What We Do For You

Since the 1950s we have  partnered with other lake advocacy organizations and participated in a wide variety of projects, many scientifically-based.  All projects are aimed at the same goal: encouraging practices that protect the overall environment of Canandaigua Lake.  Healthy land and clean water.  Here are representative activities we've engaged in.  Many are ongoing.

Accomplishments

1. Creating and implementing a Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan (1990-2010).  Specific benchmarks include:

• 1989-founding of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Task Force and beginning of community action
• 1994-creation of a draft watershed management plan
• 2000-acceptance of a watershed management plan by the NYS DEC and watershed municipal governments
• 2002-acceptance of a watershed management plan by the NYS Department of State, including increased funding
• 2005-renewal and revision of the watershed management plan activities
• 2010-renewal and revision of watershed management plan activities

2. Conducting enhanced monitoring of watershed water quality (1995-2010)

3. Creation of the Watershed Council, an intermunicipal organization (2000)

4. Continuing the tradition of the “Ring of Fire” (ongoing since 1954) and the celebration of native American heritage

5. Hiring paid staff to increase monitoring and management efforts (1980-present)

6. Encouraging public access opportunities in the watershed, such as the protection of Bare Hill Unique Area, Great Hill Preserve, Grimes Glen Park, Parrish Gully and Onanda Park (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2009)

7. Developing and delivering a Watershed Education program to the school districts of the watershed (1989-present)

8. Developing speed and noise limits for Canandaigua Lake (1970s)

9. Advocating for a perimeter sewer to alleviate local wastewater problems (1970s)

10. Encouraging compliance with the Uniform Docks and Moorings Law to fairly share access to the lake (1994-present)

11. Advocating reasonable land use regulations protective of the lake (1954-present)

12. Advocating stronger erosion and sediment control and stormwater regulations in the watershed municipalities (1990-present)

13. Sponsoring field studies by Finger Lakes Community College students becoming environmental professionals (1985-present)

14. Sponsoring specialized scientific studies of the Canandaigua Lake watershed (1970s to present)

15. Taking legal actions (Thendara, RSM) to protect the lake (1980s, 2004-present)

16. Advocating for increased funding for agricultural best management practices through the Agricultural Environmental Management program (1994-present)

17. Advocating for special funds to allow highway departments to more fully treat erosion problems in road ditches (1998-2005)

18. Encouraging wider application of best management practices (ongoing)

19. Advocating for better protection of stored highway salt and rational application rates on highways (2000-present)

20. Erecting “Welcome to the Canandaigua Lake Watershed” signs on all highways entering the watershed (1993 and 2009)

21. Responding to spills, floods and other emergency conditions

22. Coordinated the clean up of 10,000 cu. yd. solid waste dump at Sunnyside and participated in the clean up of several smaller homesite dumps (1987-2000)