After recent storm events caused a massive amount of roadside erosion, including a major slope failure along Egypt Road in the Town of Bristol, the District applied for funding through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Project grant program to implement roadside stabilization projects in the Genesee River Watershed. Funding supported smaller roadside stabilization projects working with the Towns of Canadice and Bristol to install flexamat material for stabilizing critical roadside ditches along 1,150 feet of roadside as well as a massive road rebuilding and stabilization project along Egypt Road, which has a stream feeding to Mill Creek, a nearby trout stream.
The Town of Bristol Highway Department undertook the construction work themselves and earned an award in the process! Working on an extreme slope, the Town had to shift the road by stripping back several hundred feet of road and rebuilding a stable base to create a solid foundation, excavating down nearly 60 feet. The Town then built up the roadside using concrete mattresses and gabion baskets to stabilize the slope. Further work included subsurface drainage, road resurfacing, guardrails, and geotextile and vegetative stabilization. This project prevents a major road failure and also protects further loss of roadside material to the adjacent stream.

Anglers come from all over for a chance to fish the Naples Creek area, bringing tourists to the Town of Naples each year for the annual fishing derby. Naples and Eelpot Creeks are ecologically important areas as the spawning grounds for rainbow trout traveling upstream from Canandaigua Lake.
This project enhanced 2 road crossing culverts that posed a barrier to aquatic passage, especially during periods of low flow while fish were spawning. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service designed the structures and helped to oversee construction along with the District. Funding from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program provided funding for construction costs. The Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) also offered their support via funding through their Embrace A Stream grant program for construction as well as the donation of their members’ time for planting trees and shrubs to enhance the riparian area. Thanks to all of the support from TU members who made this project #1 in the National Embrace A Stream Challenge! The stories of generations of anglers enjoying Naples Creek and personal connections make this project very rewarding for us.
Installing in-stream structures helped to raise the streambeds and stream water level to minimize the perched culverts. Adding structure also creates fishing pools and provides habitat in the upper most headwaters of Naples Creek. Reconnecting these sections of stream will support aquatic passage and open up the upper reaches of stream for spawning habitat. This project allowed the District to bring together multiple partners to enhance both water quality and aquatic habitat. Grab your fishing poles on April 1st to experience trout fishing in Naples Creek!

The Ontario County Department of Public Work’s Highway Department recently completed work on an erosion stabilization and culvert repair project on County Road 6 in the Town of Geneva. Funding for this project was secured by the District through the Water Quality Improvement Project, Round 19 with the County providing the local match. The project site is located on Wilson Creek, a direct tributary to Seneca Lake and was identified as a priority project in the Seneca-Keuka Watershed Nine Element Plan for Phosphorus.
The creek and culvert are located in a deep ravine-like setting nearly 70 feet below the road grade with difficult access. A large retaining wall connected directly to the culvert (also known as a wing wall), had collapsed into the creek and the three remaining wingwalls were beginning to tilt away from the embankment towards the creek. In addition, heavy erosion was occurring along the embankment slopes allowing soil to enter the creek. Repairs to the site involved stabilizing the existing wing walls with a technique called “soil nailing”. This technique involves drilling long threaded steel bars through the wingwalls and into the embankment soil. Upon installation, the bars are then tightened to stabilize the wing walls and embankment material. Additional repairs included the construction of stone lined ditches at locations where the embankment slopes and stream banks intercept. A huge thank you to the Ontario County Department of Public Works for partnering on this project and providing their expertise!

The District recently partnered with the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) to install several vernal pools at the Canandaigua Vista Property in the Town of Canandaigua. This project was made possible by utilizing Part B funding available to the District through the New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee as well as funds from the FLLT.
Vernal pools are a type of seasonal, depressional wetland which provides water quality and habitat values. These structures collect water during the spring from melting snow and rain, then dry up during late summer or early fall. They help to create water storage, mitigate flooding, promote groundwater infiltration, enrich public opportunities to view wildlife, and provide essential habitat for species such as frogs, toads, turtles and salamanders. These aquatic egg laying species take advantage of the seasonal water levels within the vernal pools to find safe havens to lay their eggs and allow their offspring to develop.
The project at the Canandaigua Vista Property includes the installation of 4 vernal pools in succession along an existing hedgerow. The next time you are in the area be sure to stop for a quick hike and take a look to see what species are using the pools!

The District worked with the Town of Canandaigua and a local landowner to design and install a
water control structure and drainage stabilization to reduce erosion and sediment in the
Canandaigua Lake watershed. Roadside drainage has been modified along Wells Curtice Road
in the Town of Canandaigua. The increase in volume and velocity of stormwater led to erosion of the drainage way. A drop inlet, larger culvert and heavy stone rip-rap for outlet protection and grade control was utilized. The installed BMPs are focused on controlling the volume of stormwater while reducing erosion and
ultimately improve water quality in Canandaigua Lake. The District worked in partnership with
the Town of Canandaigua to work outside of the Town’s right of way to address stormwater
impacts as well as provide technical assistance to the homeowner on managing drainage on
their property. OCSWCD staff assisted the Town of Canandaigua through the purchase of construction
materials and provided technical support through survey and design assistance. Funding was utilized from Finger Lakes/Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA), and the Town of Canandaigua.

