Watch a video to learn about habitat restored as a part of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Onondaga Lake is well on its way to becoming a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come. Through thoughtful planning and input from local scientists, wetland ecologists, and the community, as well as government oversight, dynamic and diverse wetlands are becoming the cornerstone of a renewed watershed.

Access more information about the habitat enhancements.

Today, the water quality in Onondaga Lake is the best it’s been in more than 100 years. A green corridor now extends from the restored areas to the lake, providing a diverse home for wildlife.  More than 250 wildlife species, some that have not been seen in decades, are now calling these areas home, and more than 120 unique bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake, a priority Audubon Important Bird Area. Bird species on New York State’s threatened list, including pied-billed grebe, northern harrier, and bald eagle, have returned to the re-established wetlands.

Monitoring and maintenance will continue for years to come to ensure vegetation is established and returning wildlife is documented. Monitoring also helps identify invasive species so they can be removed.

In addition to the cleanup, in April 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a plan for 20 new projects to restore and protect wildlife habitat and water quality, and increase recreational opportunities.

The Onondaga Lake Cleanup Plan was issued in 2005 by DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The cleanup, which was completed in 2016, included dredging 2.2 million cubic yards of lake material and capping 475 acres of lake bottom. The cap, which consists of natural materials, provides a new, clean lake bottom and a new habitat layer to promote underwater vegetation growth and fish spawning.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

View photographs of the Onondaga Lake cleanup.

Click here for a pdf of the Habitat Report.

Dear Community Member,

Recovery of Onondaga Lake is well on its way. With dredging completed, a year ahead of schedule, we are continuing with the capping and the habitat restoration through 2016. More than 110 species of fish, birds, and mammals have already returned to restored wetlands, and nearby areas.

The community’s pride and passion have helped fuel this progress and are being rewarded as the lake will be a healthy, sustainable asset for generations to come. Over 500 volunteers have participated in hands-on, experience-based Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps programs that help restore and sustain the lake and its value as an Important Bird Area.

As recovery continues, the community is enthusiastic about all of the opportunities to use the lake now and in the future. We hope you all will get or stay involved, and learn more about the cleanup by coming to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center or by becoming a member of the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps. The Corps is a partnership among Audubon New York, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, Parsons, O’Brien & Gere, and Honeywell.

We are proud of the progress we have achieved and hope you share our excitement as you read our seventh annual update. You can learn more by visiting our website at www.lakecleanup.com.

Sincerely,

John P. McAuliffe
Syracuse Program Director

Click here to download the Fall 2012 Fact Sheet (4MB PDF)

Work to transform 30 acres at Nine Mile Creek into improved wetlands, a healthier creek, improved habitats for wildlife, and access for canoeing and kayaking has begun. Nine Mile Creek will become part of a green corridor connecting habitat from Onondaga Lake to wetlands at Geddes Brook, wetlands at the former Linden Chemicals and Plastics site, and the Shrub Willow Farm off of Airport Road in Camillus. The remediation work will prevent contaminated material from reaching Onondaga Lake.

“The wetlands and habitat improvements along Nine Mile Creek will create more diverse wildlife and aquatic habitats,” said Fred Miller, founder and president of the Nine Mile Creek Conservation Council. “They will provide lasting future benefits for the environment and the public. The improvements are a major environmental enhancement for the river and the canoe/kayak water trail.”

Nine Mile Creek prior to remediation and restoration.

A rendering of Nine Mile Creek after completion.

Aerial photo (left) of Nine Mile Creek and rendering (right).

While the work is in progress, canoes and kayaks will have to be taken out of Nine Mile Creek upstream of the work area at the Honeywell fishing and recreation access point off Airport Road. The lower portion of the creek will be closed for up to two years.

Nile Mile Creek and Public Access

A trail connects a multi-use dock to the parking area at Nine Mile Creek.

Wooden stairs provide safe and easy access at the Nine Mile Creek access point on Airport Road.

