Plants
Adapted from: "Onondaga Lake Fishery: 2007-2008 Fact Sheet," by Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, Sept 2008. 
The amount of aquatic plants in the
lake has increased dramatically in recent years
(from 85 acres in 2000 to 378 acres of plant cover
in 2005). Aquatic plants act as essential rearing
and nursery habitat for fish, they help stabilize the
bottom, and also help clear the water.
As long as plant growth doesn't get out of control,
this is a very good thing for the lake. It appears
that largemouth bass have benefited the most from
the increase in plants. Reproductive success for this very important species has increased greatly in recent years, probably a direct result of the increase in plant growth.
If the wrong kinds of plants get into the lake, and they become abundant enough, they can pose problems for lake users. For this reason, the Ambient Monitoring Program is closely monitoring the plant community.