Since all lake management efforts should have a sound scientific basis it is important to understand the factors affecting lake water quality. This requires monitoring the most important factors, so that baseline data is available and can be compared to data collected after implementing any remedial action.

The importance of internal phosphorus loading on algae blooms is discussed in algae & internal loading.

Direct measurements of lake water quality parameters are probably the most important monitoring that can be done. Closely related is the quality of water flowing into the lake from its tributaries.

In other links on this website other parameters affecting lake water quality that have been measured are reported.

Honeoye Lake is the shallowest of the eleven Finger Lakes and is classified as eutrophic, which merely means it is highly biologically productive due to high levels of phosphorus. The lake produces a significant mass of aquatic vegetation that grows on the lake bottom in waters less than 4.5 meters in depth each summer. In addition, in many years the lake experiences a problematic blue-green algae (cynobacteria) bloom of 1-8+ weeks, which severely affects water clarity, is aesthetically unpleasing, and can be toxic. In response to a severe blue-green algae bloom in the summer of 2002, which lasted from mid-July into late-September, a monitoring program was initiated to better understand the lake dynamics.  

The 2017 Water Quality data can be seen in the following PDF file:  -- 2017 Water Quality Data Deep 9 meter.pdf

EXCITING VIDEO OF HONEOYE LAKE UNDERWATER taken by David Brown

The video below was taken during dives took place on June 23, 2014 and July 15, 2014 at different points around Honeoye Lake. A great deal of the footage was taken off of California Ranch Point. The video was financed through a grant from Ontario County Water Resources Council. The purpose was to visually bring alive the statistical data that is being gathered through water sampling.The video was shot and narrated live by David O Brown at the 2014 Annual meeting. David is a
producer, videographer, photographer and lecturer specializing in marine and aquatic wildlife and issues. Information about David and his work can be seen at: http://www.davidobrown.com/