State University of New York at Oneonta
OP-10: Biodiversity

-Total access 2,600 acres. All but 365 acres is protected by conservation easements.
-On Otsego Lake the headwaters of the Susquehanna River Drainage Basin having water quality impacts on the Chesapeake Bay. As one of the most pristine and managed areas in the Basin, it can be used by natural resource managers as “reference conditions” for the system.
-Terrestrial biotic communities are reasonably diverse, being on the ecotone between Appalachian and Northern hardwoods on both acid shales and karst limestones.

Complete loss of 6 species unionids (pearly fresh-water mussels), all under some level of concern, in Otsego Lake. All still present in local streams in threatened condition. We have documented the introduction of 25 exotics into Otsego Lake since 1900, along with the loss of more than 55 natives representing a diversity of plant and animal taxa.

1. Lists of aquatic and terrestrial species richness can be provided for most normally studied groups of algae, fungi, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.
2. All lands are managed with concern regarding exotic and invasive species as well as those threatened and endangered. Areas of special significance are managed with access limited primarily to research and monitoring activates contrasted with areas exposed to pre-college, undergraduate, graduate students and community groups.
3. Our strength is our diversity of environments, including practically every biotic community present in the Northeast, excepting alpine and marine coastal sites. Many areas can be considered “sensitive” depending on the floral or faunal groups one is studying.

1. Although priority has been given to annual water quality and biotic monitoring on Otsego Lake to meet BFS responsibilities to the Otsego lake Watershed Management Plan (the Thayer Chair for Otsego Lake Research, the College’s only endowed Chair, assures those management activities take place annually). Our longest data set begins in 1842. Sporadic monitoring began in 1935. Our regular annual monitoring program began in the 1990 and continues to date as does tributary and river monitoring.
2. Terrestrial biotic monitoring continues sporadically driven by faculty and undergraduate student interest, graduate student dissertations, community interest and financial support.

1. BFS Annual Reports, Occasional Papers and Technical Reports have been published since 1957. They include several planning publications documenting policies, management plans and restrictions regarding use of selected areas.
2. Any research and education must conform to management policies and requires prior approval from the Director and a group of faculty and staff actively involved in research and education on site.

Generally, no management on lands is the policy because of interest in long-term community succession. Occasionally selected exotic individuals have been removed when discovered. In Otsego Lake management plans include attempted elimination or control of undesirable exotics.