‘I don’t think enough people, in the immediate area or across Western New York, know what a gem this place is’
Press Release, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
BASOM – Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge held its annual meeting Saturday, Nov. 23, to elect officers and several new board members.
Elected to a two-year term as president was Richard Moss of Medina. Emma DeLeon of Williamsville was elected vice president; Betsy Black of Lockport was elected treasurer; and Kim Mansfield of Newfane and Joe Fell of Buffalo were elected to the nominating committee.
Members also voted for five new board members and re-elected one board member, Seneca Wolf Clan Elder Marve in Jacobs of Cheektowaga. The newly added board members are Chris Hollister of Cheektowaga, Bernadette Clabeaux of Orchard Park, Tim Elliot of Medina, and Pamela Reed Sanchez of Rochester.
Moss replaces Garner Light of Gasport, who led the group through the lean pandemic years and was instrumental in developing and installing the refuge’s new eagle nest camera (click here), among his numerous accomplishments while president.
“The last four years were challenging and invigorating at the same time,” Light said. “The first two years of my term were during the pandemic. Everything changed. In the time since, we have worked hard as an organization to revitalize, reconnect and become even more active and relevant. I am greatly encouraged to pass the reigns onto Dick Moss, who I’m confident will be an excellent president for FINWR.”
Moss said he is looking forward to working with the board and the group’s volunteers.
“I’ve been walking the refuge trails for more than 30 years,” Moss said. “I don’t think enough people, in the immediate area or across Western New York, know what a gem this place is. I hope to be part of changing that.”
Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. (click here) has about 150 members and is a not-for-profit corporation organized by volunteers dedicated to supporting the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) via fundraising, education, enhancement and preservation of the refuge and its wildlife.
“Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge have been an intricate part in accomplishments at the refuge, both in funding for projects but also their volunteerism,” said Tom Roster, refuge manager. “I look forward to working with the newly elected officers and board members to continue this partnership.”
Camera was installed 2 weeks ago after 20-year absence
Provided photo from Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge: A still from the nest camera showing the female eagle in the nest just before the tree came down.
By Dick Moss, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge board member
BASOM – The bald eagle nest that Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (FINWR) had trained its new nest camera on blew down this morning in high winds.
The old cottonwood near the Cayuga Pool that the nest was perched in came down at 5:58 a.m. It broke off near the base of the tree and was clearly hollow and rotten inside.
The female had roosted in the nest overnight and was in it when the tree blew over. There was concern about her safety until dawn broke and the camera could see both male and female perched together on a different tree branch.
Photos by Emma DeLeon: (Left) FINWR President Garner Light surveys the damage from the toppled tree. (Right) The base of the cottonwood clearly shows why it came down.
Bald eagles have nested in this same tree line for the past 25 years.
“Hopefully they build a new nest in the same tree line,” said FINWR President Garner Light.
Two weeks ago on Oct. 18, the nest camera was mounted in a different tree, so that equipment is still functional. Light said FINWR, in concert with refuge staff, the DEC and others, would determine whether the camera can be properly repositioned once the eagles build a new nest.
The tree line the cottonwood was part of has other possibilities for the pair to nest in.
“It’s such a shame that this happened right as we were getting going, but it could have been worse and hopefully both we and the eagles will move to plan B for the season!” said FINWR board member Emma DeLeon.
“Unfortunately, this kind of situation is not uncommon for nesting eagles,” DeLeon said. “The birds tend to build in large, old, trees in exposed areas, and the nests themselves can get quite heavy as the birds add sticks year after year. Luckily for our pair, there is still plenty of time to build a new nest, and many similar trees in the area to select from.”
There have been other positive signals.
“We observed a strong pair bond on camera over the past few weeks with the birds roosting together most nights and actively bringing in nest material,” she said. “We are hopeful that they will still have a successful nesting season whether we are able to catch it on camera or not.”
