News Blog

The State Department of Environmental Conservation has released a draft plan outlining how it will manage the land around Canadice and Hemlock Lakes.

The DEC will accept comments on the draft unit management plan through April 15. And it has scheduled a public information session on the plan for 6:30 p.m. on March 14 at Springwater Fire Hall, 8145 South Main Street, Springwater. DEC representatives will give a presentation on the plan at 7 p.m.

In 2010, the state bought approximately 6,700 acres of land around the two lakes from the City Rochester; the property is now known as the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. The city uses the lakes for its drinking water supply and bought the land surrounding the lakes starting in 1896. Hemlock and Canadice are the only two Finger Lakes with undeveloped shorelines.

A fact sheet provided by the DEC lists some of the draft plan's recommendations and objectives, including:

· Monitoring bald eagle nesting sites.
· Stocking the lakes with fish as needed.
· Stocking pheasants for public hunting in fields.
· Having a carry-in, carry-out policy for garbage.