Eroding construction sites are a leading cause of water quality problems in New York State. There is a critical need to protect the excellent water quality of Skaneateles Lake as an unfiltered drinking water supply with more stringent requirements. If found necessary, a filtration system would be very expensive. Keep reading for more information on whether or not you need a permit and some helpful contacts!
You can also check out the “Before you Build” brochure or CCE Onondaga’s Soil Erosion: Permits and Policies for the Skaneateles Lake Watershed booklet or Preventing Erosion in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed factsheet.
What am I required to do?
The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Rules and Regulations are special New York State regulations that are intended to preserve the quality of Skaneateles Lake. The watershed is defined as all land that drains toward the lake. The watershed rules apply to all lands located in the watershed (see map).
If you are building a project that needs a local building permit, other land disturbance permit, or a shoreline permit, submit copies of the application to the City of Syracuse Water Department.
Do I need an Erosion Control Plan or a permit?
If you are located in an "environmentally sensitive" area and your project disturbs 5000 sq. ft or more of land, you are required to submit an Erosion/Stormwater Control Plan (ESCP). This applies to most of the Skaneateles Lake Watershed. Examples of projects requiring ESCP's include general construction, road construction and maintenance, and tree removal (silviculture).
If your project disturbs more than one acre of land it is also subject to regulations under the USEPA Stormwater Phase II rule and NY State SPDES General Permit 02-01. For more information, contact the NYSDEC Region 7 Office.
There are specific provisions to prevent erosion from public highway construction activities and to control erosion on farms.
Erosion and Stormwater Control Plans
The applicant for the building permit is responsible for developing and submitting the ESCP. Copies of the ESCP must be submitted to the City of Syracuse Water Department at least ten business days prior to doing any land disturbance activity.
An ESCP outlines the measures that will be put in place during construction to:
minimize the area of exposed soil on site
keep the soil on site
handle expected storm water flows
reduce velocity of storm water flows
keep clean water away from areas where soil is disturbed
For a simple project on flat land, you may prepare the plan. For more complex projects, such as a single family home, contact a design professional. If you are not sure if this applies to your project or would like more details, contact the City of Syracuse Water Department.
Important Contacts
The City of Syracuse Water Department
20 W. Genesee Street Skaneateles, NY 13152
(315) 448-8366
NYSDEC Region 7 Office
615 Erie Blvd West Syracuse, NY 13204
315-426-7504Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District
315-677-3851Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District
315 -252 -4171Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
607-753-0851
Violators Beware! Violators face a stop work order and/or fines.