The cleanup will be done by Central New York skilled craft workers who will remove contaminated soil and invasive, non-native plants. They will realign the creek, grade wetlands and floodplains, and plant more than 50,000 native trees, shrubs and flowers. Community volunteers will help with a portion of the plantings later this summer. The plan is based on input from national and local experts, including researchers and scientists from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

The creek’s restored wetlands and floodplains will enhance fish and wildlife habitats, and improve opportunities for recreation such as kayaking and canoeing. Once complete, the creek will be deep enough for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking even during the summer when water levels are low. The parking area and the canoe/kayak launch along Pumphouse Road off of State Fair Boulevard in Geddes will reopen when the project is finished.

Realignment of Nine Mile Creek will improve water flow and provide more accessibility for canoes and kayaks.

“The current low flow in Nine Mile Creek makes paddling difficult during most times of year,” said Kathy Kitt, a member of CNY Kayakers and owner of the Camillus Kayak Shop. “Deepening the channel for better flow will improve year-round kayaking and canoeing and long-term opportunities for recreational use of the creek.”

In August 2012, community members will volunteer at Nine Mile Creek, becoming environmental stewards helping to preserve the watershed. The new Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an opportunity for volunteers to participate in habitat restoration, citizen science monitoring, and stewardship activities that will enhance the sustainability of Onondaga Lake. Interested groups or individuals should contact the Montezuma Audubon Center at montezuma@audubon.org or 315-365-3588.

Nine Mile Creek is one of the primary tributaries to Onondaga Lake, flowing north and east from Camillus and entering Onondaga Lake near the New York State Fairgrounds.

For the full Nine Mile Creek wetlands plant list, click here.

The remediation will be performed under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.

Work has begun at Geddes Brook to transform 17 acres of land in the Onondaga Lake watershed into a diverse new habitat for wildlife. The remediated Geddes Brook will become part of a green corridor connecting habitat from Onondaga Lake to upland sites.

The yearlong project will involve the removal of contaminated soil and invasive plants, and the planting of 50,000 native shrubs, flowers, and trees, which are critical to protecting and enhancing habitat for wildlife such as fish, birds, frogs, and turtles. By planting native species, re-establishing the wetlands, and improving habitat, the project will improve the ecosystem and play a significant role in creating a productive, healthy Onondaga Lake watershed.

The remediation will be performed under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Geddes Brook wetlands prior to remediation and the re-establishment of habitat.

Rendering of Geddes Brook wetlands after habitat restoration is complete.

Honeywell also is working with national and local experts, including researchers and scientists from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF); Exponent; Terrestrial Environmental Specialists, Inc.; and Anchor QEA. This team represents several hundred years of collective experience in areas of wetland ecology, biology, restoration ecology, and fisheries biology, as well as the study of landforms and the processes that shape them.

Habitat and Wetlands Specialists in Their Own Words:

Dr. Ryan Davis, Principal Scientist, Anchor QEA

Dr. Davis has more than 19 years of experience in stream assessments and restoration, habitat restoration designs and implementation, and wetland restorations.His experience includes work throughout the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States, including the Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Maine and the Hudson River, as well as coastal California. Davis has published several articles on habitat restoration in peer-reviewed literature and routinely presents at national conferences. Dr. Davis has been working on Onondaga Lake and the watershed since 2003.

How is Geddes Brook connected to the LCP wetlands, Nine Mile Creek, and Onondaga Lake?
Geddes Brook connects the already re-established LCP wetlands (near the former Linden Chemical and Plastics site) with Nine Mile Creek and ultimately Onondaga Lake. Many of the same wetland habitats that were re-established at LCP will be constructed in Geddes Brook to create a more continuous green corridor through Nine Mile Creek to Onondaga Lake. These re-established areas will provide shelter, cover, and food to support movement of fish and wildlife.

Honeywell plans to remove 84,000 cubic yards of soil – the equivalent of a 14-foot-deep soccer field – and replace it with 57,000 cubic yards of clean soil. By restoring Geddes Brook to a more natural, sinuous, meandering channel, water will flow over the channel banks into the wetlands during wet seasons, something that rarely occurs now. This project will create more diverse, native wetland habitats in the floodplains than those that currently exist.

