Skaneateles Lake

Description

The shores of Skaneateles Lake are in three counties: Onondaga, Cayuga, and Cortland. The village of Skaneateles (population about 2,450) is at the northern end of the lake, in Onondaga County. Summer cottages appeared in 1881, increasing to more than 2000 residences around the lake in 2002. Generally new homes now are built for year-round occupancy rather than summer use and many summer cottages are replaced. The transient and seasonal population of this tourist destination and summer resort surges during the warmer months.

Skaneateles Lake is separated from two other nearby Finger Lakes, Otisco and Owasco, by ridges some 600 feet above the waters, affording magnificent prospects on both sides. Much of the highland terrain is forested, with several large public preserves. Once more cultivated, this region was known for the teasel industry until 1930. Teasels were employed commercially by woolen mills to raise the nap on the material. Although some dairy farms remain in the highlands, occasionally remaining in the same family after many generations, much of the land no longer serves agriculture. There is some experimention with introduction of vineyards, which have proved so successful on the more western Finger Lakes. Skaneateles Lake environs, however, at an elevation of 863 feet, may offer a less agreeable microclimate for wine grapes than larger, deeper and lower lakes, like Cayuga Lake, at an elevation of 382 feet.

Landmarks and features

Landmarks and scenic features appear around the lake. Many historic buildings enhance the village of Skaneateles. Carpenter Falls are near the hamlet of New Hope about one mile inland from the southwest shore of the Lake. The hike down to the main waterfall from the road above is on an unimproved cliff face and quite dangerous. The falls are part of the Bahar Nature Preserve that extends along Bear Swamp Creek to the lake. The historic New Hope Mill (closed to public permanently) is nearby. Opposite Carpenter Point is Ten Mile Point, a favorite picnic destination. The southern end of the lake, bounded by high hills (below, right) differs in character from the north. Glen Haven, a hamlet located there, once featured a large resort hotel but now offers smaller visitor accommodations and seasonal dining. From 1860-1900, Dr. W. C. Thomas offered a water cure treatment at the Hotel Glen Haven. On the west side, the high Town of Niles, New York provides scenic prospects. On the east side, the high Town of Spafford offers panoramic views. Between these towns lies deep Glen Haven valley in the Town of Scott, New York, in the third county. The hamlet of Borodino in Spafford retains an 1830 church, little altered, in the Federal style and noted as a center of the abolitionist movement where Frederick Douglass spoke.

The lake has long been popular for recreational sailing. Regattas with yachts from other lakes as well as Skaneateles began in 1847. The Skaneateles Country Club now has a boating center. The Lightning, a racing dinghy, was designed and produced in Skaneateles, as was the Comet. There are few marinas or other commercial facilities on the lake shore. There is a New York state public boat launch site on the lake's west side just south of the Skaneateles Country Club marina. Also, on the west side of the lake, about 6 miles south of the Skaneateles Country Club Marina, in the hamlet Mandana, lies the Skaneateles Marina. The town of Spafford has a public boat launch near Borodino on the east side of the lake about four miles south of the Skaneateles Sailing Club. Glen Haven, at the head of the lake (The Finger Lakes flow South to North), offers a marina and docking. Cruises are available from the village. A mailboat serving cottages along the lake also carries passengers.

Wildlife

In its 2012 Angler Diary, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation cites thirteen species of fish that live in Skaneateles Lake. These species include: rainbow trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, cisco, rock bass, chain pickerel, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, brown bullhead, bluegill, and common carp. The lake trout are naturally reproducing, while 20,000 rainbow trout and 9,000 landlocked salmon are stocked annually.

A large die-off of bass in the spring of 2007 was later confirmed to be due to viral hemorrhagic septicema (VHS), a virus-caused fish disease that has killed millions of fish in the Great Lakes since its presence was noticed in the region in 2005. This is the second of the Finger Lakes found to be contaminated with the virus, after its presence was detected in the westernmost of the Finger Lakes, Conesus Lake, in 2006. The virus and disease are not a threat to human health, but the state of New York is working to slow its spread to other lakes. New state bait regulations were announced on June 6, 2007, aimed at curbing the spread of VHS. VHS can be spread between bodies of water through live or frozen bait fish, roe, live wells, and ballast water, among other ways. Boats and fishing equipment should be disinfected before transfer from Skaneateles Lake to other bodies of water.

Environmental issues

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the lake is affected by pollution from agriculture sources (pesticide and fertilizer use, manure production, and sedimentation), residential sources (septic systems, lawn care, and construction), and streambank erosion. Contaminants from these sources include sediment, nitrogen- and phosphorus-based nutrients, pesticides, bacteria (including fecal coliform), viruses, and protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium. The lake has an unusually low watershed-to-lake ratio, and is considered oligotrophic, meaning it is low in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

A stiff, sticky foam on the lake was reported in 2013 to have been visibly increasing for years. The foam accumulates on shorelines and in bays after strong winds.

In 2017, the lake experienced a widespread blue-green algal bloom which tested positive for microcystin toxins, thus no longer making it one of the cleanest lakes in the US.

In July 2025, Rachel DeWitt, age 30, swam the full 16-mile length of the lake from north to south to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the environmental integrity of the lake.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Beauchamp, William M. Indian Names in New York. Fayetteville, NY: Recorder Office, 1893
• Sage, Samuel H. "Skaneateles Lake," Encyclopedia of New York State. Syracuse University Press, 2005.
• Woodcock, Sue Ellen. Skaneateles. Arcadia-Images of America. 2001

References

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4. N/A, N/A. (2009-09-20). "William Seward on Skaneateles Lake". “kihm”.
5. Monfiletto, Jonathan. (2015-03-17). "'Smiling village': Sherwood Inn plaque reveals William Henry Seward's love for Skaneateles". N/A.
6. "Bahar Preserve and Carpenter's Falls". Finger Lakes Land Trust.
7. "DrThomas".
8. "Skaneateles Lake". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
9. Figura, Dave. (2007-07-14). "Federal lab confirms VHS caused fish kill". The Post-Standard.
10. Crawford, Franklin. (2007-05-17). "Cornell researchers confirm that deadly fish virus has spread to 19 species, threatening sport-fishing industry". Cornell University.
11. (2007-06-15). "Fish Health Regulations in Response to VHS". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
12. "Skaneateles Lake". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
13. (16 December 2009). "Conservation of Water and Related Land Resources, Third Edition". CRC Press.
14. Werner, Bob. (2013-10-22). "SLA learns more about foam in Skaneateles Lake". Skaneateles Press.
15. (17 September 2017). "'High toxins' confirmed in Skaneateles Lake algae bloom".
16. Featherstone, Steve. (July 22, 2025). "Central NY woman swims length of Skaneateles Lake". New York Upstate.