Skaneateles Lake provides drinking water for 200,000 residents.
Avoid Harmful Algal Blooms (above) as they produce toxins harmful to humans and pets
There are no treatments for private water intakes that can remove the toxins found in HABs
Public water supply: supplier is required to treat, disinfect, and monitor water for users
Skaneateles Watershed Education Program
CCE programming in the Skaneateles watershed brings workshops, trainings, educational materials, volunteer and stewardship opportunities, and updates related to water quality protection to the watershed community.
The Skaneateles Watershed Education Program works to protect the water quality of Skaneateles Lake, the primary drinking water for 200,000 residents. The City of Syracuse has funded this program since 1996.
The Skaneateles Watershed Education Program works to:
- reduce non-point source pollution in the watershed
- improve watershed health and water quality
- connect residents, homeowners, farmers, landowners, and municipal officials with information and opportunities to implement evidence-based best practices for protecting water quality
- fulfill the City of Syracuse’s filtration avoidance waiver
Recent Programs:
Road Salt Impacts on Water Quality: A Case Study of Mirror Lake - February 1st, 2022
With all the snow the Finger Lakes experiences, our roads are often heavily salted to keep them clear from snow and ice. However, the accumulation of salt in our waterbodies can have unintended consequences for water quality. Dr. Brendan Wiltse spoke about his research on road salt in Adirondack lakes, with a focus on Mirror Lake as a case study of road salt impacts.
Stream Systems 101 for Skaneateles - October 13th, 2021
Skaneateles Lake has about 150 distinct watercourses that flow into the lake, all of which play a role in the lake's water quality. Homeowners and other stakeholders are invited to learn the basics of how stream systems function and the role stream health plays in water quality of the lake. Presented by Carl Schwartz, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Coordinator, US Fish and Wildlife.
Transitioning Your Lawn to a Meadow - July 14th, 2021
This webinar discussed how land conservation and stewardship can help protect water quality, ensuring clean drinking water is available for future generations. Learn more about ways to steward your land to protect water quality, promote birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial wildlife, specifically the benefits of transitioning your lawn or a portion of your lawn to a more natural, meadow landscape. Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension Onondaga County in collaboration with Sam Quinn from the SUNY ESF Restoration Science Center.
- Click here to view the Transitioning Your Lawn to a Meadow webinar recording on Youtube
- Click here to download the presentation slides from Transitioning Your Lawn to a Meadow
Lake Friendly Living Awareness Week - May 2nd - May 8th, 2021
Click here to view the webpage with links to webinar recordings, including to CCE Onondaga Water and Ecology Educator Camille Marcotte's presentation on Landscaping for Shorelines.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Planning and Management in Skaneateles - March 1st, 2021
Click here to view the recording of the webinar on YouTube
Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation from the NYS Hemlock Initiative
Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation from the Skaneateles Lake Association
- Resources
- iMapInvasives: https://imapinvasives.natureserve.org/imap/services/page/map.html.
- Prioritization tool: https://blogs.cornell.edu/nyshemlockinitiative/landowner-hemlock-prioritization-toolkit/
- Hemlock ID: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/f/7151/files/2016/12/Hemlock-and-HWA-Hunters_Field-Protocol-yzf63r.pdf
- Hemlock management: https://blogs.cornell.edu/nyshemlockinitiative/hwa-management/hwa-treatment-options/
- “The Living System” video of Bob Duckett talking about hemlocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-H0B6wXDSw&feature=emb_title
- NYS Hemlock Initiative’s volunteer programs: https://blogs.cornell.edu/nyshemlockinitiative/community-science/
Landscaping for Shorelines Webinar - October 14th, 2020
This webinar provided tips for landscaping shorelines to prevent erosion and protect water quality, including examples of native species that are low maintenance, resilient, and ecologically valuable.
Click here to view the Landscaping for Shorelines presentation on Youtube
Stewardship in Skaneateles Webinar - September 29th, 2020
This virtual event featured presentations from Finger Lakes Land Trust, CNY Land Trust and SUNY ESF related to conservation and stewardship in the Skaneateles Lake watershed.
- Click here to view the presentations on Youtube
- Timestamps
- 4:40 - Conservation Easements and Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Skaneateles Projects (Max Heitner, Finger Lakes Land Trust)
- 52:00 - Central New York Land Trust’s Skaneateles Projects and Watershed Education Center (Albert Joerger, CNY Land Trust)
- 1:35:08 - Lawn to Meadow Restoration Program (Sam Quinn, SUNY ESF)
Last updated February 3, 2022
Invasive Mussels Presentation
Dr. Kim Schulz from SUNY ESF gave a talk via Zoom about her research on invasive mussels and their impacts on water quality and harmful algal blooms.
Click here to view the slides from the presentation.
City of Syracuse Water Department
Skaneateles Lake provides drinking water for the City of Syracuse, Village and Town of Skaneateles, and the Villages of Jordan and Elbridge.
In an effort to maintain the high water quality of the lake and water supply, the City of Syracuse implements Watershed Rules and Regulations in additional to funding our Watershed Education Program and the Watershed Agricultural Program.
Watershed Rules and Regulations address natural and human activities that may threaten the water quality of the lake.
Harmful Algal Blooms
7 Actions for Better Water Quality: A Resident's Guide to Helping Prevent HABs
Click here to access digital version.
This guide was created to help residents take actions on their properties, in their homes, and in their community that will benefit water quality, reduce the occurrence of HABs, improve the environment, and even help save you money!*
This guide was created based on potential impact of action, available support programs in the watershed, and the NYSDEC HAB Action Plan for Skaneateles Lake.
Know it. Avoid it. Report it.
New Skaneateles Website!
Check out the new watershed website with real time lake data, information on harmful algal blooms, how you can help protect water quality, and much more!
Press about the new website:
- Check out CCE Onondaga Water and Ecology Educator, Camille Marcotte, on Bridge St on News Channel 9 talking about the new website (July 1st)
- Check out the news release about the new watershed website
This website is an effort of the Skaneateles Municipal Watershed Partnership, which includes: The City of Syracuse, The Town of Niles, The Town of Scott, The Town of Sempronius, The Town of Spafford, The Town of Skaneateles, The Village of Skaneateles, Cornell Cooperative Extension Onondaga County and Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District.
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Municipal Tree Academy
Monday, January 13
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Stay Connected!
For relevant updates, upcoming events, and other information regarding water quality protection in Skaneateles Lake Watershed, please join our listserve: http://eepurl.com/bQ22XP
Skaneateles Lake Agricultural Program (SLWAP)
CCE is an active member of the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program (SLWAP). SLWAP is run by the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District (OCSWCD) and funded by the City of Syracuse.
Initiated in 1994, the SLWAP recommends, and when applicable, financially supports Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be implemented on farmer's and landowner's properties to address priority water quality concerns.
