Key Lake Caregivers

Many agencies, organizations, and individuals work to keep our lake and watershed healthy. These major players all have the same goal: protecting the watershed environment to keep our lake clean and healthy. Each entity has its own areas of expertise. Since they have similar names and often work together to achieve goals, it can be confusing to keep them straight.  Here's a thumbnail sketch of the most important players in our watershed’s environment.

Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council
Watershed Manager
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Commission
Watershed Inspector
Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Ontario/Yates Ontario County Water Resources Council
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association


Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council (CLWC)
Lead entity in coordinating efforts to protect watershed. Each of 14 municipalities in watershed, including those that dispense water from Canandaigua Lake, has one representative on Council.

Each municipality contributes funds annually toward work of Council based on “fair share” system and Council uses these public funds for their work. They employ a Watershed Manager (below), whose job is to carry out mission of Council.

Council’s goal of “maintaining and enhancing high water quality of watershed” is achieved four ways: education, research, restoration/protection, and, if needed,
regulation. Charged with implementing Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan. Awarded 2004 Environmental Excellence Award from NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

Check their website, www.canandaigualake.org, for wealth of information on the lake, management plan, their work.

Watershed Manager
Since 1998 Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council (see above) has employed Watershed Manager, Kevin Olvaney. Kevin has an MBA from Syracuse University, a masters degree in Water Resources Management from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a bachelors degree from Sienna College. Has enormous, many-faceted job that includes:

• testing water samples from around the watershed to identify existing or potential problems
• studying and mapping land use
• educational outreach
• procuring grants
• organizing projects such as stream bank stabilization
• monitoring development projects within the watershed

Kevin partners with all entities listed here, as well as FLCC, working closely with Dr. Bruce Gilman. Works with all municipalities in watershed, along with many county and state agencies.

Canandaigua Lake Watershed Commission
An organization enabled by NYS Public Health Law (1954), the CLW Commission consists of the five “purveyors”(meaning distributing by selling) of Canandaigua Lake water for public consumption.  Purveyors: City of Canandaigua,villages of Newark, Palmyra, and Rushville; Town of Gorham. Each municipality has a pipe directly into the lake for removing and transporting water. These purveyors sell water to their own residents, as well as to other municipalities.

Examples: City of Canandaigua sells water to towns of Canandaigua, Hopewell, and Farmington. Village of Newark sells water to Clifton Springs, Phelps, Port Gibson, Shortsville, Arcadia, and so on.

Watershed Inspector
Employed by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Commission,
George Barden has been Canandaigua Lake Watershed Inspector for more than twenty years. Duties include reviewing plans and inspecting the installation of all on-site wastewater (septic) treatment systems within the watershed to insure they comply with both the NYS Dept. of Health and NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation requirements.

Also responsible for inspecting both newly installed and old, failing systems. Over 4,000 septic systems in the watershed pose a threat to both ground and lake water. Member of many professional associations; named to Who’s Who in America.

Ontario and Yates Counties Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD)
Formed by NYS law in 1940, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) operate at county level of government to protect natural resources. Headed by Patrick J. Emerick, District Manager, Ontario SWCD is a member of the Ontario County Water Resources Council (see below).  Headed by James Balyszak, Yates SWCD is a member of the Yates County Water Resources Council (see below).  They assist with various conservation and environmental issues. They . . .

• Work with farmers to identify, fund, and install Best Management Practices that protect water and soil resources.
• Provide educational programs and materials for schools, residents, municipal governments, civic and volunteer groups on a wide variety of conservation topics.
• Review soil erosion control plans for developments in various towns and offering assistance and advice for the towns.
• Work with highway departments to identify and remediate road bank erosion.
• Works with residents, code enforcement officers and developers to site and inspect onsite septic systems throughout the county, and more.

SWCD is member of Ontario County Water Resources Council (below). Active partner in creating Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan, adopted by CLW Council in 1994 (above).

Water Resources Councils--Ontario (OCWRC) and Yates (YCWRC)

Fund and coordinate water resource protection projects within  entire counties – not just watersheds.  Though they differ from county to county, Water Resource Councils usually include:

Members
Building Inspectors Associations
Lake associations (citizens' groups)
Cornell Cooperative Extensions
County Farm Bureaus
County Highway Superintendent’s Associations
County Planning Boards
County Planning Departments
Regional Planning Councils
Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Ontario County WRC includes representatives from:

Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Honeoye Valley Association
Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association
 
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association (CLWA)
Our organization is a citizen-led, non-profit organization, employing a professional consultant. Mission: to protect water quality and overall environment of Canandaigua Lake watershed by applying scientifically grounded research and analyses. Advocates for sound public policy, offers educational programs, seeks to balance development with conservation, and promotes appreciation of local history and heritage.

Specifically, works to promote methods to conserve, improve, and protect natural resources of watershed.  Develops educational programs and seminars; helps monitor water quality; partners with local organizations and agencies with similar goals (above); provides technical assistance when needed. Especially concerned with promoting patterns of development that will ultimately have a positive impact on lake’s watershed.

One of precursors of CLWA, the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Task Force, was also major player in creating Canandaigua Lake Watershed Management Plan and Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council (above). Currently has over 700 members.