Focus on the Finger Lakes: Conesus Inlet Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

During the month of May we are celebrating Conesus Lake, our most westerly Finger Lake. Early in the month, when we were all beginning to think spring would never arrive, the Adventure Team set out to explore the Conesus Inlet Wildlife Management Area at the southern end of the lake. The Conesus Inlet WMA contains over 1,120 acres, land purchased in the late 1960's by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife manages this area which is a vital wetland resource and includes a major northern pike spawning grounds.

The area is divided into two parts, the inlet side north of Sliker Hill Road, and the lagoon side south of Sliker Hill Road. On the north side you will find an

information kiosk and the nature trail which leads to a boardwalk and observation platform at the lake. The trails are roughly marked but this is a wonderful place to explore marshland habitat with lots of bird watching opportunities. We visited too late in the season to witness the spawning runs but hear that is quite the spectacle.

We began 2018 Celebrating 10 Years on 11 Lakes in 12 Months and the Adventure Team's 'we need to go back and....' do-list just keeps growing with plans to return to each lake and explore some more!

February - Honeoye Lake: We need to go back and hike the trails at Harriett Hollister when they are not covered with snow!

March - Owasco Lake: We need to go back to Owasco Flats when the temperature is above freezing to kayak in the outlet!

April - Otisco Lake: We need to go back to fish from The Causeway and then explore more of the 6 miles of trails at Baltimore Woods!

May - Conesus Lake: We need to go back next year in mid-March to watch the northern pike and walleye swim upstream from the lake into the marsh to lay their eggs!

Oh Natalie, is it too soon to start making plans to Celebrate 11 Years on 11 Lakes in 12 Months in 2019? There is just so much fun to be had, and places to explore, in our beautiful Finger Lakes region!