Rising Lake Ontario levels that had shoreline communities on edge earlier this week appear to be stabilizing, with officials in Sodus Point saying they no longer expect to activate the next phase of the village’s flood response plan in the coming days.
Mayor Pat Nolan said Thursday that lake levels remain around 247.1 feet, but the pace of increase has slowed significantly to roughly 0.02 inches per day. At the same time, regulated outflows from Lake Ontario continue climbing, reaching 7,650 cubic meters per second — more than 1,000 higher than levels recorded in late April.
The combined trends are helping ease immediate concerns about flooding along the southern Lake Ontario shoreline after several weeks of rising water and heavy rainfall across the region.
“The current lake level is lingering around 247.1, and the rate of rise has continued to slow,” Nolan said in an update to residents. “This continued increase in outflow is helping to reduce the rate of rise on Lake Ontario.”
The update marks a notable shift from earlier this week, when village officials warned that additional rainfall and persistent lake level increases could trigger sandbagging operations in vulnerable parts of the community.
Under the village’s emergency response plan, crossing the next threshold would have activated several days of sandbag production and placement in flood-prone areas. Nolan said Thursday that officials do not believe the village will reach that trigger point this week.
Preparation efforts are still continuing despite the improved outlook.
The village has received three 6-inch pumps, which the Department of Public Works will stage for possible use if conditions worsen. Officials also remain in daily contact with county and state emergency management personnel while continuing to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and outflow data.
Lake Ontario first crossed the 247-foot mark on April 30, activating the village’s flood response plan and increasing concerns about shoreline flooding, erosion, and localized impacts from wave action and saturated ground conditions.
While current levels remain below the historic flooding seen during previous high-water years, officials say conditions can still change quickly depending on rainfall across the Great Lakes basin and water management decisions tied to downstream flooding risks along the St. Lawrence River.
For now, village officials say the recent slowdown is offering some relief after weeks of uncertainty.
“As always, we will continue to keep residents informed with updates as new information becomes available,” Nolan said.
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