News

A Lifetime on Seneca Lake

DUNDEE, N.Y. – Seneca Lake became a part of my life the day I was born. In 1934, my grandparents bought an abandoned cottage at Glenora, planting my family’s roots there. The cottage became a gathering place for my father, his two brothers, and their families. In 1960, my parents bought a cabin cruiser, and we spent many summers exploring Seneca Lake and swimming off the boat—always returning to the cottage to tie up at the dock and spend time with my extended family.

My activism and volunteerism kicked in when gas storage in abandoned salt caverns was being proposed. The grassroots organization We Are Seneca Lake began peaceful protests at the gates of Crestwood. There were many demonstrations over the next two years, and I was arrested twice for blocking the gates. All those freezing days spent protesting paid off when Crestwood agreed not to store gas!

Over my 69 years, there have been many changes to the lake—zebra mussels, rising salinity, and harmful algae blooms being the most obvious. That’s when I joined Pure Waters and became a volunteer. I wanted to educate myself on how to help protect Seneca Lake. In 2014, I moved permanently to the lake. My next-door neighbor and longtime friend Mary Rose was a volunteer, and I immediately began helping her with stream sampling. Next came HAB monitoring. Sadly, Mary passed away unexpectedly in 2022. It seemed only fitting for me to take over her role as head of stream sampling for Big Stream.

My fondest memories of Seneca Lake are the summers spent there with my cousins, just being kids—walking up to the top of the hill to get ice cream and sodas, spending hours in the lake, and roaming the hillside. Now, as an older adult living here year-round, I love the change and rhythm of the seasons; each one has its own beauty. The quietness of winter prepares me for the craziness of summer! What is most important is that every family member wants to come back every year for a visit. Thus was born “Cousin Chaos Week.” What a legacy to give our children!

I am very proud to be a longtime volunteer and member of Pure Waters. Their commitment to Seneca Lake is inspiring to me. Giving my time to help the lake is such a worthy endeavor. It’s also a wonderful way to meet other committed people and have some fun! This is such a big lake, and being able to socialize with “the other side” makes me realize we are all in this together. One of the best parts is going to social gatherings and special presentations to see my fellow volunteers and continue to learn about this lake I love.

Written by Mimi Gridley, Pure Waters volunteer and longtime Seneca Lake resident

Learn more about Pure Waters

To learn more about volunteering: https://senecalake.org/volunteer-opportunities/
To learn more about donating: https://senecalake.org/giving/

Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association is a 501(c)3 organization committed to preserving, protecting, and promoting the abundant resources of the largest Finger Lake. Seneca Lake is a source of drinking water, recreation, and economic opportunity for the greater community and its visitors. Our programs and partnerships make it possible to monitor water quality, educate the public, and evaluate threats to ensure the a healthy future for Seneca Lake and those who depend on it.