Onondaga Lake
Encyclopedia
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York
located northwest of Syracuse, New York
. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger Lakes
region, it is not traditionally counted as one of the Finger Lakes. Onondaga Lake is a dimictic lake
, meaning that the lake water completely mixes from top to bottom twice a year. The lake is 4.6 miles long and 1 mile wide. The maximum depth of the lake is 63 feet with an average depth of 35 feet. Onondaga Lake has a surface area of 12 square kilometers. Its drainage basin
has a surface area of 642 square kilometers, encompassing Syracuse, Onondaga County except the eastern and northern edges, the southeastern corner of Cayuga County and the Onondaga Nation Territory, and supports approximately 450,000 people.
Onondaga Lake has two natural tributaries that contribute approximately 70% of the total water flow to the lake. These tributaries are: Ninemile Creek
and Onondaga Creek
. The Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (METRO) contributes 20% of the annual flow. No other lake in the United States
receives as much of its inflow
as treated wastewater
. The other tributaries, which include Ley Creek, Bloody Brook, Harbor Brook, Sawmill Creek, Tributary 5A, and East Flume, contribute the remaining 10% of water flow into the lake. The tributaries flush the lake out about four times a year. Onondaga Lake is flushed much more rapidly than most other lakes. The lake flows to the northwest and discharges into Seneca River
which combines with the Oneida River
to form the Oswego River
, and ultimately ends up in Lake Ontario
.
During the late 19th century many resorts were built along Onondaga Lake's shoreline. However, after the Industrial Revolution
domestic and industrial waste, due to development and urbanization
, led to the severe degradation of the lake. Unsafe levels of pollution led to the banning of ice harvesting in 1901. In 1940 swimming was banned and in 1970 fishing was banned due to mercury
contamination. Mercury pollution is still an existing problem for the lake today. Despite the passage of the Clean Water Act
in 1973 and the closing of the major industrial polluter in 1986, Onondaga Lake is still one of the most polluted lakes in the United States. Several initiatives, including a 15-year multi-stage program currently under way, have been recently undertaken to clean up the lake.
, Confederacy. The Great Peacemaker brought together the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga
, Oneida
, and Mohawk
Nations on the shores of the lake. These warring nations accepted the Great Peacemaker's message of peace, laid down their weapons, and formed the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Since then, the lake has become a sacred place.
The Onondaga Nation's "Vision for a Clean Onondaga Lake" states that the waters, plants, fish, shore birds, and animals of the lake are an intrinsic part of the people's existence. Onondagans view the restoration of the lake as a personal responsibility and are working towards efforts to make sure that the lake is clean enough to drink water, eat the fish, and swim in.
springs around the southern end of "Salt Lake," known today as Onondaga Lake. The brine springs were reported to have extended around much of the lake for a distance of nearly 9 miles. They extended from the towns of Salina
through Geddes
and from Liverpool
to near the mouth of Ninemile Creek
. European settlers, mostly trappers and traders, followed the Jesuit missionaries and French explorers into the Syracuse area during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Salt production began in the late 18th century. In 1788, the Treaty of Fort Stanwix
transferred the lands around the lake from the Onondaga Nation to local salt producers on the condition that the salt would be produced for the common use of everyone. By 1822, due to serious threat of malaria
, the lake's water level was lowered after its outlet to the Seneca River was dredged and the low lying swampy area, located in what is now the northern end of downtown Syracuse, was drained. The completion of the Erie Canal
in the early 1880s and the commercial production of salt brought an increase in settlement of the area. The lake's western shore became increasingly industrialized.
Onondaga Lake also became a popular resort area. Its shoreline was dotted with hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks. The area was so popular that people traveled from as far as New York City
to visit the lake. Fish from the lake were served in restaurants across the state. One of the more popular resort areas was named the Iron Pier which was located near the present site of the Carousel Center
at the south end of the lake. The pier featured a variety of recreational activities in a resort pavilion. In addition, steamboat
services departed from the pier and transported tourists to other resorts around the lake. The lake initially supported a cold-water fishery, but due to industrialization the cold-water fishery was lost by 1890.
Salt brine and limestone were the key raw materials for the production of soda ash. The abundance of salt brine and limestone in Onondaga Lake's watershed area attributed greatly for the industrialization along the lake's shoreline. Beginning in 1838, New York State authorized the drilling of deep wells at several locations around the lake. The wells intended to locate the source of the brine, however, no source was located.
The Solvay Process company, incorporated in 1881, began drilling deep test holes in the area south of Syracuse in 1883. The company's main product was soda ash whch was used to make glass, chemicals, detergent, and paper. Eventually Solvay encountered halite deposits at a depth of 1,216 feet below land surface in the southern end of Tully Valley. From 1890 to 1986 more than 120 wells were drilled into four halite beds on the east and west flanks of the valley]. Soda ash production began in 1884. The company was producing about 20 tons of soda ash per day and most of the waste material was dumped directly into Onondaga Lake. Eventually wastebeds were built along the southwest perimeter of the lake to contain the by-products of soda ash production. In 1907, the New York State Attorney General threatened the Solvay Process Company with legal action over the direct discharge of Solvay waste material into the lake.
