, volunteers working in the field with test kits and clipboards may not be the first image that comes to mind.  With any volunteer stream monitoring program ensuring that accurate, reliable data is being collected is essential to a successful program. Unlike CSI’s flagship Synoptic Sampling program, where samples are testedRead more

Just days after announcing that a decision about whether or not to allow hydrofracking in New York would be made “before the end of the year,” the Cuomo administration announced on Wednesday, December 17th that the controversial gas extraction method known as hydrofracking would be banned in New York. Citing “significant public health risks”, Dr. Howard Zucker,Read more

The Community Science Institute along with 54 other local nonprofit organizations will be at the 11th Annual Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair on Saturday, December 6th from 11 AM – 6 PM in Ithaca. The fair is held in both the First Baptist Church and the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of N. Cayuga and Court Street in Ithaca.Read more

Whether you’re a long-time volunteer, you’ve never looked through a microscope, and anywhere in between, CSI is now holding weekly BMI identification sessions for any one interested in getting involved. Adrianna Hirtler, CSI’s BMI Specialist, will be at the sessions to train and help volunteers with identification. Biological monitoring is a fun, affordable, and effectiveRead more

More than 6 million New Yorkers get their drinking water from private wells. If your drinking water comes from a private well, you are responsible for your own water supply. This is a big responsibility that can seem overwhelming. The good news is that your well can be safely managed with regular inspections and testing. Responsible managementRead more

This story, written by Kait Clarke and Alyvia Covert, originally appeared in the online magazine, Ithaca Week and has been reprinted with permission.  Ithaca’s Water Treatment Plant is in the first stages of a renovation project for the drinking water system of the City of Ithaca, specifically to the Six Mile Creek watershed. The city hasRead more

Most of CSI’s efforts in the Cayuga Lake watershed go towards monitoring streams and creeks that flow into Cayuga Lake. Twice a year, CSI partners with the Floating Classroom to collect samples from Cayuga Lake itself, testing for the same parameters as in the streams.  The trip out on the lake is one of the highlights ofRead more

The Finger Lakes are well-known for boating, waterfalls, and its wine industry. An invasive aquatic plant, hydrilla verticillata, is threatening Cayuga Lake as we know it, and other Finger Lakes may be next on the list. Considered one of the most aggressive aquatic plants, hydrilla was found 3 years ago in the Cayuga Inlet when aRead more

If you’re lucky enough to live on Cayuga Lake, chances are you’re interested in keeping the lake water clean and healthy. A group of residents have organized to begin collecting samples along the west shore of Cayuga Lake between Ithaca and Trumansburg. “We want to make sure the lake is healthy for swimming and doesRead more

It’s hot. It’s humid. We just got a good rain and the creeks are flowing, so it’s the perfect time to go swimming, right? Well, probably not. Even though it may seem like your best chance at cooling off, swimming immediately following a rain storm means that levels of E.coli and other pathogens are present in highRead more

Two Ithaca-based organizations, CSI and the Sciencenter, are teaming up for a summer camp program that builds leadership while providing an up-close look at the residents of Cascadilla Creek. The program, which begins on Friday, is the result of a successful 2013 pilot program that aimed to get Sciencenter summer campers and counselors-in-training involved with real-lifeRead more

Nearly 2 million New Yorkers rely on private wells for drinking water. Most of them have never done extensive testing to know what’s in their water. Now, thousands of Otsego County residents have a very good idea of their water quality, thanks to a recent initiative to document baseline water quality in advance of hydrofracking,Read more

A new collaboration between the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association (SLPWA) and the Community Science Institute (CSI) to monitor streams flowing into Seneca Lake has kicked off with volunteer training workshops, which are now completed. Monitoring will begin in late May. The goal of the pilot Stream Analysis Project is to monitor three streams thatRead more