LAKE SAVING PROJECTS
Protecting the health of Canandaigua Lake requires not only addressing current challenges but also preparing for future threats. The greatest opportunity to make a meaningful impact lies in accelerating the restoration of the watershed’s natural systems through lake-saving projects that build resilience and improve water quality.
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Our watershed is increasingly vulnerable to degradation due to rising pressures from intense storm events and nutrient loading. These lake-saving projects are key to rebuilding the natural systems that protect water quality, reduce flood risks, and enhance resilience against emerging threats. Restoring wetlands, streambanks, shorelines, and floodplains is critical for strengthening the lake’s natural defenses, improving its ability to filter pollutants, and managing stormwater more effectively.​
By working collaboratively with local municipalities, Stace agencies, landowners, and community partners, State agencies, we are taking a proactive approach to ensure that Canandaigua Lake remains a vibrant, healthy resource for future generations while fostering a more resilient watershed capable of adapting to the challenges ahead.
RECENT RESTORATION PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Sucker Brook Restoration Projects
Sucker Brook has a history of significant flooding and water quality issues in the past and has become a focus are for flood resiliency work. Recent restoration projects in this sub watershed are designed to bring water from Sucker Brook during storm events into water quality treatment areas, where it can be naturally filtered before it is slowly released back to the stream - increasing flood resiliency and improving water quality. ​
Route 5&20 Project: A Natural Solution for High-Flow Stormwater
This project helps manage high stormwater flows from Sucker Brook by redirecting them into both an existing wetland and a newly constructed wetland. The wetlands act as natural filtration systems, removing pollutants before water is safely returned to the stream. Partners in this project included the City and Town of Canandaigua and the Department of State.​​
County Road 30 Project: Capturing Peak Flows for Clean Water
To further protect against flooding, a rock weir structure was installed to direct peak flows into a large temporary storage area. This innovative solution allows for controlled release of water back into the stream, reducing erosion and maintaining water quality. Project partners included the City and Town of Canandaigua and the Department of State. ​
Sucker Brook Headwaters Project: Restoring Stream Health
A tributary to Sucker Brook had an artificial, sharp bend that was prone to erosion. This project help restored the stream to its natural meandering form and planted trees along the stream banks. A conservation easement protects 7.1 acres of stream buffer and 6.7 acres of wetlands. Project partners included the Town of Canandaigua, Morell Development, and the Department of State.​
Sucker Brook remains a key focus area for flood resiliency and water quality improvements. Ongoing projects are being planned to mitigate the impacts of flood events, ensuring improved water quality and increased resiliency.​
Route 5&20 Project in the Town of Canandaigua
Sucker Brook Headwaters Project
Naples Creek Floodplain Restoration Projects
A series of projects were constructed to reconnect Naples Creek to its floodplain in strategic locations for water quality and flood resiliency benefits. Naples Creek now has more frequent and greater access to 100s of acres of additional floodplain that provides major water quality treatment. This project covers a wide geographic area and included:
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13+ new berm breaks to allow flow to enter floodplain
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7 new culvert systems to convey flow into water quality storage areas
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110 acres of land permanently protected- including 6,300 feet of riparian corridor
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4 debris jams removed from the stream and bridge areas
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Fixed trail system along stream and allowed flow to access adjacent forested floodplain system
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Multiple berm breaks were constructed along Naples Creek and one of its tributaries. Floodwaters can now slowly filter through open lands for water quality and flood resiliency benefits.
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Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Before: Previous flooding did not allow for the water to spread out across the floodplain
After: Multiple berm breaks were installed
allowing for water to reach DEC land for treatment
Hydrologic Reconnection Along Parish Flats and Route 245 in Naples
During heavy storms, roads can act like barriers, trapping water and diverting it to areas where it causes damage. To address this, 7 new cross culverts were installed under Route 245 and Parish Flats Road in the Town of Naples, allowing floodwaters to flow beneath the roads and into designated water quality storage areas as part of the larger Naples Creek Flood Resiliency project.
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This strategic modification ensures that stormwater is slowly absorbed and filtered through the land, naturally reducing pollutants. By improving water flow and enhancing filtration, this project not only strengthens flood resiliency, but reduces the risk of damage to the local infrastructure.
​
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Project Features: New cross culverts under Rt. 245 to carry high flows into an open landscape for natural filtration
Parish Flats cross culverts in action, conveying flows into the adjacent water quality treatment areas
Restoring the Landscape: Grass Waterway and Basin System
in the Town of Canandaigua
The area around Wells Cutris and Middle Cheshire Road has been repeatedly impacted by extreme storm events, resulting in significant flooding and the downstream transport of harmful sediments and nutrients, such as phosphorus, into the lake.
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In partnership with a local landowner and farmer, the Watershed Council and the Town of Canandaigua successfully designed and installed a 1,300-foot by 50-foot grass waterway and a water and sediment control basin system to help capture and infiltrate nutrients coming from the agricultural fields in this area. A creative cost-share program with the farmer helped convert a portion of the agricultural operations into a hayfield, further enhancing filtering capabilities.
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This wholistic approach to landscape restoration will help significantly mitigate flood risks while also providing substantial water quality benefits.
Route 5&20 Project
Sucker Brook Restoration Projects
Sucker Brook has a history of significant flooding and water quality issues in the past and has become a focus are for flood resiliency work. Recent restoration projects in this sub watershed are designed to bring water from Sucker Brook during storm events into water quality treatment areas, where it can be naturally filtered before it is slowly released back to the stream - increasing flood resiliency and improving water quality.
