Fridays: 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Open houses are being held at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center for community members to experience and learn about the lake cleanup firsthand.
The center was designed and built by Honeywell to provide public access to the significant work taking place by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and skilled craft laborers from this region. Displays highlight the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) cleanup plan, progress to date, the re-establishment of wetlands, and extensive habitat enhancements. The center is located along the southwest shoreline of Onondaga Lake.
The cleanup is making terrific progress. More than 370,000 cubic yards of lake material have been removed, nearly 580 million gallons of water have been treated, and more than 190,000 trees, plants, and shrubs planted. By the end of 2013, dredging is scheduled to be about halfway complete.
The Onondaga Lake cleanup is the result of more than two decades and millions of hours of intensive effort under the supervision of state and federal agencies, and in cooperation with local elected officials and the community. Upgrades made to Onondaga County’s municipal wastewater treatment system plus the construction of an underground barrier wall, which intercepts contaminated groundwater from old industrial sites, have contributed to the improvement of lake water quality to the best it has been in decades.
To schedule a group tour, please call 315-552-9751 or submit the form found at the newly redesigned www.lakecleanup.com. There is no fee to visit. There will not be an open house on Friday, July 5th.
TO ACCESS THE VISITORS CENTER: From Points West: Take I-690 East to Exit 7, turn left onto State Fair Boulevard, take the first left passing under I-690, drive straight toward the lake and follow signs to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center. From Points East: Take I-690 West to Exit 7, turn right at the off ramp and follow signs to the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.