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49-530: The Seneca River , now the Cayuga–Seneca Canal, always has been an economic engine for the communities of Waterloo and Seneca Falls . The Seneca Lock Navigation Co., a private enterprise formed in 1813, dammed three sets of rapids and installed locks to allow goods to be transported to the Erie Canal . In 1818, a canal was opened between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. By 1823, an average of eight boats

98-461: A National Natural Landmark . The refuge lies between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse, New York (five miles [8 km] east of Seneca Falls , and ten miles [16 km] west of Auburn ), including parts of Seneca , Cayuga , and Wayne counties. Most of the refuge lies in the Town of Tyre , in the northeast corner of Seneca County. Recognized as an Audubon Important Bird Area , the refuge plays

147-605: A canal was begun to connect Seneca Lake with the newly constructed Erie Canal at Montezuma and the Cayuga–Seneca Canal was put into use in 1828. The Canal was enlarged in 1862, and the Flats, an area adjacent to and east of the village center, grew into a major industrial area, producing fire engines, hose carts and other firefighting equipment, pumps and other iron goods including stove parts, bootjacks , corn shellers, meat choppers, sausage stuffers, flatirons and bells. A knitting mill made socks and once produced 85,000 pairs of socks for

196-469: A crucial role in offering essential migration and nesting grounds for various bird species, including waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, raptors, warblers, woodpeckers, and more. It is considered to be among the most important wetland complexes in the north eastern United States providing critical stopover habitat for millions of migratory birds. It also provides unique habitats for regionally breeding birds and wildlife, including many endangered species. Here

245-542: A day were passing through the lock at Waterloo, carrying flour , potash , pork , whiskey, lumber and wool and returning with other products and merchandise. Job Smith, Seneca Falls’ first businessman, opened a portage company on the eastern end of the river in 1787. The company transported travelers, boats and goods around a mile-long series of rapids with a 42-foot (13 m) drop known as “the Falls.” The locks at Seneca Falls were completed in 1818. Improvements between

294-701: A mix of forbs or wildflowers have been introduced. The construction of dams and canals in the early 1900s led to the drainage of the marshes, causing local wildlife to disappear. The Civilian Conservation Corps intervened, implementing a system of constructed dikes that restored water levels and brought wildlife back to the area. Today, the water level is controlled through impoundments to recreate historic habitat conditions. These impoundments are strategically rotated to cater to different groups of species, such as migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, black terns, American and least bitterns, and pied-billed grebes. Each species requires specific water levels and habitat conditions, and

343-575: A series of low dikes which would hold water and restore part of the marsh habitat that had once existed. The refuge was opened in 1938 as the Montezuma Migratory Bird Refuge. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7971 which established the Bird Refuge on September 12, 1938. The refuge provides a stopping point for waterfowl and other migratory birds. The refuge restored marsh land lost to drainage from

392-810: A state-owned waterway, the Cayuga-Seneca Canal , which contains eleven locks in 21 miles (34 km). Construction of the Seneca reach of the Erie Canal began in the 1820s. The channel between Three Rivers and Cayuga Lake was widened and straightened to accommodate barges, and other reaches were bypassed via the construction of parallel canals. The canal path had to cross the Seneca River at several points, so locks were built to lower boats down to river level, where they were towed across aided by temporary wooden bridges. In 1849 work began to separate

441-477: A vast number of species interact, in a rich and robust ecosystem. The variety of habitats at Montezuma, including wooded wetlands, emergent marsh, and different vegetation stages in upland areas, supports a diverse range of resident and migratory species. Most of the wetlands are dominated by emergent vegetation and therefore classified as marshes, which are home to diverse array of plants. Multiple species of fern, such as rattlesnake ferns , ebony Spleenwort , and

490-469: Is a one-way auto tour that provides many opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife. The main feature of the drive is the 1,600-acre (6.5 km ) wetland which hosts a rich diversity of waterfowl, waterbirds and other wildlife. The drive is open most of the year with the exception of winter, when the road may not be passable. A visitor center and gift shop are open from April 1 to December 1 and have educational brochures, exhibits and specimens about

539-557: Is composed of swamps, pools and channels and is a stopping point for migratory birds. It is the largest contiguous wetland complex in the northeastern United States and comprises a portion of the larger Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which is a partnership between the USFWS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as several other non-profit support organizations. A significant stopover along

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588-483: Is implemented to stimulate the growth of grasslands and maintain these areas in an early successional stage. Typically scheduled for April, prescribed burns demand careful planning and specialized training. Present forest management practices involve overseeing the growth of trees, investigating the interaction of indigenous species on the environment, and monitoring for potential threats from invasive species. To enhance diversity and potentially boost insect availability,