Why is it important to create diverse, productive habitat?
Someone once described habitat as a neighborhood. Essentially, habitat is the physical and biological surroundings that make up the natural environment where plants and animals live, grow, feed, and reproduce. Habitat provides fish, birds, mammals, and other organisms with the necessary elements for life, such as space, food, water, and shelter. Habitat re-establishment is an integral component of the Onondaga Lake remedy and, in fact, is one of the cleanup’s most significant elements.

Following remediation, Geddes Brook and its surrounding wetlands will support a diversity of habitats, including floodplain forest, hardwood swamp, and emergent wetlands. Geddes Brook itself will be longer and also have greater connectivity with the wetlands.

Dr. Donald J. Leopold, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair (Department of Environmental and Forest Biology) at SUNY-ESF

Dr. Leopold has more than 25 years of teaching and research experience at SUNY-ESF. He is the author of six books, including “Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation” and “Trees of New York: Native and Naturalized.” He has been awarded the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association’s George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Award, the Garden Writers Association Silver Award for “Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation” and many other awards for teaching, research, and service. He is also the author of many journal papers, technical reports, and abstracts about plant species, native plants, and a variety of other topics. Dr. Leopold has consulted on the Geddes Brook and LCP wetlands, as well as the Onondaga Lake Habitat Restoration Plan.

Why is it important to plant native species? What species will be planted at Geddes Brook?
Native plants are very well-adapted to local conditions. They produce a beautiful progression of blooms and textures throughout the year, attract a variety of wildlife, and can control and filter stormwater runoff better and more sustainably than mechanical systems. Hundreds of native plant species are found throughout Central New York in distinct natural communities and thrive in a great variety of local conditions.

Fifty thousand native trees, shrubs, and plants will be the foundation of the re-established habitat in the Geddes Brook wetlands. Examples of native species include red maple, sycamore, pussy willow, dogwoods, witch-hazel, sedges, bulrushes, and many others. These species were selected to re-establish specific plant communities including floodplain forest, hardwood swamp, and emergent wetlands.

Several of the targeted species are part of natural communities that have historical or cultural importance. For example, northern white-cedar, and eastern white pine are among many species being planted in the western part of the Geddes Brook floodplain as part of an effort to re-establish a cedar swamp that was historically present around Onondaga Lake and along Onondaga Creek.

Joseph McMullen, Principal Environmental Scientist at Terrestrial Environmental Specialists, Inc.

Joseph McMullen is president of Terrestrial Environmental Specialists, Inc. and has been an environmental consultant for 37 years. He has worked on wetlands and habitat restoration projects for more than 30 years across the northeastern United States from Michigan to Virginia to Maine, and Alaska, Florida, and Puerto Rico. McMullen is an active board member of the New York Flora Association and New York State Wetlands Forum. He has published many articles and made numerous presentations on wetlands, habitat studies, and endangered and threatened plant species. McMullen has been working on Onondaga Lake and the watershed for more than 15 years.

Why are wetlands important?
Historically, wetlands were considered unusable land with little value. About three decades ago, scientists and conservationists began to recognize the importance of wetlands and state and federal laws were passed to protect wetland resources.

Wetlands are often referred to as the kidneys of the ecosystem because of their ability to filter water and improve water quality. Wetlands also provide a diverse ecosystem that supports habitats for plants, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms.

Wetlands are great environmental filters because they help to reduce flooding and filter water that flows downstream. The existing Geddes Brook wetlands are not connected to Geddes Brook because of berms previously built to allow storm water to flow quickly. The Geddes Brook wetlands are not diverse and have little habitat. The wetlands are designed to receive and treat water from Geddes Brook and support diverse plant and animal populations.

How successful are the wetlands near the former LCP site?
The re-establishment of the LCP wetlands has been a tremendous success. This former low-quality wetland, which was dominated almost solely by the invasive common reed grass (Phragmites) and had very little habitat diversity, is now a wetland complex of varying habitat types supporting many plant and animal species.

