Oneida County Lakes Classification &
High Quality Waters Protection Project
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Oneida County has one of the highest concentrations of natural lakes in the world, with 68,000 surface acres of water. This includes more than 1,300 lakes and 830 miles of streams, with over 200 public boat launches.
Oneida County experienced a surge in outdoor recreation activity beginning in 2021, putting additional pressure on our lakes and rivers. This project serves to protect and enhance wetlands and surface water quality and increase our community's level of natural resource awareness. |
McGrath Lake, Oneida County - Photo by Stephanie Boismenue
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Protection efforts will be two-fold:
- Lakes Classification: develop a lakes classification system integrating land and recreational use stressors to protect high quality waters.
- Begin implementing the DNR Healthy Watersheds & High Quality Waters (HWHQW) Action Plan (early in 2024).
Muskellunge Lake, Oneida County - photo by Stephanie Boismenue
Swanson Lake, Oneida County - photo by Stephanie Boismenue
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Lakes Classification
Purpose: Lakes classification considers a lake’s capacity to support development, or its vulnerability to increased development, leading to more appropriate usage guidelines and management practices. |
We see this as a three step process:
Step 1: Select features of each lake (i.e. surface area, depth, shape, public access, current condition/water quality factors) that best assess sensitivity to outside stressors.
Step 2: Create lake classification categories based on sensitivity scores.
Step 3: Determine protection activities (best management practices or BMPs) for each.
Step 1: Select features of each lake (i.e. surface area, depth, shape, public access, current condition/water quality factors) that best assess sensitivity to outside stressors.
Step 2: Create lake classification categories based on sensitivity scores.
Step 3: Determine protection activities (best management practices or BMPs) for each.
Three Lakes Chain, Oneida County - photo by Stephanie Boismenue
Land and Water Conservation Department is developing protection activities for each classification (including the subset "lakes vulnerable to enhanced wakes") with input from an Advisory Group.
The first Advisory Group meeting was held on November 14, 2023. Follow the link on the button below to view a recording of this meeting.
The first Advisory Group meeting was held on November 14, 2023. Follow the link on the button below to view a recording of this meeting.
The second Advisory Group meeting was held on March 25, 2024 from 1-4 p.m. via ZOOM. Click on the Advisory Group Meeting II to watch the video.