DEC Announces Temporary Closure of Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area Dam for Maintenance

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the temporary closure of the Clear Lake Dam at the Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the town of North Collins, DEC Region 9, to complete scheduled construction involving rock maintenance on the earthen portion of the dam.

Construction is expected to begin on Monday, Sept. 16, and continue for up to three weeks. The entirety of the dam will be closed during construction. The rest of Clear Lake WMA and its reservoir will remain open and can be accessed from the WMA's Genesee Road and Route 75 parking lots.

DEC recommends those looking to launch canoes or kayaks to do so from the Genesee Road parking lot on the eastern side of the Dam.

The Clear Lake WMA comprises 525 acres of DEC land that offers hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing, and other recreational opportunities. It opened in 2020 as Erie County's largest WMA.

WMAs are lands owned by New York State under the control and management of DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife. These lands are acquired primarily for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities. WMAs provide exceptional areas for the public to observe a wide variety of wildlife species and enjoy wildlife-related activities. There are 123 WMAs across the state, comprising approximately 235,000 acres. Since the early 1900s, the WMA program has established permanent public access to lands in New York State for the conservation and promotion of fish and wildlife resources.

New Yorkers are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands at Clear Lake and all natural spaces by practicing Leave No Trace™ principles and recreating safely, sustainably, and hiking in suitable conditions based on weather and experience level.

Maps and additional information about Clear Lake WMA can be found on DEC's website.