News

Lake Level Update: Where Things Stand

GENEVA, N.Y. – We continue to hear questions and concerns from residents about Seneca Lake levels and the malfunction of low-level Gate #4 at the Seneca Falls Development. Those concerns are understandable, especially after a year that has created issues for homeowners, boaters, and more due to high and low water conditions.

Pure Waters has been closely monitoring lake levels and communicating with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding Gate #4. The gate is leaking approximately 164 cubic feet of water per second, which contributes to additional water loss from the system. On August 13, Pure Waters filed a formal complaint with FERC requesting action related to the leaking gate, including consideration of temporary measures that could reduce or stop the leak before permanent repairs. Since then, FERC has issued two responses that provide additional information about the situation and its planned response.

What has FERC said?

On September 2, FERC acknowledged Pure Waters’ complaint regarding the leaking low-level Gate #4 at the Seneca Falls Development. The agency referred the complaint to its Office of Energy Projects, Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance. FERC said it would treat the filing as a non-compliance allegation, review the matter and provide a written response with its findings.

On September 9, FERC issued its findings after reviewing the licensee’s July deviation report and Pure Waters’ complaint. FERC determined that:

• The lake-level deviations reported for July would not be considered violations of Article 405 of the project license.
• The deviations were attributed to low precipitation and maintaining required minimum flows at the project.
• Previous attempts to temporarily seal Gate #4 were unsuccessful.
• Additional attempts to seal the gate could potentially cause more damage.
• Sending a diver to inspect or repair the gate without a full reservoir drawdown was determined to be unsafe.
• The current plan remains to repair the gate following a full reservoir drawdown after the canal navigation season.

Based on those findings, FERC determined that the immediate measures requested by Pure Waters were not warranted and did not require additional action in response to the complaint at this time.

Why does Gate #4 remain important?

Lake levels are influenced by many factors, with precipitation and weather conditions playing a significant role. The Gate #4 leak, however, represents an additional loss of water from the system. In our August complaint, Pure Waters estimated that the 164 cfs leak could account for approximately two additional inches of lake level per month beyond other seasonal losses. The situation has also prompted broader questions from residents about how Seneca Lake levels are managed, particularly during periods of high or low water. Seneca Lake is part of a larger interconnected system that includes the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, Van Cleef Lake and the broader Oswego River basin. Managing water levels involves weather conditions as well as a number of operational and regulatory requirements.

Continuing to monitor and communicate

Pure Waters will continue monitoring lake conditions, following the status of the Gate #4 repair and communicating with FERC and other agencies as appropriate. Our Lake Level Committee is also continuing to examine the broader lake-level management system and opportunities for improving long-term management. Most importantly, we will continue sharing what we learn with the Seneca Lake community. We know lake levels are an ongoing concern for many residents, property owners and lake users, and we want to make sure the public has access to accurate information about what is happening and what we know.

For anyone who would like to read the correspondence directly, both public FERC responses are available below.

September 2, 2026: FERC Response to Pure Waters Project Operations Complaint

September 9, 2026: FERC Response Regarding Article 405 and Pure Waters Complaint

Both documents are public records associated with FERC Project No. P-2438.

Learn more about Pure Waters

To learn more about becoming a member, click here.
To learn more about donating, click here.

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 a healthy future for Seneca Lake and those who depend on it.