In 1920, the Solvay Process Company merged with four other chemical companies and formed Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation began the production of chlorine by mercury cell in 1950. Mercury was dumped directly into Onondaga Lake. Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation became Allied Chemical Corporation in 1958. The continual practice of dumping mercury into the lake led to a fishing ban in 1970 due to mercury contamination of the fish. Allied Chemical was sued by the US Attorney General in order to halt the dumping of mercury into the lake. It is estimated that Allied Chemical was dumping approximately 25 pounds of mercury into Onondaga Lake per day. In 1981 Allied Chemical Corporation become Allied Corporation and again changed its name to Allied-Signal, Inc. in 1985 when it merged with the Signal companies. The company announced that it will close its operations in Syracuse and in 1986 began dismantling its facility.
In 1989, New York State filed a lawsuit against Allied-Signal, Inc. for its responsibility in the contamination of Onondaga Lake. New York State and Allied-Signnal, Inc. signed an interim Consent Decree detailing the elements of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the lake. In compliance with the Consent Decree, the study was conducted by Allied-Signal, Inc. which became Honeywell, Inc. in 1999.
Non-salt-producing companies also established themselves along Onondaga Creek
valley from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. Many of these companies drilled wells into the underlying sand to obtain water for cooling purposes for the protection of dairy products and beer, storage of perishable goods, and temperature regulation in office and storage buildings. Once used, the water was disposed of in nearby streams that drained to Onondaga Lake. This practice increased the salinity of the surface-water system].
and phosphorus
due to the sewage wastewater have directly affected the lake and have led to excessive algae growth in the lake. The algae use large quantities of oxygen causing eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions. The low oxygen levels lead to the choking out of fish and plants, especially in the deeper areas of the lake.
Another issue contributing to sewage pollution is combined sewer overflow (CSO). In some areas of Syracuse there are sewers that carry both sanitary sewage and stormwater. During dry weather these sewers carry all the sanitary sewage to Metro for treatment, however, during times of heavy rain or melting snow the amount of water is greater than the capacity of the sewers and they overflow and discharge a combination of runoff and sanitary sewage into Onondaga Creek
and Harbor Brook. Through these tributaries the CSO eventually reaches Onondaga Lake. CSO has been generating concerns about bacteria. In the 1960s, Syracuse had ninety points where CSO could reach Onondaga Creek
, Harbor Brook, or Ley Creek.
, Inc. and its predecessors have contributed greatly to the chemical pollution of Onondaga Lake. The surface water has been found to be contaminated with mercury whereas the sediments are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), pesticides, creosotes, heavy metals (lead
, cobalt
, and mercury
), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), chlorinated benzenes, and BTEX
compounds (benzene
, ethylbenzene
, toluene
, xylene
). In Onondaga Lake the chlorinated benzenes are located in the southewest corner of the lake in the form of a dense oily liquid that has settled into the sediments. These chemicals were intentionally dumped into the lake or unintentionally seeped in from upland toxic waste sites or from the Solvay wastebeds located at the southwest end of Onondaga Lake. The wastebeds continue to leak toxins into the lake today. Approximately 6 million pounds of salty wastes made up of chloride
, sodium
, and calcium
were dumped daily into the lake before it closed in 1986.
A large chemical pollution issue has been the mercury contamination of the lake. Between 1946 and 1970, 165,000 pounds of mercury was dumped into Onondaga Lake by Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. In 2002, the findings from the remedial investigation conducted by Honeywell, Inc. with the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) reported that mercury contamination is found throughout the lake with the most elevated concentrations found in the sediments of the Ninemile Creek delta and in the sediments of the southwestern portion of the lake. A fishing ban was imposed in 1970. In 1999, the New York State Department of Health
(NYSDOH) lifted the advisory on eating bass
, white perch
, and catfish from Onondaga Lake. The advisory on eating no walleye
remained in effect and women of childbearing age, infants, and children under the age of 15 were advised not to eat any of the fish from the lake. In 2007, the NYSDOH updated its advisory prohibiting the consumption of largemouth and smallmouth bass over 15-inches-long. No walleye, carp
, channel catfish
, and white perch of any size should be consumed. The Department of Health advises up to four meals per month of brown bullhead
and pumpkinseed
, and up to one meal per month of any species not listed.
which flows north into the lake. Sediment loading is a problem because it degrades water quality, decreases water clarity, and reduces habitat for aquatic insects, fish spawning, and plants
In 1988, Atlantic States Legal Foundation (ASLF), a Syracuse-based organization providing legal and technical assistance to citizens and organizations dealing with environmental problems, filed a lawsuit against Onondaga County alleging that Metro and the combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges were violating federal water pollution standards established under the Clean Water Act of 1972. The state of New York joined as a plaintiff with allegations that Onondaga County had also violated the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress created the Onondaga Lake Management Conference (Public Law 101-596, section 401) and ordered it to develop a comprehensive revitalization, conservation, and management plan for Onondaga Lake that recommends priority corrective actions and compliance schedules for the cleanup of Onondaga Lake. The Onondaga Lake Management Conference also called for the coordination of implementing the plan. The largest responsibility of the Onondaga Lake Management Conference was the completion of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan.
