The New York State Water Resources Institute (WRI) established a new study site during the summer of 2024 within the Great Lakes basin of New York State at the Ebsary-Gypsum Co. dam on Oatka Creek (Town of Wheatfield, Monroe County) for the purposes of expanding ecological barrier monitoring within the Lake Ontario watershed (Figure 1, Table 1). Oatka Creek is a major tributary of the Genesee River, which itself is a primary sub-basin of Lake Ontario. The Ebsary-Gypsum Co. dam (‘Ebsary dam’) represents the fourth barrier mitigation study site within the Lake Ontario basin to date, the other three study sites are located in the Little Salmon River basin. The Ebsary dam is situated 6 miles (9.7km) upstream of Oatka Creek’s confluence with the Genesee River in Wheatland Center, NY. The Ebsary dam was originally constructed during the 1920s to provide waterpower support for a Gypsum mine on the premises, although records show original damming at the site may have begun in 1804 with a grist mill to process wheat crops (Slocum, 1940; McGinnis, 1984). The Ebsary dam is in dilapidated condition and no longer used for commercial purposes. It was identified for potential removal by the local Seth Green Trout Unlimited group, NY DEC Region 8 biologists, Southwest Lake Ontario Watershed Coordinator, Oatka Creek Watershed Committee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the site owner, Sabin Metal Corp, to improve aquatic connectivity and the existing trout fishery. The continuing goal of these projects is to evaluate the effectiveness dam removals have in restoring aquatic connectivity, biological integrity, ecosystem functioning, and water quality metrics within their vicinity. Monitoring efforts allow project partners to understand the biological, habitat, and physical responses to dam removals and provide quantitative data to demonstrate stream improvement, while also setting realistic expectations for removal efforts in varying landscape context settings. Monitoring efforts by WRI have documented rapid recovery of the stream ecosystem within three years on the East Branch Wappingers Creek in Dutchess County, NY. Documenting the ecological conditions surrounding the Ebsary dam aid in advancing local conservation priorities. Demonstrations of successful connectivity restoration projects build positive momentum among stakeholders and public perception for future aquatic connectivity efforts.