Cool overnight temps this week created picturesque morning mist over the lake.

photo courtesy Leanna L.

The Lake This Week

Average clarity and temp dropped slightly this week - the lake level continued to drop - and HAB reports came in throughout the week. The drought has continued and we now have a burn ban in effect (read more below). Fall is most definitely here with cool - even chilly! - mornings and more and more color in the trees around the lake - making for some beautiful scenery for a hike or a paddle. Peak fall color will be here before we know it.

This is our last weekly update for the season - and we will now resume our monthly email updates. We hope you have found our weekly messages informative and helpful this season. If you have an idea for a topic you would like us to cover - please just reach out!

HABs Update

We had almost as many HAB reports come in this week again as last week (19 this week - 21 last week) bringing our total confirmed blooms to date to 68. While the majority of the reports continue to be from the East side - there have also been HABs on the west side as well. You can view the map of all HABs reported throughout the season on our website.

This is the last week of the official monitoring program - but many volunteers are still keeping an eye out and will continue to report as HABs can continue through October. Last year we even saw them into early November. We can't thank all of our amazing volunteers enough for all their time and dedication!!

Once all sample results are in and the season is over - we will be working to summarize the data and provide an end of season wrap up.

And remember - even if it might be too cold for swimming now - It is still important to steer clear of anything looking suspicious when boating - including kayaking - and to keep pets away from discolored water as well. At the end of this email is our reminder about HABs safety and how to identify a HAB. As always - when in doubt - stay out!

This graph above from our 2024 HABs data summary shows weekly lake surface temperatures averaged across CLWA Secchi disk program sites for each year of the monitoring period (2020-2024). Microcystis growth becomes possible above approximately 52°F (gray line), but is optimal between 68 and 86°F (gray shading). This week's average surface temp was 68.3°F so we are still in optimal temperatures for growth and it would not be surprising if we continue to see some HABs.

This graph from our 2024 HABs data summary shows HABs the last few years over the course of the season. As you can see - HABs into October have been common but last year we saw HABs into November for the first time. This season hasn't been nearly as bad as last year - so hopefully we won't have a repeat of that again - but only time will tell. If you missed out 2024 HABs season summary report - you can check it out here.

Low Lake Levels Continue and Now a Burn Ban Has Been Added Due to Drought Conditions

The lake is still very low as we are sure you have noticed. Many folks have had to take their boats out earlier than normal and we have heard from some folks that didn't get them out in time that their boats are stuck in their hoists and they will need help getting them out now.

If you didn't see the article in a prior WQ update about how our lake level works - you can read it here. The bottom line is its warm and dry and we are in a drought along with much of the state. Mother Nature is in charge. In fact - due to these conditions a burn ban was just issued yesterday for the next 14 days (more on that below).

On October 2 - the lake level was at 686.98 - almost a foot below the desired level of 687.95. For comparison - last year the level was 687.74 on October 2.

Due to the continued drought - the lake level continues to decrease dramatically . Evaporation is our biggest loss of water, and rainfall is a critical factor in maintaining our water level.

Below is information from NOAA's U.S. Drought Monitor. As you can see - we have moved from 'Abnormally Dry' last month to 'Moderate Drought' currently. And it comes as no surprise that the 30 day average temperature has been higher than average and the average rainfall has been lower.

Statewide Burn Ban issued October 2

Due to increased fire risk from continued dry conditions, a statewide burn ban was announced on October 2 for 14 days until October 15.

The statewide burn ban now in effect prohibits the starting of outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as all uncontained fires, including campfires, and open fires used for cooking. Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires. 

A spring burn ban from Mid March to Mid May occurs annually to protect from increased chance of wild fires - but this is a temporary burn ban issued due to the continued drought. Read more about the burn ban here.

What's on my Anchor? - part II

starry stonewort is an invasive macroalgae found in Canandaigua Lake

Last week we talked about Chara - one of our many native plants found in the lake. (You can read it here if you missed it.) This week we are going to talk about Starry Stonewort- an invasive macroalgae we have in the lake as well - that can often be confused with Chara. Since they both can grow in dense mats along the lake's bottom - you can sometimes pull up an anchor full of either - or both of them.

Impacts of Starry Stonewort

Starry stonewort is found in many locations in both the north and south end of the lake. It forms dense mats that crowd out native aquatic plants and reduce overall diversity. These thick mats can also block fish movement and spawning, slow water flow, and interfere with recreational activities.