In 1997, New York State and ASLF reached an agreement, the Onondaga Lake Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements. The ACJ also called for a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act. The ACJ is a multi-year program designed to improve the water quality of Onondaga Lake while achieving full compliance with state and federal water quality regulations by December 1, 2012. ACJ projects are divided into three main categories: wastewater treatment, collection system, and lake and tributary monitoring. In January 1998, a federal judge approved the ACJ and on September 1999, the Onondaga Lake Management Conference approved and endorsed the Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ). It incorporated the ACJ into its 1993 Onondaga Lake Management Plan entitled, A Plan of Action.
The final stage for ammonia discharge improvements occurred in 2004. The Biological Aerated Filter (BAF) system allows for year-round nitrification of wastewater. In 2004, Metros annual ammonia discharge was reduced to 152 metric tons and by 2005 the annual discharge fell to 21 metric tons. The ACJ also lead to the creation of an Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP) to track the effectiveness of the improvements made to the wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. The AMP is designed to identify sources of materials to the lake, evaluate in-lake water quality conditions, and examine the interactions between Onondaga Lake and Seneca River. Since 2007, Onondaga Lake has been in full compliance with the ambient water quality standards for ammonia. It was officially de-listed for that particular parameter in the State’s 2008 list of impaired bodies of water.
The ACJ was not only successful in reducing ammonia discharges. Between 1993 and 2006, the phosphorus discharges from Metro were decreased by 86%. In regards to contamination via CSOs, the ACJ requires that by 2018 the county eliminate or capture for treatment 95% of the CSO volume generated during heavy rain and snow melt.
The cleanup plan calls for the dredging of up to 2.65 million cubic yards of contaminated sediments to a depth that will allow for a cap to be built without losing any lake surface area. The sediments will be hydraulically dredged from the bottom of the lake and piped to a sediment consolidation area in Camillus, New York. Dredging is expected to begin in 2012. The cap that the plan calls for would cover 580 acres of lake-bottom. The plan also calls for the installation of a barrier wall made of steel on the southwest corner of the lake. In 2008, Honeywell began second phase construction on this barrier wall. The estimated cost of the cleanup plan is $451 million; an estimated $414 million in order to construct the remedy followed by an annual maintenance cost of $3 million.
Onondaga Nation is not content with the Remedial Action plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site. Their website states that the dredging plan will not include the additional18 million cubic yards that the NYSDEC found to be contaminated. Isolation caps are not viewed as a permanent reliable form of containment. The caps will not cover the entirety of the lake-bottom and they will eventually fail. Onondaga Nation states that the New York State goals do not include making the lake swimmable or fishable which is what the Clean Water Act calls for. The total estimated plan, according to Onondaga Nation, of a thorough cleanup would cost $2.16 billion.
By 1999, 54 species of fish were captured in the lake since 1990, with sport fishing for large and small-mouth bass drawing national acclaim.
In recent years, areas around the lake has become an overwintering spot for bald eagle
s.
brought new life to the area when Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt turned the State land over to Onondaga County. Funding from the Work relief program helped the county turn the area into Long Branch Park in the early-1930s.
By September 24, 1933, several local organizations formed in connection with the civic and recreational activities of the Syracuse Associated Leisure Time plan favored the Onondaga Lake West Shore Parkway project.
The plan called for the development of a parkway along the lake between the State Fair grounds entrance area and Long Branch Park and was a Work relief program. The parkway utilized the former Lakeshore Railway right of way and brought the "virtual completion of the round-the-lake boulevard." The cost of the parkway was estimated at $330,000.
is a public park in Onondaga County, New York
, located in the town of Liverpool
at 3813 Long Branch Road near NYS Route 370
and John Glenn Boulevard. The park is located on the northern shore of Onondaga Lake and is often misidentified as an extension of Onondaga Lake Park.
Founded in the late 19th century by Ben and George Maurer, Long Branch Park was originally an amusement park
with boxing arenas, a trolley
, and Carousel
#18, which is now in Syracuse's largest mall, Carousel Center
. The amusement park closed in 1938.
The park is located at the northern shore of Onondaga Lake Park and is made up of three reserved shelters; Riverview, Glen and Knoll as well as a 100 feet (30.5 m) sledding hill. Major annual events held here include the Great American Antiquefest and the Scottish Games.
was one of the first attempts to establish a permanent Europe
an presence in Central New York
. The original fort was replaced in the 1930s with what was claimed to be a "replica" of the site, however, research revealed that it was a poor imitation.
During the 1980s, a decision was made to replace the structure and add a visitor's center to allow artifacts recovered over the years to be displayed in a more accurate "hands on" living museum.
. The park offers seven miles of shoreline nooks and crannies that provide options for family picnics, including developed areas in Willow Bay and Cold Springs. The park also has paved, vehicle free trails and offers free outdoor wireless internet in the Griffin Visitor Center area.
.
and is located in the Cold Springs Mud Lock section of Onondaga Lake Park. It is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week year round.
Dogs are allowed to exercise without leashes in a 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) fenced in area which includes an exercise area with tunnels, jumps and bridges complete with red fire hydrants.
Dog etiquette guidelines and park rules have been established by the Onondaga County Parks Department and are strictly enforced. Pets must be under control at all times and owners must be able to show proof of vaccination.
