New funding for Finger Lakes water quality

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — New York State is sending $42 million to the Finger Lakes region to invest toward preserving water quality in the area.

According to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the funds are for the Eastern Finger Lakes watershed, which covers Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisco lakes, as well as 30 percent of the Lake Ontario drainage basin.

The goal of the investment is to fight the development of harmful algal blooms in the region, while funding water quality improvement projects. They include:

• Expanding the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program to help farmers reduce water pollution from agricultural activities.
• Enhancing flood resiliency by stabilizing and protecting vulnerable streams, reducing sediment erosion, and upgrading culverts to minimize runoff.
• Bolstering cover crop adoption to improve soil health and water quality.
• Supporting nutrient reduction strategies outlined in watershed-based plans.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.