Lake Ontario’s steady climb has shown signs of slowing, but local officials say the threat of flooding along the southern shore is far from over.
In an update issued Friday, Sodus Point Mayor Pat Nolan said water levels had reached 247.05 feet — just above the trigger point that activates the village’s flood response plan — while recent adjustments to outflows are beginning to ease the pace of the rise.
According to Nolan, the International Joint Commission has increased outflows to about 7,200 cubic meters per second, a move that has helped slow daily increases in lake levels. While conditions have improved slightly compared to earlier in the week, he cautioned that the situation remains fluid.
“We are not out of the woods yet,” Nolan said, noting that ongoing coordination with county emergency management officials is guiding decisions on when to escalate response efforts.
Village officials are balancing preparedness with restraint, aiming to avoid deploying large-scale resources too early. Nolan said premature staging of sandbags could create unnecessary impacts for residents if conditions stabilize.
Still, planning is underway for the possibility of worsening conditions. Based on current projections tied to weather, inflows, and water management under Plan 2014, officials expect to reach a point requiring additional action by mid-May.
Nolan said pumps could be staged as early as the end of next week if conditions warrant.
The village has already taken initial steps, including securing sandbags, receiving a sandbagging machine, and preparing one of three pumps outlined in its emergency response plan.
At the same time, state resources are being brought in to improve long-term planning. The New York State Department of Homeland Security is expected to deploy four large drones equipped with LiDAR technology between May 4 and May 6 to survey the Lake Ontario shoreline. The data will be used by Wayne County to map elevations and better identify areas at risk under different lake levels.
Nolan said the effort will support a broader countywide response strategy and build on planning tools already used in Sodus Point.
Despite the slight slowdown in rising water levels, officials continue to urge caution, emphasizing that weather conditions and regional water management decisions could quickly change the outlook.
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