A major water quality initiative for one of New York’s most pristine lakes has officially cleared its final hurdle.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of State (DOS) jointly approved the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan for Phosphorus. This comprehensive strategy targets pollution reduction and safeguards the lake, which supplies unfiltered drinking water to over 150,000 people in Syracuse and surrounding communities.
“Protecting and improving water quality is a core DEC mission and we celebrate the release of this plan and the beginning of its implementation to continue and accelerate the protection of Skaneateles Lake and watershed,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. She added that the plan builds on decades of local and state efforts and will enhance cooperation with stakeholders across the region.
Skaneateles Lake, part of the Finger Lakes region, is vital for recreation, fishing, tourism, and public health. The approved plan identifies key actions to reduce phosphorus—an element that, even at low levels, contributes to harmful algal and cyanobacteria growth. These measures include watershed-level and landscape-specific management strategies aimed at preventing pollutants from reaching the lake.
Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley called the plan “the outcome of decades of collaboration,” and said it would help communities protect this “most precious natural asset.” He highlighted that DOS awarded $235,600 in 2018 through its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to help develop the plan.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The Department is firmly committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have safe and reliable drinking water—a fundamental right and a cornerstone of good health.”
Implementation of the 9E Plan will rely on existing funding sources and best management practices informed by science. The state will use modeling and monitoring to track pollution sources, set goals, and evaluate progress over time. The finalized plan opens the door for new grant opportunities and builds on earlier efforts such as the 2018 Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan.
Chris Legg, Supervisor of the Town of Skaneateles, said the plan’s approval marked “an exciting” step. “Our 9E Plan is a partnership to best protect Skaneateles Lake, the unfiltered drinking water source for over 170,000 people,” he said.
The project gained early support from several local entities including the City of Syracuse, the Village of Skaneateles, the Onondaga County Soil and Water District, and the Skaneateles Lake Association. The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board assisted in securing funding for the plan in 2017.
Doug Kierst, Executive Director of the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, said the plan “provides SWCDs the opportunity to address local environmental concerns where they are needed.” Mark Burger, of the Onondaga County SWCD, pledged to continue a “boots on the ground” approach with farmers, local departments, and citizens.
Frank Moses, Executive Director of the Skaneateles Lake Association, thanked the state and the local community for their work. “We are eager to continue working with landowners and lake protection partners to combat increasing threats to the lake’s water quality for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
The 9E Plan complements state investments announced in Governor Hochul’s State of the State address, including $42 million for the Eastern Finger Lakes through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. An additional $1.2 million will support capacity building in the region.
Skaneateles Lake’s phosphorus primarily enters through stormwater runoff and inadequate septic systems. The approved plan outlines how changing land management can help curb pollution, especially as climate change brings more intense rain events.
The state has committed over $6 billion to water infrastructure since 2017, including an additional $500 million in the FY26 Enacted Budget. The finalized Skaneateles plan is now available on DEC and DOS websites.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.