Lowering the Lake Level is DELAYED!

The Findley Lake Watershed Foundation normally lowers the lake level starting October 15, however, this year the lake level will remain at the summer level through about November 15 – or maybe even longer – to enable Princeton Hydro to perform both a bathymetric assessment of the lake (mapping water depth) and a sediment oxygen demand (SOD) study.  Princeton Hydro is contracted with the Town of Mina (funding provided by Chautauqua County) to perform these studies to provide needed information prior to preparing a design and cost estimate for a system to maintain significant oxygen concentrations throughout the lake.  The intent of the system would be to keep the vast amount of phosphorous locked in the sediments.  Currently, when the lake stratifies, phosphorous is released from the sediment into the water, which causes severe and hazardous algal blooms.

The lake is currently still stratified with warm water temperature and high concentrations of dissolved oxygen near the surface, but with cold temperatures and near zero oxygen concentrations at depths below 15 feet.  The lake needs to “turn over” (resulting in almost uniform temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles) prior to conducting the SOD study.   Princeton Hydro estimates that it may take another month for the lake to “turn over”. Also, weeds need to have died off prior to conducting the bathymetric assessment.

We understand that in-water work may be impacted by this modified timeline.  However, this is a critical component of the Town of Mina’s Comprehensive Plan and the studies must be completed this fall.

The Findley Lake Watershed Foundation will provide updates as Princeton Hydro determines when they can perform these studies – and when the lake can be lowered to the winter level.