While its namesake is also a telltale feature - its star-shaped bulbil - these in actuality are very small and not always easy to find or are even part of the sample you might be looking at - so you need other ways to ID starry stonewort. Notice the star shaped bulbil on the picture above. It's so small I had to put it on that penny to help you see it! You can learn more about starry stonewort from our partners at the Finger Lakes PRISM here.

The Squeeze Test

Starry stonewort is often confused with other types of macroalgae, such as Chara, or other plants. One way to tell them apart that doesn't involve the star-shaped bulbil or musky odors is the “squeeze test.” When Starry stonewort is squeezed, the protoplasm inside pops out of the cell, leaving the cell wall as a limp straw. In contrast, Chara’s protoplasm remains attached and does not separate easily from the cell wall. Its a bit hard to imagine how this feels until you have to the chance to do it. But once you do - you'll say 'Aha - now I get it'. We'll be sure to have some chances next summer as part of our outreach programming to give you a chance to try this out for yourself.

Please Remember - when boating, it is always important to practice Clean-Drain-Dry to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.

image courtesy of Paul Skawinski, UW-Extension Lakes Program

Trail Work Day with the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT)

We had an amazing time helping the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) crew with some trail work last Friday September 26th at the Great Hill Nature Preserve. This hillside preserve is found at the south east end of Canandaigua Lake with beautiful woodland scenery throughout. You can even catch some glimpses of the lake between the leaves and winter views will reveal more!

The fabulous FLLT staff, Jason and Eric, led CLWA volunteers and staff in side-hilling efforts to refine steeper portions of the trail. Fallen trees were removed by FLLT staff and a volunteer and some volunteers cut and cleared branches hanging over the trail.

We are always so thrilled to partner with the FLLT to support the amazing work they do to preserve and protect the land and water throughout the Finger Lakes.

Fall Fishing for Yellow Perch

We managed to catch a few perch in April but man was it a cold day out on the lake!

You might have heard about the upcoming perch tournament on October 18th hosted by Seager Marine. Click here for details.

My family participated in the spring tournament a few years ago - and while we did not win - we did manage to catch some perch - so I checked it off as a win in my book!

If you are wondering about the health of the perch fishery - and about just what are your chances of catching some big ones - there is some interesting information available from the latest DEC fisheries survey conducted last summer.

NYSDEC conducted a gill-netting survey in August of 2024 to assess the yellow perch population and the overall status of the warmwater fishery.

A total of 672 fish from 13 species were collected. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) (72.6%), rock bass (Amboplites rupestris) (5.7%), and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) (5.2%) were most frequently collected.

A total of 488 yellow perch were caught with an average of 44.4/net. Catch/net was well above levels considered high catch rates in New York waters (25/net) and above catch rates for neighboring Finger Lakes.

Yellow perch averaged 8.8 in and ranged from 4.2 to 15.2 in. Most (84%) yellow perch were between 7 and 11 in (Figure 2). Memorable size (> 12 in) yellow perch are found in Canandaigua Lake but are less common compared to nearby Keuka and Seneca Lakes.

The bottom line:

The Canandaigua Lake yellow perch population is high compared to statewide averages and to nearby Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Memorable size yellow perch are available, although less abundant than in Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Canandaigua Lake is a good option for anglers seeking opportunities to catch 8 to 10 in yellow perch with an occasional fish over 12 in.

source: NYSDEC Bureau of Fisheries Technical Brief. Canandaigua Lake Yellow Perch Netting (Survey #: 824025). Pete Austerman, Region 8 Fisheries.

As deciduous trees drop their leaves, rain can wash them into storm drains, streams, and lakes—adding excess phosphorus that harms water quality.

🍂 You can leave the leaves - just not in the street! Don't rake them into the lake or nearby streams either! Keep them out of storm drains too - consider using them as free garden mulch instead. 🌱

Upcoming Events

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

The Fight for Freshwater: Protecting the Finger Lakes and the Great Lakes -- Presented by the George M. Ewing Forum

Please consider checking-out this amazing upcoming George M. Ewing Canandaigua Forum event on Sunday November 9th, 2025 at 4:00 PM. CLWA is thrilled to support this event with the Ewing Forum.

Join us to hear from Environmental Journalist and author, Dan Egan, a leading voice on freshwater issues. Dan Egan is best-selling author of the books The Death and Life of the Great Lakes and the Devil's Element and has many valuable insights to offer on issues affecting both the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes.

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 Oct 3 shown below.

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.

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.

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.