Bald eagle can be seen up close in nest from camera perched high in tree
Provided images: The nest cam shows a bald eagle on Friday afternoon, not long after the camera was mounted in a tree.
By Dick Moss, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge board member
BASOM – After an absence of more than 20 years, there is an eagle nest cam once again at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
The eagle camera was installed Friday morning and will begin streaming online soon after. The old eagle cam, which used vastly outdated technology in today’s terms, ceased operating over 20 years ago for technical reasons. Because of the expense and a variety of other reasons, the refuge has not had an operational eagle cam since that time.
The new camera and equipment were made possible through funding by Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit group associated with the refuge, and by donated expertise from Bill Powers of PixCams and Treeman Tom LLC.
“After one year of planning and with much cooperation with the New York State DEC and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a new eagle nest cam was installed at the Cayuga Pool bald eagle’s nest today,” said Garner Light, president of the Friends group. “This nest has been actively used by bald eagles for most of the last 24 years. This was determined to be the most accessible and successful nest to install a nest cam at.”
Photos by Emma DeLeon – (Left) Logan, an employee of Treeman Tom LLC, and Bill Powers of PixCams straighten out the cable to the eagle cam as it is raised into the tree. (Right) Gary Pocziwinski works his way up a nearby tree to install the eagle cam. The camera is now mounted in a tree about 70 feet from the eagle nest, but its zoom function will allow for a good view of the nest activity.
The eagle cam proved to be quite popular with refuge visitors and others, and Light and his associates are hoping it will prove to be so again.
“We still have refuge visitors inquire about being able to view the live feed to the eagle’s nest,” Light said.
“We are all looking forward to seeing the first footage of the eagles,” said FINWR board member Emma DeLeon. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for people to observe their natural behavior up-close. Hopefully it will be both entertaining and educational, and will help inspire a love for birds and nature and an appreciation for wildlife conservation.”
Photos by Dick Moss: Bill Powers, Gary Pocziwinski, FINWR board member Emma DeLeon and FINWR President Garner Light hook up the batteries for the solar panel (background) that will power the eagle nest cam.
Bill Powers, of Murrysville, PA, is the founder of PixCams, www.pixcams.com, which has set up numerous wildlife cam projects and streams them online. Streaming of the Iroquois cam will be available there first. The Friends group website, FINWR.org, is currently undergoing a redesign, but once that is done it will carry a link to the streaming. There are also plans to put a TV monitor in the refuge headquarters facility so visitors can see what is happening at the nest.
Update at 6:01 p.m.: Click here to see the link to the eagle cam.
The actual installation of the camera was carried out by Treeman Tom LLC, which provided the necessary tree climbing services to get the camera into an appropriate position. Owner/crew leader Gary Pocziwinski did the climbing.
There is no guarantee the eagles will have chicks is the spring – the pair that used the nest last year laid eggs, but they never hatched. But the nest has a good track record, indeed one of the bald eagles was perched in a nearby tree watching part of Friday morning’s installation. If all goes according to plan, the eagles will start being active around the nest in December and January, lay eggs in February and have hatchlings in March.
The eagle cam before installation.
A bald eagle, left, perches near the Cayuga Pool nest Friday morning.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. from Michigan dredges the Oak Orchard Harbor on Aug. 26, 2021. The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the Oak Orchard channel. The harbor was previously dredged in August 2014, when it was done for the first time in 10 years.
Posted 16 October 2024 at 3:53 pm
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature
ROCHESTER – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey presented to the Great Lakes Commission at the group’s annual conference last week at the Strathallan Hotel in Rochester.
The legislators were invited to present on the innovative Regional Dredging Management Plan (RDMP), an initiative began by the Niagara Orleans Regional Alliance.
Provided photo: Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey, Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson and Carolyn Ryan from the NYS REDI Commission present at the conference.
