Sailboat at Sunrise photo by Alex Aronson, 2025 Life on the Lake First Place winner. Congrats Alex!

The Lake This Week

It started off hot going into the week but cooled down drastically mid-week - feeling almost fall like all of a sudden. We finally got some much needed rain (insert loud cheers here). And now - its already warming right back up again. Despite the weather feeling a bit like a roller coaster - it was a pretty calm week lake-wise. No HABs were reported. Lake surface temp is slightly down and clarity is up.

Water and Wildlife Campers Helping to Protect a Vital Resource

Campers running chemical tests

Boat trip beginning from Seager's

Stream sampling at Sucker Brook

Canandaigua Lake is one of our community’s most important natural resources, and protecting it is a top priority. The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association believes that one of the best ways to safeguard the lake is through education. With this in mind, the Water and Wildlife Camp was created! Each August for the past four years, middle school students have participated in this unique program, where they not only learn about the importance of protecting the watershed but also contribute real scientific data to measure its health.

This camp is made possible by a generous grant CLWA has received from the Guido and Ellen Palma Foundation for the last three years. This foundation’s support has been pivotal in making this camp affordable for families. Additionally, some of our members have donated specifically to the camp to provide scholarships to campers who might not otherwise be able to attend. Thank you so much to those members and the Rotary Club of Canandaigua for donating 5 scholarships last year!

Campers identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates

Campers with Fitzgerald Brothers Bus service

Campers travel around the lake by bus, provided by Fitzgerald Brothers at a very generous discount, and collect samples from four key streams: Onanda Creek, Sucker Brook, Naples Creek, and the West River. Using nets, they capture macroinvertebrates—small aquatic organisms such as insect larvae and nymphs—that live in stream sediment. Because many of these species are highly sensitive to changes in water quality and pollutants, their presence is a strong indicator of healthy streams. Each year, students find an abundance of these sensitive species, confirming that the streams remain in good condition.

Campers also head out on the lake aboard a boat captained by Seager’s Marina. From nine offshore locations—each with different levels of human activity—they collect and test water samples. Year after year, results show that Canandaigua Lake’s water quality remains excellent.

Traditionally, students have used chemical test kits to analyze water chemistry. This year, thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Canandaigua to launch the Jim Holden Legacy Project a YSI DSS probe was purchased, and additional equipment and supplies for the probe were funded by a substantial grant of $5,000 from Xylem, a global water technology company. With this high-tech probe campers were also able to test for blue-green algae. Only mild traces were detected in shallow east-side waters. Looking ahead, the camp plans to involve Kevin Olvany from the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council (CLWC) and expand testing to include microplastics.

Through hands-on science and exploration, the Water and Wildlife Camp inspires the next generation to be active stewards of Canandaigua Lake. With continued education and vigilance, we hope the campers’ findings will always be the same: nothing to report.

Article by Camp Coordinator and Educator, Lynn Ocorr

Community Science Night Recap

Last month we had an amazing time down at the Vine Valley Community House. Despite the rain moving us indoors - we had a full house ready to learn!

A special thanks to our volunteers who made the event possible.

• Lynn Thurston, who showed attendees how to use the iolight microscope to identify microsystis and other types of plankton.
• Joel Pasternack - who showed how the new YSI DSS probe works to collect water quality data from the lake and surrounding streams including chloride, nitrates, and chlorophyll. The purchase of the probe was made possible by a generous $10,000 grant from Rotary Club of Canandaigua as part of the Holden Legacy Project and a $5,000 grant from Xylem.
• Catherine from the FL PRISM - who talked about aquatic invasives and reviewed key ID features with hands on samples.
• and our special surprise guest presenter - and youngest presenter by far! - Caleb DeBolt - who presented on the fish of Canandaigua Lake.

Spotted Lantern Fly Update

by Lydia Martin. Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager, Finger Lakes PRISM

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is on the move in the Finger Lakes Region! There are now active populations in Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Tomkins and Broome counties. Several organizations and local landowners are working together to promptly coordinate an integrated approach to control and contain the infestations. The population mostly consists of adults at this time, but there might be some lingering nymphs (see pictures below). 

We need your help!

Monitoring the spread of spotted lanternfly is critical for informing management decisions. Please be on the lookout for new infestations and report sightings directly to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets using the Spotted Lanternfly Public Report. Information on recommended management methods can be found on the Cornell Integrated Pest Management website. If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out to Lydia Martin, who is the Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager at the Finger Lakes PRISM. She can be reached by phone at (315) 781-4323 or by email at lmartin@hws.edu.

August is Water Quality Month - What are trophic states?

This week's water quality awareness topic is about how our freshwater water lakes are classified. Lakes are often labeled by their trophic state -oligotrophic, mesotrophic, or eutrophic - when talking about water quality and lake health. The Trophic State Index provides a standardized way to assess the health and nutrient status of lakes, helping scientists, managers, and the public understand the ecological condition of these important water bodies. 

• Oligotrophic: Low nutrient levels, clear water, and low biological productivity. 
• Mesotrophic: Moderate nutrient levels and productivity. 
• Eutrophic: High nutrient levels, excessive plant and algal growth, and potentially poor water quality. 

Phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and water clarity are the three key indicators used to determine a lake's trophic state.

What trophic state do you think Canandaigua Lake is?

Next week we will look at some data for these key indicators and learn more about Canandaigua's trophic state - so stay tuned!

Upcoming Events

The Ring of Fire celebration that is held on Canandaigua Lake every year, this year landing on August 30th, is quickly approaching. The celebration starts on Bare Hill at 9 PM where the first fire is lit. Following the lighting of the fire on the hill, shoreline residents then light their flares, creating the ring around the entire lake! This is a wonderful event to witness and be a part of.

