The Rochester area is near all eleven of the Finger Lakes.  These lakes not only make our area one of the most beautiful, they also frame the environment as one of water and wetlands and thousands of plant and wildlife conducive to this type of ecology.  Each lake in this section has its own page and resources: Honeoye Lake, Hemlock Lake, Canadice Lake, Cayuga Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Seneca Lake, Conesus Lake, Keuka Lake

Honeoye Lake (click to enlarge)

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Finger Lakes in the News

Resources for the Finger Lakes (separate pages for each Finger Lakes)

 New York State Federation of Lakes Associations, Inc. NYSFOLA's mission is to protect the water resources of New York State by assisting local organizations and individuals through public dialogue, education, information exchange and collaborative efforts.

  Water Quality Study of the Finger Lakes  from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation "The files listed below are parts of a report entitled "Water Quality Study of the Finger Lakes", which details work conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water over the past several years. The report is composed of two related components as follows: (1) Synoptic Water Quality component, and (2) Sediment Core component. The files are all in Adobe© Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is available at no cost from Adobe at the following web site: http://www.adobe.com

 You don't want to help invasive species advance on our waters, so go here: Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers. Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! - Welcome to a site for recreational users who want to help stop aquatic nuisance species. As Americans, we love to spend time on the water. Protecting these resources is an important part of our overall enjoyment. A concern we must all address is the spreading of harmful plants, animals and other organisms. These aquatic nuisance species can hitch a ride on our clothing, boats, and items used in the water. When we go to another lake or stream, the nuisance species can be released. And, if the conditions are right, these introduced species can become established and create drastic results.

NY Tourism & Travel- New York Wine and Culinary Center Finger Lakes Region Vacations Packages and Events Founded in 1919, Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance—the official tourism promotion agency for New York's Finger Lakes region—is an association of private-sector attractions, tourism-related businesses and county tourism offices working together to enhance and promote visitor business for the 9,000-square-mile Finger Lakes region, which includes the 14 counties of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates.

Here is a good site for learning about and joining in commenting about the future of our Finger Lakes.  Finger Lakes Future About the Finger Lakes Future Alliance We are a diverse group of Finger Lakes residents concerned about the direction of economic development in the area. We believe in a future based on tourism, environmentally sound planning, and principles of open government and public accountability.

FL-LOWPA The purpose of the Finger Lakes - Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance is to protect and enhance water resources by