Entrance to the park is located at 49 Cold Springs Trail in Liverpool
off NYS Route 370
. Suggested donation of $1 per person at the main gate. The park is maintained with private donations.
Central New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
located northwest of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region, it is not traditionally counted as one of the Finger Lakes. Onondaga Lake is a dimictic lake
Dimictic lake
Dimictic lakes are lakes that mix from top to bottom during two mixing periods each year. Dimictic lakes are holomictic, a category which includes all lakes which mix one or more times per year. During winter they are covered by ice...
, meaning that the lake water completely mixes from top to bottom twice a year. The lake is 4.6 miles long and 1 mile wide. The maximum depth of the lake is 63 feet with an average depth of 35 feet. Onondaga Lake has a surface area of 12 square kilometers. Its drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
has a surface area of 642 square kilometers, encompassing Syracuse, Onondaga County except the eastern and northern edges, the southeastern corner of Cayuga County and the Onondaga Nation Territory, and supports approximately 450,000 people.
Onondaga Lake has two natural tributaries that contribute approximately 70% of the total water flow to the lake. These tributaries are: Ninemile Creek
Ninemile Creek (Onondaga Lake)
Nine Mile Creek, a scenic stream noted for trout fishing, extends about twenty-five miles from Otisco Lake in the Town of Marcellus, New York. The Creek runs northward through the villages of Marcellus, New York and Camillus, New York in the Town of Camillus, New York, and discharges into Onondaga...
and Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a major tributary of Onondaga Lake which is located in Onondaga County, New York. The headwaters of the creek originate south of the city of Syracuse near the hamlet of Vesper, New York...
. The Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (METRO) contributes 20% of the annual flow. No other lake in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
receives as much of its inflow
Inflow
Inflow may refer to:*Inflow - In hydrology, the source of the water in a body of water*Infiltration/Inflow, inappropriate connection of surface runoff drains into sanitary sewers*Inflow , air that flows inwards to a thunderstorm...
as treated wastewater
Wastewater
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations...
. The other tributaries, which include Ley Creek, Bloody Brook, Harbor Brook, Sawmill Creek, Tributary 5A, and East Flume, contribute the remaining 10% of water flow into the lake. The tributaries flush the lake out about four times a year. Onondaga Lake is flushed much more rapidly than most other lakes. The lake flows to the northwest and discharges into Seneca River
Seneca River (New York)
The Seneca River in central New York flows from west to east, from Seneca Lake, through the Montezuma Marsh at the north end of Cayuga Lake to the Seneca's confluence with the Oneida and Oswego rivers at the Three Rivers area north of Syracuse. Much of the river has been channelized to form part...
which combines with the Oneida River
Oneida River
The Oneida River in central New York state flows from Oneida Lake to its confluence with the Seneca and Oswego rivers. The Oswego empties the water of the other two rivers into Lake Ontario....
to form the Oswego River
Oswego River (New York)
The Oswego River is a river in upstate New York in the United States. This river is the second-largest river flowing into Lake Ontario. James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Pathfinder, or The Inland Sea is set in the Oswego River valley...
, and ultimately ends up in Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
.
During the late 19th century many resorts were built along Onondaga Lake's shoreline. However, after the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
domestic and industrial waste, due to development and urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
, led to the severe degradation of the lake. Unsafe levels of pollution led to the banning of ice harvesting in 1901. In 1940 swimming was banned and in 1970 fishing was banned due to mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
contamination. Mercury pollution is still an existing problem for the lake today. Despite the passage of the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
in 1973 and the closing of the major industrial polluter in 1986, Onondaga Lake is still one of the most polluted lakes in the United States. Several initiatives, including a 15-year multi-stage program currently under way, have been recently undertaken to clean up the lake.
Pre-European Settlement
Onondaga Lake is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of the Haudenosaunee, also known as the IroquoisIroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
, Confederacy. The Great Peacemaker brought together the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga
Onondaga
- Native American/First Nations :* Onondaga people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois League* Onondaga , Onondaga settlement and traditional Iroquois capital* Onondaga language- Geology :...
, Oneida
Oneida
- Native American/First Nations :* Oneida people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy* Oneida language* Oneida Indian Nation, based in New York...
, and Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
Nations on the shores of the lake. These warring nations accepted the Great Peacemaker's message of peace, laid down their weapons, and formed the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Since then, the lake has become a sacred place.
The Onondaga Nation's "Vision for a Clean Onondaga Lake" states that the waters, plants, fish, shore birds, and animals of the lake are an intrinsic part of the people's existence. Onondagans view the restoration of the lake as a personal responsibility and are working towards efforts to make sure that the lake is clean enough to drink water, eat the fish, and swim in.
Early European Settlement
European knowledge of the salt springs occurred in 1654 when the Onondagas revealed their presence to French explorers. Jesuit missionaries visiting the Syracuse region at the same time period were the first to report on salty brineBrine
Brine is water, saturated or nearly saturated with salt .Brine is used to preserve vegetables, fruit, fish, and meat, in a process known as brining . Brine is also commonly used to age Halloumi and Feta cheeses, or for pickling foodstuffs, as a means of preserving them...
springs around the southern end of "Salt Lake," known today as Onondaga Lake. The brine springs were reported to have extended around much of the lake for a distance of nearly 9 miles. They extended from the towns of Salina
Salina, New York
Salina is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 33,290 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from the Latin word for "salt."...
through Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...
and from Liverpool
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
to near the mouth of Ninemile Creek
Ninemile Creek (Onondaga Lake)
Nine Mile Creek, a scenic stream noted for trout fishing, extends about twenty-five miles from Otisco Lake in the Town of Marcellus, New York. The Creek runs northward through the villages of Marcellus, New York and Camillus, New York in the Town of Camillus, New York, and discharges into Onondaga...
