Saving the rain in Onondaga County, New York

Beginning in the 1990s, key changes led to the eventual restoration of Onondaga Lake's damaged ecosystem. The new plan, known as Save the Rain, focused on greatly improved stormwater management and social benefits through green infrastructure job programs, project placement, and funding opportunities. The stored rainwater and snowmelt from rooftops is used to produce ice for the Syracuse Crunch hockey team. The Save the Rain program required collaboration with the City of Syracuse, private businesses, and county residents. To engage the community, the Save the Rain program utilized educational programs to garner support. Onondaga Lake has had a remarkable recovery.