A Management Strategy for Oneida Lake and its ... - CNY RPDB Home

human influences. New York State Canal
Law requires a minimum Canal depth of 14
feet. The fixed sill level at Lock E-23 in
Brewerton sets a minimum water level of
369.9 ft BCD at the lock. This translates into
a minimum navigation level of 370.3 ft BCD
on Oneida Lake given the average hydraulic
backwater observed along the Oneida River
between the lake and Lock E-23. The New
York State Canal Corporation’s summer target
level of Oneida Lake is 0.9 feet higher to
provide sufficient water to account for variable
losses due to evaporation and lockages
during the most extreme drought to assure that
the minimum navigation level of 369.9 ft
BCD at Lock E-23 (370.3 ft BCD on Oneida
Lake) is available throughout the navigation
season. This equates to a maximum target
navigation level on Oneida Lake of 371.2 ft
BCD. Refer to Appendix A for additional
information.
walls and buildings due to the physical energy
contained in the moving wave. The impact of
wind on lake levels can also be problematic
when elevated water levels are observed in the
spring coupled with the accumulation of lake
ice at the downwind end of the lake, normally
the eastern end, further increasing the water
levels. This rise in water levels has temporary
impacts on lake recreational uses. Refer to
Appendix A for additional information.
Impacts
Low Oneida Lake water levels in the winter
may contribute to problems associated with
fisheries and wildlife habitat. High and low
water levels can also have negative impacts to
navigation and recreation. Spring rainfall
coupled with snowmelt can raise the level of
Oneida Lake to levels that can be problematic,
especially in flood prone shoreline areas.
The impact associated with elevated water
levels is complicated by seiche and wave
action. Seiches are tide-like rises and drops in
lake levels caused by prolonged strong winds
that push water toward one side or end of the
lake, causing the water level to rise on the
downwind side of the lake and to drop on the
upwind side. Seiches further increase the
potential for high water levels in certain areas
of the lake and therefore negatively impact
flooding.
Wave action is problematic during high water
levels since it can increase the actual observed
water levels and cause damage to shorelines,
Flooding impacts many shoreline homeowners
(Photo: www.news.sctimes.com)
Participating Organizations
The following agencies and organizations take
a leading role in management decisions
pertaining to flooding and water level management
in the Oneida Lake watershed:
Chapter 3: Priority Areas page 39