Biological Survey — - Oswego Watershed 115 



This is the more pertinent when the character of the stream flow 

 is taken into consideration. The total difference in elevation 

 between the lake and river is about four hundred and seventy-five 

 feet, over a stream length of about thirteen miles, and the flow 

 from Elbridge to Jordan tumultuous. The contrast between the 

 inlet and outlet of Skaneateles lake is extreme. One would travel 

 far to find a more beautiful stream than the inlet, clear, riffly, and 

 abounding with trout. The outlet, which under more favorable 

 circumstances might make an equally fine appearance, now presents 

 pools clogged with filthy, gas evolving sludge, and varying in color 

 from beet red to gray and black. 



The last stream of particular note is Pott's creek, which flows 

 southward to the canalized Oneida river, a few miles to the east 

 of Fulton. This stream is an example of the brown or so-called 

 "peaty" water, colored by the vegetation through which it flows. 

 The contour of the land as in the case of Wood creek is conducive 

 to sluggish flow. At Pennellville a milk products factory was found 

 to be discharging its wastes into the stream, and for a considerable 

 distance the dissolved oxygen content found to be almost negligible, 

 about six per cent of saturation as compared with ninety-six per 

 cent above the town. At entrance to the river the oxygen had 

 risen to a value of eighty-three per cent. 



Pollution to Virgil creek at Dryden, and to Fall creek at Mc- 

 Lean must be classed as potential only, since inappreciable at the 

 time of investigation. 



Injury to Owasco inlet at Groton was felt to be greater than the 

 data Avould indicate, since high water at the time of investigation 

 doubtless conduced to a better than normal appearance. 



Cayuga inlet, spring fed and rapid throughout the fourteen 

 miles prior to reaching Ithaca was found un-noteworthy, but in 

 the deeper and quieter portions through Ithaca the effect of sew- 

 age was very apparent, though fish life of a tolerant nature prob- 

 ably not endangered. 



A great volume of water passes swiftly through Keuka outlet, 

 and the stream has been highly industrialized throughout its upper 

 length. At least six dams take advantage of some portion of the 

 stream's two hundred and sixty-five foot drop to Seneca lake. 

 Pollution enters from Perm Yan in the shape of sewage and can- 

 nery wastes, and from paper mills a few miles below the town, but 

 the volume of water is so great and opportunity for aeration so 

 satisfactory that at no point was it found in very bad condition. 

 The several reed bordered mill ponds act as settling basins for 

 solid material carried in suspension. Effects of entering pollu- 

 tion directly poisonous to fish life is problematical.* 



The outflow from Canandaigua lake leaves by two channels, 

 which unite after travelling separately a couple of miles. One 

 contains by far the greater volume of water and receives the effluent 

 from a partial sewage disposal plant, gas works and varnish fac- 



* See page 92 for minnow test; page 62 on Keuka outlet; page 119 on 

 chemical condition. 



