Finger Lakes Summer: Kudos to the City of Rochester

The shoreline of Hemlock is beautiful.

Which Finger Lakes are really the Finger Lakes? I have not been able to get anyone to agree on that question. Are there 5 or are all the skinny lakes that run north/south across Upstate New York to be considered “Finger Lakes”? For this post I am including ALL the lakes because The City of Rochester has done a great thing and it’s worth mentioning. A press release states:

“(Thursday, July 1, 2010) – Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy and State Environmental Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today that New York State has completed the purchase of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes from the City of Rochester for $13.7 million. The transaction, which has been in the works for over two years, will preserve and protect the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes – which have supplied water to Rochester for more than 130 years.

The release also states that “Of New York’s 11 Finger Lakes, (Someone has an opinion) Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake are the only two with undeveloped shorelines.” Rochester has been purchasing watershed property next to the lakes since 1895. They owned 7,000 acres of shoreline by 1950 that was reforested. This has also benefitted the fish and wildlife. Two pairs of bald eagles nest in the watershed.

Fall color on the shore of Canadice

The State of New York’s Environmental Protection Fund and The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter also helped to facilitate the transaction.

The City of Rochester maintains a wonderful trail system at Hemlock and Canadice lakes and allows canoes, kayaks, and small motorboats (less than 10 horsepower) to use the lakes.

For more information about access to these lakes:

Visitor permits are required for visitors to the watershed area. Visitor permits, which help to insure protection of the area, are required of persons 16 years or older who visit City watershed property. Permit holders are welcome to bring guests, and to pursue licensed sporting activities such as fishing and hunting as well as boating, hiking, and nature study.

 

How to Get a Permit

Permits are free and valid for one calendar year. For your convenience, Watershed Visitor Permits can be obtained in the following ways:

• Download it
• From the Water Bureau’s headquarters: 10 Felix St., Rochester NY 14608
• From the Office of the Commissioner in the Department of Environmental Services: City Hall, Room 300B, 30 Church Street, Rochester NY 14614
• By mail: send a request along with a legal-size self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Water Conservationist, 7412 Rix Hill Road, Hemlock, NY 14466
• From a self-service booth located just outside Hemlock Park: 7412 Rix Hill Road, Hemlock, NY 14466

 

Enjoy!