SPAFFORD — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that the new boat launch site on Otisco Lake is complete and open to the public. The boat launch is located at 1490 West Valley Road in the town of Spafford. The DEC funded the project with $599,740 through the Environmental Protection […]
SPAFFORD — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that the new boat launch site on Otisco Lake is complete and open to the public.
The boat launch is located at 1490 West Valley Road in the town of Spafford.
The DEC funded the project with $599,740 through the Environmental Protection Fund and $22,260 through New York Works, for a total project cost of $622,000. The new launch site complements the DEC Otisco Lake fishing-access site at the causeway, located about 200 yards to the north.
Features of the new boat launch include:
• New concrete launch ramp and floating boarding dock to allow the launching of trailered motorboats even if water levels fluctuate
• Accessible-designated parking for one vehicle with trailer and one passenger vehicle
• Wheelchair-accessible portable toilet
• Solar-powered safety lighting, down-lit to minimize light pollution
• Invasive-species disposal bin
• Designated boat-preparation area
• Paved parking area with separate entrance and exit that accommodates 13 vehicles with trailers and 13 single vehicles.
Prior to the boat launch’s completion, Otisco Lake was the only one of the Finger Lakes without a public boat launch, the DEC says. With this facility, boaters will have a new option to explore the region and its fishing and boating-related recreational opportunities, the department said.
“This modern facility offers parking for boat trailers and passenger vehicles and provides safe and convenient features accessible to visitors of all abilities,” DEC Region 7 Director Matthew Marko said in a statement.
Town of Spafford Supervisor Christopher Kozub said, “I’m happy there will now be public boat access to Otisco. The new launch provides an opportunity for people to enjoy recreation on this beautiful lake and have more opportunities to take advantage of this top-notch fishery.”
Otisco Lake is the most easterly of the 11 Finger Lakes and is eighth in size, with a surface area of about 2,200 acres. It lies wholly within Onondaga County. The lake’s variety of fish species include tiger muskellunge, walleye, large and smallmouth bass, brown trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, black and white crappie, and yellow perch.