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Onondaga Lake outflow data collection project

In a joint venture, the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are expanding the amount of data collected in the outlet of Onondaga Lake. Both agencies will gain much-needed information about the flow patterns between the Seneca River and Onondaga Lake.

WEP and USGS have put additional monitoring gauges on the outflow discharge from Onondaga Lake (see map at bottom). Onondaga Lake's discharge greatly affects the Seneca River. The full story of “Onondaga Lake outflow data collection project.”

Tributary data collection enhancement project

The Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have teamed up in a joint venture to enhance data collection on Onondaga Creek. Both parties will gain much-needed information about the Creek's watershed while maximizing the funds allocated to the project.
The full story of “Tributary data collection enhancement project.”

Lake sturgeon in Onondaga Lake

On June 16, 2004, technicians with the Onondaga County Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP) captured, recorded, and released a lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) on Onondaga Lake. County officials are not aware of any other documented sighting of lake sturgeon in Onondaga Lake in recent history. This is certainly the first sturgeon captured on Onondaga Lake since the beginning of the AMP in 1998.
Read the full account of “Lake sturgeon in Onondaga Lake.”

2003 winter sampling

Onondaga Lake was covered by ice from January 15, 2003 to March 25, 2003. Average air temperatures for January and February were 18.8°F and 21.7°F, respectively, and by March 13, the ice on the Lake had reached a thickness of 15-inches in the North Basin.

WEP technicians took water samples beneath the ice to get a snapshot of the Lake's water quality when the atmosphere is not in contact with the water. This "on ice" sampling was performed successfully three times in the winter of 2002-2003.
Read the full account of “2003 winter sampling.”