Canadice Lake and Hemlock Lake both serve as drinking water reservoirs for the City of Rochester, because of this they are the only two Finger Lakes with completely undeveloped shorelines. The wild nature of Canadice Lake makes it a popular destination for paddlers or those looking to enjoy nature. Swimming in Canadice Lake is not allowed and boats are limited to 17 feet in length and motors to 10 hp.
Canadice Lake is a great destination for those looking for a quiet paddle in the Finger Lakes region.
Boats are restricted to 17-feet in length and motors bust be 10 horsepower or less. Swimming is not allowed. Take A Paddle: Finger Lakes guidebook is a great resource for those looking for paddling information in the region.
Canadice Lake is a great sportfishing destination. The lake has populations of lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. The lake is also a great destination for smallmouth bass fishing.
Canadice Lake and its sister lake, Hemlock Lake, are the primary reservoirs for the City of Rochester. Rochester began using the lakes as a source of drinking water in 1876. A 16-mile pipeline was constructed to connect the lakes to the city’s water distribution system. The lands surrounding the lakes were purchased in 1895 in an effort to protect and improve water quality. People are allowed to recreate on the lake but swimming is prohibited in order to protect the drinking water quality.
Canadice Lake is home to several invasive species including Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and brittle naiad. When visiting the lake it is important to follow the Clean, Drain, Dry principles to prevent the introduction of new invasive species and prevent the invasives found in Canadice Lake from spreading to other lakes.
From 1879 to 1916 the Canadice Strawberry Festival was held at a resort on the lake. When the City of Rochester purchased the land around the lake to protect the water quality the festival was moved to nearby homes and the Canadice United Methodist Church, the festival’s host. There are local rumors and lore of bigfoot sightings in the woods surrounding Canadice Lake. Canadice Lake is both the smallest of the Finger Lakes and the highest in elevation. Because of the elevation of Canadice Lake, no pumps are needed to transport the water to the City of Rochester.
Land cover in the Canadice Lake watershed. Map created with Model My Watershed.
Open Water
1.08mi²
Perennial Ice/Snow
0.00mi²
Developed, Open Space
0.64mi²
Developed, Low
0.15mi²
Developed, Medium
0.01mi²
Developed, High
0.00mi²
Barren Land
Deciduous Forest
6.81mi²
Evergreen Forest
0.58mi²
Mixed Forest
1.95mi²
Shrub/Scrub
0.10mi²
Grassland/Herbaceous
0.02mi²
Pasture/Hay
0.75mi²
Cultivated Crops
0.11mi²
Woody Wetlands
0.32mi²
Emergent Wetlands
0.01mi²
8.66%
0.00%
5.16%
1.17%
0.10%
0.00%
54.40%
4.58%
15.58%
0.76%
0.02%
5.96%
0.85%
2.57%
0.09%
Stream network and watershed slope in the Canadice Lake watershed. Red areas indicate locations with steep slopes. Map created with Model My Watershed.
1st Order Streams
19.77mi
2nd Order Streams
8.84mi
3rd Order Steams
2.29mi
4th Order Steams
3.00mi
Length in agricultural areas
0.27mi
Length in non-agricultural areas
33.63mi
Total stream length
33.90mi
9.07%
5.78%
3.73%
0.00%
Hydrologic soil groups in the Canadice Lake watershed. Map created with Model My Watershed.
A – High Infiltration
0.31mi²
A/D – High/Very Slow Infiltration
0.00mi²
B – Moderate Infiltration
1.34mi²
B/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
0.16mi²
C – Slow Infiltration
2.75mi²
C/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
1.84mi²
D – Very Slow Infiltration
6.12mi²
2.43%
0.00%
10.72%
1.28%
21.97%
14.70%
48.89%
Water Quality Data & Lake Management
Research Papers & Presentations
Visit Finger Lakes licensed under CC BY 2.0
Physical Properties
This status does not necessarily represent the current status of HABs in the lake. It indicates whether HABs have ever been reported in the lake.
12.74mi² Canadice Lake and its sister lake, Hemlock Lake, are the primary reservoirs for the City of Rochester. Rochester began using the lakes as a
Harmful algal blooms, commonly referred to as HABs, occur due to the rapid growth of specific species of algae. HABs are most often the results
Invasive species are non-native organisms that outcompete native species when introduced to a new environment. They can be animals, plants, or disease-causing organisms. These species
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