The water ways of central New York serve as important laboratories for the study of natural change and societal impacts upon local, regional and even global environment. Hamilton, through the combined support of the Sherman Fairchild Foundation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (via the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board), now has a vessel capable of providing access to our regional lakes and rivers for the purposes of teaching and research.
The boat, which is moored at the Oneida Lake Marina,
1) is fully handicap accessible,
2) can accommodate up to 12 passengers,
3) is completely enclosed allowing all weather access except when there is ice,
4) is equipped with all major sediment and water sampling (measuring) instruments,
5) can navigate in water as shallow as 1 foot,
6) has digital navigation and bottom-mapping hardware and software that is GIS compatible,
7) has state of the art navigation and echo-sounding gear,
8) has fuel, accommodation and engine capacity for extended (overnight) excursions and
9) contains 110 AC power options via generator.
The boat will allow for direct water access to the Finger Lakes via the New York State Barge Canal system, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway and to the Mohawk and Hudson River systems.Via trailer, the boat can access the large water bodies of the Adirondacks and the Tug Hill Plateau. Students involved in environmental and geoscience field courses as well as summer research programs will be the primary users of the boat along with their professors.
The first group of students was on the boat on Tuesday, Oct. 2. A public "open boat" day will be scheduled for later in the month.
The boat, which is moored at the Oneida Lake Marina,
1) is fully handicap accessible,
2) can accommodate up to 12 passengers,
3) is completely enclosed allowing all weather access except when there is ice,
4) is equipped with all major sediment and water sampling (measuring) instruments,
5) can navigate in water as shallow as 1 foot,
6) has digital navigation and bottom-mapping hardware and software that is GIS compatible,
7) has state of the art navigation and echo-sounding gear,
8) has fuel, accommodation and engine capacity for extended (overnight) excursions and
9) contains 110 AC power options via generator.
The boat will allow for direct water access to the Finger Lakes via the New York State Barge Canal system, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway and to the Mohawk and Hudson River systems.Via trailer, the boat can access the large water bodies of the Adirondacks and the Tug Hill Plateau. Students involved in environmental and geoscience field courses as well as summer research programs will be the primary users of the boat along with their professors.
The first group of students was on the boat on Tuesday, Oct. 2. A public "open boat" day will be scheduled for later in the month.
