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Overview
The Central New York's Near-Real-Time Surface Water Quality Network includes the three eastern most Finger Lakes (Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisco Lakes). Onondaga Lake and its major tributary Onondaga Creek, and the lower 40 km reach of the Seneca River from upstream of Cross Lake to its confluence with the Oneida River (non-animated version).
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is located in the upstate region of New York State. It has been described as “the dirtiest lake in the United States”. Prior to the 1900’s, the lake supported a cold-water fishery and several “turn of the century” resorts. Impact from both industrial and domestic waste pollution has eliminated the cold-water fishery and reduced the lake to “non-contact” uses. More information on Onondaga Lake.
Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a 44 km long tributary to Onondaga Lake with a nearly 300 km2 watershed . It contributes approximately 30% of the flow to the lake. The upper 80% of the creek flows through forested, rural, and agriculture lands, while the lowest 20% is urban, flowing through the city of Syracuse where it receives untreated domestic waste during sewer overflow events. More detail on Onondaga Creek.
Seneca River
The Seneca River carries the outflow of the six eastern Finger Lakes and Onondaga Lake. The river has undergone numerous anthropogenic alterations including channelization, dams, locks. The Seneca River has been profoundly impacted by zebra mussels. Cross Lake is part of the river system and has been described as widening of the river. Read more on the Seneca River and Cross Lake
The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a series of 11 lakes in the western to central portion of New York State. The lakes were formed approximately 10,000 years ago as a result of glacial activities within the region. The lakes are enormously important to the “Finger Lakes Region” in terms of both quality of life and economic vitality. The Finger Lakes support a diverse set of uses ranging from public water supply to wastewater assimilation.
The Finger Lakes Region also supports a healthy tourism industry which generates an estimated $1.5 billion annually. Additional descriptions of the Finger Lakes that are within the Network can be found at: Otisco Lake, Skaneateles Lake and Owasco Lake.
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