The map reflects a compilation of fifteen years of the author's outdoor experience hiking and gardening in the Cayuga Basin, plus reports from the community (e.g local birders, farmers, and state park officials). 

FALL 2000: The author sketched the first draft of the bioregion map after writing a thesis on sustainability and reading about the deep ecology movement of the 1970s and about the Salish Sea Mapping Project (1999).

FALL 2001: Called Briony Penn, artist and project manager of the Salish Sea Bioregion Mapping Project, to ask for tips. Discussion with advisor Wally Woods how a bioregion map could serve the mission of the Center for Environmental Sustainability (501c3). Contract (work for hire) signed with artist Camille Doucet. Collected information around Cayuga Lake: from environmental organizations, local old-timers, farmers, hunters, fishermen, wildlife professionals, Cayuga Bird Club, and historians around Cayuga Lake. 

OCTOBER 2001: Artist began painting; author and artist met daily for about a month to clarify and strategize, then weekly. $200 grant obtained from Alternatives Federal Credit Union and an anonymous donor for first printing plus $5000 in fundraising for publication of the first edition.

EARTH DAY 2002: Painting completed. Scanned and printed by Cayuga Press Printing. First edition printed, 2002; second edition printed 2010. The artist took about six months to sketch and paint. The map took about nine months from start to finish. 

MANY THANKS to Wally Woods for supporting the project through the former non-profit, Center for Environmental Sustainability. Thanks to Elan Shapiro who shared his knowledge and library of books on deep ecology and bioregionalism and to Camille Doucet for her talent, skill, patience, and devotion to painting nature.