Join your friends and neighbors Celebrating Keuka Lake Life at Depot Park in Hammondsport on Sunday, August 23rd starting at 5PM. Enjoy a spectacular lakeside dining experience, live music, campfire, and shared memories.  Purchase tickets at QKA Pronto-Depot Park for $100/person. Tickets are limited so please act fast. Click here for more details.

Annual Membership Meeting Held at Keuka College

The Keuka Lake Association (KLA) held its annual membership meeting on July 11th at Keuka College, where members of the association came together to discuss important matters pertaining to the lake and its watershed. The meeting covered a range of topics, including updates on water quality including monitoring programs that help manage the health of the lake, combat harmful algae blooms (HABs) and invasive species, the Lake Friendly Farming (LFF) initiative, boating safety on and around the lake, the state of fish population, updates on lake level management, plus a number of guest presentations on topics of importance to the lake and watershed.

Please click the following links to access the meeting booklet and the slide presentation.

The Keuka Lake Association (KLA) Water Quality Committee is actively in the field now that summer is here.  Heavy spring rainfall, strong winds, and increased shoreline turbidity underscore the need for continued lake monitoring.  Reports of dead fish in June were investigated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and were linked to stress from water temperature swing, spawning and perhaps run-off turbidity, facilitating infection by the opportunist water mold Saprolegnia paralytica. It
appears resolved as of July.

"The KLA Water Quality Committee, along with our volunteers, are busy in the field taking samples from the lake and streams and testing for an array of nutrients and potential containments," stated Dr Bob Lambert, Chair of the Water Quality Committee.

The KLA continues its 35-year lake monitoring program, sampling four sites five times annually. Recent reviews by academic limnologists (Drs Dominique Derminio and Lisa
Cleckner) found that key indicators of water quality have remained stable over time. The KLA also continues to participate in the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) including a new depth-probe initiative that provides more frequent and robust data across the water column.

In partnership with Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District (YCSWCD), KLA conducts seasonal zooplankton monitoring, which as a critical piece of the lake's food web, supports fisheries research.

A new Citizen Scientist Secchi Disc Program will measure water clarity weekly in four lake zones which should provide a timely sense of algal and cyanobacterial status.

"The KLA together along with Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) is working to expand ourmonitoring and lake evaluation capabilities to get ahead any potential issues and to help us find solution.  The science is evolving and we want to be ahead of it," Nadia Harvieux from the FLI stated.

KLA is also working with Global Aquatic Research to investigate increasing foam events. Emerging evidence links the foam with a component of cyanobacteria released on decomposition.  The foam can concentrate impurities in the water, notably PFAS (forever plastics).  While the risk to people and pets is thought minor, it's recommended to avoid foam.
Should contact occur, thorough rinsing is recommended.

The DEC's HABs shoreline monitoring program continues with about 40 volunteers reporting during the first two weeks of the 2026 season. We are looking for additional volunteers to cover shoreline areas that are currently underrepresented.

Stream monitoring has been a major KLA focus for nearly two years now because these nutrient inputs from the streams are believed to contribute to HABs and the only potential point for effective intervention.  We are especially focused on the two largest streams: Cold Brook in Hammondsport and Sugar Creek in Branchport.

The KLA has also received a substantial three-year DEC grant to manage Fanwort and document native and invasive aquatic plants.

The Board is evaluating the use of a stationary data buoy that would collect extensive water-quality and weather data. The project is being explored in partnership with the Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) at Hobart/William Smith Colleges and is expected to improve understanding of lake conditions and emerging challenges.

Back to our original boat fire story... It is not clear from available information as of the next day about what caused the fire but from the picture of the boat and the fact that the operator was able to swim away it is unlikely to have been an explosion from flammable gas fumes in the bilge.  A more likely cause would be an electrical short or overloaded wiring that started a fire.

In the past 7 years we have had at least 2 boats explode and burn on Keuka Lake due to gas fumes being ignited while the boat was being operated.  Compared to motor vehicles where leaking gas falls to the ground and the fumes dissipate, even a small leak on a boat leads to fumes collecting in the bilge where they can ignite.  Should an inboard engine stall while underway, do not immediately try to restart it before you have checked for the presence of gas leaks and fumes especially from an older carburetor equipped engine which can flood. If you do find gas in the bilge, do not try to clean it up yourself and do not turn on any lights or other electrical equipment.  Call 911 and the marine patrol and fire department will assist in dealing with it safely.

