Future of Onondaga Lake

The Future of Onondaga Lake is in Our Hands

The Onondaga Lake restoration plan is well underway. Dredging of the lake began in July 2012 and was finished as of November 2014. The dredging process removed approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of sediment and other material from the lake bottom. According to John McAuliffe, Honeywell Syracuse Program Director, more wetlands have been restored, water quality has improved and around 110 species of birds, mammals and fish have returned to the area. In addition to dredging, Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake restoration program includes capping portions of the lake bottom, creation of sustainable habitats, prevention of further pollution from industrial sites, and establishes a maintenance plan to monitor the lake. It is now Honeywell’s goal to complete ‘capping and habitat restoration” in 2016.

Onondaga Lake has come so far in the last 30 years, in the 1980’s people would not even dream of swimming in the lake. On April 16, 2015, "Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney" stated that she would swim in the lake and a year ago DEC commissioner Joseph Martens also said he would swim in the lake. Mahoney described how when she was a child there was a fear of to even going near the lake, today she is astounded and thrilled to say she would swim in it. With this drastic improvement to the water quality of the lake, combined with confidence demonstrated by Mahoney, Martens, and other professionals, it is time to re-establish businesses and recreation opportunities on the lake.

Today, an amphitheater is in the process of being built on the western shore of Onondaga Lake, the theatre would provide jobs, generate money to be used in the city of Solvay, and allow for appreciation of the lake; something that has been missing for many people for a long time. A beach is also being proposed in Willow Bay on Onondaga Lake, in 2013 the water in Willow Bay was well under the limit for bacteria in a water body (upper limit being 1,000 colonies per 100 milliliters of water and Willow Bay results showed 64 colonies per 100 milliliters). Swimming is not permitted from the shores of the lake, only from a watercraft; this beach would make swimming from the shores possible. A 2014-2019 five-year capital improvement plan for Onondaga County, stated that initiatives are underway to improve the Willow Bay area of Onondaga Lake Park; initiatives include replacement of picnic pavilions, repairmen of trail systems, and improved parking areas. The five-year plan also highlights economic development projects such as the Inner Harbor redevelopment projects, William F. Walsh transportation center, a renovated Regional Market, the Carousel Center, and the Alliance Bank Stadium. Hopefully, as the water quality improves further and public confidence increases, we will see business re-establish on the lake. Development on the lake will not only increase appreciation for Onondaga Lake, it will improve Syracuse and neighboring cities, a win for the biota of the lake and for the residents of Onondaga County.

Unfortunately, Honeywell’s cleanup plan is not extensive enough to fully revive the lake. Honeywell did not dredge every contaminated section of the lake, furthermore, according to The Onondaga Nation, capping is not reliable, and will not solve the problem of mercury pollution which is dispersed throughout the entirety of Onondaga Lake. Consequently, it is the duty of citizens of Onondaga County and surrounding counties to demand further restoration of the lake. Everyone living in areas surrounding Onondaga Lake should take action to restore and preserve such a significant natural resource as this lake. There are opportunities to get involved in the lake’s cleanup.

To start simply, it is incredibly easy just to take a trip to Onondaga Lake with garbage bags and pick up trash that liter the lakeshore. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps offers as solution for those who would like to get further involved in the cleanup of the lake. The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an organization consisting of hundreds of volunteers who lead and participate in restoration projects creating wildlife habitats. This organization was co-founded in 2012 by Honeywell, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere. There are many opportunities to get involved with the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. Every Wednesday and selected Saturdays the group runs a restoration project from 9am to 1pm. The following link provides more information about volunteering: Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

Those interested in Onondaga Lake might also look into joining Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake. The organization’s mission is “To support the study, preservation, interpretation, and promotion of the cultural history of Onondaga Lake.” Through this organization, one can gain a better understanding of the importance of Onondaga Lake for the community. Visit Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake for more information. 

Furthermore, one can help to keep Onondaga Lake clean and support development projects by donating. The Atlantic States Legal Foundation (ASLF) is a “non-for-profit corporation” that provides legal, among other services, to “citizens, citizen groups, local governments, and others on a wide variety of environmental issues”, with Onondaga Lake being one of those issues. In the lower left hand corner of the web page: ASLF, you’ll find a link to donate. In Onondaga Lake Park you will find the Wegmans Playground, this is a “boundless playground” that allows for all children to play, disabled and fully abled children. This is a great initiative, and it brings people right to the lakefront. If interested, donate by filling out this form: Wegmans Playground. Finally, there is the “Believe in Syracuse” initiative. This was formed by John DeSantis, a NYS local who believes in the potential of Syracuse. Join DeSantis in his goal to improve Syracuse: Donate Believe in Syracuse. Currently, the funds go towards three programs, the Neighborhood Program, Volunteering and Selling Syracuse – to learn more about the programs visit Believe in Syracuse .