Erosion Control and Stabilization Best Management Practice Project
The District worked with the Town of Canandaigua and a local landowner to design and install a
water control structure and drainage stabilization to reduce erosion and sediment in the
Canandaigua Lake watershed. Roadside drainage has been modified along Wells Curtice Road
in the Town of Canandaigua. The increase in volume and velocity of stormwater led to erosion of the drainage way. A drop inlet, larger culvert and heavy stone rip-rap for outlet protection and grade control was utilized. The installed BMPs are focused on controlling the volume of stormwater while reducing erosion and
ultimately improve water quality in Canandaigua Lake. The District worked in partnership with
the Town of Canandaigua to work outside of the Town’s right of way to address stormwater
impacts as well as provide technical assistance to the homeowner on managing drainage on
their property. OCSWCD staff assisted the Town of Canandaigua through the purchase of construction
materials and provided technical support through survey and design assistance. Funding was utilized from Finger Lakes/Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA), and the Town of Canandaigua.
County Road 33 Culvert Extension and Drainage Channel
Roadside stabilization has a known positive impact on water quality through the reduction of sediment loss from critical stormwater infrastructure. This reduction in sediment loss shares a direct correlation with a reduction of nutrient losses from the watershed thereby resulting in improved water quality. Grimes Creek is an area characterized by steep slopes with shallow topsoil for plant establishment. The roadside drainage in this location had created a large scour pool that formed a cascade before making its way to Grimes Creek. The stabilization of this site resulted in the slowing of erosive water velocities as well as a reduction in sediment and nutrient loss from the site.
Drainage Stabilization Benefiting Honeoye Lake
The Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District provided technical assistance to the Town of Richmond and funding through the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA) for a road ditch stabilization project in the Town of Richmond along the East Lake Road of Honeoye Lake. This road ditch had become unstable and was leading to severe erosion resulting in sediment and nutrient loss from the site. The Town of Richmond Highway Department replaced the existing driveway culvert pipe and installed two grade control structures utilizing large rock to help provide stabilization. This stabilization will reduce erosion and sediment loss from the area therefore decreasing the amount of sediment and nutrients entering Honeoye Lake.
Briggs Gully Streambank Erosion Control Project
The Briggs Gully Stream Bank Erosion Control Project was funded through WQIP Round 11. Over the years, a substantial amount of erosion had occurred due to the high velocity of the water. This project utilized rip rap to stabilize the streambank and protect the bridge at Briggs Gully.
Castle Creek Stream Stabilization
Castle Creek runs through the City of Geneva. A portion of the stream near Brook Street was rapidly eroding and contributing sediment and nutrients to the waterway which drains to Seneca Lake. Estimating lateral erosion at 6 inches per year, stabilizing 150 linear feet of the 6-8 foot high bank will result in approximately 22 tons of soil savings per year. The District took on this project in partnership with the City of Geneva Highway Department and the Ontario County Department of Public Works. Support was provided through engineering, labor and equipment for project installation. Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association's Sediment, Nutrient, and Pollution Reduction (SNPR) program and the District provided funding for project materials. The newly approved Seneca-Keuka 9 Element Watershed Plan highlights projects such as this to reduce sediments and nutrients impacting Seneca Lake, a drinking water source for more than 100,000 people.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment at Briggs Gully
2023 brought the continuation of our Hemlock Woolly Adelgid treatment program. Funding provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) allowed us to treat almost 30 acres along Briggs Gully, a major tributary to Honeoye Lake. The Briggs Gully parcel provided a unique opportunity for treatment as it is bordered by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lands, as part of the Honeoye Inlet Wildlife Management Area, as well as the Wesley Hill Preserve owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Each of these partners strategically treated trees on their respective parcels leading to an even larger regional effort to protect hemlock trees in this important watershed. Additional GLRI funding will also be used to support this localized treatment effort in upcoming months.
Hemlocks help protect our steep sloped areas, but it can make access to trees difficult. These critical areas require the use of ropes, a lot of courage and advanced repelling skills! Trees were treated with a basal bark application of two different chemicals, one that is fast acting and will provide immediate protection and one that is longer lasting to ensure that our hemlocks stay protected for up to 7 years. You may recall from previous newsletters that this area has also been a focus for the release of insects for biocontrol, which will provide the long-term control needed.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment at Grimes Glen
In 2022, we kicked off a program to control Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive species that threatens our hemlock trees. In February 2022, the Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) partnered with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, Finger Lakes PRISM and the Finger Lakes Land Trust to hold an event at the Cumming Nature Center training volunteers in identification and reporting of HWA as well as treatment options. Having current knowledge of infestations helps prioritize chemical treatment and supports bio-control, both necessary tools in the long-term management of HWA.
For a start, 68 hemlock trees were treated at Grimes Glen in the fall of 2022. Several funding sources, including a recently awarded Environmental Benefits Project from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as a grant obtained from the US Forest Service will be used in 2023 to treat hemlocks at Grimes Glen, Briggs Gully and Harriet Hollister State Recreation Area.