(Left to right): Before and after photos of the wetlands near the former LCP site.

Deep wetlands were created to support floating leaved plants, such as water lilies. Still deeper areas support important submerged aquatic plants, such as pondweeds and coontail. About 12,000 native plants were planted in the appropriate water depth zone and wetland edges.

Yearly monitoring of the wetland is required. Last year, the third year of monitoring, more than 100 plant species were recorded – a vast improvement over the handful of species that occurred when Phragmites dominated the formerly contaminated wetland.

There also is a significant increase in the wildlife in the area. Several species of frogs, turtles, a vast array of waterfowl and other birds, aquatic mammals (such as muskrats), fish, and other aquatic organisms now call the wetland home. Habitat for most of these species did not exist in the former wetland.

In addition to the increase in the many common plant and animal species, a couple of rare species, such as a state-listed threatened bird species called pied-billed grebe were seen. This species has nested and raised young in the restored wetland in each of the last two years. Habitat for this species did not exist in the former wetland. Another is a state-endangered plant species called saltmarsh bulrush (Bolboschoenus maritimus var. paludosus), which was found in the area.

For the full Geddes Brook wetlands plant list, click here.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit: www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.

Click here to download the 2010 Onondaga Lake Cleanup Annual Report (2MB PDF)

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released a proposed plan for the restoration of the lower section of Nine Mile Creek. The plan includes restoring forested wetlands, enhancing stream conditions for fish spawning and migration, and improving habitat along the creek. These elements will provide critical linkages with wetlands at the former Linden Chemical and Plastics (LCP) site, the Shrub Willow Farms at the former Solvay Settlings Basins, and future enhanced habitat along the shores of Onondaga Lake.

“The Geddes Brook/Nine Mile Creek restoration will create improved habitat and wetlands from the LCP site to Geddes Brook/Nine Mile Creek to Onondaga Lake,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Wetlands have many tremendous ecological benefits and are critical to long-term habitat enhancements and restoration.”

“Forested wetlands are important and we need more of them around the lake,” said Dr. Ryan Davis, Managing Scientist, Anchor QEA, a leader in habitat restoration and a Honeywell consultant. “Restoring and enhancing the wetlands located at the mouth of Nine Mile Creek will provide additional valuable habitat and refuge for birds, like belted kingfishers, that use the wetlands, Nine Mile Creek, and the lake.”

Diverse wetlands at the mouth of Nine Mile Creek will support a variety of amphibians, reptiles, animals and birds.
(Image shows what wetlands will look like after restoration is complete.)

Forested wetlands control erosion, stabilize shorelines, and retain nutrients to enhance water quality. They also support diverse plant and animal species. Plants may include Silver Maple, American Elm, Grey Stem Dogwood, Buttonbush and Spicebush. The forested wetlands will be suitable for many animal species including mink, beaver, leopard frog, and a variety of birds, including red-tailed hawk, belted kingfisher and red-headed woodpecker.

“We support actions leading to the cleanup of Nine Mile Creek that will support diverse wildlife and aquatic habitats. The preservation of riparian buffer and wetlands along the river corridor is vitally important,” said Nine Mile Creek Conservation Council President Fred Miller. “We look forward to working with all parties during the wetlands design phase and providing input through the public participation process.”

The DEC’s plan, which was developed with Honeywell’s team and reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), calls for removing 58,000 cubic yards of soil and its replacement with certified clean soil.

Nearly 15,000 emergent wetland plants, shrubs and trees will be planted, bringing the number of new trees and native plants along the creek to more than 75,000.

Honeywell is committed to working under the DEC’s supervision to involve the public in key design and construction activities.

The DEC’s Proposed Plan has been made available to the community for a public comment period that concludes on July 3, 2009. On June 11, 2009, the DEC will hold a public meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Martha Eddy Room in the Art and Home Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York.

