NOAA has published a final rule to designate Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary  

Designated: June 5, 2024

Area: 1,722 mi² 

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 1,722 square miles of eastern Lake Ontario waters and bottomlands adjacent to Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, and Wayne counties in the state of New York. Co-managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the state of New York, the sanctuary expands on the state’s stewardship of historic sites and brings new opportunities for research, resource protection, educational programming, and community engagement. In partnership with local communities, the sanctuary will provide a national stage for promoting heritage tourism and recreation. 

As the gateway between the Great Lakes and the ocean, the maritime landscape of this area tells the diverse stories of America’s history and the heritage of Indigenous Peoples. These waters were transportation and trade routes, centers for military conflicts from land and sea, and supported the development of the American West and the nation’s industrial core. Oswego’s harbor is the oldest freshwater port in the United States, and thus this region’s history is intertwined with the history of nearly every other Great Lakes community. 

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary provides stewardship for our nation’s maritime heritage in Lake Ontario, combining significant marine heritage, recreation and exploration opportunities. The sanctuary is home to 41 known shipwrecks and one submerged aircraft that span over 200 years of history. An additional 19 shipwrecks, three historic aircraft, and several other underwater archaeological sites that may be of religious and cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples are also likely located in the area still to be discovered.