. European settlers, mostly trappers and traders, followed the Jesuit missionaries and French explorers into the Syracuse area during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Salt production began in the late 18th century. In 1788, the Treaty of Fort Stanwix
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix was an important treaty between North American Indians and the British Empire. It was signed in 1768 at Fort Stanwix, located in present-day Rome, New York...
transferred the lands around the lake from the Onondaga Nation to local salt producers on the condition that the salt would be produced for the common use of everyone. By 1822, due to serious threat of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, the lake's water level was lowered after its outlet to the Seneca River was dredged and the low lying swampy area, located in what is now the northern end of downtown Syracuse, was drained. The completion of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
in the early 1880s and the commercial production of salt brought an increase in settlement of the area. The lake's western shore became increasingly industrialized.
Onondaga Lake also became a popular resort area. Its shoreline was dotted with hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks. The area was so popular that people traveled from as far as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to visit the lake. Fish from the lake were served in restaurants across the state. One of the more popular resort areas was named the Iron Pier which was located near the present site of the Carousel Center
Carousel Center
Carousel Center is a , seven-story super-regional shopping and entertainment complex on the shore of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York. It has eight anchor store slots - currently filled with Best Buy, Bon Ton, Forever 21 , JCPenney, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Sports Authority...
at the south end of the lake. The pier featured a variety of recreational activities in a resort pavilion. In addition, steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
services departed from the pier and transported tourists to other resorts around the lake. The lake initially supported a cold-water fishery, but due to industrialization the cold-water fishery was lost by 1890.
Industry
The systematic production of salt began in 1797, when the New York State Legislature designated a one-mile-wide strip of land around the northern half of the lake as the Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation. Between 1797 and 1917, the Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation produced more than 11.5 million tons of finished salt].Salt brine and limestone were the key raw materials for the production of soda ash. The abundance of salt brine and limestone in Onondaga Lake's watershed area attributed greatly for the industrialization along the lake's shoreline. Beginning in 1838, New York State authorized the drilling of deep wells at several locations around the lake. The wells intended to locate the source of the brine, however, no source was located.
The Solvay Process company, incorporated in 1881, began drilling deep test holes in the area south of Syracuse in 1883. The company's main product was soda ash whch was used to make glass, chemicals, detergent, and paper. Eventually Solvay encountered halite deposits at a depth of 1,216 feet below land surface in the southern end of Tully Valley. From 1890 to 1986 more than 120 wells were drilled into four halite beds on the east and west flanks of the valley]. Soda ash production began in 1884. The company was producing about 20 tons of soda ash per day and most of the waste material was dumped directly into Onondaga Lake. Eventually wastebeds were built along the southwest perimeter of the lake to contain the by-products of soda ash production. In 1907, the New York State Attorney General threatened the Solvay Process Company with legal action over the direct discharge of Solvay waste material into the lake.
In 1920, the Solvay Process Company merged with four other chemical companies and formed Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation began the production of chlorine by mercury cell in 1950. Mercury was dumped directly into Onondaga Lake. Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation became Allied Chemical Corporation in 1958. The continual practice of dumping mercury into the lake led to a fishing ban in 1970 due to mercury contamination of the fish. Allied Chemical was sued by the US Attorney General in order to halt the dumping of mercury into the lake. It is estimated that Allied Chemical was dumping approximately 25 pounds of mercury into Onondaga Lake per day. In 1981 Allied Chemical Corporation become Allied Corporation and again changed its name to Allied-Signal, Inc. in 1985 when it merged with the Signal companies. The company announced that it will close its operations in Syracuse and in 1986 began dismantling its facility.
In 1989, New York State filed a lawsuit against Allied-Signal, Inc. for its responsibility in the contamination of Onondaga Lake. New York State and Allied-Signnal, Inc. signed an interim Consent Decree detailing the elements of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the lake. In compliance with the Consent Decree, the study was conducted by Allied-Signal, Inc. which became Honeywell, Inc. in 1999.
Non-salt-producing companies also established themselves along Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a major tributary of Onondaga Lake which is located in Onondaga County, New York. The headwaters of the creek originate south of the city of Syracuse near the hamlet of Vesper, New York...
valley from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. Many of these companies drilled wells into the underlying sand to obtain water for cooling purposes for the protection of dairy products and beer, storage of perishable goods, and temperature regulation in office and storage buildings. Once used, the water was disposed of in nearby streams that drained to Onondaga Lake. This practice increased the salinity of the surface-water system].
