Part 2 of a three-part series on water, from Saunders Finger Lakes Museum
by Sara DeAngelis
Water crosses boundaries and connects communities, linking us to nature. Our Finger Lakes are inspiring and restorative. Walking forest paths and gazing upon lake waters, I feel my heart rate slow as I experience the special peace of our living lakes.
Being near water induces mental relaxation, a semi-meditative state called “drifting” that reduces stress. Water’s qualities support contemplation: we are healed by nature, and we, in turn, have the power to heal our water, lands and earth.
Can reflecting on water’s restorative power help us develop reciprocal practices? How might we use our love for this region to promote and protect both human health and the health of our precious freshwaters?
I’ve always felt at peace near water. The play of sunlight on the water’s surface creates mesmerizing patterns that soothe a distracted mind. The sound of water – lapping on the shore or flowing over rocks – calms the spirit.
In many cultures, water is valued for its healing properties. As noted in the United Nations Bellagio Principles on Valuing Water, “There are deep interconnections between human needs, economic well-being, spirituality and the viability of freshwater ecosystems that must be considered by all.”
Freshwater is powerful. Our region’s abundant freshwater sources – from its lakes to gullies and waterfalls – demonstrate water’s power. Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu spoke of water’s paradoxes: both soft and yielding yet able to overcome the unyielding of stone. This exact nature makes water vulnerable; it dissolves and absorbs chemicals, carrying whatever materials we leave on the land. As an exhibition consultant for the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum, I’m fascinated by water as a dynamic connective thread, a theme that links lakes and landscapes.
Water’s simple molecular structure and remarkable qualities make it essential to life. When astrophysicists search distant space, they seek water’s signature because without water, life as we know it cannot exist. The presence of water is a hint of possibility, of hope.
On our planet, water binds ecosystems together. Streams and rivers transport valuable nutrients from mountains to lakes and wetlands, eventually reaching the oceans. In forests, a rich fungal mesh of tiny thread-like mycelium connects trees and understory plants, transferring water and trace minerals. The spongey soils of the forest floor capture rain and snow, filtering and regulating flow; a healthy ecosystem can absorb 12 percent of precipitation, slowing storm runoff. A mature oak moves 40,000 gallons from the ground to the atmosphere through transpiration. Within ecosystems, as within our bodies, water sustains life.
Green plant communities along stream edges serve buffers, reducing runoff from roads and parking lots. These plants absorb silt and nutrients while stabilizing stream banks and providing wildlife habitats. Too often overlooked, these riparian zones offer valuable lessons; landscape designers now emulate similar characteristics in their work by creating rain gardens and bioswales which slow storms and cleanse water. What other services might we learn from nature’s dynamics?
The watershed – the land that water flows through before entering a lake – forms a feather-like network of pathways. Watershed maps reveal branching patterns surrounding each Finger Lake, like veins in a body, funneling water and dissolved substances from land to lake. These slow-moving bodies of water with dissolved compounds become susceptible when overwhelmed. Climate disruptions such as irregular rain patterns, unseasonably high temperatures and intense storms can overload natural and human-made purification systems. Excess nutrients stimulate cyanobacteria growth, creating harmful algal blooms (HABs). In 2024, more than 100 HABs were reported across Seneca, Canandaigua, Skaneateles and Cayuga lakes, with climate change as a key driver. These slimy green blooms of bacteria harm wildlife, pets and human health.
Our system is out of balance but remains resilient and can recover with our collective effort. Organizations across New York State are working on testing, restoring habitats and safeguarding our freshwaters. Lake-friendly Living groups offer practical steps to protect regional waters through simple lifestyle choices. Their solutions include washing yourself, pets and boats away from the water; minimizing or eliminating the use of fertilizer and pesticides near the lake; and maintaining septic tanks every three to five years.
What happens around your home affects the lakes. By supporting collaborative efforts to preserve open space around lakeshores, you help provide public access while safeguarding freshwater and protecting the region’s rural character.
Nestled in the heart of it all on the north end of Keuka Lake, the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum stirs the imagination, educates the mind, and inspires visitors of all ages. Its mission is to inspire appreciation and celebrate the cultures and ecology of the Finger Lakes Region.
Construction is underway on a new main exhibit building. Although the infrastructure is complete, work on the new roof and building envelope will continue into the summer and fall. While the museum building is under construction, the museum does not have open hours for visitors. Guests are encouraged to participate in programs and events held throughout the season or to visit the campus from dawn to dusk to explore the wetlands property, boardwalk and lakeside octagon pavilion, kayak/canoe launch and playscape.
Remaining steadfast in its mission, the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum will continue to celebrate the cultural and natural history stories of the region, with each step taken in creating a place for all to appreciate and enjoy.
Sara DeAngelis is an exhibition and experience design consultant specializing in crafting compelling narratives for cultural institutions. A Fulbright Specialist and graduate-level educator on exhibition history, she brings scholarly expertise to her work with museums and nonprofits. Drawing on her training as a naturalist, she has spent the past decade studying ecological landscape principles and advocating for native plant gardens.
