Phillip Bonn, Nature Writer & Photographer
The Enchantment of Green Lakes
Shouded in mist & mystery
Winter 2011
You could hear them from the parking lot, raucous, loud, non-stop noisy group getting even louder as a family group departed for parts unknown. As I approached the lake shore through the cedar trees it got misty from the warm lake waters rising into the frigid air. Suddenly it was like stepping through the looking glass into a wonderland of white.
Imagine misty lake waters, ghostly geese, frosted cedar trees that seemed dipped in powdered sugar with a blue dome of sky overhead. Slipping in and out of the mist on the water were hundreds of Canadians, constantly yakking with the occasional raucous chorus-saying goodbye to departing groups. Despite the freezing temperature, it was only 5 degrees out; they were splashing and swimming in the blue-green waters of the lake enjoying the lack of summer bathers.
Moving up the east shore the scenery became even more stunning. I felt like Alice after stepping through the looking glass; it was a photographer’s dream come true. Arriving at Deadman’s Point I gazed across the aquamarine waters to the far side. The white frosted cedar trees gleamed in the early morning sunlight against the blue of the sky.
Of course, this fairyland is not to be seen every winter; nevertheless many times I have visited here and have been pleasantly surprised.
Green Lakes State Park
These rare meromictic waters are located three miles east of Fayetteville and are enjoyed by locals and visitors all year around. The lakes are surrounded by over 2,100 acres of parkland with miles of trails crossing them.
The park’s central points are Green and Round Lakes. These deep pothole lakes are unique for having two layers of water, which do not intermix, making them “meromictic.” Therefore, this means there is no fall or spring mixing of surface and bottom waters. There are only three other lakes in New York State that do not turn their waters over every spring and autumn.
Green Lakes is used by over 1 million visitors yearly for numerous outdoor activities. The park has cabins and campsites, an 18-hole golf course, playground for kids, a nature center, grills and pavilions for parties. Rowboats and paddleboats are available for rent, and visitors can fish from these boats or the shore. The best feature is the miles of trails that can be used for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Skiing the park is my favorite, there are approximately ten miles of trails that take one around both lakes and across the golf course with its hilly landscape. The terrain varies from upland woods with a portion being old growth forest to abandoned farmland.
Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Gaint Canada Goose
You would not know it to look around today, but the Canada goose was once an uncommon bird. The subspecies seen everywhere is Branta canadensis maxima, which nearly died out in NYS, by the early 1900’s only a few birds were still nesting in the wild. Over-hunting and destruction of wetlands had driven them to the precipice. In the 1950s and 60’s, Canada Geese from captive breeding flocks were reintroduced in Pennsylvania and New York to establish breeding groups for hunting.
If a goose survives its first year, most individuals live for ten or more years to a maximum of 24.
Geese find a mate during their second year and once paired, the geese remain together for life. However, if one member of the pair is killed, the other will find a new mate.
Family bonds are strong with goslings staying with their parents for a full year and return to the breeding grounds with them after their first winter.
Every year, geese must replace their worn-out flight feathers. The feathers are replaced at the same time, so they cannot fly during this four- to five-week molting period.
At the end of the last ice age, 15,000 years ago, when the glaciers were retreating north the melt waters created a deep gorge in the landscape. Similar gorges were created at Clark Reservation, Pumpkin Hollow and today the Niagara River gorge is a prime example of what occurred back then. One theory is that the lakes are the remnants of two plunge pools of a waterfall that poured off the retreating glaciers.
Round Lake is 180 feet deep, and has a diameter of about 700 feet
Round Lake and the adjoining 59 acres of old-growth forest were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973
The Park has the finest old growth forest in central New York, containing very old and large examples of tulip trees, sugar maples, white cedars, hemlocks, and beech.
Green lake has a maximum depth of 195 ft, with a distinct layer called a chemocline separating top and bottom waters.
At this chemocline, there is a dense layer of purple sulfur bacteria, which makes the water appear pink when a sample is brought to the surface (not to mention the smell).
For more information on this gem visit Fayetteville Free libraries website, www.fayettevillefreelibrary.org/green-lakes-history.html, to view an on-line exhibit by the library and exam some interesting photos of the early days of the park.