Cayuga Lake is the second largest Finger Lake, second to Seneca Lake. The lake has the largest watershed, at 1,573 square miles because both Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake drain into Cayuga Lake. Cayuga Lake is the only one of the eleven Finger Lakes to contain the invasive species Hydrilla, a highly invasive plant that is starting to spread throughout New York State. The lake is home to a diversity of fish species, making it a great destination for anglers.
There is plenty to do and explore around Cayuga Lake, from paddling and fishing to wine tours and hiking.
Cayuga Lake has a number of invasive species, including Hydrilla which is an aggressive invasive plant that has been tied to the development of avian vascular myelinopathy (AVM). Boaters visiting Cayuga Lake should take extra precautions to follow the Clean, Drain, Dry principles. This is especially important when leaving Cayuga Lake in order to ensure no invasive species are hitching a ride and accidentally get introduced to the next lake you visit.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have been reported on Cayuga Lake. It’s important that watershed residents take steps to reduce nutrient pollution and stormwater runoff. This includes following best management practices on agricultural lands around the lake. Lakefront property owners should take steps to minimize runoff, including reducing impermeable surfaces, limiting lawn size, and maintaining healthy lakeshore buffers of native vegetation. Minimizing the use of fertilizers, maintaining septic systems, and planting rain gardens are also great steps to take to protect Cayuga Lake.
Land cover in the Cayuga Lake watershed. This map may be shared with attribution to AllAboutLakes.org under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Open Water
155.88mi²
Perennial Ice/Snow
0.00mi²
Developed, Open Space
76.95mi²
Developed, Low
41.86mi²
Developed, Medium
14.82mi²
Developed, High
4.61mi²
Barren Land
Deciduous Forest
332.40mi²
Evergreen Forest
21.44mi²
Mixed Forest
130.20mi²
Shrub/Scrub
13.36mi²
Grassland/Herbaceous
4.67mi²
Pasture/Hay
281.53mi²
Cultivated Crops
421.71mi²
Woody Wetlands
57.96mi²
Emergent Wetlands
7.90mi²
9.95%
0.00%
4.91%
2.67%
0.95%
0.29%
21.21%
1.37%
8.31%
0.85%
0.30%
17.96%
26.91%
3.70%
0.50%
1st Order Streams
1,771.48mi
2nd Order Streams
420.42mi
3rd Order Steams
199.85mi
4th Order Steams
40.75mi
5th Order Streams
58.52mi
6th Order Streams
39.52mi
Other
37.35mi
3.41%
1.90%
0.97%
0.83%
0.27%
0.00%
Hydrologic soil groups in the Cayuga Lake watershed. Map created with Model My Watershed.
A – High Infiltration
98.12mi²
A/D – High/Very Slow Infiltration
0.00mi²
B – Moderate Infiltration
64.58mi²
B/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
53.33mi²
C – Slow Infiltration
526.43mi²
C/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
368.72mi²
D – Very Slow Infiltration
455.89mi²
6.26%
0.00%
4.12%
3.40%
33.59%
23.53%
29.09%
Lake Protection Groups
Water Quality Data & Lake Management
Research & Reports
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.
1,573.37mi² Cayuga Lake has a number of invasive species, including Hydrilla which is an aggressive invasive plant that has been tied to the development of
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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