A Proposed Plan is a document that identifies and evaluates different remedial actions for a specific project and recommends a plan that protects health and the environment. More information on the Proposed Plan can be found in the Proposed Plan for Operable Unit 2 of the Nine Mile Creek Site Onondaga Lake Superfund Site.

This is the second phase of the Geddes Brook/Nine Mile Creek project. In November 2008, the DEC released the Proposed Plan for Operable Unit 1 of the Geddes Brook/Nine Mile Creek Site Onondaga Lake Superfund Site.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released an initial design for the dredging and management of sediments that will be removed during the lake cleanup. The lake remediation plan, which was approved by the DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, calls for a combination of dredging and capping — environmental cleanup methods that will remediate the contamination in sediments and water.

“We have achieved another critical milestone in the restoration of Onondaga Lake,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “A team of nationally recognized experts incorporated community input into the design of a system to dredge and manage lake sediments.”

The timely completion of this initial design is key to maintaining the schedule as dredging is to begin in 2012. It is one of four major lake project designs.

Honeywell has made great progress on the cleanup of Onondaga Lake. At sites throughout the area, several lake-sustaining projects are complete. Wetlands around the former Linden Chemical and Plastics (LCP) site are now filled with native species that are attracting wildlife and more than 100,000 shrub willows are growing at the Shrub Willow Farm on the former settling basins. Two of three phases of the underground barrier wall between I-690 and the lake have been finished. A plan for the cleanup of Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek is almost complete.

Twelve thousand newly-planted trees and plants are growing in the formerly contaminated wetlands around the former LCP site.

Since the initial plans were announced in 2004, the DEC has held eight public meetings. Hundreds of community members have attended these meetings and commented during public comment periods.  Honeywell has met with more than 50 local community, environmental, and conservation groups to keep the public informed and gather feedback. The DEC’s Citizen Participation Plan calls for citizen participation working groups to provide opportunities for the public to contribute information, opinions, perspectives, and recommendations.

The design includes use of one of the former settling basins in Camillus as a “sediment consolidation area” (SCA) to hold the sediment that is dredged from the lake.  The basin is removed from residential communities and public facilities.  Honeywell and DEC evaluated 16 locations for the SCA.

Solvay Settling Basin #13 is the site for the SCA. Air monitors around the site will measure particles and emissions in the air. The placement of the monitors will provide complete coverage, regardless of wind direction.

On December 9, 2004, the DEC and Honeywell held the first public meeting in the Town of Camillus. Since 2004 there have been a series of public meetings and extensive scientific work. Issues raised by the Town have been incorporated into the design.

Sediments will be hydraulically dredged from the lake and transported via a pipeline to the SCA. Advantages of this approach include greatly reduced truck traffic, emissions, as well as noise. The design calls for the use of geotextile tubes, which have a proven track record in these types of projects. Geotextile tubes are made to specific standards out of industrial strength materials. The tubes will retain the sediments and allow water to drain into a collection system and then be routed to a water treatment plant.

Dredged sediments will be transported by pipeline from the lake to the SCA.

Geotextile tubes provide many community advantages, including effective odor control, a significant reduction in the size of the SCA, and enhanced buffer zones around the perimeter of the SCA for a safe, secure facility. Honeywell will submit a separate design later this fall to outline the construction of the SCA. Once the lake cleanup is complete, Honeywell will install a clay and clean soil cover.

Water drained from the geotextile tubes will be routed to a water treatment plant and will be treated to meet DEC standards. (Photo of Geotextile Tubes in Berry, Alabama)

Construction of the SCA will begin in 2011. The SCA will operate during the lake dredging from 2012 until 2016.

As Honeywell moves forward with the remaining designs, community input, and dialogue will remain an important component. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment during the intermediate and final designs.

The DEC issued the Dredging, Sediment Management & Water Treatment Initial Design Submittal for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Site in May 2009. The fact sheet can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html.

Individuals interested in more information should contact Honeywell at 315-431-4443, ext. 3.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.

Click here to download the 2008 Onondaga Lake Cleanup Annual Report (600 KB PDF)