CASE STUDY - CAYUGA LAKE, NY
CAYUGA LAKE, NY
Cayuga Lake is one of the 40 deepest lakes in the United States, is the longest of the glacial finger lakes, and spans three counties - Cayuga, Tompkins, and Seneca counties. It is 37.9 miles long, and 66.41 square miles, has a 55 meter mean depth, and 133 meter maximum depth. Three regional planning agencies have management authorities, and there are 12 towns, three villages, and one city adjacent to the lake. The city of Ithaca, site of Ithaca College and Cornell University, is located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake.
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Cayuga Lake is part of the New York State Erie Canal system. The water level is regulated by the Mud Lock at the north end of the lake. It is connected to Lake Ontario by the Erie Canal and Seneca Lake by the Seneca River. The lake is drawn down as winter approaches, to minimize ice damage and to maximize its capacity to store heavy spring runoff.
Click on the image for a larger version of this map on Google Earth.
The large number of access points and proximity to other infested lakes makes Cayuga Lake vulnerable to new AIS introductions. As of January 2021, Cayuga Lake contained: