Update: Prohibiting Ice Fishing And Other Activities  On The Oswego River And Waterways 

OSWEGO – Fishing is a popular year-round sport enjoyed by many in the City of Oswego, including ice fishing. The sustained below-freezing temperatures experienced in the City of Oswego has resulted in portions of the Oswego River freezing over, inviting anglers to enter the frozen river’s edge to fish. The frozen waters of the Oswego River have become attractive for other activities as well, such as snowshoeing, ice skating, and hiking. However, the Oswego River has strong currents that present an inherent danger to anyone who ventures onto the ice to fish or pursue any other activities. With open water in sight of ice that can be deceptively thin, the risk is too great to offset any recreational activity the Oswego River could bring even for the most careful among us. Rapidly moving water under the ice constitutes an inherent danger under the directive of the National Weather Service. Entering onto the frozen Oswego River is foolish and dangerous and endangers the lives of our first responders who will answer the call of a person in distress. 

Minimizing the risk of injury or death by forbidding ice fishing and other activities on the Oswego River is both sound and necessary. The NYS Canal system intersects with the eastern-most navigable waters of the Oswego River, and since the Canal system is closed for the season, those entering onto the Oswego River through the NYS Canal Corporation property as noted by the grey-shaded area of the attached map, are trespassing and therefore subject to ticketing and potentially arrest for Trespassing and Disorderly Conduct. 

Given the inherent dangers referenced above, I hereby declare ice fishing or entering on to the frozen surface of the Oswego River within the City of Oswego for any reason is strictly prohibited. Violators will be cited under the NYS Penal Law for trespassing, disorderly conduct, and any other relevant provisions of law, and strictly prosecuted. 

This Executive Order, as modified, shall take effect immediately and in accordance with the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Oswego pursuant to Article IV, Section C4-10. 

By Order of the Mayor of the City of Oswego in accordance with Article IV, Section C4-00 of the Charter of the City of Oswego, as set forth in the Code of the City of Oswego, New York. 

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