Roadside stabilization has a known positive impact on water quality through the reduction of sediment loss from critical stormwater infrastructure. This reduction in sediment loss shares a direct correlation with a reduction of nutrient losses from the watershed thereby resulting in improved water quality. Grimes Creek is an area characterized by steep slopes with shallow topsoil for plant establishment. The roadside drainage in this location had created a large scour pool that formed a cascade before making its way to Grimes Creek. The stabilization of this site resulted in the slowing of erosive water velocities as well as a reduction in sediment and nutrient loss from the site.

The Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District provided technical assistance to the Town of Richmond and funding through the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA) for a road ditch stabilization project in the Town of Richmond along the East Lake Road of Honeoye Lake. This road ditch had become unstable and was leading to severe erosion resulting in sediment and nutrient loss from the site. The Town of Richmond Highway Department replaced the existing driveway culvert pipe and installed two grade control structures utilizing large rock to help provide stabilization. This stabilization will reduce erosion and sediment loss from the area therefore decreasing the amount of sediment and nutrients entering Honeoye Lake.

The Briggs Gully Stream Bank Erosion Control Project was funded through WQIP Round 11. Over the years, a substantial amount of erosion had occurred due to the high velocity of the water. This project utilized rip rap to stabilize the streambank and protect the bridge at Briggs Gully.

Castle Creek runs through the City of Geneva. A portion of the stream near Brook Street was rapidly eroding and contributing sediment and nutrients to the waterway which drains to Seneca Lake. Estimating lateral erosion at 6 inches per year, stabilizing 150 linear feet of the 6-8 foot high bank will result in approximately 22 tons of soil savings per year. The District took on this project in partnership with the City of Geneva Highway Department and the Ontario County Department of Public Works. Support was provided through engineering, labor and equipment for project installation. Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association's Sediment, Nutrient, and Pollution Reduction (SNPR) program and the District provided funding for project materials. The newly approved Seneca-Keuka 9 Element Watershed Plan highlights projects such as this to reduce sediments and nutrients impacting Seneca Lake, a drinking water source for more than 100,000 people.

2023 brought the continuation of our Hemlock Woolly Adelgid treatment program. Funding provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) allowed us to treat almost 30 acres along Briggs Gully, a major tributary to Honeoye Lake. The Briggs Gully parcel provided a unique opportunity for treatment as it is bordered by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lands, as part of the Honeoye Inlet Wildlife Management Area, as well as the Wesley Hill Preserve owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Each of these partners strategically treated trees on their respective parcels leading to an even larger regional effort to protect hemlock trees in this important watershed. Additional GLRI funding will also be used to support this localized treatment effort in upcoming months.

Hemlocks help protect our steep sloped areas, but it can make access to trees difficult. These critical areas require the use of ropes, a lot of courage and advanced repelling skills! Trees were treated with a basal bark application of two different chemicals, one that is fast acting and will provide immediate protection and one that is longer lasting to ensure that our hemlocks stay protected for up to 7 years. You may recall from previous newsletters that this area has also been a focus for the release of insects for biocontrol, which will provide the long-term control needed.

In 2022, we kicked off a program to control Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive species that threatens our hemlock trees. In February 2022, the Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) partnered with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, Finger Lakes PRISM and the Finger Lakes Land Trust to hold an event at the Cumming Nature Center training volunteers in identification and reporting of HWA as well as treatment options. Having current knowledge of infestations helps prioritize chemical treatment and supports bio-control, both necessary tools in the long-term management of HWA.
For a start, 68 hemlock trees were treated at Grimes Glen in the fall of 2022. Several funding sources, including a recently awarded Environmental Benefits Project from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as a grant obtained from the US Forest Service will be used in 2023 to treat hemlocks at Grimes Glen, Briggs Gully and Harriet Hollister State Recreation Area.
Protecting our critical riparian corridors helps stabilize streambanks and protects water quality. The District looks forward to continued work with a variety of partners and local landowners to identify and monitor the HWA threat and target efforts of chemical control and bio-control releases for long term management. Keep an eye out for upcoming trainings to learn how you can get involved.

The Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District partnered with the Town of Canadice Highway Department to stabilize several ditches experiencing severe erosion along Cratsley Hill Road, Jersey Hill Road and Canandice Hill Road. Erosion from steep roadside ditches, such as these, has a direct effect on the water quality in downslope Honeoye Lake. Nutrients are bound to sediments and when erosion occurs and washes these sediments downslope they accumulate in our waterbodies and can help fuel the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These particular sites were stabilized using a material called Flexamat. Flexamat is a permeable mat made of woven material overlaid with concrete blocks in a grid pattern. This provides the stabilization needed to withstand flows from stormwater during major rain events while also leaving space between the blocks for vegetation to establish. This vegetation helps to further stabilize the road ditch while also filtering and slowing water. Funding for this project was made possible through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Project with match funding coming from the Town of Canadice in the form of labor and equipment. This project is part of a larger, ongoing effort in the Honeoye Lake Watershed to reduce sediment and nutrient loss from roadside ditches. The District would like to thank the Town of Canadice Highway Department for their expertise in installing this project!