Erie/Ontario Lake Plain

The past 30 days at Rochester airport have been warmer than normal, with mean daily highs of 67.5°F (0.9°F above normal) and mean daily lows of 49.1°F (1.7°F above normal).

Monroe County entered Abnormally Dry conditions the week of October 13-19, 2026, with 25.02% of the county classified D0 or worse. October precipitation to date was 0.8 inches, 0.2 inches below normal for this point in the month at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, 7 km from the ecosystem.

Chinook Salmon were recorded on October 14 and October 7 in the Erie/Ontario region, consistent with the fall spawning run that typically peaks from late September through early October. These introduced Pacific salmon have been stocked in Lake Ontario tributaries since 1969.

Caddisflies including Salt and Pepper Microcaddisfly were recorded on October 14 and October 3 in Monroe County. These pollution-sensitive larvae thrive in clean, well-oxygenated water and their continued presence indicates sustained suitable stream conditions for their development.

11 Isabella Tiger Moth adults recorded in October 2026, with the most recent on October 10. These late-season adults reflect emergence before the second-generation larvae enter overwinter dormancy under leaf litter and shelter.

Frost aster was observed flowering on Reservoir Road on 2026-10-15, and New England asters appeared through late September into mid-October. These native asters bloom in their typical fall window, providing nectar for pollinators when it is most needed.

Two Ruddy Turnstones were reported on October 13 at Summerville Pier, confirmed as a regional rarity. The species is in the final phase of its fall migration through the Great Lakes, with peak numbers occurring in September and early October.

Fifteen Forster's Terns were reported on October 15 at Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, confirmed as a regional rarity. The species is in the tail end of its fall passage through the Great Lakes, with September and October marking the main movement window before birds continue to southern U.S. coastal wintering grounds.

A residential subdivision project, Wintergarden Section 2, comprising 23 homes on 12.57 acres in Henrietta near Red Creek, entered the permit application process with a comment deadline of October 1, 2026. The project will disturb 0.01 acres of freshwater wetland adjacent area and requires Article 24 Freshwater Wetlands permit approval.

A Dark Cahill mayfly (Stenonema femoratum) was observed September 1 on Salmon Creek Road in Spencerport. This pollution-sensitive mayfly indicates the waterway maintains the clean, well-oxygenated conditions mayfly larvae require to develop.