Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps

Our Goals

Create or improve wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed in central New York.

What We’re Doing

Growing a community of volunteers who support restoration projects.

Bald Eagles in Syracuse, NY. Photo: Jeff Coulter/Լ��Ƶ Photography Awards

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating or improving wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed, which covers Syracuse, the Onondaga Nation reservation, and more of the surrounding area.

The Corps was founded in 2012 to inspire future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through a hands-on, experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain Onondaga Lake and its value as an Լ��Ƶ Important Bird Area.

Onondaga Lake is an important wintering area for Bald Eagles and waterfowl, providing habitat, food, and water sources that many bird species depend upon for survival during the cold winter months.

Ruth Florey – Onondaga Lake Conservations Corps volunteer

CJ Harkola -

Mary Harkola - Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteer

Michaela Kenward -

Alison Kocek -

Chris Lajewski -

Craig Milburn -

Steve Mooney - Onondaga Lake Conservations Corps volunteer

Sue Potrikus - Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps Education & Outreach Coordinator

Deirdre Reidy -

Under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Honeywell finished implementing New York State’s cleanup plan for Onondaga Lake working with national and local experts, local nonprofit organizations and community groups. Honeywell engaged the community through over 1,200 public meetings, presentations, and tours.

Beginning in 2004, DEC and Honeywell held a series of public meetings to outline remediation plans. Public input was incorporated into the design. Realizing the importance of habitat restoration for lake users, Honeywell, in partnership with the DEC, also created a working group with local habitat, conservation, and community organizations to gather opinions and perspectives on the Habitat Restoration Plan during its development. Community input also helped shape the Geddes Lakeshore and is providing a vision for the Southwest Lakeshore.

For more information about the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit .

In July 2012, the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was founded with the goal of inspiring future stewards of Onondaga Lake and its watershed through an experience-based program that offers citizens and organizations the opportunity to participate in activities that help restore and sustain the Onondaga Lake watershed and its value as an Important Bird Area.

Once a Toxic Stew, New York’s Onondaga Lake Shows Signs of Life

Once a Toxic Stew, New York’s Onondaga Lake Shows Signs of Life

Thanks to hundred of volunteers, a vast cleanup of the poisoned watershed is wrapping up—and the birds are beginning to return.

From Լ��Ƶ Magazine

Spotlight on Onondaga Lake

Spotlight on Onondaga Lake

A story of recovery and renewal.

Onondaga Lake Cleanup Classroom Worksheets

Planting with the OLCC. Photo: Chris Lajewski/Լ��Ƶ

The activities are designed to reinforce New York State standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Students learn how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have led to improvements in Onondaga Lake and the surrounding areas. This includes the resurgence of about 90 acres of wetlands on the shores of Onondaga Lake and along the lake’s tributaries, which benefits birds, fish, other wildlife, and people in our community.

The goal of the curriculum is to help students understand the value of Onondaga Lake as an Important Bird Area while participating in engaging classroom and field trip activities.