Habitat Plan 2 - Onondaga Lake Partnership

DRAFTAdditional research is being conducted to better understand thisbidirectional flow in the outlet, including collaborative work between theUSGS and Onondaga County.Upstream portion of Ninemile CreekNinemile CreekOtisco Lake serves as the headwaters of Ninemile Creek in the town ofOtisco. Ninemile Creek receives drainage from several tributariesincluding Geddes Brook. Ultimately, Ninemile Creek empties intoOnondaga Lake along its western edge at Lakeland, adjacent to theNYS Fairgrounds. As defined in the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek RI(TAMS, 2003b) the section of Ninemile Creek located upstream of theGeddes Brook confluence to Amboy Dam is referred to as upperNinemile Creek, while the section located downstream of the GeddesBrook confluence is referred to as lower Ninemile Creek. NinemileCreek is the second largest natural tributary, contributing approximately34% of the annual flow to Onondaga Lake (OCDWEP, 2001).Ninemile Creek empties intoOnondaga Lake.The water quality classification for lower Ninemile Creek is Class C(suitable for fish propagation and fish survival). A Class C (T)designation applies to Ninemile Creek from the outlet of Otisco Lake to0.6 miles (0.4 km) downstream of the Route 173 bridge in Amboy(downstream of the Amboy Dam). The C(T) designation indicates that,in addition to protection as Class C waters and uses, these waters aretrout streams where the dissolved oxygen specification for trout watersapplies (Title 6 of the State of New York Code of Rules and Regulations– 6 NYCRR - Part 895). Class C(T) waters are also “protected streams”subject to provisions specified in 6 NYCRR Part 608.The fish assemblages in Geddes Brook and Ninemile Creek have beenevaluated in three historical studies and, in a qualitative manner, duringfish sampling performed for the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek RI fieldPARSONS | Remedial Design Elements for Habitat Restoration 55