Our Mission
The goal of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council is to maintain and enhance the high water quality of the Canandaigua Lake watershed through research, education, restoration and, if necessary, regulation. The Watershed Council strives to cooperate and partner with county, state and federal agencies, as well as citizens groups and local residents, to effectively and efficiently implement projects throughout the watershed that will protect and improve water quality.
History of the Watershed Council
Watershed protection in the Canandaigua Lake area began in the late 1980s, when local leaders and county agencies formed the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Task Force to address lake preservation. In 1994, the Task Force created the State of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed report, which identified pollution sources and provided recommendations for improvement. This led to a collaborative effort among fourteen municipalities to implement these strategies.
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In 1998, the municipalities secured a state grant to hire a consultant, and by 1999, they finalized and adopted a formal Watershed Management Plan. They also established the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council to lead efforts in protecting the watershed. The Watershed Council is composed of the fourteen municipalities, with each sending a representative to Council meetings. The Watershed Manager oversees the implementation of the Council’s decisions and coordinates with various partners.
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The Watershed Council and its member municipalities have been successful in obtaining over $4 million in state and federal grant funding to help implement many priority actions identified in our watershed management plans.
