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Questions swirl after petroleum spill from city plot into Marsh Creek, Seneca Lake

  • / Updated
  • Josh Durso 

For residents in the city of Geneva the big question is “How did petroleum leak into Marsh Creek, then Seneca Lake last weekend?”


On Sunday officials in the city stated that local crews and the DEC were working to cleanup Seneca Lake and Marsh Creek after a 250-gallon container leaked a petroleum-based liquid.

Investigation underway after large petroleum spill into Marsh Creek, Seneca Lake
Aerial view of the spill entering Seneca Lake. Photo credit: @tspfeffer – Finger Lakes Film Co. 

It entered a storm drain, then made its way to Marsh Creek, and flowed into the north end of Seneca Lake.

As of Tuesday afternoon, photographer and longtime Finger Lakes News Radio voice Greg Cotterill captured photos from the area where the spill originated.


The northeast corner at the intersection of Buffalo Street and Central Avenue is across the street from the Geneva Public Works Department. It’s a inconspicuous property.

A couple concrete blocks, some decommissioned construction vehicles, a dumpster, and not much else. The owner of the property has not yet been identified by the DEC.

There was still evidence of petroleum mixed in with the groundwater on the property as of Tuesday afternoon. A chemical odor also continued to be reported there.

The DEC will continue overseeing the cleanup effort.

Photo by Greg Cotterill, Finger Lakes News Radio.
Questions swirl after petroleum spill from city plot into Marsh Creek, Seneca Lake
Photo by Greg Cotterill, Finger Lakes News Radio.