“The RDMP is a comprehensive approach for the on-going maintenance dredging of harbor access channels, utilized primarily for recreational boating, along the south shore of Lake Ontario,” Johnson said. “Our goal is to have multiple counties working in partnership to help jointly fund dredging projects across our communities through annual appropriations, thereby keeping the cost of any single project manageable for individual counties and ensuring dredging is performed on schedule.”
The presentation covered the formation of the RDMP and the creation of a Lake Ontario Regional Dredging Management Council. Initial dredging was funded by a grant from the New York State Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey said the next step is Wendel Engineering updating the RDMP with information from the REDI Commission to revise dredging statistics and projected ongoing costs. From there, participating counties will enter into formal Inter-municipal agreements and an RFP will be issued to hire a dredging contractor to perform the work.
“Recreational boating activities generate nearly $100 million annually for our communities and that number will continue to grow, provided harbor access is maintained,” said Godfrey. “That means we must keep our harbors dredged and the most efficient and cost-effective way to do so is through collaboration among local governments.”
The eight Great Lakes states created the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) in 1955 via the Great Lakes Basin Compact. In 1968, Congress provided its consent to the Compact and the interstate compact agency it created. The eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces are represented on the nonpartisan GLC by a delegation of government-appointed commissioners.
The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2024 at 8:49 am
Photos courtesy of Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy
BUFFALO – A 266-foot-long bridge was set in place last weekend over the I-190 near the Niagara Street exit.
The bridge for pedestrians and cyclists links to the Ralph Wilson Park and provides an iconic structure in the city.
Construction crews installed the bridge overnight last Saturday into Sunday.
The bridge was installed overnight last Saturday. The bridge gives access to a 100-plus acre waterfront park. The park is expected to open in stages starting in late 2025 and early 2026
Photos by Tom Rivers
The bridge was made in Italy and was transported over about three weeks across the Erie Canal. The bridge was in four pieces on two barges for the trip.
This photo shows the bridge being moved on the canal near the Keitel Road on July 15.
Carver Companies from near Albany pushed a 195-foot-long barge with a tugboat.
The transport of the bridge drew lots of interest from the public and media throughout the journey on the canal.
A second barge with two sections of the bridge heads west near the curve in the canal in Gaines Basin on July 19.
This is close to the historical marker that notes this spot is the northernmost point on the Erie Canal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2024 at 8:44 am
Photo courtesy of Orleans County SWCD: Shoreline volunteers pick out trash from Glenwood Lake in Ridgeway.
ALBION – Volunteers collected nearly 400 pounds of trash on Sept. 14 during the 23rd annual shoreline cleanup in Orleans County.
The Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District leads the effort in connection with the American Littoral Society’s International Coastal Cleanup.
These events are held around the United States with volunteers cleaning up their local waterways and reporting their findings back to the society. The Littoral Society asks for specifics including trash items found and total weight, the data creates statistical analysis and trends in discarded trash for our population.
The volunteers gathered at 9 a.m. in Bullard Park in Albion and divided up the waterways that include the Canal Wide Waters, Glenwood Lake, the Waterport Dam and Point Breeze.
“Although this year’s crew was small, we managed to collect almost 400 pounds of trash, with quite a few tires contributing to the total weight this collection,” said Katie Sommerfeldt, the Soil & Water district manager. “Thank you all to who participated, you play an essential role in the preservation of our shorelines and we couldn’t do it without you.”
Daniel Quatro of Albion took this photo of a starry night with an Erie Canal bridge. The photo, entitled “Star Trails,” won second place in the “Classic Canal” category of the annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2024 at 7:54 am
The winners have been announced in the annual Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor photo contest and two scenes in Orleans County are among the honored images.
Daniel Quatro of Albion won second place in the “Classic Canal” category while Jules Hoepting received an honorable mention.
In the 19th annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest, judges select first, second, and third place winners in four contest categories as well as 12 honorable mentions from a field of 329 entries.
Jules Hoepting, formerly of Albion and now a Perry resident, received an honorable mention for this winter scene of the the Erie Canal in the Gaines Basin. Her photo is entitled, “Winter Sunset.”
