Officials around Canandaigua Lake say despite recent rainfall, the large body of water remains below ‘average’.
Kevin Olvaney, manager of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council, told the Finger Lakes Times that water levels continue to be lower than average.
In fact, they are 7-9 inches below average. This is something that is impacting boaters more than anything – as they encounter seaweed and rocks that ordinarily wouldn’t be an issue.
It was a hot summer, though, and that is the primary driver of the low-levels.
“We had a very hot July, August and September. That increased the evaporation rate of the lake water and the bodies of water that drain into the lake, a major factor in the lower lake level,” Olvaney said. “The water year starts Oct. 1. So Sept. 30 should be the lowest level and then the lake level starts to creep up as rain and snow increases until spring.”
He says local water plants have not been impacted by the low water levels.
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