Fishing in a Superfund site: Onondaga Lake's road to recovery Writing and Photography by Bee Kavanaugh

Casting a rod out into Onondaga Lake on a fall day is a popular activity for Syracuse residents - but they may be harming their health by enjoying a freshly caught meal.

Solvay Processes, now known as Honeywell, spent decades polluting Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York in the production of Soda Ash – integral for many industries in the area - as well as mercury. In 1970 a fishing ban was put into place; the US Attorney General estimated 25 pounds of mercury were being dumped in the lake everyday. As a result, Onondaga Lake was designated a federal Superfund site in 1994. The Superfund site includes the lake bottom and subsites around the lake and along tributaries. In 2005, Honeywell agreed with New York State to begin partial cleanup of the lake (Atlantic States Legal Foundation, 2009). Pictured: Cement production near the lakeshore. (Bee Kavanaugh)

Onondaga Lake - once the ‘most polluted lake in America’ - is now home to a deep water fishing pier that encourages local fisherman to reconnect with the lake, highlighting years of extensive restoration.

Eating an 8 oz fish filet from these waters could be dangerous for the health of sensitive populations; this means children under 15 and people under 50 who can become pregnant. These chemicals can stay in the body for decades and affect childhood development (NY Dept. of Health, 2024). Mercury was first detected at dangerous levels in the flesh of Onondaga Lake fish in 1970, and the State of New York banned fishing by regulation in the lake in the same year; it was lifted and limited to catch-and-release in 1986 to 1999 (Industrial Economics Inc, 2017). Pictured: Health advisory signage. (Bee Kavanaugh)

Even the populations that can technically eat one or two meals a month from the lake often prefer not to, choosing to do catch-and-release. A local Syracuse fisherman, Vincent, expressed his uncertainty, "I just don't feel comfortable or safe. If only certain people can 'safely' eat it, I’m not sure if it's really okay for anyone."

Concerns about mercury exposure from contaminated fish is a valid fear as the EPA states that almost all people have at least small amounts of mercury in their bodies. It is most dangerous in unborn infants, but methylmercury from fish and shellfish can cause symptoms such as vision loss, lack of coordination and movement, impaired speech or hearing and muscle weakness (EPA, 2024).

On May 2023, a deep-water fishing pier was built on the shore of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York. The once “most polluted lake in America” has transformed from a stinky hole in the ground locals would avoid, to a hub for Syracuse culture, recreation, fishing, education and more. Vincent, who preferred to go by his first name for this story, said “It was a hopeless pile of sludge… it's a different lake now, there's great parks and marinas and fishing spots. You can tell the city cares about it now and I think the people can appreciate its beauty now." A 2012 study revealed that 9,000 fishing trips were taken to the lake annually: 5,000 shore fishing trips and 4,000 boat fishing trips (Industrial Economics Inc,, 2017).

Pictured: Westshore Trail Fishing Pier. (Steve Featherstone)

Onondaga Lake Deep Water Fishing Pier. The pier, 100 feet long and 20-feet wide, was completed in May 2023. It reaches a depth of about 20 feet which allows anglers who do not have access to boats to fish from the lake. Species targeted by anglers include walleye, carp, bass, and perch/sunfish.

Other than public fishing access, there are many public things for people to enjoy, including: walking/biking/skating trails, Willow Bay Park, a public boat launch, skatepark, butterfly garden, playground, equipment rentals, dog park, the Salt Museum and the Skã•noñh Center (Onondaga County Parks, 2023)

Pictured: Solar panels above Empire State Trail. (Bee Kavanaugh)

(Bee Kavanaugh)

“This fishing pier is a great example of how meaningful community engagement can create real and tangible projects that benefit the Central New York COMMUNITY” -- Onondaga County Executive, Ryan McMahon.

Onondaga County officials and Honeywell garnered public support through the Onondaga Lake Restoration Community Working Group who highlighted the importance of angler fishing in the lake and expressed a desire for offshore fishing access to those who do not own boats. The idea was submitted in 2015 and was included in the 2017 Restoration Plan. Other projects that promoted Public Fishing Rights include jetty's in Willow Bay and shoreline fishing (Industrial Economics Inc, 2017).

Onondaga Lake Cleanup Visitor Center. Data about the current standing of the cleanup available to the public. At this point, all projects with the intention to treat water quality are 100% complete. (Bee Kavanaugh)

While the lake itself is not directly stocked, Onondaga County Park Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery stocks Nine Mile creek with over 27,000 brook and brown trout (Onondaga County Parks). Onondaga Creek and Seneca River are also stocked with trout and Tiger Muskellunge (NY DEC, Fish Stocking List). Since 2000, more than 149,000 individual fish and 66 species of fish have been identified in the Lake through the County’s sampling efforts. This is a major accomplishment compared to historic counts of species diversity. A 1928 survey found that at the time, only 10 species of fish lived in the entire lake. Pictured: DEC Public Boat Launch. (Bee Kavanaugh)

Onondaga Lake's reign as the "Most Polluted Lake In America" comes to an end and gives way to community-building efforts and accessible recreational fishing. This lake tells a powerful story of public pressure amounting to a corporation taking accountability for decades of polluting a vital natural resource.

"The fact they are actively encouraging fishing says something, they seem pretty sure that it's okay for fishing now which makes me feel good. This lake has seen some things but it's at a pretty good place for people now." -- Vincent

(Bee Kavanaugh)

Sources

"Vincent" is an alias. He asked to not be included in the story with his real name.
Helpful information about the pier was provided by Amy Roe of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in NY. (SITE THESE SOURCES)
Honeywell. (2023). Onondaga County Executive Opens New Deep Water Fishing Pier at Onondaga Lake. Onondaga Lake Cleanup. http://www.lakecleanup.com/onondaga-county-executive-opens-new-deep-water-fishing-pier-at-onondaga-lake/
Atlantic States Legal Foundation. (2009). Onondaga Lake Bottom Sediments and Other Key Documents. Onondaga Lake. https://onondagalake.org/superfund-sites/onondaga-lake-bottom-sediments/
(2024). Finger Lakes Region: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch. New York State Department of Health. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2768.pdf
(2024). US Mercury. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/mercury
Onondaga Nation. Honeywell & Onondaga Lake: A Timeline. Onondaga Nation: People of the Hills. https://www.onondaganation.org/land-rights/the-offenders/honeywell-onondaga-lake-a-timeline/
Ninemile Creek. (2015). Fish Onondaga County. https://fishonondagacounty.com/about-the-fishing/bodies-of-water/nine-mile-creek
NY DEC. (2024). Onondaga Lake . New York Department of Environmental Conservation. https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/onondaga-lake
NYSDEC. (2016, June 9). Fish Stocking Lists (Actual): Beginning 2011. New York State.gov. https://data.ny.gov/Recreation/Fish-Stocking-Lists-Actual-Beginning-2011/e52k-ymww/about_data

Created By

Bee Kavanaugh