DEC Announces Onondaga Lake Restoration Milestone: Transfer of Visitor Center to State

Onondaga Lake Visitor Center Transferred from Honeywell to DEC, Photos Available Here

Outdoor Recreational Activities Include “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day” on Saturday, June 14

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the property transfer of the Onondaga Lake Visitor Center in Syracuse, Onondaga County, from Honeywell International, Inc., to New York State. The Center will feature informative displays about the historic cleanup and restoration of Onondaga Lake, its tributaries, and watershed, affording New Yorkers another way to connect to this important waterbody.

“Onondaga Lake is an incredible natural resource and the cleanup of one of New York’s most polluted waterbodies is an undeniable success story,” Commissioner Lefton said. “DEC embraces the opportunity to help New Yorkers and visitors alike learn about the history of the lake and its cleanup and the ecosystems its rebirth is helping to support and thrive.”

The Onondaga Lake Visitor Center (OLVC) was originally built and opened in 2012 by Honeywell to share information with the public about the cleanup and the history of the lake. Displays in the OLVC showcase the cleanup plan and progress, return of native plants and animals, and habitat restoration and enhancements. The Center will retain its name and following renovations, it will become a public outreach facility operated by DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Education.

DEC will operate the center seasonally, April through October, and serve as a point of contact for environmental and educational organizations interested in hosting events or programming at the lakeside location. By fostering partnerships with local colleges and universities, including the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the center will provide learning and career development opportunities for students of all ages.

OLVC helps highlight outdoor recreation opportunities and provides educational programming complementing Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative encouraging New York families to put down phones and devices and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. As programming expands, DEC and partners will feature monthly opportunities for Central New York families to connect with nature on ‘Second Saturdays in Summer,’ starting with the 2025 Get Outdoors & Get Together Day this Saturday., June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Get Outdoors & Get Together Day
DEC invites the public to visit the Onondaga Lake Boat Launch, dedicated to former DEC Region 7 Director Kenneth P. Lynch, located next to the OLVC visitor center. DEC and partners will offer activities for visitors of all skills levels and abilities including:

• Inclusive birding with adaptive tools;
• Fishing at Onondaga County’s deep water fishing pier, with adaptive tools available to anglers of all abilities; catch and release only. Located a short distance down the County’s West Shore Trail, also part of the Empire State Trail; and
• Adaptive biking display, led by Central New York Adaptive Sports.  

DEC staff and partners will be available at all activities for instructional assistance. DEC will also offer family-friendly activities and information on hiking safety. For any questions about the event, contact DEC’s Region 7 Education team at (315) 314-0768.

Onondaga Lake Cleanup and Restoration
Onondaga Lake is one of the most studied lakes in the country. The transformative results accomplished at Onondaga Lake build on decades of work by incredible scientists and engineers, as well as scores of volunteers who have gathered and analyzed data, developed solutions, and implemented projects that are helping achieve a remarkable recovery.

Significant progress continues to be made in cleaning up Onondaga Lake and its tributaries and watershed, enabling Central New Yorkers to once again connect to this important resource. Dramatic improvements in wastewater and stormwater management, coupled with tremendous progress in cleaning up historical industrial contamination, have improved water quality and aided in the return of native plants and animals. With these improvements, the lake is once again becoming a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, while serving as a source of community pride.

Cleanup activities for Onondaga Lake were completed in 2016 in accordance with the 2005 Record of Decision. DEC continues to rigorously oversee the completed cleanup and Honeywell’s ongoing monitoring of the lake-bottom cap to ensure it remains effective and fully protective of public health and the environment.

DEC works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to oversee implementation of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan Projects for Onondaga Lake. The transfer of the center to DEC was among the plan’s requirements, along with other recent notable milestones such as the transfer of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral homelands in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation. Restoration of Onondaga Lake is creating opportunities for the public to reconnect with this storied resource. In addition to DEC’s Onondaga Lake Boat Launch, the Empire State Trail, Onondaga County’s Loop-the-Lake Trail, City of Syracuse’s Onondaga Creekwalk, and the Empower Federal Credit Union at Lakeview amphitheater, plans are progressing to continue expanding fish and wildlife habitat and opportunities for public recreation and engagement on the lake.