Sewage Pollution
One major source of pollution for Onondaga Lake is sewage wastewater. For years, Syracuse dumped human waste into the lake with little or no treatment. Before European settlement, the lake was oligo-mesothropic, meaning that it contained low levels of aquatic plant blooms. However, the high levels of ammoniaAmmonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
and phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
due to the sewage wastewater have directly affected the lake and have led to excessive algae growth in the lake. The algae use large quantities of oxygen causing eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions. The low oxygen levels lead to the choking out of fish and plants, especially in the deeper areas of the lake.
Another issue contributing to sewage pollution is combined sewer overflow (CSO). In some areas of Syracuse there are sewers that carry both sanitary sewage and stormwater. During dry weather these sewers carry all the sanitary sewage to Metro for treatment, however, during times of heavy rain or melting snow the amount of water is greater than the capacity of the sewers and they overflow and discharge a combination of runoff and sanitary sewage into Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a major tributary of Onondaga Lake which is located in Onondaga County, New York. The headwaters of the creek originate south of the city of Syracuse near the hamlet of Vesper, New York...
and Harbor Brook. Through these tributaries the CSO eventually reaches Onondaga Lake. CSO has been generating concerns about bacteria. In the 1960s, Syracuse had ninety points where CSO could reach Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a major tributary of Onondaga Lake which is located in Onondaga County, New York. The headwaters of the creek originate south of the city of Syracuse near the hamlet of Vesper, New York...
, Harbor Brook, or Ley Creek.
Chemical Pollution
HoneywellHoneywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
, Inc. and its predecessors have contributed greatly to the chemical pollution of Onondaga Lake. The surface water has been found to be contaminated with mercury whereas the sediments are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), pesticides, creosotes, heavy metals (lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
, and mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), chlorinated benzenes, and BTEX
BTEX
BTEX is an acronym that stands for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. These compounds are some of the volatile organic compounds found in petroleum derivatives such as petrol . Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes have harmful effects on the central nervous system.BTEX compounds are...
compounds (benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
, ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5CH2CH3. This aromatic hydrocarbon is important in the petrochemical industry as an intermediate in the production of styrene, which in turn is used for making polystyrene, a common plastic material....
, toluene
Toluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
, xylene
Xylene
Xylene encompasses three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomers are distinguished by the designations ortho- , meta- , and para- , which specify to which carbon atoms the two methyl groups are attached...
). In Onondaga Lake the chlorinated benzenes are located in the southewest corner of the lake in the form of a dense oily liquid that has settled into the sediments. These chemicals were intentionally dumped into the lake or unintentionally seeped in from upland toxic waste sites or from the Solvay wastebeds located at the southwest end of Onondaga Lake. The wastebeds continue to leak toxins into the lake today. Approximately 6 million pounds of salty wastes made up of chloride
Chloride
The chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine, a halogen, picks up one electron to form an anion Cl−. The salts of hydrochloric acid HCl contain chloride ions and can also be called chlorides. The chloride ion, and its salts such as sodium chloride, are very soluble in water...
, sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
, and calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
were dumped daily into the lake before it closed in 1986.
A large chemical pollution issue has been the mercury contamination of the lake. Between 1946 and 1970, 165,000 pounds of mercury was dumped into Onondaga Lake by Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. In 2002, the findings from the remedial investigation conducted by Honeywell, Inc. with the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
(NYSDEC) reported that mercury contamination is found throughout the lake with the most elevated concentrations found in the sediments of the Ninemile Creek delta and in the sediments of the southwestern portion of the lake. A fishing ban was imposed in 1970. In 1999, the New York State Department of Health
New York State Department of Health
The New York State Department of Health, ', is the governmental body responsible for public health in the state of New York. The cabinet-level department is headed by the Health Commissioner, a position held since January 24, 2011 by Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.....
(NYSDOH) lifted the advisory on eating bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, white perch
White perch
The white perch, Morone americana, is not a true perch but is, rather, a fish of the temperate bass family, Moronidae, notable as a food and game fish in eastern North America.The name "white perch" is sometimes erroneously applied to the white crappie....
, and catfish from Onondaga Lake. The advisory on eating no walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
remained in effect and women of childbearing age, infants, and children under the age of 15 were advised not to eat any of the fish from the lake. In 2007, the NYSDOH updated its advisory prohibiting the consumption of largemouth and smallmouth bass over 15-inches-long. No walleye, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, and white perch of any size should be consumed. The Department of Health advises up to four meals per month of brown bullhead
Brown bullhead
The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus, is a fish of the Ictaluridae family that is widely distributed in North America. It is a species of bullhead catfish and is similar to the black bullhead and yellow bullhead...
and pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
, and up to one meal per month of any species not listed.