​
Route 5&20 Project: A Natural Solution for High-Flow Stormwater
This project helps manage high stormwater flows from Sucker Brook by redirecting them into both an existing wetland and a newly constructed wetland. The wetlands act as natural filtration systems, removing pollutants before water is safely returned to the stream. Partners in this project included the City and Town of Canandaigua and the Department of State.
​​
County Road 30 Project: Capturing Peak Flows for Clean Water
To further protect against flooding, a rock weir structure was installed to direct peak flows into a large temporary storage area. This innovative solution allows for controlled release of water back into the stream, reducing erosion and maintaining water quality. Project partners included the City and Town of Canandaigua and the Department of State.
​
Sucker Brook Headwaters Project: Restoring Stream Health
A tributary to Sucker Brook had an artificial, sharp bend that was prone to erosion. This project help restored the stream to its natural meandering form and planted trees along the stream banks. A conservation easement protects 7.1 acres of stream buffer and 6.7 acres of wetlands. Project partners included the Town of Canandaigua, Morell Development, and the Department of State.
​
Sucker Brook remains a key focus area for flood resiliency and water quality improvements. Ongoing projects are being planned to mitigate the impacts of flood events, ensuring improved water quality and increased resiliency.​
Sucker Brook Headwaters Project
Naples Creek Floodplain Restoration Project
A series of projects were constructed to reconnect Naples Creek to its floodplain in strategic locations for water quality and flood resiliency benefits. Naples Creek now has more frequent and greater access to 100s of acres of additional floodplain that provides major water quality treatment. This project covers a wide geographic area and included:
-
13+ new berm breaks to allow flow to enter floodplain
-
7 new culvert systems to convey flow into water quality storage areas
-
110 acres of land permanently protected- including 6,300 feet of riparian corridor
-
4 debris jams removed from the stream and bridge areas
-
Fixed trail system along stream and allowed flow to access adjacent forested floodplain system
Multiple berm breaks were constructed along Naples Creek and one of its tributaries. Floodwaters can now slowly filter through open lands for water quality and flood resiliency benefits.
​
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Before: Previous flooding did not allow for water to spread out across the floodplain
After: Multiple berm breaks were installed allowing water to reach DEC land for treatment
Project Features: New cross culverts under Rt. 245 to carry high flows into an open landscape for natural filtration
Hydrologic Reconnection along Parish Flats
and Route 245 in Naples
During heavy storms, roads can act like barriers, trapping water and diverting it to areas where it causes damage. To address this, 7 new cross culverts were installed under Route 245 and Parish Flats Road in the Town of Naples, allowing floodwaters to flow beneath the roads and into designated water quality storage areas as part of the larger Naples Creek Flood Resiliency project.
​
This strategic modification ensures that stormwater is slowly absorbed and filtered through the land, naturally reducing pollutants. By improving water flow and enhancing filtration, this project not only strengthens flood resiliency, but reduces the risk of damage to the local infrastructure.
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Parish Flats cross culverts in action, conveying flows into the adjacent water quality treatment areas
Project Features: New cross culverts under Rt. 245 to carry high flows into an open landscape for natural filtration
Grass Waterway and Basin System in the Town of Canandaigua
During heavy storms, roads can act like barriers, trapping water and diverting it to areas where it causes damage. To address this, 7 new cross culverts were installed under Route 245 and Parish Flats Road in the Town of Naples, allowing floodwaters to flow beneath the roads and into designated water quality storage areas as part of the larger Naples Creek Flood Resiliency project.
​
This strategic modification ensures that stormwater is slowly absorbed and filtered through the land, naturally reducing pollutants. By improving water flow and enhancing filtration, this project not only strengthens flood resiliency, but reduces the risk of damage to the local infrastructure.
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Parish Flats cross culverts in action, conveying flows into the adjacent water quality treatment areas
STREAM AND ROAD BANK STABLIZATION PROJECTS
Hydrologic Reconnection along Parish Flats
and Route 245 in Naples
During heavy storms, roads can act like barriers, trapping water and diverting it to areas where it causes damage. To address this, 7 new cross culverts were installed under Route 245 and Parish Flats Road in the Town of Naples, allowing floodwaters to flow beneath the roads and into designated water quality storage areas as part of the larger Naples Creek Flood Resiliency project.
​
This strategic modification ensures that stormwater is slowly absorbed and filtered through the land, naturally reducing pollutants. By improving water flow and enhancing filtration, this project not only strengthens flood resiliency, but reduces the risk of damage to the local infrastructure.
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Project Features: New cross culverts under Rt. 245 to carry high flows into an open landscape for natural filtration
Hydrologic Reconnection along Parish Flats
and Route 245 in Naples
During heavy storms, roads can act like barriers, trapping water and diverting it to areas where it causes damage. To address this, 7 new cross culverts were installed under Route 245 and Parish Flats Road in the Town of Naples, allowing floodwaters to flow beneath the roads and into designated water quality storage areas as part of the larger Naples Creek Flood Resiliency project.
​
This strategic modification ensures that stormwater is slowly absorbed and filtered through the land, naturally reducing pollutants. By improving water flow and enhancing filtration, this project not only strengthens flood resiliency, but reduces the risk of damage to the local infrastructure.
Project Partners: NYS Department of State, Town of Naples, Town of Canandaigua, the Nature Conservancy, Ontario County FLLOWPA, Ontario County WRC, Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association
Project Features: New cross culverts under Rt. 245 to carry high flows into an open landscape for natural filtration