Within the Finger Lakes region, watershed protection plans have been completed for Canandaigua, Cayuga, and Conesus Lakes. Preparation of each plan has been undertaken in partnership with the NYS Department of State, financed through grants from the Environmental Protection Fund - Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and overseen by an inter-municipal organization comprised of the local governments and organizations involved in watershed protection.

The watershed protection plans identify priority actions needed to protect and improve water quality, including capital projects and local development controls. Building on these watershed protection plans, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) developed specific water quality control laws and/or ordinances for local governments within the Canandaigua, Cayuga, and Conesus Lake watersheds and then produced a manual for local governments to assist them in the area of water resource and land use planning, regulation and control.

Phase I  G/FLRPC assessed existing local laws, ordinances, and practices that relate to water resources in all 56 municipalities (42 towns, 12 villages, 2 cities) in the three watersheds.  The publication is entited Assessment of Ordinances and Practices.  Municipalities with less than 3 square miles and less than 6% of their land area in the watershed were not included. 

Phase II  Working closely and collaboratively with local boards, G/FLRPC developed specific water quality control laws and/or revisions to existing regulations for the 13 selected local municipalities within the Canandaigua, Cayuga, and Conesus Lake watersheds.