Dear Glen, et.al.   In Dec. of last year the County passed a resolution to use $1.5 mil. to finish the Loop the Lake Trail construction with the agreement to make the trail on Murphy’s Island along the railroad tracks so as not to disturb the eagles.    Now it wants to build the trail instead through the area of the eagle roost.   While the County has not presented the public with a plan for the Trail around the whole South end of the Lake, it wants to start construction of a Trail on Murphy’s Island this summer.   There are many obstacles to a Trail around the Lake and many of us do not believe that the final trail will in fact include the Murphy’s Island trail, which is proposed as a dead-end spur.   Please see Lindsay Speer’s proposed Lake the Loop Trail at https://creatingchangeconsulting.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/onondaga-lake-connections/  which would not impact the eagles.    The Murphy’s Island Trail will disturb the eagles because they see humans as their predators (not cars or trains) and flee in their presence.   The County proposed to close the trail from Dec. 15-Mar. 15 when the eagles are roosting, but that does not prevent disturbing the eagles that are present for the other 9 months.   We are the best urban viewing area for eagles in NY and probably the U.S.   We could benefit economically and educationally by maintaining & expanding the public’s viewing of the eagles by making Murphy’s Island an Eagle Sanctuary.   Murphy’s Island is also extremely toxic: anybody building that trail will be exposed.   People using the trail can be exposed to toxic vapors, to chemicals on the trail from occasional water covering the trail since it is also a wetland, or to chemicals as a result of straying from the trail.   Contact your Legislators to oppose this trail.   Diana Green