“These exceptional images are a perfect invitation to visit the Canalway Corridor and discover the richness of its history, recreational offerings, and communities,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We congratulate the winners and appreciate everyone who entered and shared the places and activities they love along New York’s extraordinary canals.”
Winning images can be viewed online and will be featured in the 2025 Erie Canalway Bicentennial calendar. The popular calendar will be available at no cost at libraries, visitor centers, and by request beginning in December. Funding support for the calendar is provided by the National Park Service and NYS Canal Corporation.
“Year after year the stunning images contained throughout the calendar never cease to amaze me and Canal and history enthusiasts across New York State, as they showcase the diversity of the Erie Canal’s landscape, architecture, history, flora and fauna,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “As we approach our bicentennial year, this year’s calendar is arguably the most important and exciting edition yet, and I can’t wait for you to see it.”
Sarah Woodhams of Pittsford won first place in “Canal Communities” with this photo of the Fairport Lift Bridge.
Photos by Tom Rivers: A canal boat is docked in Holley on Sunday afternoon with the lift bridge in the background.
Posted 8 October 2024 at 12:58 pm
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
WATERFORD – The New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism, recreation, and events along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail. Applications are open now through Nov. 15.
As New York State commemorates the bicentennial of the Erie Canal in 2025, the grants program will emphasize infrastructure and amenity improvements that boost tourism, and events that commemorate the canal’s 200th anniversary or expand the audience of canal users.
Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes located within the Canalway Corridor. Applications for infrastructure projects located on land owned by the New York State Canal Corporation are open only to federal/state/local governments, unless a nonprofit applicant is currently named as a permittee on an existing Canal Corporation Use and Occupancy Permit.
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “As we approach the Erie Canal’s 200th birthday, the Tourism Infrastructure and Events Program is a fantastic way for communities and organizations to join in the commemoration of this milestone. The Canal Corporation is proud to be working on this impactful program with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor for another year as we help the municipalities and stakeholders that line the Canal’s banks bring their ideas to life. I can’t wait to see what this year brings.”
The grant program includes two funding categories: Event Support, with an award range of $500 to $3,000, and Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support, with an award range of $5,000 to $24,000. Applicants may apply for one or both categories.
Interested applicants are invited to attend a virtual information session on Wednesday, October 16, at 10 a.m.
Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor said, “We look forward to supporting community investments in infrastructure and amenities that prepare the canal corridor for its next century of service. Equally important, event support is critical for commemorating the Erie Canal’s 200th year and contributing to a thriving and vibrant waterway.”
In 2024, 43 nonprofit organizations and municipalities received NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $196,349. The grants supported eight tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 36 events.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some of the leaves at Mount Albion cemetery are starting to change from green to bright orange and yellow. This photo was taken on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 12:55 pm
The leaves are starting to change color in Orleans County and in several upstate regions.
The first 2024 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State includes reports from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions.
That first report from last week states the Adirondacks, Catskills, Thousand Island-Seaway, Capital-Saratoga, Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Greater Niagara regions “are all beginning to show indication of autumn’s brilliant palette,” according to the report from Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.
It’ s still early in the foliage season, with 5 to 25 percent foliage change in some regions and just touches of seasonal colors in other areas, according to the report.
Leaves are starting to change color on this tree next to a private bridge along the canal in Albion between Main Street and Gaines Basin Road. This photo was taken on Sunday afternoon.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The sun sets on Lake Ontario in this photo on Aug. 9 at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker.
Posted 30 August 2024 at 9:21 am
Press Release, International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board
Recent Lake Ontario forecasts indicate that under average water supply conditions, water levels are expected to remain near average through November 2024 and well within the expected range for this time of year.
“Water supply conditions have resulted in one of the longest periods of sustained near long-term average water levels on Lake Ontario,” said General Quander, United States Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.
