Seneca Lake’s unusually low water levels are disrupting household water supplies and raising concerns about exposed intake pipes freezing this winter, according to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, which is pressing for answers about dam operations and repairs.
The association said lake levels appeared to have stabilized as October ended but remained unusually low. Its Shore Well & Water Access Survey had received 78 responses as of Oct. 28, including reports of dry wells, malfunctioning intake systems and difficulties accessing the lake.
Meanwhile, federal regulators have requested additional information from the company responsible for the Waterloo and Seneca Falls hydroelectric project, according to Pure Waters’ October newsletter.
The association said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission directed C-S Canal Hydro LLC on Oct. 23 to respond within 15 days to concerns about inconsistencies in its August and September water management reports.
Residents report water shortages
Of the 78 survey respondents, 56 reported having a shore well. Among those residents, 33 reported problems with their water systems and 55 expressed concern about their water supply, according to Pure Waters’ survey update.
Residents described purchasing or hauling water, carrying water to flush toilets and using other facilities to shower. Some reported sediment, discolored water, clogged filters and pump problems. Others said low water had left boats stranded on lifts or forced them to close seasonal properties early.
Pure Waters cautioned that the voluntary survey does not necessarily represent conditions experienced by all shoreline property owners. The responses reflect residents’ experiences, rather than independently verified water quality or equipment assessments.
The association is continuing to collect responses and encouraged residents concerned about exposed intake systems to consult qualified professionals about appropriate protection.
Dam inspection requires downstream drawdown
Pure Waters said it had been told Relevate planned to lower Van Cleef Lake, between Waterloo and Seneca Falls, after the canal navigation season ended Oct. 14 so a malfunctioning gate could be inspected.
The process was expected to take approximately one month, with outflow from Seneca Lake minimized during that period, according to the association’s newsletter. Pure Waters said it was seeking clarification about plans to address the gate.
The problem involves low-level Gate 4 at the Seneca Falls development. In a Sept. 9 letter, FERC described a reported leak of approximately 164 cubic feet per second caused by a misaligned or partially damaged gate panel.
The commission said attempts to temporarily seal the gate had failed, further attempts could cause additional damage, and sending a diver to inspect or repair it without a full reservoir drawdown would be unsafe.
That letter addressed July operations. FERC determined that the reported lake-level deviations would not be considered violations of the project’s license, attributing them to low precipitation and the need to maintain minimum flows.
Pure Waters has continued challenging aspects of lake management and requesting information about repairs. Its latest newsletter describes the subsequent federal request for answers concerning August and September reports.
Data center review and watershed work continue
The association is also seeking broader state scrutiny of large data centers and related electrical infrastructure.
In comments announced Oct. 27, Pure Waters urged the state Public Service Commission to examine water consumption, wastewater, stormwater runoff, water temperatures and potential effects on aquatic life. It also requested a greater role for the Department of Environmental Conservation and more participation by local governments, watershed organizations and residents.
Pure Waters President Bill Roege will discuss potential water quality and environmental impacts of data center development during a webinar scheduled for Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. Registration is available through the association’s Deep Dive webinar page.
The October newsletter also announced completion of a conservation project at Jim & Nate Henderson Farms. Led by the Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District, with partial funding from Pure Waters, the project reconstructed 1,000 feet of grassed waterway to reduce erosion and help keep sediment and nutrients out of Seneca Lake.
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