If you haven't made the switch already, please consider switching to LED flares instead of the traditional chemical/combustible flares.



• It is an environmentally-sound alternative to the longstanding use of combustible road flares without disrupting meaningful community celebrations
• LED flares emit neither fumes nor leave chemical residue onshore or in the lake
• Are visible longer than traditional flares (each flare runs on three AAA batteries; please remember to dispose of dead batteries properly)
• LED flares have multiple uses ~ can be kept in auto or boat for emergencies

You can buy your flares from Cele-Brite on Amazon, who will donate $1/pack sold to CLWA to help support lake protection efforts. Thank you Greg for your continued generosity and support in this effort! Please use the QR code to purchase from Cele-Brite.

Thank you to everyone who has already made the switch! Let’s make it a 100% conversion to LED flares this year!!

Heron Hill and CLWA Collaboration Tasting Event

Chardonnay:

A bright golden straw colored wine with powerful aromatics of lemongrass and green apple skins balanced with minerality. The palate is bracing, but balances with medium to full body.

Cabernet Franc:

Rich and exciting with plum, blackberry, mint, and clove aromatics. On the palate the wine shows tremendous strength with ripe tannins, seamless acidity and wonderful fruit and herbal tones leading to a long finish. This is a wine that will do well over the next 8-12 years in the cellar as well.

WHERE DO THE GRAPES COME FROM?

Ingle Vineyard, situated on the west side of Canandaigua Lake, is the largest vinifera vineyard on the lake. Owned and maintained by the Ingle family for over 50 years, the vineyard is rooted in sustainability, free of herbicides and pesticides, and for using environmentally responsible practices. All grapes are hand-harvested to ensure only the finest fruit is selected.

$24 Per Case is donate back to CLWA. Preserve the Lake, One Bottle at a Time!

When: Friday, September 26th, 10:00AM-12:30PM and 1:30-4:00PM

Where: Great Hill Preserve, 4756 S Hill Rd, Middlesex, NY 14507

*Meet location will be Clark’s Gully parking area because parking is a bit tricky at the preserve. We will then carpool to the preserve.*

Please wear appropriate attire for trail clean-up and bring plenty of water and a snack if you’d like.

*Registration is required so we know how many volunteers to expect. Register at the link below. Thank you!*

Stay informed so you can enjoy Canandaigua - or other New York Lakes - safely and confidently this summer.



We have a map on our website homepage for Canandaigua Lake reported blooms.

NYHABS Map

The link below leads to the NYHABS interactive map and displays the location of HABs in New York State. Each blue dot outlined in black represents a HAB reported in the past 2 weeks. There may be other waterbodies with HABs that have not been reported to DEC. All reports through our monitoring program are shown on our own map on our website. CLWA staff uploads all HABs report to the NYHABs database that we receive through our trained volunteers. You can also upload a HABS report directly to DEC here.

Visit NYHABS map here NYHABs map on Aug 15 shown below.

Remember - conditions can change rapidly. Please use caution when out on the lake and look for characteristics of HABs including water that looks like:

• Pea soup, spilled paint, surface streaks or scum
• Color's that are typically green, blue-green or yellow but can also be brown, red or purple
• Typically found along shorelines or coves

For images and more information on HABs, refer to the section below.

Please, to keep yourselves and pets safe, avoid any water conditions that appear to be bloom-like. Don't hesitate to reach out to us at 585-394-5030 with any questions or email us at HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org if you are concerned about water quality. Sending us photos of the water is strongly encouraged. Have a wonderful weekend and stay tuned.

About HABs

Cyanobacteria, sometimes referred to as blue-green algae because of their color, are among the oldest organisms on Earth. They are naturally occurring in our lakes, generally in low numbers. 

When triggered by the perfect storm of conditions - such as heavy rains followed by a few days of warm weather with calm winds - cyanobacteria may begin to increase, forming “blooms”. HABs can appear quickly and persist for hours or days, or they can disappear almost as quickly as they formed.

Since previous research informs us that high levels of toxins (microcystin) may accompany the blooms, humans and our pets should avoid coming into contact with the water when an active bloom is observed.

How to identify blooms

Use visual cues to identify potential blooms. They can appear like pea soup, spilled paint, surface streaks or scum. The color is typically green, blue-green, or yellow, but can also be brown, red, or purple. When blooms are discovered, they are usually found along shorelines or in cove areas. They are most often seen along the stretch of shoreline that is impacted by the prevailing winds. However, during significant bloom events, sometimes they can be found in open water areas. 

Visit the NYS DEC website to learn more about identifying blooms.

What should you do if you suspect a bloom

When in doubt, stay out! 

• Don't swim, wade, jetski, waterski or tube in a bloom.
• Shower if exposed to bloom conditions. Wash pets off if they have gone into bloom-infested waters.   
• Don't consume fish from the lake during blooms.
• Do not use PRIVATE water drawn from the lake during a bloom. Public water supplies have safeguards in place and can be utilized unless you are otherwise notified.
• Report the bloom to the NYSDEC NYHABs portal: on.ny.gov/habform 

HABs Links and Resources

Further reading on HABs and their impacts on human and pet health

NYS Department of Health HABs Website

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation HABs Website

Dogs and HABs

Drinking Water and HABs

Information for Surface Water Drawers during HAB Season

Article on the Contributing Factors to HABs in Canandaigua Lake

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to HABs@canandaigualakeassoc.org.