A healthy Onondaga Lake will foster robust communities
of animals and plants—both in and around the water.
The Ambient Monitoring Program also has a focus on
biological indicators to evaluate the overall 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.
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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.
For additional information on biological programs, please contact Jeanne Powers, 315-435-2260.
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection