Oswego County Contributes $35,000 for Sandy Pond Dredging

Emergency dredging project aims to keep channel open for tourism and public safety

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:56pm

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The Oswego County Legislature has announced a $35,000 contribution to fund emergency dredging services at North Sandy Pond in the town of Sandy Creek. The dredging will remove 3,500 cubic feet of sand to ensure the channel connecting Sandy Pond to Lake Ontario remains fully open, a crucial step for tourism, recreation, and public safety in the area.

Why it matters

Sandy Pond is a major tourist destination in Oswego County, attracting thousands each summer for boating, fishing, and swimming. Keeping the channel to Lake Ontario navigable is vital not only for the local economy, but also for the ability of water rescue vessels to respond to emergencies on the pond. Without the dredging, the channel could close, putting public safety at risk.

The details

The town of Sandy Creek had already funded the dredging of 5,000 cubic yards of sand this year, but the Sandy Pond Channel Maintenance Association found that an additional 3,500 cubic feet needed to be removed to fully open the channel. The Oswego County Legislature unanimously approved the $35,000 in funding to cover this extra dredging work, which is currently underway.

  • The dredging is happening now and must be completed before the Piping Plover nesting season begins in early to mid-April.
  • The resolution to provide the $35,000 in funding was passed on March 31 by the Legislature's Economic Development and Planning Committee.
  • The full Legislature is expected to approve the resolution at its meeting on April 9.

The players

Oswego County Legislature

The county government body that approved the $35,000 in funding for the emergency dredging project.

James Weatherup

Chairman of the Oswego County Legislature and representative of District 9.

Mary Ellen Chesbro

Chairwoman of the Legislature's Economic Development and Planning Committee and representative of District 10.

Michael Yerdon

Oswego County Legislator representing District 1.

Sandy Pond Channel Maintenance Association

The organization that identified the need for additional dredging and requested the county's assistance.

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What they’re saying

“Sandy Pond is a significant tourist destination that attracts thousands of people for boating, fishing and swimming each summer. Keeping the channel that connects Sandy Pond to Lake Ontario open is crucial not only for tourism, but for public safety as well. If the channel closes, water rescue vessels will not be able to respond to emergencies, resulting in life-threatening situations.”

— James Weatherup, Chairman, Oswego County Legislature

“When the Sandy Pond Channel Maintenance Association reached out requesting our help on this project, we knew we had to take action to ensure the channel would continue to be navigable. While the county is actively working with partners on a long-term plan, we are confident that this dredging will address the immediate risk of the channel closing.”

— Mary Ellen Chesbro, Chairwoman, Legislature's Economic Development and Planning Committee

“We're happy to support this necessary project as Sandy Pond is enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. It's important, not only for recreation, but our businesses also rely on the commerce that Sandy Pond brings in and maintaining that connection to Lake Ontario will help to preserve the economic vitality of the area.”

— Michael Yerdon, Oswego County Legislator

What’s next

The full Oswego County Legislature is expected to approve the $35,000 funding resolution at its meeting on April 9, allowing the dredging work to continue uninterrupted before the Piping Plover nesting season begins.

The takeaway

This emergency dredging project demonstrates Oswego County's commitment to preserving a vital tourism and recreation asset, Sandy Pond, by taking swift action to maintain the channel's connection to Lake Ontario. The bipartisan support and sense of urgency around this issue underscores the economic and public safety importance of keeping the pond accessible.