Lake Ontario, which has been within (+9 cm/- 15 cm and +3.5 in/- 5.9 in) of the seasonal long-term average since the start of calendar year 2024, is anticipated to continue its gradual seasonal decline through the fall months. The risk of high-water levels remains low for the six-month forecast period.
In consideration of the current and projected conditions, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board plans to use its minor deviation authority to deviate from Regulation Plan 2014 through October 18, 2024.
This minor deviation is expected to provide more predictable water levels on Lake St. Lawrence and the upper St. Lawrence River for recreational navigation, while having minimal impacts on other interests throughout the system. The Board also plans to use its minor deviation authority to conduct a temporary flow reduction in early September to facilitate in-water inspections of Hydro-Quebec facilities.
Regulation Plan 2014 is the set of rules that govern Lake Ontario outflows, which influence water levels across the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. A rule within Plan 2014 known as the “September Rule” prescribes flow increases through the Moses-Saunders Dam if the water level of Lake Ontario measures above 74.8 m (245.4 ft.) at the beginning of September.
This photo from Aug. 9 shows the sunset from the shore in Barker.
Increased Lake Ontario outflows cause water levels of Lake St. Lawrence, immediately upstream of the Moses-Saunders Dam, to decrease. This reduction in Lake St. Lawrence water levels could negatively impact the recreational boating community in the final weeks of the season.
Therefore, the Board will use its authority to deviate from Plan 2014 and adjust flows through October 18, 2024, to target a minimum weekly mean water level of Lake St. Lawrence of 73.1 m (239.8 ft). The Board cautions that levels may drop below this minimum target for periods during the week if strong easterly winds occur. As required by the Directive, the Board plans to fully offset the impacts of the deviation by increasing flows starting on October 19, 2024.
“As water levels throughout the system continue their gradual seasonal decline, the Board encourages recreational boaters to monitor the water level forecasts to determine the optimal time to remove their vessels and equipment for the season”, said Dr. Wayne Jenkinson, Alternate Canadian Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.
Provided photo: These volunteers remove a kayak from Point Breeze last September. Last year 17 volunteers collected 148 pounds of garbage from Glenwood Lake, Canal Widewaters, Waterport Dam and Point Breeze.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2024 at 3:21 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking volunteers for its annual shoreline cleanup on Sept. 14.
Volunteers will collect and record the litter they pick up at nearby waterways. They will meet at 9 a.m. on Sept. 14 at Bullard Park. After a brief introduction, they will disperse to several predetermined locations throughout the county to begin the collection.
The volunteers will return to Bullard at noon, where the trash will be weighed and the volunteers will be treated to pizza.
All volunteers will be supplied with gloves, trash bags, and data sheets to record litter found for the American Littoral Society.
Any interested individuals can call Soil & Water for more information at (585) 589-5959 ext.5 or email this year’s beach captain, Andrea, at Andrea.Centola@ny.nacdnet.net. Volunteers are asked to RSVP at the number or email listed above.
12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass caught in Cayuga Lake
Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Photo from DEC: James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania holds a record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass he caught in Cayuga Lake.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11.
James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County while fishing in preparation for an upcoming bass tournament. The record-breaking catch surpasses the previous 37-year-old State record largemouth bass, caught from Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County, in 1987 by one pound and two ounces.
“It’s no secret that New York has the best bass fishing opportunities in the country and Mr. Britenbaugh’s incredible fish certainly confirms that,” Mahar said. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It’s an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”
This year, New York State landed five lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country. Among the New York waters included are the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), ranked as the best bass water in the nation, and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, ranked as the seventh-best water. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake made the list as well and are in Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes of 2024. Other waters across the state also offer exceptional bass opportunities and New York continues to be a destination for world class fishing.
The largemouth bass record comes weeks after a new state record for longnose gar was set. On June 21, 2024. Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County.
Both Mr. Britenbaugh and Mr. Zimmerman submitted details of their winning catches as part of DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species and tracks state record fish. Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.