Mudboils
Approximately 18 miles south of Syracuse, the Tully Valley has unique hydrogeological features called mudboils. These mudboils are the cause of the excessive sedimentation of Onondaga Lake. The sediment from the mudboils enters Onondaga CreekOnondaga Creek
Onondaga Creek is a major tributary of Onondaga Lake which is located in Onondaga County, New York. The headwaters of the creek originate south of the city of Syracuse near the hamlet of Vesper, New York...
which flows north into the lake. Sediment loading is a problem because it degrades water quality, decreases water clarity, and reduces habitat for aquatic insects, fish spawning, and plants
Sewage Pollution Cleanup
The first steps taken to control sewage pollution occurred in 1907 with the creation of the Syracuse Interceptor Sewage Board. It served to address sewage-related problems in Onondaga Creek and Harbor Brook. In 1960, Onondaga County established a sewer district and built the Metropolitan Sewage Treatment Plant, Metro, on the south shore of the lake.In 1988, Atlantic States Legal Foundation (ASLF), a Syracuse-based organization providing legal and technical assistance to citizens and organizations dealing with environmental problems, filed a lawsuit against Onondaga County alleging that Metro and the combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges were violating federal water pollution standards established under the Clean Water Act of 1972. The state of New York joined as a plaintiff with allegations that Onondaga County had also violated the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress created the Onondaga Lake Management Conference (Public Law 101-596, section 401) and ordered it to develop a comprehensive revitalization, conservation, and management plan for Onondaga Lake that recommends priority corrective actions and compliance schedules for the cleanup of Onondaga Lake. The Onondaga Lake Management Conference also called for the coordination of implementing the plan. The largest responsibility of the Onondaga Lake Management Conference was the completion of the Onondaga Lake Management Plan.
In 1997, New York State and ASLF reached an agreement, the Onondaga Lake Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ) on municipal wastewater collection and treatment improvements. The ACJ also called for a schedule to attain compliance with the Clean Water Act. The ACJ is a multi-year program designed to improve the water quality of Onondaga Lake while achieving full compliance with state and federal water quality regulations by December 1, 2012. ACJ projects are divided into three main categories: wastewater treatment, collection system, and lake and tributary monitoring. In January 1998, a federal judge approved the ACJ and on September 1999, the Onondaga Lake Management Conference approved and endorsed the Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ). It incorporated the ACJ into its 1993 Onondaga Lake Management Plan entitled, A Plan of Action.
The final stage for ammonia discharge improvements occurred in 2004. The Biological Aerated Filter (BAF) system allows for year-round nitrification of wastewater. In 2004, Metros annual ammonia discharge was reduced to 152 metric tons and by 2005 the annual discharge fell to 21 metric tons. The ACJ also lead to the creation of an Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP) to track the effectiveness of the improvements made to the wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. The AMP is designed to identify sources of materials to the lake, evaluate in-lake water quality conditions, and examine the interactions between Onondaga Lake and Seneca River. Since 2007, Onondaga Lake has been in full compliance with the ambient water quality standards for ammonia. It was officially de-listed for that particular parameter in the State’s 2008 list of impaired bodies of water.
The ACJ was not only successful in reducing ammonia discharges. Between 1993 and 2006, the phosphorus discharges from Metro were decreased by 86%. In regards to contamination via CSOs, the ACJ requires that by 2018 the county eliminate or capture for treatment 95% of the CSO volume generated during heavy rain and snow melt.
Chemical Pollution Cleanup
The State of New York filed a lawsuit against Allied-Signal, Inc. in 1989. The lawsuit sought to compel the company to clean up the hazardous wastes that it and its predecessors had dumped into and around the lake. In 2005, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Record of Decision that outlined the remediation plans of Onondaga Lake. The Federal Court approved a Consent Decree in 2007, obliging Honeywell International, Inc. to implement the NYSDEC/EPA cleanup plan for the contaminated sediments in the bottom of the lake. Honeywell signed the Consent Decree that same year and sets out to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site.The cleanup plan calls for the dredging of up to 2.65 million cubic yards of contaminated sediments to a depth that will allow for a cap to be built without losing any lake surface area. The sediments will be hydraulically dredged from the bottom of the lake and piped to a sediment consolidation area in Camillus, New York. Dredging is expected to begin in 2012. The cap that the plan calls for would cover 580 acres of lake-bottom. The plan also calls for the installation of a barrier wall made of steel on the southwest corner of the lake. In 2008, Honeywell began second phase construction on this barrier wall. The estimated cost of the cleanup plan is $451 million; an estimated $414 million in order to construct the remedy followed by an annual maintenance cost of $3 million.
Onondaga Nation is not content with the Remedial Action plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site. Their website states that the dredging plan will not include the additional18 million cubic yards that the NYSDEC found to be contaminated. Isolation caps are not viewed as a permanent reliable form of containment. The caps will not cover the entirety of the lake-bottom and they will eventually fail. Onondaga Nation states that the New York State goals do not include making the lake swimmable or fishable which is what the Clean Water Act calls for. The total estimated plan, according to Onondaga Nation, of a thorough cleanup would cost $2.16 billion.
Sedimentation Control
Since 1992, the Onondaga Lake Partnership has supported the efforts of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the following remedial activities: the diversion of surface water away from the mudboils, the installation of a dam on the stream that flows from the mudboils area, and the drilling of wells to reduce the pressure around the mudboils (21). The installation of several depressurization wells has led to to dramatic decreases in sediment loading; an average of 30 tons per day was reduced to 1 ton per day.Land rights action
The lake is also subject of a land right action filed on March 11, 2005 by the Onondaga Nation. The land rights action stipulations that pertain directly to the lake include the protection and conservation of the natural resources within and affecting the Nation's land and the security of Onondaga rights to hunt, fish, and gather for subsistence and cultural needs. According to Sid Hill, the Onondaga's Tadodaho, the Onondaga people want the water, land, and air returned to the condition it was in when it was illegally lost in the 18th and 19th centuries. Hill sees the current state of Onondaga Lake as evidence of New York State and federal authorities' inability to care for the land. The land rights action was dismissed by a federal judge on September 22, 2010.Fishing improvements
A survey in 1928 showed there were only ten species of fish still residing in the lake.By 1999, 54 species of fish were captured in the lake since 1990, with sport fishing for large and small-mouth bass drawing national acclaim.
