2nd place 2025 Life on the Lake photo contest winner. Hi Tor Sunrise by David Ducharme

The Lake This Week

Things have definitely cooled off this week! It’s been unseasonably chilly, with lots of wind and some rain in the second half of the week. The average lake surface temperature has dropped since last week as you would expect, while clarity has stayed about the same. We have received reports of increased foam build up along the shoreline on the east side of the lake from all this wind.

Even with nearly 2 inches of rain now at the end of the month, the lake level is still low - it just hasn’t been enough to make a real difference. On the bright side, the weather hasn’t been great for HABs, and once again we’ve had no reported blooms this week.

Ever wonder how we get the data for our weekly water quality updates?

Well - besides our shoreline monitors for HABs - we also have a set of dedicated volunteers who take weekly secchi disk and water temperature readings as well! The above chart shows our data so far this summer. As you can see - clarity dropped as the summer progressed (as expected) - and then has started to improve again - while surface temperature increased - and then has started to decline already. We can compare these patterns year to year to see how the weather impacts the lake's conditions.

ESF researchers Bahram and Sajad on the lake with CLWA Citizen Science volunteer Sally N.

Even though HABs reporting and sampling hasn't been keeping our citizen science volunteers overly busy this summer - we still have plenty going on behind the scenes!

Earlier this month - Citizen Science volunteers Lynn Klotz and Sally Napolitano met up with SUNY ESF Professor Bahram Saheli, PhD and his 2 PhD candidates Sajad F. and Sina J. to assist with data collection for research.

Stay tuned for some initial results from this research soon!

Finger Lakes Foam Survey

The new Finger Lakes wide foam survey is up and running - and we are starting to see increased foam accumulating along the shoreline this week especially with all the wind we have been having.

In case you missed it - August 27th was the first World Lake Day!

This day is intended to bring awareness to our world's lakes as vital sources of freshwater, critical for maintaining biodiversity, contributing to climate regulation, and supporting recreational and economic opportunities.   

There are over 117 million lakes on Earth. They cover nearly 4% of the planet's land surface. Although most freshwater is stored in glaciers and underground, lakes contain about 90% of the world’s surface supply, making them critical sources of readily accessible water. Lakes are the lifeblood of our planet.

Protecting Our Lakes from Aquatic Invasive Species

Did you know that Auto Wash Car Wash plays a big role in helping to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in our watershed?

For many years now, they have been offering discounted boat wash services at their Route 332 location (address is 2585 Rochester Rd - but don't be confused - they are right here in

Canandaigua!) but has recently

changed it to 15 minutes FREE for any boat. This effort helps support the initiative of CLEAN, DRAIN, AND DRYING watercraft before and after using it on a particular water body to prevent the spread of AIS from water body to water body.

Thank you Auto Wash for your incredible support and generosity in helping with this initiative. CLWA and the Lake are so grateful! Auto Wash has also been a long time top business member of CLWA and also participates in our Lake Friendly Living program. THANK YOU for all you do to help protect the lake!

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

During this event you will also enjoy:

• A short welcome presentation by Heron Hill and CLWA
• Live music by the duo High Strung
• A tour of the gorgeous Cabernet Franc vineyard
• Delicious treats donated by Julie Woloson
• Light snacks to enjoy with your drinks
• The opportunity to speak with Heron Hill's amazing staff and wine makers
• The opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved and help in lake protection efforts

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!*

Chipotle Fundraiser to Benefit CLWA - Mark Your Calendars!

New York State Federation of Lakes Association (NYSFOLA) Western Region Conference

When: Saturday, October 25th, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Where: The Woods, 6021 State Route 21, Naples, NY 14512

Join NYSFOLA for its 32nd Annual Western Regional Conference at this gorgeous location with breathtaking views of the Lake. During this conference, you will have the opportunity to learn from water quality experts on current lake and watershed issues facing our region, and have the chance to connect with fellow lake lovers involved in surrounding lake associations.

You will find further conference details, including the cost and agenda at the registration link below. We hope you can join us for this fabulous event.

Photo by The Woods

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 29 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.