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Tuesday 9/10 and Wednesday 9/11 the lake is experiencing a lake wide blue-green algae bloom with surface scum. Blue-green algae will move vertically in the water column and rise to the surface under sunny skies and clam wind conditions. You and your pets should avoid contact with these blue-green algae blooms.
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Monday September 9, 2024 Honeoye Lake Water Quality
Surface Water Temperature: ~ 69.4 F
Water Clarity: ~8.9 Feet
Lake Level: ~803.8 feet above sea level
Observations: Monday (9/9/24), Water clarity was ~8.9 feet about 3.3 feet higher than last week under an overcast sky. So, the actual water clarity is probably a little higher. This increase in water clarity was most likely caused by a decrease in algae in the upper water column over the last week. The surface water temperature was ~69.4 F ~4.7 F lower than last week. The lake is in its fall pattern now with rapidly dropping water temperature. It was a very overcast day with light wind to be out on Honeoye Lake!
We were able to check 10 near shore and open water locations around the lake for blue-green algae blooms this morning. We visually could see blue-green algae of varying intensities in the water column at all 10 sites we checked. We are still having a lake wide blue-green algae bloom which is heaviest in near shore locations that are down wind. Today the wind was from the SW making the heaviest concentrations of blue-green algae in the north lake basin, but there were still a few locations in the south lake basin with blue-green algae blooms. Most near shore locations had significant blue-green algae concentrations in the water column turning the water very green like the picture below on the left. However, a few near shore locations still had surface blue-green algae blooms like the picture below on the right. Since there is 10 miles of Honeoye Lake shoreline there is likely to be several other locations currently experiencing blue-green algae blooms sone with surface scum this week. Please regularly check the DEC HABs alert map for more detailed updates. Just click on the link below. Then click on the blue dots on the DEC HABs map to see pictures, locations, and dates of Honeoye Lake HABs alerts:
Anabaena (Dolchospermum) (looks like a spring), Aphanizomenon (looks like a leaf), Limnoraphis (looks like a rod), and Microcystis (looks like a cluster of small round cells) have become the dominate blue-green algae species. Also, found a lot of Ceratium (look like a small space ship) a dinoflagellate species today. Ceratium is not a blue-green algae species and is considered harmless. See the images below: Expect to continue to see blue-green algae blooms lake wide over the next few weeks particularly when we have 80-90 F days with calm winds. More information on blue-green algae can be found at: https://www.honeoyelakewatershed.org/habs
Several research studies have found that most of the phosphorus that fuels Honeoye Lake’s blue-green algae blooms is released from the lake bottom sediments when the lake’s dissolved oxygen level goes below 0.50 mg/L in the deeper parts of the lake. The dissolved oxygen (DO) level near the lake bottom at ~9.0 m (~30 feet) was ~ 6.63 mg/L today. So, phosphorus should not currently be released from the bottom sediments. The lake has completely mixed top to bottom again. It is isothermal now meaning the water temperature is uniform top to bottom which you can see on the temperature graph on the left with all the temperature lines converging. The lake has gone into its fall pattern of steadily decreasing water temperature.
Always use your own visual assessment before making contact with the lake water at this time of year as the blue-green algae situation can change daily if not hourly. Please report your HABs sightings and regularly check the DEC HABs alert map for more detailed updates on Honeoye Lake HABs alerts:
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Please click on the link below to see the August Muller Field Station Newsletter:
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DEC Update on Honeoye Alum treatment:
We are continuing to monitor the lake and collect further information, and will evaluate it over the coming months.
The follow-up evaluation will look at all aspects of the project, including water quality results, design assumptions, material quality control, and response of lake water and sediment quality to the alum application.
The evaluation is expected to be completed in 2024 and will supplement the water quality and biological diversity monitoring in the lake to help understand long-term implications of the inactivant treatment.
The output of the review will be a report highlighting lessons learned and areas of improvement for future nutrient inactivant applications.
DEC plans to provide water quality monitoring results and the evaluation results in an information session in early 2025. Participants will be able to engage with DEC staff to ask questions and provide comments and feedback on the project during the information session.
Any and all additional questions can be directed to HoneoyeAlum2022@dec.ny.gov or to 518-402-8179 at central office.
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The Town of Richmond has posted an update on their plans to address the Mill Creek and Outlet Creek issues on their town web site. The Mill Creek Master Plan Phase 1 construction has started. You can read their update by clicking on the link below:
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Click on the link below to see the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force 2024 Winter Newsletter:
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DEC Big Panfish Initiative (BPI)
The Big Panfish Initiative (BPI) was developed to create destination fisheries for larger size panfish in select waters including Honeoye Lake. The BPI is an experimental program that is being conducted to determine the impacts of lower harvest and minimum size limits on sunfish population age and size structure in select lakes throughout New York and to evaluate the level of angler satisfaction with this management strategy. It also includes an assessment of crappie population age and growth characteristics in select waters to determine if those waters have the potential to yield larger fish under more conservative harvest regulations.
Review complete details in the Big Panfish Initiative Study Plan, 2021-2026 (PDF)
DEC BPI Study Updates can be found on the links below:
2021 BPI Study Report Cards (PDF) | 2022 BPI Study Report Cards (PDF)
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New York Safe Boating Class Certificate will be required of all boaters on this schedule:
If born on or after: You will need boating safety certificate to operate motorized vessel in:
January 1, 1988 2022
January 1, 1983 2023
January 1, 1978 2024
All operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, will need a boating safety certificate by January 1, 2025.
Click on the link below for more information and the schedule of local NYS Safe Boating classes:
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- Click on this link to see the new HLWTF Honeoye Lake Watershed Storm Water Took Kit if you are planning any storm water projects on your property:
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