Keuka Lake is the central lake of the Finger Lakes which are located in Western New York.
Founded in 1956, the Keuka Lake Association, with over 1600 members, provides a unified voice for those who love Keuka Lake.
Our mission is to preserve and protect Keuka Lake and its natural beauty for future generations.
Keuka is a most special Finger Lake because of the unusual 'Y' shape the lake possesses. Keuka Lake's Bluff Point forms the peninsula in the lake giving it this unique shape.
Please join the Keuka Lake Association and help us protect the beauty of Keuka Lake.
read more about Keuka Lake
LATEST NEWS
Announcement
Lake Level Update
Due to the extreme dry weather lately (especially most of the watershed South of the Penn Yan area), the lake level has been dropping slowly, but steadily. For the most part, the gate regulated water outflow has been kept at the NYSDEC required minimum, but between that and evaporation, still has exceeded any inflow to the lake resulting from precipitation. The current level is 3 to 4 inches below the minimum objective, or 7 to 8 inches below the mid objective, for this time of year. Hopefully, we will soon receive some much needed rain to help get the level back up toward the mid objective. Otherwise, it will be not be possible to maintain desired lake levels until the fall draw down begins the end of November.
Please keep an eye on the level over the next couple months to ensure that your boat does not get stuck in its lift, or hit something in shallow areas like the entrance to the outlet.
Announcement
NYS Rules for Buoys & Other Objects in lake
With the advent of the 5.200 program to publicize the 5 mph speed zone within 200 feet of docks, shore and anchored objects, we have had a number of questions about placing buoys in the lake to mark the 5mph boundary in the water. For any buoy or floating object beyond 100’ from shore, a floating object permit issued by NYS Parks and Recreation is required on all waters in NYS except the tide waters of Nassau and Suffolk County. A floating object could be anything from a mooring buoy to an environmental quality monitoring buoy and speed control buoys must conform to the NYS Navigational Aid markings https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/safe-boating/navigational-aids.aspx
More information can be found at https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/navigation-law.aspx#floatingobjects , this web page includes links to the floating object rules and regulations https://parks.ny.gov/documents/recreation/boating/FloatingObjectRulesRegs.pdf and the permit application form https://parks.ny.gov/documents/recreation/boating/FloatingObjectApplicationUpdatedAugust2017.pdf
Note that the permit application includes a requirement for a “Letter of No Objection” from the local Marine Enforcement authority which on Keuka Lake are the Steuben and Yates County Sheriff’s Marine patrols. Marker buoys are by design a warning or a visual aid that people see and respond to. If too many people put a buoy in the water, it may lead to the situation that none will be actually recognized for the places where they are really needed to prevent hazards to navigation. If you are considering applying for a permit, a good first step would be to consult with the marine patrol to see if they will approve your request.
You should also be aware that placement of floating objects and docks within 100 feet of shore is subject to the Uniform Dock and Mooring Law in each of the towns surrounding the lake. A summary of the law is available on the KLA web page https://www.keukalakeassociation.org/post.php?id=25
Announcement
Seneca-Keuka Watershed Partnership Newsletter
The Seneca-Keuka Watershed Partnership was
formed in 2018 to coordinate conservation
efforts on a larger watershed scale. By working
together, we can accomplish greater water
quality goals. This newsletter will highlight our efforts to protect
the beautiful Finger Lakes and will share new ways that you can
become involved. Our first publication offers background
information on the formation of this partnership and our efforts
towards watershed planning.
read more
Announcement
Buoys On Keuka Lake Explained!
ATTENTION: KEUKA LAKE ANGLERS AND BOATERS
When boating and angling on Keuka Lake this year, please be on the lookout for white buoys with fluorescent green flags throughout the lake. Solar-powered lights and reflective tape are attached to the buoys so they will also be visible at night. Up to 20 buoys will be located around the lake for two years as part of a research project.
The research project was initiated in 2018 as part of a cooperative effort by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), United States Geological Service (USGS), and Cornell University to study post-stocking survival and habitat use of cisco. Over the last two years, approximately 195,000 ciscoes were stocked as part of an experimental program to reestablish this native forage fish in Keuka Lake. Cisco were once abundant in the lake but have not been found since the mid-1990s. Since that time, lake conditions have become more favorable for cisco. A portion of stocked ciscoes have been implanted with small acoustic tags to track movements and survival of these fish. The buoys are attached to receivers placed on the lake bottom in waters generally more than 90 feet to pick up signals from the acoustic tags as cisco swim by. These receivers are anchored to the bottom of the lake. Interfering with the acoustic equipment will jeopardize research results.
Anglers, please be aware that if you are fishing within 150 feet of these buoys, it is possible that fishing gear may get entangled in equipment used to anchor the buoys to the bottom.
In addition, if anglers catch a cisco or notice one in a stomach while cleaning your catch, please save it and contact DEC at 585-226-5343, or USGS at 315-730-0096. Arrangements will be made to collect it. Information provided by this research will be utilized for future management decisions in Keuka Lake and other lakes throughout New York and the U.S. If you have any questions about this program, please feel free to contact us at the numbers listed above. Thank you for your cooperation.