637-594: Is named for the Seneca people , whose traditional lands extended roughly between Lake Erie and Seneca Lake. The Onondaga inhabited the area in present-day Onondaga County, around Onondaga Lake and Syracuse, and the Cayuga inhabited the river valley and lakeshores in between. All three were part of the Iroquois League , which is believed to have been established between 1570 and 1600. For hundreds of years before

686-645: Is provided for the current canal, from east to west. There are a total of 4 locks on the Cayuga–Seneca Canal. All locks on the New York State Canal System are single-chamber; the dimensions are 328 feet (100 m) long and 45 feet (14 m) wide with a minimum 12-foot (3.7 m) depth of water over the miter sills at the upstream gates upon lift. They can accommodate a vessel up to 300 feet (91 m) long and 43.5 feet (13.3 m) wide. Overall sidewall height will vary by lock, ranging between 28 and 61 feet (8.5 and 18.6 m) depending on

735-503: The Atlantic Flyway , the refuge plays a crucial role in offering essential migration and nesting grounds for various bird species, including waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, raptors, warblers, woodpeckers, and more. Opened in 1938 as the Montezuma Migratory Bird Refuge, the area has seen many developments over the years in terms of its land size and wildlife management strategy. In May 1973 The Montezuma Marshes were designated

784-847: The Canandaigua Outlet and the Clyde River into the Seneca River. Keuka Lake empties into Seneca Lake via the Keuka Lake Outlet. Owasco and Skaneateles Lakes join the Seneca through their eponymous outlet streams, while Otisco Lake flows via Ninemile Creek into Onondaga Lake , which in turn empties into the Seneca. Left Black Brook Clyde River Crusoe Creek Spring Lake Outlet Muskrat Creek Right Kendig Creek Silver Creek Sucker Brook Sampson Creek Demont Creek Cayuga Lake Crane Brook Owasco River Skaneateles Creek Dead Creek Crooked Brook Onondaga Lake The river

833-719: The Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York in the United States . The main tributary of the Oswego River – the second-largest river flowing into Lake Ontario – the Seneca drains 3,468 square miles (8,980 km ) in parts of fourteen New York counties. The Seneca flows generally east, and is wide and deep with a gentle gradient. Much of the river has been channelized to form part of the Erie Canal . The Seneca River begins at Geneva in Seneca County , as

882-405: The intermediate wood fern can be found within the refuge. Coniferous trees include eastern white pine , northern white cedar , and eastern red cedar . There are countless flowering plants which include the purple prairie clover, marsh pea , white avens , black raspberry , steeple bush and many more. Invasive species are an ongoing concern for conservationist at the refuge. Among these are

931-581: The purple loosestrife and phragmities . The refuge serves as crucial habitat for over 300 bird species, with more than 100 known to actively nest within its boundaries. Marsh and water birds found at the refuge include the great blue heron , green-backed heron , great egret , black-crowned night-heron , Virginia rail , sora , bitterns , common moorhen and pied-billed grebes . The refuge also has an area where bald eagles have been nesting in recent years. Ducks and geese, including Canada geese , snow geese , black ducks and mallards are common at

980-575: The Army and Navy. C-S Canal locks were modified in 1918 when New York State created the New York Barge Canal System . State engineers replaced five locks with a large two-flight lock - a 49-foot (15 m) lift that required a great pool of water for their operation. This spelled the demise of the Flats. Buildings were destroyed or moved to create Van Cleef Lake. Flooding was completed on August 20, 1915. The following list of locks

1029-496: The Erie Canal at Montezuma. The Erie Canal did not greatly affect the marshes as the Seneca River still flowed directly from Cayuga Lake into the marshes. In 1910, the widening and reconstruction of the Seneca and Cayuga extension of the New York State Barge Canal altered the marshes. A lock was built at the north end of Cayuga Lake and a dam was constructed at the outlet of the lake. This effectively lowered

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1078-465: The Erie Canal system. Most of the aqueduct was dynamited in the 1910s to allow navigation on the Barge Canal. Certain points on the Seneca River were an early center of development for industry. Seneca Falls is the location of the only significant natural drop on the river, which was utilized in the early days to power water mills. Where the river had no natural falls, mill dams were built, one of

1127-525: The Refuge are under specific management for shorebirds. The smaller of the two, Benning Marsh along the Wildlife Drive, requires more labor-intensive efforts. During the summer, water levels are intentionally kept low to prevent loosestrife germination. Prior to raising the water levels in late summer, the area undergoes plowing to expose bare soil, rapidly transforming it into a mudflat. This results in

1176-634: The Seneca River enters Onondaga County . It turns sharply north then east, past Baldwinsville and Liverpool , along the northern edge of metro Syracuse where it receives the outflow of Onondaga Lake . The river then flows north to join the Oneida River at Three Rivers on the Onondaga– Oswego County line, forming the Oswego River . From the confluence, the Oswego flows a further 23 miles (37 km) north, emptying into Lake Ontario at

