New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and New York State Department of State (DOS) Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez today announced the joint agency approval of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan for Enhanced Phosphorus Management, a plan to advance efforts to restore and protect the water quality of Canandaigua Lake and its watershed.  

"The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan will help DEC, DOS, and our local partners better understand the unique characteristics of the Canandaigua Lake watershed that are critical to helping identify projects that promote the lake’s management, protection, and overall improvement," Commissioner Seggos said. “DEC commends our partners for the hard work and sustained coordination invested in developing this plan for Canandaigua Lake and looks forward to building on the progress and investments underway to enhance the region’s water quality.”  

"The Department of State is committed to maintaining, restoring, and improving the existing high water quality of Canandaigua Lake and its watershed, which is an essential element of healthy, sustainable communities and ecosystems” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. "This robust and comprehensive watershed plan builds off decades of collaboration, planning and implementation and creates a path forward towards improved water quality and public health that will guide communities in the Canandaigua Lake area as they protect and restore this most precious natural asset. We are proud to collaborate with DEC and our local partners in completing this Plan that will pay dividends for the communities, the lake, and the ecosystem for years to come.” 

In recent years, Canandaigua Lake has experienced water quality challenges, including harmful algal blooms (HABs) associated with the availability and transport of phosphorus, a key nutrient for plants and algae. Land use, climate change, and natural processes across the watershed can impact the lake’s phosphorus levels. Understanding and managing phosphorus inputs from the watershed is essential for protecting this valuable resource and led to the development of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan to identify focused strategies to ensure that the lake’s water supply, aquatic habitat, and recreational uses are protected. DEC and DOS experts guided and approved the plan, which is consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) framework for watershed-based plans consisting of nine key elements for waterbody protection and stakeholder engagement. 

The watershed plan aims to reduce phosphorus input to the lake through the implementation of short- and long-term projects. The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan development was a collaborative effort led by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council (CLWC) with input from many partners engaged with lake and watershed management issues, including Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Commission, the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, Cornell University, and project consultant Ecologic LLC. Now that the community established a Nine Element Plan, it can continue to build upon existing efforts to address pollutant sources and utilize additional state and federal grants to implement the plan. The final approved plan is posted on DEC’s Clean Water Plan webpage at https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/23835.html.  

Town of Gorham Supervisor Fred Lightfoote, Co-Chair of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council, said, “It has been my privilege to work with the representatives of the other 13 watershed and water purveying municipalities on the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council to develop the Nine Element Watershed Plan for Canandaigua Lake. This intermunicipally led effort continues our long history of partnership-based approaches and projects to proactively protect Canandaigua Lake for generations to come.” 

City of Canandaigua Mayor Bob Palumbo said, “As the representative of the city of Canandaigua on the Watershed Council, I am proud of the partnership efforts that helped to develop the Nine Element Watershed Plan for Canandaigua Lake. We are grateful for the New York State grant assistance to help us develop the 9E Plan and look forward to working with New York State to help us fund the implementation of key initiatives identified in the plan.”

Town of Canandaigua Supervisor Jared Simpson said, “Canandaigua Lake is the heart of our community and draws people from around the nation and world to enjoy its clean waters and scenic views. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated staff working with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council to preserve and protect this resource. Education is one of the most important parts of this process. The Nine Element Plan will be a guide for communities throughout the Canandaigua Lake watershed as we all strive to do our part to protect Canandaigua Lake.” 

Naples Town Supervisor Tamara Hicks said, “The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council staff has developed scientific, thoughtful, and detailed amendments to the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Plan integrating the Nine Elements identified by the EPA and DEC. This plan will guide our communities as we continue to reduce pollutants and maintain the health of Canandaigua Lake.”

The plan was funded by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered through DOS’s Local Water Revitalization Program. Among the many environmental victories in the 2023-24 State Budget, Governor Hochul maintained EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program's history. The EPF provides funding for critical environmental programs and projects such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, climate change resilience, and environmental justice, to ensure all New Yorkers benefit from sustained ecosystem services, such as drinking water, swimming, and fishing. 

The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan for Phosphorus is the latest example of New York's continued, nation-leading efforts to protect water resources by assisting communities in their plans to reduce the harmful effects of sediment and nutrient pollution. The plan announced today builds upon actions the State has already taken to reduce phosphorus and the frequency of HABs, which are a persistent challenge in the Finger Lakes and waterbodies statewide. To date, New York has awarded more than $371 million in grants for projects designed to reduce the frequency of algal blooms by targeting phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, factors that trigger algae blooms and HABs. New York's nation-leading actions to prevent and mitigate these potentially toxic blooms include investing in infrastructure upgrades and new technology. To learn more about HABs, visit the DEC website.