Two organizations with long-standing histories of involvement in Otsego Lake protection have teamed up the SUNY-Oneonta Biological Field Station to present the 2004 Otsego Lake Forum this Sunday, July 11.

The Otsego County Conservation Association and Otsego 2000 will be joined by field station staff for a three-part program featuring an excursion on Otsego Lake, followed by updates on lake issues and a special presentation on the implementation of the new septic system management plan instituted earlier this year.

This summer, septic systems in the watershed are being identified and mapped in preparation for the testing which begins next year.

First on the agenda for the annual forum is a lake tour.

The biological field station barge will leave from the dock behind their facility at 2:30 p.m. The tour will take about one hour and provide information on both the ecological state of the lake as well as point out aspects of the lake's unique history.

There is no charge for the tour; but the field station and Otsego 2000 stress that due to limitations on space, reservations must be made in advance no later than noon on Friday, July 9. To reserve a place on the barge, call Otsego 2000 at 547-8881.

"We featured lake tours at the 2000 Forum, and they were very popular," said Otsego 2000 director Martha Frey. "There's nothing like first-hand experience of the lake. We hope as many as possible will take advantage of this opportunity."

A two-part program at the village's Fairy Springs Park on county route 31 will follow the lake tour.

At 4:00 p.m. Cooperstown mayor Carol Waller will make welcoming remarks and introduce a program featuring lake and watershed updates by Jason Mulford, of the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District, Jim Pullano of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Dr. Willard Harman, director of the SUNY-Oneonta Biological Field Station.

Following that program at 5 p.m., Otsego Lake watershed coordinator Win McIntyre will present an overview of the recently initiated septic system management program.

Matt Albright, of the field station, will explain considerations dealing with phosphorus migration from septic systems and Bill Elsey, a member of the Watershed Supervisory Committee, will discuss that committee's role in implementing the septic management plan.

The keynote speaker will be Paul Bauter of the Keuka Lake Watershed Improvement Committee (KWIC). Since Keuka Lake has implemented a similar program, Bauter will be able to offer suggestions and make comments based on first-hand experience.

OCCA executive director Teresa Winchester said the public will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists after each session.

"There are so many positive things going on in regard to Otsego Lake," said Winchester. "A lot of organizations and agencies are working on a number of initiatives to preserve or improve the water quality of the lake. We hope Otsego Lake residents and all who care about the lake will come to the forum to become better informed about what's going on."