The water levels of the basin and rivers influence the levels maintained in the canals. The water demand and the amount of water available varies for each lake and through each season. For example, flood mitigation interests may demand lower levels and greater water storage reserve capacity while water supply interests simultaneously demand higher water levels to provide assurances of stable water supplies during periods of below normal precipitation. The interrelationship of the lakes and canals within the New York State Canal System mandates that canal operators follow a series of regular procedures for monitoring water levels and take prescribed actions to deal with natural meteorological phenomena and competing demands for water. Data on current conditions are gathered from various sources, such as lake operators, U.S. Geological Survey gage stations, weather services, and other water level observers.
Hourly monitoring is performed during high water events.
A climate assessment evaluated recent meteorological conditions within the Oswego River Basin. Weather conditions during years of flooding such as 1993 were of particular interest. Climatic factors, such as rainfall, snowmelt, or intense winds, have a significant influence on the operation of the Canal System. Highlights of the climate assessment are discussed below. An analysis of the annual precipitation for the period 1900-1996 at the Ithaca weather station revealed that 1996 had the highest precipitation on record.