Blog

Please enjoy this article written by one of CSI’s longterm HABs Harriers, James Edwards. This article was first included in the 7th HABs Newsletter of the 2025 season, compiled by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. James has been monitoring for harmful algal blooms on Cayuga Lake since our monitoring program began in 2018 on theRead more

From the desk of CSI Executive Director, Grascen Shidemantle, PhD.  To visit this article on the Ithaca Times website, visit: 8/15/24: Guest Opinion: Correcting the Record on Cayuga Lake Pollution To read the 8/8/24 article on the Ithaca Times website, visit: 8/8/24: Guest Opinion: Pollution of Inlet and Cayuga Lake  On August 8th, 2024, theRead more

CSI’s Water Quality Indicators: Chloride in Context As someone who drives route 13 from Cortland to Ithaca every day, I am grateful for road deicers, especially during this time of year. They are absolutely critical for keeping roads safe for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. In fact, road deicers reduce the rate of car accidents byRead more

CSI is excited to present the Fall 2019 edition of The Water Bulletin: The Newsletter of the Community Science Institute This edition of the newsletter highlights the work of CSI and the dedicated volunteers we partner with to monitor harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Cayuga Lake and the water quality of tributary streams in theRead more

We wanted to share a great article that demonstrates how community-led science agendas are dealing with significant issues. This really speaks to our mission: The mission of the Community Science Institute (CSI) is to foster and support environmental monitoring by volunteers in order to educate the public about natural resources and to collect scientifically credible data for useRead more

IF YOUR WELL WAS FLOODED DURING SUNDAY’S STORM, YOUR WATER MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRINK! Extreme flooding events, like those seen in our region after downpours on Sunday, can significantly compromise drinking water supplies. Floodwaters often carry biological and chemical contaminants that can make consumers sick; including bacteria, deicing salts, animal excrement, untreated sewage,Read 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