State wants to celebrate canal’s 200th anniversary in a big way throughout next year
File photo by Tom Rivers: Kathy Hochul, shown on June 15, 2021 when she was the lieutenant governor, rows in a kayak in the Erie Canal in Medina. She was helping to promote the “On the Canals” program that offered free rental of kayaks and hydro-bikes.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the creation of the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the completion of the original Erie Canal.
Initially introduced as part of the Governor’s State of the State Address in January, this new commission will ensure that the Erie Canal Bicentennial is recognized through community events, capital investments in canal infrastructure, and by telling the diverse stories that comprise the state’s relationship with this historic waterway. These tangible endeavors to be undertaken throughout 2024 and 2025 will set the tone and stage for the next century of operations and opportunities along the iconic New York State Canal system.
“The Erie Canal is an integral part of New York’s story, and as we commemorate the bicentennial of this important waterway, we will honor the Canal’s history while looking ahead to its vibrant future,” Governor Hochul said. “As a lifelong New Yorker and avid boater from Buffalo who has traveled the Canal, I understand the significance of this waterway on our State’s history, and what it means not only for the identity of so many upstate communities, but also their economic livelihoods.”
The celebration will culminate with the 2025 World Canals Conference in Buffalo, September 21-25, and the departure of the Seneca Chief, Buffalo Maritime Center’s replica vessel that will reenact Governor Dewitt Clinton’s 1825 inaugural cross-state journey along the Erie Canal to New York Harbor.
Leading up to the culminating events in Buffalo in 2025, the commission will support community events, capital investments in canal infrastructure, and the telling of diverse stories in recognition of the celebration’s theme, “Raising More Voices.” Some of these activities include:
Community Events: Numerous events across Upstate New York funded by the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor grant program.
Arts and Culture: Partnerships with New York State orchestras featuring emerging and diverse composers and offering canalside concerts and educational programing.
Academic Forums: In partnership with the State University of New York and the Department of State, the SUNY / Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum Series will include a schedule of public lectures and panel discussions covering a range of topics and hosted at SUNY campuses. These sessions will explore how the Canal system can be revitalized and maximized as a driver of upstate economic development and environmental stewardship.
Bicentennial Promotion Toolkit: Supported by funding from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and I LOVE NY, communities across the Canal can host local celebrations and promote consistent messaging, social media images and video, fact sheets, display banners and giveaways to build excitement and momentum toward September 2025.
Legacy Projects: Ribbon cuttings for major community waterfront enhancements and new investments in preservation projects and recreational trails and amenities.
Economic Development: Investment announcements from the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation to ensure the Canal remains an economic driver for upstate communities as it enters its third century of operation.
These events will highlight the vital role of the Canal system as a historic example of New York’s spirit of ingenuity and its contemporary role as a driver of upstate economies and as a public recreational asset.
To be co-chaired on a volunteer basis by First Gentleman of New York William J. Hochul Jr., and New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton, the commission will be responsible for the planning, scheduling, and execution of a series of public meetings and commemorative events throughout 2024 and 2025.
The commission co-chairs will be joined by honorary commission members including New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley; Hope Knight, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development; and Randy Simons, Commissioner Pro Tem of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation to set the stage for the next century of operations and opportunities along the 524-mile New York State Canal system.
First Gentleman and Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair William J. Hochul Jr. said, “As we near the 200-year mark of the Canal’s operation, I cannot think of a better group to lead our efforts in uplifting the diverse voices that make up the shared history of our canal. Growing up in Buffalo, I saw first-hand the significance of the canal to my community – not just for boating and recreation, but also as a steadfast driver of tourism and economic growth. I am proud to co-chair this commission alongside some of the brightest minds in our state, and I look forward to all the events and discussions to come.”