 NYSDEC Type E Botulism in Lake Ontario - Q & A

Finger Lakes in the News

• Clinton seeks federal aid for Finger Lakes U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday introduced legislation that for the first time would confer federal status, federal protection and federal funding on the Finger Lakes. Her proposed Finger Lakes Initiative Act of 2002 would establish a department within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oversee the environmental integrity and aid in development of cultural and economic resources of the 11 glacially carved lakes and surrounding communities, Clinton said during a teleconference Thursday from her Washington, D.C., office. --(October 4, 2002) Star-Gazette.com
• Democrat & Chronicle: Geneva gets Finger Lakes research center — Gouged out by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago, the 11 Finger Lakes stretch across a 75-mile-wide swath of New York state. Now, for the first time, one institute will serve as a hub of research and data about the region, which is nearly twice the size of Connecticut. (October 1, 2002) Democrat and Chronicle
• Clinton pledges new plan for Finger Lakes U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton will introduce legislation to create an alliance to protect the environment and boost commerce. (August 31, 2002) Daily Messenger
• Algae Leaves Bad Smell A bad smell has left a bad taste in the mouths of people living along one of the Finger Lakes. Residents say an algae problem on Honeoye Lake has been worse this year than any other in recent memory. It's closed the beach to swimmers, and left a foul odor in the air for much of the summer. (August 29, 2002)  R News: Your NewsChannel
• Bill awaiting OK from House would ban forest drilling HECTOR - A permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest is being sought. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton last week announced Senate adoption of a bill that will ensure the forest is forever safe from the threats posed by drilling. (August 8, 2002)  Finger Lakes Times
• Democrat & Chronicle: Open space, rec projects in Finger Lakes get funds — WATKINS GLEN — Six open space and recreation projects, including a new nature park in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, will divide $654,000 in state and federal funding.  (August 6, 2002) Democrat and Chronicle:
• Wildlife toxin may hit Finger Lakes Researchers believe exotic species, such as the zebra mussel, brought botulism to the Great Lakes.
  Local biologists with the state Department of Environmental Conservation said this morning that a deadly toxin killing fish and birds in Lake Erie may eventually hit the Finger Lakes. (August 5, 2002) Daily Messenger
• Democrat & Chronicle: Finger Lakes drilling ban tactics shift — WASHINGTON — With their bill that would permanently ban drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest making no headway in the House, New York lawmakers are seeking a one-year extension of a temporary ban imposed last fall. Oil and gas exploration in the 15,000-acre forest would be barred through Sept. 30, 2003, under a Department of Interior spending bill that passed the House last week. That bill now heads for the Senate, where approval of the drilling ban extension is expected. (July 24, 2002) Democrat and Chronicle:
• Democrat & Chronicle: Key senator backs ban on Finger Lakes drilling (June 19, 2002) — New York's senators, Democrats Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, have picked up crucial support for their call for a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, who is the leading advocate of oil and gas exploration on public lands, indicated at a Senate hearing Tuesday that he would support the New Yorkers' bill prohibiting drilling in the 16,000-acre forest, in Schuyler County north of Elmira. (June 19, 2002) DemocratandChronicle.com
• Democrat & Chronicle: Finger Lakes region still under drought watch — ALBANY -- The Finger Lakes region remains under a drought watch while conditions in some other regions have improved, according to members of the state drought task force. As a result of the average 5 inches of rain that fell in April, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has lifted its drought watch for 17 counties in the Adirondacks, Southern Tier and Susquehanna region. (May 9, 2002) DemocratandChronicle.com
• Finger Lakes area may join drought watch list  ALBANY -- A state panel said Thursday that it intends to add the Finger Lakes area to the drought watch list, as a wet March did little to alleviate dry conditions across New York.  (April 15, 2002) State Headlines
• Drill Proposal In Finger Lakes Met With Opposition  Rochester, NY - A proposal to drill for natural gas in a New York forest is drawing some opposition. (July 12, 2001) iKnowRochester.com
• Finger Lakes stories  --A six-month Democrat and Chronicle series last year documented that the lakes -- while healthy -- showed signs of strain. 
• The tug of control grows over the waves of change Money short, many worries linger, but mood upbeat for the future (July 2, 2000) - -DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
• Lakes region jazzing up ad campaign, hopes baby boomers take heed  -- No one would confuse some past efforts to bring tourists to the Finger Lakes region as, well, ''hip.''  (July 2, 2000) - -DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
• Personal Watercraft Might Not Be Welcome Personal watercraft, also known by the most popular brand name, Jet Skis, are familiar sights on the lakes in our area, but for how long? (July 2, 2000) RochesterToday

Resources for the Finger Lakes (Of course, these are not all of the eleven Finger Lakes, but only the lakes that have appeared in Rochester-area news.)

• Honeoye Lake

  •  Get photographs of this Finger Lake, news, and resources, which include various environmental groups which help to maintain the health of this lake. 

• Cayuga Lake

  • Get photographs of this Finger Lake, news, and resources, which include various environmental groups which help to maintain the health of this lake. 

• Canandaigua Lake

  • Get photographs of this Finger Lake, news, and resources, which include various environmental groups which help to maintain the health of this lake.

• Seneca Lake

  • Get photographs of this Finger Lake, news, and resources, which include various environmental groups which help to maintain the health of this lake.

• Keuka Lake 

  • Get photographs of this Finger Lake, news, and resources, which include various environmental groups which help to maintain the health of this lake.

• Conesus Lake

  • Conesus Lake is one of Western New York's smaller Finger Lakes.

• Hemlock Lake

  • Located in southeast Livingston County, Hemlock Lake lies 25 miles south of Rochester. Hemlock is one of the two Finger Lakes whose shorelines are virtually undeveloped

• Canadice Lake

  • Located in southwest Ontario County, Canadice Lake lies 30 miles south of Rochester. It is the smallest of the Finger Lakes whose shorelines are virtually undeveloped.