Protecting our critical riparian corridors helps stabilize streambanks and protects water quality. The District looks forward to continued work with a variety of partners and local landowners to identify and monitor the HWA threat and target efforts of chemical control and bio-control releases for long term management. Keep an eye out for upcoming trainings to learn how you can get involved.
Flexamat Installed on Cratsley Hill Road, Jersey Hill Road & Canadice Hill Road
The Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District partnered with the Town of Canadice Highway Department to stabilize several ditches experiencing severe erosion along Cratsley Hill Road, Jersey Hill Road and Canandice Hill Road. Erosion from steep roadside ditches, such as these, has a direct effect on the water quality in downslope Honeoye Lake. Nutrients are bound to sediments and when erosion occurs and washes these sediments downslope they accumulate in our waterbodies and can help fuel the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These particular sites were stabilized using a material called Flexamat. Flexamat is a permeable mat made of woven material overlaid with concrete blocks in a grid pattern. This provides the stabilization needed to withstand flows from stormwater during major rain events while also leaving space between the blocks for vegetation to establish. This vegetation helps to further stabilize the road ditch while also filtering and slowing water. Funding for this project was made possible through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Project with match funding coming from the Town of Canadice in the form of labor and equipment. This project is part of a larger, ongoing effort in the Honeoye Lake Watershed to reduce sediment and nutrient loss from roadside ditches. The District would like to thank the Town of Canadice Highway Department for their expertise in installing this project!
Stream Stabilization at Fishers Park in Victor
Ontario County SWCD completed a stream stabilization project in the Town of Victor at Fishers Park to control erosion and sediment through Best Management Practices. This project utilized toe-wood for natural stream channel design. The design supports habitat for aquatic species and recreational access for the community. Prior to project installation, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) performed an electroshocking survey to document fish species and population numbers. This survey will be performed again in following years to see how population levels are affected by the project. Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA) funds were used for materials and labor and technical assistance through project design and implementation. The Town of Victor provided match in the form of materials, equipment and labor. US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided design and technical support for the project. The Town of Victor will be planting native trees and shrubs along the riparian corridor to further stabilize the area and provide additional wildlife habitat.
Upland Water Retention at Kashong Conservation Area
The Ontario County SWCD and Ontario County Department of Public Works assisted the Town of Geneva with the Kashong Conservation Area Upland Water Retention Project. District staff helped to design two basins that, during a rain event, will hold back water and slowly release it through a 6 inch outlet pipe. This will slow down water and allow for sediment to be deposited upslope in the basins. By collecting and slowing down stormwater in upland areas such as the Kashong Conservation Area we are able to reduce the amount of sediment entering Seneca Lake during major storm events.
Sediment Traps in Honeoye
In August of 2018, the Ontario County SWCD worked with the Ontario County Highway Department to install sediment traps along County Road 36 in Honeoye. These concrete traps are placed in‐line with a roadside ditch. As water enters the open end, the sediment trap slows down the flow, causing deposits of sediment to stay within the concrete barrier. The water then slowly exits through two holes. The traps can easily be cleaned because they are the same dimensions as a standard ditching bucket. While the Ontario County Highway Department is cleaning ditches, they can use the same equipment to clean the sediment traps. In cases of high flowing water, the sediment trap will still allow water to safely flow over the top and continue in the ditches for proper drainage.These sediment traps will decrease sediment entering into waterways that flow into Honeoye Lakes. As you head south on County Road 36, keep your eye out for these structures!
Naples Creek Streambank Stabilization Project
The project focused on stabilizing Naples Creek stream bank, access road and agricultural field as well as installing a rock cross vane to improve flow and reduce aggradation in Naples Creek. In the Spring of 2017, Naples Creek in the Town of Naples experienced high water flows and snagging of large woody debris, leading to stream bank failure and overflow into the adjacent agricultural field, causing massive erosion. There was a cut 2-3 feet deep along the stream bank where water left the stream channel and flowed over the access road and agricultural field. The large concentrated flow caused massive erosion along the road and field owned by the Village of Naples. This sediment and nutrient laden water rejoined Naples Creek further downstream. Noting the elevation of the agricultural field is lower than the current streambed elevation of Naples Creek, the concern was the stream may redirect itself through the agricultural field as a path of least resistance. Within the stream channel, USFWS designed a bank stabilization project using toewood with soil lifts as well as a rock cross vane to redirect flow to the center channel. This redirection would help in preventing aggradation (build-up of deposited material in the stream bed) in Naples Creek. Ontario Soil & Water Conservation District offered assistance with project funding, permitting and management with collaboration with partners from the Village of Naples, NYS Department of Conservation, NYS Department of Transportation, US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Ontario County. In addition to the work in Naples Creek, the adjacent access road was stabilized with geotextile and additional rock material. Working with the farmer who rents the agricultural land from the Village of Naples, it was determined that approximately 1.7 acres would be taken out of production and stabilized with grass to be used as a permanent grassed overflow area for high flow events to reduce soil loss from the field and filter sediment from stormwater.