Canadice Lake is a Finger Lake in Ontario County in western New York, approximately south of Rochester. It is the smallest of the Finger Lakes. The name is derived from the Seneca word , meaning long lake. The lake is part of the Genesee River watershed.
Description Canadice Lake is long and wide at its widest point. The lake has a surface area of and a maximum depth of . The lake drains out into Canadice Outlet, which merges with water from the neighboring Hemlock Lake.
In 1873, the city of Rochester, New York, was authorized to begin using the lake as a source of drinking water along with Hemlock Lake. A legal dispute with residents near the lake was resolved in favor of the city in 1886,Matter of the Application of the City of Rochester to acquire the permanent and perpetual right to draw from Hemlock and Canadice lakes an amount of water sufficient for the use of said city and its inhabitants, etc, 40 Hun, 588, June, 1886, Supreme Court of the State of New York, General Term, Fifth Department and a conduit line was constructed which brought water from the lake to the city beginning in 1919. A treatment plant for the lake's water was opened in 1993.
Recreation
Most of the lakeshore is part of the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. The lake is still used as a water source for Rochester today. To protect the water quality, no houses are permitted on its shore and boats are limited to in length and engines of 10-horsepower or less. Swimming, camping and contamination of the water are prohibited. Previously, a free permit was required to fish or boat on the lake, but that system has been discontinued and permits are no longer required.
Canadice Lake features several trout species for recreational fishing, including lake trout, brown trout and rainbow trout that are stocked annually by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Landlocked Atlantic salmon are occasionally stocked as well.
An unimproved gravel boat ramp is available for launching boats on the lake's east side, and a cartop launch is available at the south end of the lake.
References
External links Hemlock-Canadice Unit Management Plan Hemlock-Canadice State Forest (NYS DEC page)