1225-550: The arrival of Europeans, the river was an important Native American trade route. The first Europeans to reach the Seneca River were likely Jesuit missionaries in the late 1600s, who established an outpost, St. Stephen, on the river shortly below its origin at Seneca Lake. In 1821, the Seneca Lock Navigation Company completed eight locks along the upper Seneca River above Cayuga Lake to allow navigation to Seneca Lake. By 1828, this had been replaced by

1274-585: The calf of his leg. This has been the only recorded attack on humans in the river so far. [REDACTED] Media related to Seneca River (New York) at Wikimedia Commons Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service , encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake . The 10,004-acre (40.48 km ) preserve

1323-403: The canal from the river, to reduce the impact of flooding and sedimentation . The Montezuma Marshes at the outlet of Cayuga Lake were a major obstacle to the Erie Canal path. The stone Seneca River Aqueduct (Richmond Aqueduct), which carried the canal over the Seneca and Clyde Rivers, opened in 1857 after eight years of construction. At 840 feet (260 m) it was the second-longest aqueduct on

1372-607: The canal on an old railroad bed. The trail connects to the lakefront at Seneca Lake State Park as well as Bishop Nature Preserve and runs to the Village of Waterloo . The trail will ultimately connect to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge . 42°55′53″N 76°46′07″W  /  42.93139°N 76.76861°W  / 42.93139; -76.76861 Seneca River (New York) The Seneca River flows 61.6 miles (99.1 km) through

1421-416: The city of Oswego . The Seneca River watershed drains a total of 3,468 square miles (8,980 km ), or about two-thirds of the greater Oswego River basin. There are about 4,370 miles (7,030 km) of streams in the Seneca basin. The Seneca receives the outflow of seven of the eleven Finger Lakes: Canandaigua , Keuka , Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco , Skaneateles and Otisco . Canandaigua Lake flows via

1470-613: The complex. The new species was assigned to the subgenus Calamoncosis of genus Calamoncosis . The Finger Lakes Region was formed by the melting glaciers of the last glacial period, over ten thousand years ago. The northern and southern ends of the lakes gradually developed into extensive marshes . First the Algonquin Indians and later the Cayugas of the Iroquois Nation were the earliest known inhabitants to reap

1519-422: The confluence of the Seneca and Clyde rivers near Mays Point . The connection to Cayuga Lake is just east of Lock CS1, where the mean surface elevation is 382 feet (116 m). From there, the canal makes a sharp turn westward and continues towards Seneca Lake, where the mean elevation at the western terminus is 445 feet (136 m). The Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail is a multi-use recreational trail running beside

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1568-680: The construction of the Cayuga and Seneca Canal that linked the Finger Lakes to the Erie Canal . In May 1973, the refuge was designated as the Montezuma Marshes National Natural Landmark by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior . On September 22, 2000, "Harmony With Nature"—an eight-person team of musicians from around the country—performed a four-hour, afternoon/evening concert at

1617-408: The earliest of which was at Baldwinsville. In 1915 a dam 80 feet (24 m) high was built at Seneca Falls to generate hydroelectricity. Below Onondaga Lake, the Seneca River is moderately polluted by industrial and domestic waste, including high levels of mercury, PCBs , dioxin and ammonia. The New York State Department of Health advises limited consumption of fish from the lower river. Parts of

1666-416: The group, held on this and other federally protected land over 2000–2001 (four concerts in total, counting Montezuma NWR). This concert at Montezuma NWR marked the first time that a musical performance had ever been held on federally protected wildlife land. These musicians donated their talents and time by joining together to promote Denver’s legacy and to continue supporting his lifelong commitment to ensuring

1715-401: The growth of vegetation like smartweed and the emergence of numerous macroinvertebrates, providing a food source for the shorebirds, waterfowl, and gulls that gather in this area. In addition to providing wildlife habitat, the refuge also provides opportunities for people to observe wildlife. The refuge is open during daylight hours seven days a week. The 3.5-mile (5.6 km) Wildlife Drive

1764-647: The impoundments are managed in a rotation to provide a diverse range of habitats at any given time. Heavy equipment is used to construct dikes that contain water, forming each refuge pool. Additionally, every pool is equipped with a water control structure to facilitate controlled drainage for optimal habitat conditions. The Main Pool has an inlet from a nearby lake, allowing it to be filled by gravity-fed water. In contrast, other pools depend on pumped water or rainfall for refilling. Pools may be intentionally drained during spring and summer to facilitate plant regrowth and refresh

1813-457: The lakes, completed in 1821, made eight stone locks and nearly two miles of dug canal in addition to sections of the river. To further develop industry, the rapids were dammed to form the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls, and rapid industrialization began in 1825. Through Seneca Falls, there was a lock for every important mill site, raising or lowering the boats a total of 42 feet (13 m). In 1825,