All electrical equipment, especially in the engine compartment, should be marine rated and constructed with an ignition protected housing.  Similar automotive or home electrical equipment does not have this feature and runs the risk of igniting fumes that collect in the boat.  Wiring for 12-volt equipment on a boat typically carries much higher current than similar 120-volt equipment used on land.  The wiring must be sized properly to carry this current without overheating and running the risk of starting a fire.

Finally, if a fire does break out on a boat unless it can be put out quickly with the fire extinguishers aboard it is better to abandon ship and avoid the risk of being on board when an explosion occurs.  Wearing a life jacket will give you a better chance to survive in the water away from the fire.

Show your KLA Membership Card at participating businesses to receive your member discount!

Krossin' Keuka is looking for kayakers to paddle alongside swimmers during their big event on Saturday, July 25th. Please contact Pat Killen: killentoj@gmail.com

The Keuka Lake Association (KLA) is pleased to announce that our Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, July 11th, 2026, at the Lightner Library at Keuka College in Keuka Park, NY. We warmly invite all members to join us for this important event. We also welcome nonmembers to join the KLA and become a member at the annual meeting.

Registration for the Annual Meeting will begin at 8:30 AM, accompanied by a continental breakfast. This will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to connect and network with fellow
members and the KLA board and leadership team. In addition, representatives from the Sheriff and DEC Marine Patrols, Finger Lakes Institute and the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management will be present.

The meeting will officially commence at 9:000 AM, featuring a series of presentations that will run until 11:00 AM. These presentations will cover a range of topics including water quality, lake level, our icy winter, fishing, boating, and recreation safety and a look at our new website, all of which is vital to our mission that serves Keuka Lake and her watershed.

"The KLA annual meeting is an important community event which all members should try to attend.  Our objective is to provide a broad overview of the important work that the KLA does to preserve and protect our lake while supporting the local community," stated Rob Dintruff, KLA President.

We encourage all members to attend and participate in this annual gathering. For those who are not yet members but wish to attend, it is not too late to join the Keuka Lake Association.
Membership details and registration can be found on the Get Involved page of our website.

We regret to inform you that we will not be hosting the KLA Golf Tournament this year. We hope to bring this fun event back again and are looking for member-volunteers to form a 2027 Golf Tournament Committee. This committee would be in charge of planning the event, marketing the event, and driving sponsorships. Please email or call our office if you're interested in joining!

Keuka Lake fish are thought to be under considerable stress at this time. Triggers include:

• Temperature shocks. Rapid warming stresses fish and promotes mold spore release. On Keuka Lake, per our website, lake temperature was 55 degrees on June 2 and 68 degrees on June 14.

• Spawning events. Spawning depletes energy, compromises immunity, causes minor scale injuries and slime layer disruptions, and is associated with decreased food intake. This makes fish an easier target for mold attack.

Abundant rains this spring brought excessive sediments and nutrients into the lake. This creates a permissive environment for the water mold and can further stress the fish as they spawn in shallower, warmer, more turbid waters. Furthermore, both warmer water and turbidity can decrease dissolved O2 in the water, adding more stress. It is thought that this loss of fish will improve over the next few days/weeks as fish recover from spawning and accommodate to the warmer temperatures.  This is the pattern we noticed last year.

Recommendations for shoreline cleanup:

• Wear protection, such as gloves, masks, safety glasses
• Use a shovel to move the dead fish
• Dispose by bagging the fish in heavy-duty garbage bags and placing in household trash bins

Significant fish loss that lingers beyond later June should be reported back to the KLA. We will continue to monitor this situation and keep our membership posted.

Please help us understand the economic impact of the 2026 winter freeze to shoreline property by filling out our ice impact survey here.

Lead Aquatic Invasive Species Technician (1 Position)

Aquatic Invasive Species Technician (2 Positions)

2026 State of Keuka Lake Comprehensive Water Quality Report

The Finger Lakes Institute is pleased to partner with Keuka Lake Association to present the public information session 'State of Keuka Lake: Water Quality Summary.' Led by Lisa B. Cleckner, Ph.D., director of the Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) at Hobart and William Smith (HWS), this presentation will provide a comprehensive summary of the past several years of water quality monitoring of Keuka Lake and streams in the surrounding watershed.