In recent years, areas around the lake has become an overwintering spot for bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s.
Parks and museums
The abandoned Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation became a dumping ground in the early 20th century, however, the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
brought new life to the area when Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt turned the State land over to Onondaga County. Funding from the Work relief program helped the county turn the area into Long Branch Park in the early-1930s.
By September 24, 1933, several local organizations formed in connection with the civic and recreational activities of the Syracuse Associated Leisure Time plan favored the Onondaga Lake West Shore Parkway project.
The plan called for the development of a parkway along the lake between the State Fair grounds entrance area and Long Branch Park and was a Work relief program. The parkway utilized the former Lakeshore Railway right of way and brought the "virtual completion of the round-the-lake boulevard." The cost of the parkway was estimated at $330,000.
Long Branch park
Long Branch ParkLong Branch Park
Long Branch Park is a public park in Onondaga County outside of Syracuse, New York, located in the town of Liverpool on Long Branch Road near NYS Route 370 and John Glenn Boulevard...
is a public park in Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, located in the town of Liverpool
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
at 3813 Long Branch Road near NYS Route 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
and John Glenn Boulevard. The park is located on the northern shore of Onondaga Lake and is often misidentified as an extension of Onondaga Lake Park.
Founded in the late 19th century by Ben and George Maurer, Long Branch Park was originally an amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
with boxing arenas, a trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, and Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
#18, which is now in Syracuse's largest mall, Carousel Center
Carousel Center
Carousel Center is a , seven-story super-regional shopping and entertainment complex on the shore of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York. It has eight anchor store slots - currently filled with Best Buy, Bon Ton, Forever 21 , JCPenney, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Sports Authority...
. The amusement park closed in 1938.
The park is located at the northern shore of Onondaga Lake Park and is made up of three reserved shelters; Riverview, Glen and Knoll as well as a 100 feet (30.5 m) sledding hill. Major annual events held here include the Great American Antiquefest and the Scottish Games.
Mission of Sainte Marie
The Old French Fort at the Mission of Sainte MarieSainte Marie among the Iroquois
Sainte Marie among the Iroquois was a 17th century French Jesuit mission to the Onondaga Iroquois. It was located on Onondaga Lake near modern-day Syracuse, New York...
was one of the first attempts to establish a permanent Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an presence in Central New York
Central New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
. The original fort was replaced in the 1930s with what was claimed to be a "replica" of the site, however, research revealed that it was a poor imitation.
During the 1980s, a decision was made to replace the structure and add a visitor's center to allow artifacts recovered over the years to be displayed in a more accurate "hands on" living museum.
Onondaga Lake park
Onondaga Lake Park, hugs the eastern shore of the lake and is located at 6790 Onondaga Lake Trail in LiverpoolLiverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
. The park offers seven miles of shoreline nooks and crannies that provide options for family picnics, including developed areas in Willow Bay and Cold Springs. The park also has paved, vehicle free trails and offers free outdoor wireless internet in the Griffin Visitor Center area.
Onondaga Lake Park marina
The Onondaga Lake Park Marina is located on Onondaga Lake Parkway in LiverpoolLiverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
.
Salt museum
Included in the project was the construction of the Salt Museum which was built around a "still standing" boiling block chimney. The museum opened in 1933 and is still in operation.Wegmans Good Dog park
The Wegmans Good Dog Park was the first of its kind in Central New YorkCentral New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
and is located in the Cold Springs Mud Lock section of Onondaga Lake Park. It is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week year round.
Dogs are allowed to exercise without leashes in a 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) fenced in area which includes an exercise area with tunnels, jumps and bridges complete with red fire hydrants.
Dog etiquette guidelines and park rules have been established by the Onondaga County Parks Department and are strictly enforced. Pets must be under control at all times and owners must be able to show proof of vaccination.
Entrance to the park is located at 49 Cold Springs Trail in Liverpool
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
off NYS Route 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
. Suggested donation of $1 per person at the main gate. The park is maintained with private donations.
Lake events
- Syracuse Hydrofest - The North American championship of hydroplane racing - annual event in the Willow Bay area of Onondaga Lake Park in mid-June.
- Lights on the Lake - Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool from late November to early January.
External links
- Onondaga Lake Improvement Project
- Onondaga Lake Partnership
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Onondaga Lake
- Superfund site information for Onondaga Lake
- Our Lake: Central NY Near-Real-Time Surface Water Quality Network
- USA Today: Honeywell agrees to spend $451 million to clean up NY lake
- U.S. Water News Online: State proposes clean up contamination that creates one of world's most polluted lakes
- 1988: David Yarrow halts construction of a new shopping mall on the Onondaga Lake shore, warning of hazardous wastes and gasoline under the site, and of the existence of Kaneenda, an ancient Onondaga Indian fishing village.
- Onondaga Lake Park Marina, 2010