Our Origins
In 1990, Howard Kimball, a Seneca Lake resident and local businessman, recognized the growing threats to the lake’s water quality. He organized a group of concerned citizens to form an association dedicated to protecting the lake’s pristine waters. Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association (Pure Waters) was officially incorporated in 1991 with a start-up grant of $70,000.
Early efforts focused on building strong partnerships. Collaborations with Hobart and William Smith Colleges led to a key relationship with the Finger Lakes Institute, which became the research arm of the organization.
A pivotal part of the foundation was laid by Ed Hoffman, who helped secure 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The first Executive Director, Mary Ruth Sweet, worked alongside a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors representing the diverse interests of Seneca Lake’s communities.
“The health of Seneca Lake is vital to our community’s well-being. Establishing Pure Waters was our commitment to ensuring that future generations can enjoy and benefit from this natural treasure.”
— Howard Kimball, Founder
Building Partnerships
From the beginning, Pure Waters committed to collaboration, developing relationships with organizations that provided crucial resources and expertise: SUNY Oneonta, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Citizen’s Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) & Open Space Institute.
These partnerships enabled early water quality monitoring, contamination source tracking, and public education campaigns that helped shape public awareness of runoff pollution, septic systems, and erosion issues.
Scientific Contributions
Over the years, Pure Waters has contributed to a growing body of scientific research, including: salinity level studies, limnology research, Fracking and LPG storage assessments, environmental risk surveys, mapping of Seneca Lake’s 29 sub-watersheds
These studies laid the groundwork for recommendations on land use ordinances, wastewater management, and long-term stewardship.
Key Milestones
- 1999: Publication of The State of the Seneca Lake Watershed, co-sponsored by Pure Waters and SLAP-5. The report led to the creation of the Seneca Lake Inter-Municipal Organization (SLIO) and widespread adoption of its recommendations.
- 2013: Pure Waters received the Environmental Quality Award from the U.S. EPA for outstanding contributions to environmental health in the watershed.
- 2014: Launch of the Stream Monitoring Program with the Community Science Institute (CSI), creating baseline pollution data and prioritizing pollution sources.
- 2015–2016: Creation of the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring Program in collaboration with the Finger Lakes Institute and NYS DEC, involving over 80 volunteer shoreline monitors.
- 2016: Based on Pure Waters data, Reeder Creek was added to the Impaired Water Body list, triggering state-level remediation efforts.
- 2018: Stream Monitoring lab analysis costs exceeded $31,500—underscoring the financial commitment needed to preserve water quality.
- 2019: The first Watershed Steward is hired for Seneca Lake. Housed at the FLI, the steward’s main role is coordinating regional efforts to preserve Seneca Lake as a clean source of water.
- 2021: Pure Waters develops a Sediment, Nutrient, and Pollution Reduction (SNPR) Program to fund projects that protect the watershed.
- 2022: Nine Element (9E) Plan adopted. Pure Waters’ years of monitoring data is instrumental in forming this new watershed management plan.
Original Charter Members: Howard Kimball, Ed Hoffman, Mary Ruth Sweet, Richard Ahola, Bob Barton, Jim Carter, Mary Anne Kowalski, Bruce Adams, and Phil Cianciotto