This event highlights the collaborative water quality monitoring efforts of KLA, Yates County Soil and Water, FLI, and many additional community stakeholders. Over the month of April, FLI will be sharing a series of short monitoring summaries on the KLA website. We invite KLA members and the watershed community to review those materials and send questions to the FLI to be incorporated into the public information session.

The 'State of Keuka Lake' meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 29th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. The event is free and open to KLA members and the public. Registration is required to access the Zoom meeting link. Please register HERE.

As of February 11, 2026, Keuka Lake is completely covered in ice. While most ice damage will be influenced by wind and the random nature of ice formations, some damage may be mitigated by controlling the lake level. The optimal lake level under these circumstances is at the lowest level of the US Corp of Engineers target (712 ft) as can be seen on the KLA website. Any lower level than that may protect docks and shorelines from ice movement but could also risk damage to water intake pipes. There is an abundance of individual circumstances and concerns across 60 miles of shoreline threatened by ice.

Keuka Lake Outlet Compact (KLOC), the team that controls the gates are proactively protecting the lake. Gate 1 is currently open 5 inches and Gate 4 is open Full providing a discharge rate of 133 cubic feet per second. The lake level is currently 712.36 feet which is 4.3 inches above the lower guide band and nearly two feet below the typical summer lake level. Over the past three weeks, the water level has been brought down 2.5 inches and is trending toward the low-level guide.

Listen to the interview with Rob Dintruff, President of the Keuka Lake Association that occurred on Thursday, January 29th on WGVA radio. He provides an update on the KLA and plans and initiatives for 2026 all focused on preserving and protecting the lake and our watershed. 

Listen to the interview here.

Help Needed for the 7th Annual Keuka Lake Association Golf Tournament!
The KLA has begun planning for the summer season and one of our biggest events is the 7th Annual Keuka Lake Association Golf Tournament on Monday, July 13th at Lakeside Country Club.
In order to make this tournament the great success it has been in years past, we are asking for volunteers to help us manage and run the event this year.  This may include soliciting for sponsors, helping to organize promotion and helping out with day-of-event logistics.  If you are able to spare some time to help, we would love to talk to you.
Please email us at: info@keukalakeassociation.org or call the office at 315-694-7324. We're hoping to begin organizing this event as soon as possible!

Exciting News! Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport announced they will be hosting in-person Boater Safety Classes on Sundays from March through September.   Sign up here!

Due to the severe drought affecting the lake and watershed, KLOC will postpone scheduled gate openings until conditions improve. As you may know, the lake is already at a very low level, consistent with winter operating guidelines, so it is essential to conserve water to maintain the required flow until the drought subsides.
At times, there may be gates open for fire training, but this will have a minimum effect on the lake level.

Finger Lakes Water Quality

Global Aquatic Research LLC (GAR) partners with organizations and communities around the Finger lakes to solve modern water quality challenges.  We provide professional scientific advisement and research services focused on harmful algal blooms (HABs), lake foam, and chemical pollution.

Get Involved! - Introducing the Finger Lakes Foam Reporting Tool
Lake foam has increasingly been observed in the Finger Lakes, causing nuisance shoreline accumulations. Our research on Canandaigua Lake has shown foam production is linked to HABs, and that foam can concentrate pollution from the lake.  We are expanding our foam research to several other lakes (Keuka, Owasco, Seneca, Skaneateles) as part of a PFAS-in-foam project in collaboration with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, Binghamton University, the NYS Water Resources Institute and the NYSDEC.
?
Using the tool provided, you can report foam on any of the 11 Finger Lakes when you see it.  We need your help to document and sample foam!   We are looking for sizeable patches or streaks of mid-lake foam (more than just a few scattered bubbles), or accumulations of shoreline foam that affect one or more properties. You have the option of opening the tool in a browser or using the Survey123 app - The app version will allow you to drop a pin on a map where you saw the foam, but in the browser version you will need the address or GPS coordinates of where foam was observed.  For more information, please contact your local lake association.

Thank you to all members and volunteers that have contributed to the mission of the Keuka Lake Association to preserve and protect the lake, our watershed, and all its natural beauty for future generations. As we reflect on this past year we can all be thankful for the special place Keuka Lake is. Let's all look forward to another wonderful year at Keuka Lake.  All the best for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026.

Please note our NEW open office hours:
Monday & Thursday 10am-2pm
*If you'd like to stop by, please call the office to make sure we are available!
315-694-7324

NYSDEC Website for HABs Reporting