Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, is 15.5 miles long, 1.1 mile wide and 276 feet deep at its deepest.  There are 35.9 miles of shoreline but only 1.2 miles of that is public access (3%) and the remaining 97% is  in private ownership.

Go to: Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council  for an amazing amount of statistical and scientific information regarding Canandaigua Lake and its watershed.

How many people live in the watershed of Canandaigua Lake?  Approximately 21,000.

Is the lake a source of drinking water?  Yes, approximately 60,000 people use the lake as their source of drinking water.  Several communities outside of the watershed also get their water supply from Canandaigua Lake including Bloomfield, Palmyra, Farmington, Newark and Shortsville.

What kind of shape is the lake in? So far the lake is in excellent health.  However, it takes many  hard working agencies and organizations to keep it that way. (See Lake Caretakers)  Ultimately, the shape of the lake depends on ordinary citizens like us.  See how you can help by reading Ten Ways You Can Help the Lake.

Does Canandaigua Lake have a problem with acid rain like the lakes in the Adirondacks?  No,  fortunately the bedrock in this area is limestone or calcium carbonate which buffers the acid rain in exactly the same way as Tums buffers stomach acid. 

What is that foamy, sudsy looking stuff that you sometimes see floating on top of the water?  Can it make you sick?  That sudsy foam is a naturally occuring process that is well known on all large water bodies. It is not harmful to your health. Although the exact cause is not fully known, it is thought to be  from the break down of dead zebra mussels.  Further study of the phenomenon is being conducted by researchers from the NYSDEC and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Who is responsible for keeping the lake clean? There are many organizations and agencies working together to keep the lake and  watershed in a healthy state.  See Lake Caretakers. 

 Are you allowed to swim in it? Yes, the lake is a wonderful recreational amenity. It is used for swimming, boating and fishing in the summer and ice boating and ice fishing in the winter. 

What kind of fish live in this lake?  Canandaigua Lake supports both coldwater and warmwater fish.  Large and Smallmouth Bass and Yellow Perch are the most popular species for anglers but they also enjoy fishing for Lake Trout, Brown Trout and RainbowTrout. Lake Trout are the only trout native to Canandaigua Lake.  Both Lake and Brown Trout are stocked annually by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.  Canandaigua Lake also has Sunfish, Bullheads and Chain Pickerel.