New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Oneida Lake

The French and Indian War: A New York Perspective

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Miniature of Fort Prince George under attack by French troops (diorama in the Fort Pitt Museum, Pittsburgh)In the early 1750s, the French were establishing trading posts and building forts along western the frontiers of the British colonies. In the fall of 1753, in part to protect his own land claims, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie had sent 22-year-old George Washington (then a militia leader and surveyor) to deliver a letter to Fort Le Boeuf at what is today Waterford in northwest Pennsylvania, demanding they stop.

When Washington returned without success, Dinwiddie sent a small force to build Fort Prince George at the confluence of the Allegheny  and Monongahela Rivers (today Pittsburgh). Soon a larger French force arrived, torn down the small British fort, and began and built Fort Duquesne, named for then Governor-General of New France, Marquis Duquesne. [Read more…] about The French and Indian War: A New York Perspective

Oneida Lake Walleye Telemetry Study Underway

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Oneida Lake Walleye Telemetry Study acoustic receiversThis fall the Cornell Biological Field Station at Shackelton Point in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be initiating a three-year telemetry study of adult walleyes in Oneida Lake to identify spawning sites, describe seasonal movement patterns, describe habitat use throughout the year, and determine where post-spawn walleye go after they have been processed at the Oneida Fish Hatchery. [Read more…] about Oneida Lake Walleye Telemetry Study Underway

Early Inhabitants of the Finger Lakes Region

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Lamoka Site diorama at the New York State MuseumAccording to archeological records, groups of nomadic Paleo-Indians traveled through the Finger Lakes region approximately 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Small bands of these hunters and gatherers followed large game during the last stages of the Ice Age when the glaciers that formed the area’s notable lakes were receding.

Somewhat more recent early archaic archeological sites scattered across Western New York reflect a culture that was highly mobile and left little in terms of an archeological record. [Read more…] about Early Inhabitants of the Finger Lakes Region

Geologic Formation of the Finger Lakes

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A late fall snowstorm frosted the hills of the Finger Lakes region of central New York in early December 2004Approximately 600 million years ago, during the Neoproterozoic Era, the Earth’s supercontinent began to break apart, and an ocean formed between land masses that roughly correlate to Europe and North America today. For the next 100 million years, this ocean continued to widen until the continents changed course and began to move back towards each other.

The eventual collision of these land masses formed a tall mountain range now known as North America’s Appalachians. [Read more…] about Geologic Formation of the Finger Lakes

National Park Service Declares Finger Lakes Eligble For National Heritage Designation

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National Park Service NPSOn Tuesday, July 18th, the National Park Service delivered the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Feasibility Study to Congress. The feasibility study determined that the study area in the Finger Lakes region of New York state meets the criteria to be eligible for inclusion as part of the National Heritage Area System. [Read more…] about National Park Service Declares Finger Lakes Eligble For National Heritage Designation

New Barge Canal Boat Launch in Verona, NY

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Cove Road Boat LaunchA new boat launch has been completed on the Barge Canal at Cove Road in the town of Verona, Oneida County. The launch, which is expected to enhance fishing and boating opportunities, including for people with disabilities, connects to Oneida Lake’s world-class fishing. [Read more…] about New Barge Canal Boat Launch in Verona, NY

Oneida Fish Hatchery in Constantia, Oswego County

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Oneida fish hatchery (courtesy Oneida Lake Association)The Oneida Fish Hatchery in Constantia, Oswego County, on the north shore of Oneida Lake, stocks waters from Central New York to the St. Lawrence River. The hatcheries’ rearing program is focused on walleye and includes egg collections from Oneida Lake (200-300 million eggs/year) from which it raises roughly 205 million walleye. It also raises the statewide supply of 100,000 tiger muskellunge and cultures rare or threatened fish such as 4,000 lake sturgeon, and 15,000 cisco (lake herring) a year. [Read more…] about Oneida Fish Hatchery in Constantia, Oswego County

Burbot: New York’s Misunderstood Cod Cousin

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burbot courtesy Achim R. Schloeffel In the midst of winter, the ice-covered lakes of the Northeast seem quiet. It may, however, be a bit noisy below the ice. Winter into early spring is the spawning season for burbot, when males produce sounds to attract mates. [Read more…] about Burbot: New York’s Misunderstood Cod Cousin

2022 Oneida Lake Open Water Creel Survey Summary

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fishermen with walleye courtesy Tony BuffaEvery five years researchers from Cornell University conduct full open water and ice fishing season creel surveys on Oneida Lake – the largest inland lake entirely within New York’s borders and one of the top fisheries in the state.

From May-October angling boat counts and roving angler interviews were conducted to estimate total effort and catch for the 2022 open water season. [Read more…] about 2022 Oneida Lake Open Water Creel Survey Summary