1862-509: The level of the river by eight to ten feet (2 to 3 m) and the waters drained from the marshes. The meandering rivers were straightened and deepened, thereby creating additional drainage-ways. In 1937 the Bureau of Biological Survey, which later became the US Fish and Wildlife Service , purchased 6,432 acres (26.03 km ) of the former marsh. The Civilian Conservation Corps began work on

1911-693: The lift and navigable stages. Distance is based on position markers from an interactive canal map provided online by the New York State Canal Corporation and may not exactly match specifications on signs posted along the canal. Mean surface elevations are comprised from a combination of older canal profiles and history books as well as specifications on signs posted along the canal. The margin of error should normally be within 6 inches (15 cm). (upstream/west) (downstream/east) (upstream/west) All surface elevations are approximate. The Cayuga–Seneca Canal officially begins at

1960-541: The main line. With canal construction, there arose the possibility of draining the marshes, and an act was passed relative to the draining of the Cayuga Marshes. Work first began on the canal system on July 4, 1817, and the completion was marked by the first passage from Lake Erie to New York City on October 26, 1825. Construction of the Seneca-Cayuga canal began in 1818 and by 1828 boats passed from Geneva to

2009-419: The marsh or to create feeding habitat for migrating shorebirds. Management aims for a 70/30 distribution between cover and open water. To achieve this, certain pools undergo a regular drawdown schedule to replicate natural drought conditions. During these intentionally dry periods, when water levels are lowered, the soils have the opportunity to reoxygenate, promoting the growth of vegetation. Two sections of

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2058-628: The outflow of Seneca Lake , flowing east past Waterloo and Seneca Falls . Skirting the northern end of Cayuga Lake at the Montezuma Marsh , it turns north, receiving the Clyde River from the west, forming the Seneca– Cayuga county line, then the border of Cayuga and Wayne counties. The river passes under Interstate 90 , flowing northeast past Weedsport , across the middle of Cayuga County into Cross Lake . Below Cross Lake,

2107-438: The preservation of the earth and all its natural habitats. The fundraising efforts also benefitted Montezuma NWR and the other wildlife sanctuaries, supporting and celebrating wildlife conservation efforts, ecological awareness, environmental education and habitat protection. Baker and Jasikoff also appeared in local, in-studio television interviews regarding the event. On September 24, 2017, another "Harmony With Nature" event

2156-426: The refuge and its wildlife.The two-mile (3.2 km) Esker Brook Trail and the 3 ⁄ 4 -mile (1.2 km) Oxbow Trail are available to hikers and walkers and remain accessible throughout the year, though some are off-limits during the white-tailed deer hunting season. There are several platforms and towers throughout the grounds to gain perspective of the landscape. The New York State Thruway passes through

2205-407: The refuge, featuring the music of the late John Denver . The speakers and musicians/performers were: Pete Lee Baker, Tom Jasikoff (Montezuma NWR's manager), Tim Bak, Rob Bidinger, Val Cooper, Frank DeLaMarre, Paul Swanton and Brian Taylor (who also served as emcee of the event). Baker and Jasikoff conceived the idea for the performance, which developed into a series of "Harmony With Nature" concerts by

2254-487: The refuge. Mammalian species that roam this refuge include raccoon , coyote , muskrat , squirrel , red fox , chipmunk , beaver , gray fox and bats . Reptile and Amphibian species include spring peepers , snapping turtle , and tree frogs . In 2011, a new species, Calamoncosis carncrossi , was discovered in the Carncross Salt Pond Preserve, an extensive inland salt pond owned by

2303-756: The rewards of the bountiful life in the marsh. The name "Montezuma" was first used in 1806 when Dr. Peter Clark named his hilltop home "Montezuma" after the palace of the Aztec Emperor Montezuma in Mexico City. Eventually the Marsh, the Village, and the Refuge all acquired the name. There were no dramatic changes in the marsh until the development of the Erie Canal in the 19th century, when it became apparent that feeder canals from Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake would in time link these lakes with

2352-518: The river are infested by non-native zebra mussels , which have depleted the level of dissolved oxygen, impacting fish populations. The population density of mussels in one particular section of the river below Cross Lake is considered among the highest in North America. The river is home to a population of common snapping turtles . In July 2001, there was a recorded attack on a 43-year-old man, near Fobes Island, who sustained minor injuries to

2401-594: Was held there, with Rebecca Colleen, Bill Destler, Jim Clare and Perry Cleaveland providing a two-hour, afternoon music show at the refuge. The presence of vegetation significantly impacts both nesting birds and migratory species that rely on the Refuge as a stopover point. More than 1,100 acres of land are currently designated as grass or brush, featuring a variety of planted grass species. Grassland and shrubland habitats are also subjected to routine mowing and clearing to impede natural succession towards forest growth. A meticulously planned and executed fire management strategy

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