A healthy Onondaga Lake will foster robust communities of
animals and plants—both in and around the water. The
Ambient Monitoring Program also examines biological
indicators to evaluate the vitality of the ecosystem.
Fish
are the major focus of WEP's biological monitoring
program. To monitor success in fish reproduction, WEP
personnel count fish nests, take samples of larval and
adult fish, and tag adult fish to track individual
histories.
- You can help us. See how.
- Learn findings of Onondaga County's comprehensive fish community monitoring program.
Phytoplankton and zooplankton
are tiny plants or animals, respectively, that remain
suspended in the water. Data about their number,
variety, and condition in Onondaga Lake are recorded.
Macroinvertebrates
are small insects and worms that live in the sediments
of the lake and its tributaries. Their number and
diversity correspond directly with the vigor of life
in the lake.
Aquatic plants
take root in the lake's bottom providing habitat for
young fish, and they stabilize the base of the lake.
Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection