Skaneateles Lake

Table of Contents

Overview

In the Iroquois language, Skaneateles means “long lake.” The lake is the fifth largest in the eleven Finger Lakes. Skaneateles lake has an oligotrophic trophic status and is one of the cleaner Finger Lakes, though the lake still has harmful algal blooms (HABs). The lake has fewer aquatic invasive species than other Finger Lakes as well, though it still has Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, two common aquatic invasive plants.

Recreational Features
Public Access
Motorboat Launch
Canoe/Kayak Launch
Marina
Swimming Allowed
Fishing Allowed

Visit

Skaneateles Lake is known for its clear blue-green waters. Visitors to the region can enjoy spectacular fishing, boating, and the quaint Village of Skaneateles on the north end of the lake.

  • The best place to launch a boat on Skaneateles Lake is the New York State launch off Route 41A just south of the Village of Skaneateles.
  • Like all of the Finger Lakes, Skaneateles Lake is in the middle of wine country. Though the lake is a bit west of most of the vineyards, Anyela’s Vineyards is a great place to stop for a tasting.
  • Skaneateles Lake has great smallmouth bass fishing throughout the shallow littoral areas of the lake where you will also find good panfish. If you are looking for lake trout, you’ll find them as well, though they aren’t quite as big as you’ll find in other Finger Lake, such as Seneca Lake.
  • The excellent water quality and high visibility make Skaneateles Lake a great place to swim, snorkel, and dive.

Lake Protection

Skaneateles Lake has fewer aquatic invasive species than most other Finger Lakes, it is important that visitors to the lake follow the Clean, Drain, Dry protocols to prevent the introduction of new invasive species to Skaneateles Lake. Nearby Cayuga Lake has hydrilla in it, which is a notable threat to the surrounding Finger Lakes.

Lakefront property owners and other land owners in the watershed can help protect the high water quality of Skaneateles Lake by following lake-friendly practices, such as reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, reducing stormwater runoff, planting rain gardens, and maintaining natural shoreline buffers.

Interesting Facts

  • In 1931 the steamboat Independent began traversing the lake as it transported passengers.
  • Skaneateles Lake provides drinking water to more than 200,000 people and has supplied water to both Skaneateles and Syracuse since the late 1800s.

Watershed Characteristics

Land Cover/Land Use

Open Water
13.87mi²
Perennial Ice/Snow
0.00mi²
Developed, Open Space
3.47mi²
Developed, Low
1.61mi²
Developed, Medium
0.32mi²
Developed, High
0.06mi²
Barren Land
0.00mi²
Deciduous Forest
19.39mi²
Evergreen Forest
2.82mi²
Mixed Forest
2.49mi²
Shrub/Scrub
0.87mi²
Grassland/Herbaceous
0.20mi²
Pasture/Hay
8.81mi²
Cultivated Crops
16.72mi²
Woody Wetlands
2.01mi²
Emergent Wetlands
0.18mi²
19.04%
0.00%
4.76%
2.21%
0.44%
0.09%
0.01%
26.63%
3.87%
3.41%
1.20%
0.28%
12.09%
22.96%
2.76%
0.25%
A map of the land cover in the Skaneateles Lake watershed

Land cover in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. This map may be shared with attribution to AllAboutLakes.org under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Stream Network Statistics

1st Order Streams
71.54mi
2nd Order Streams
6.83mi
3rd Order Steams
10.65mi
Other
0.99mi
Total stream length
90.01mi
4.40%
0.69%
0.00%
A map of the stream network and terrain slope in the Skaneateles Lake watershed

Stream network and watershed slope in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. Red areas indicate locations with steep slopes. This map may be shared with attribution to AllAboutLakes.org under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Hydrologic Soil Groups

A – High Infiltration
1.73mi²
A/D – High/Very Slow Infiltration
1.22mi²
B – Moderate Infiltration
25.39mi²
B/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
13.41mi²
C – Slow Infiltration
3.81mi²
C/D – Medium/Very Slow Infiltration
2.42mi²
D – Very Slow Infiltration
24.85mi²
2.38%
1.67%
34.86%
18.40%
5.23%
3.33%
34.12%
A map of the soil type in the Skaneateles Lake watershed

Hydrologic soil groups in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. This map may be shared with attribution to AllAboutLakes.org under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More Information & Resources


Sunset over Skaneateles Lake
Pier on Skaneateles Lake
Photo Credits

Photo 1: John Hoey, CC BY 2.0, Photo 2: Jason, CC BY 2.0

Physical Properties

Surface Area:
13.75mi²
Watershed Area:
72.83mi²
Maximum Depth:
315ft
Mean Depth:
148ft
Shoreline Length:
34.0mi

Lake Trophic Status

Oligotrophic

Invasive Species

Curly-leaf Pondweed
Eurasian watermilfoil
Quagga mussel
Zebra mussel

Harmful Algal Blooms

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.

Reported

Fish Species

Atlantic salmon
Black crappie
Bluegill
Brown bullhead
Chain pickerel
Cisco
Lake trout
Largemouth bass
Pumpkinseed
Rainbow trout
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
White sucker
Yellow perch

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