There was a time when Lake Neatahwanta was a destination for swimming,boating and fishing. Now signs on the shore warn people to stay away.
The 750 acre spring fed lake on the western edge of the City of Fulton has become polluted over time by silt and runoff from nearby farms. The natural springs that used to feed the lake are clogged. Sediment has built up to the point where the lake is only about 8 feet deep. The sediment contains phosphorous which often leads to an overload of harmful algae especially during the summer. The algae can be dangerous to human health.
Crystal English owns a mobile hot dog stand at Lake Neatahwanta "I get asked everyday if there's places to fish and swim and I have to say no." English told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon.
Recently the Mayor of Fulton and the Supervisor for the Town of Granby joined forces to try to find ways to clean up Lake Neatahwanta. Today Granby Supervisor Ed Williamson says there's renewed hope. Williamson says yesterday he was part of a conference call that included Fulton's Mayor, two representatives of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and a top official of the Army Corps of Engineers. He says the Army Corps of Engineers has offered to help, which is a reversal from earlier stances in which the agency said Lake Neatahwanta was not in its jurisdiction.
"He's agreed to come up here from Washington...to take a look at the situation and see what kind of advise he can give us as to the best way to proceed."
With the Army Corps of Engineers on board, Williamson also expects that the lake could qualify for some federal funding for the cleanup.
