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Aurora, New York – In keeping with its commitment to the liberal arts and in recognition of the need for leaders in scientific and environmental studies initiatives, Wells College and the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network are collaborating in new ways. Wells President Lisa Marsh Ryerson recently announced that the Watershed Network will move its offices into Zabriskie Hall this summer. The three-story building on the College’s campus will provide the Network and its staff with office space and a central location with ready access to Cayuga Lake.

 “This is an exciting time in the history of our relationship with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network,” said President Ryerson. “Wells has been actively involved with the Network for a number of years, and we are delighted that they will bring their headquarters to Aurora. I look forward to welcoming my Network friends and colleagues to the Wells campus, and am excited about continuing our collaboration as we seek ways to protect one of our most valuable regional assets – Cayuga Lake.”

The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (CLWN) was founded in 1998 in Ithaca, and is currently operating from Interlaken. CLWN seeks to protect and improve the ecological health, economic vitality, and overall beauty of the watershed through education, communication, and leadership. The Cayuga Lake watershed covers more than 850 miles and is spread over seven counties: Cayuga, Seneca, Tompkins, Cortland, Ontario, Schuyler, and Tioga.

As CLWN enters its second decade of water resource stewardship in the Finger Lakes, it was determined that a change of location was necessary for the community-based, not-for-profit organization.

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to expand our services and move to the Aurora and Wells community,” said CLWN treasurer and founding director Bill Shaw. “We look forward to enhanced collaboration with the broader community and are deeply grateful for Wells’ generosity and support of our programs.”

Wells’ collaboration with CLWN began several years ago. Professors of Biology and Environmental Studies Thomas Vawter and Niamh O’Leary are both engaged with CLWN and its partner group, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization, which bring together representatives from the counties that comprise the Cayuga Lake watershed.

One of the most popular programs offered by these agencies is the The Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project. The M/V Haendal, a 43-foot steel boat also known as “the floating classroom,” provides direct access to Cayuga Lake for middle school, high school, and college students to learn about the lake and directly interact with the natural world in intellectually and experientially rewarding ways. The Haendel stops frequently at the Wells College dock to take students out on the water for ecological studies and water monitoring, coupled with shoreline activities focusing on stream ecology, watershed concepts, storm-water runoff, global climate change, and other topics.

The CLWN is expected to move into Zabriskie Hall at Wells College on August 1. New contact information for the organization will be released at that time.

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