Canal Corporation Director and Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair Brian U. Stratton said, “On the eve of the Erie Canal’s 200-year anniversary milestone, we are excited to be working with Governor Hochul, the First Gentleman, and our stakeholders and agency partners to establish the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission. The Erie Canal holds a special significance in New York’s history, and we will engage in a robust two-year plan to mark this anniversary and celebrate the next century of operations and opportunities along the entire Canal System to ensure a vibrant and more inclusive future. The Bicentennial Commission will acknowledge the historic waterway and its ongoing impact on upstate communities through community events, capital investments in canal infrastructure, and the storytelling of diverse narratives that tell New York’s and the nation’s profound relationship with this historic waterway.”
To stay informed of Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission activities and events, please visit www.canals.ny.gov.
A photo taken by Dan Judd of a paddler in Macedon was among the 2023 photo contest winners Erie Canalway Photo Contest.
Posted 21 May 2024 at 2:41 pm
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is seeking entries for its annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest.
Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit up to three images that capture the canals’ beauty, vibrancy and character. Winning photos will be featured in the 2025 Bicentennial Erie Canalway Calendar.
Entries must be postmarked by August 30.
Images will be judged in four contest categories: On the Water, Along the Trail, Canal Celebrations & Communities, and Classic Canal. Judges will select first, second, and third place winning images in each category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.
Submitted images must be horizontal format and taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It encompasses the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 230 canal communities.
Download official contest rules and an entry form by clicking here.
Photo from Governor’s Office: Brian Stratton, the canal commissioner, greets boaters this morning in Waterford, which is north of Albany.
Posted 17 May 2024 at 1:28 pm
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a historic $50 million capital investment into the New York State Canal system as part of the FY 2025 Enacted Budget.
As the state prepares to celebrate the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial in 2025 and looks ahead to the next century of operation along the 524-mile Canal system, this funding ensures that the waterway will remain safe, operable, and a driver of tourism and economic activity. Investments will focus on high-priority infrastructure needs including the rehabilitation of water-impounding structures that have been in service for more than a century. Today’s announcement coincides with the seasonal opening of navigation on the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals.
“Nearly 200 years ago Governor DeWitt Clinton opened the original Erie Canal connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean and now we are making a significant investment to ensure the current Erie Canal and the entire canal system remain safe and a vibrant part of our state’s fabric,” Governor Hochul said. “As a lifelong boater who has plied the canal waters, I know firsthand that the canalway means so much to our communities. This commitment of funding will allow our historic canals to be part of New York’s story for generations to come.”
The funding included as part of the FY 2025 Enacted Budget is part of a comprehensive effort to revitalize the iconic Canal system by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation. This effort includes strategically rehabilitating and improving the system’s infrastructure including locks, dams, embankments, culverts, and other civil assets so that the network of waterways and trails will continue to positively support the more than 200 upstate New York communities that are within the canal corridor.
Projects to be funded with the $50 million may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Rehabilitation of reservoir dams built in the 19th and early 20th century to supply water to the Enlarged Erie Canal (1836 – 1918) and other canals.
Waste weirs used to regulate the canal’s water levels.
Improvements to earthen embankment dams, including the continuation of extensive work in Royalton, Niagara County to install a soil-bentonite slurry wall to mitigate seepage.
Rehabilitation of other water management structures that provide resilience benefits, like guard gates which can be used to isolate and protect sites during high water events.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Since the Canal Corporation became a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority in 2017, we have supported the development of Dam Safety and Asset Management programs, conducting more than 800 structural inspections each year, and assessing the vast majority of the civil structures across the 524-mile Canal system. While NYPA has increased investment into the waterway to approximately $140 million per year, the funding prioritized by Governor Hochul and the state Legislature allows us to invest more in critical water-impounding structures to ensure safe operations for canal users and neighboring communities.”
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “With the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial on the horizon, I applaud Governor Hochul and the members of the state Senate and Assembly for recognizing how vital the Canal system is to our local economies. Funding these critical infrastructure projects will safeguard downstream residents and businesses and allow the canal to continue to thrive.”
The Canal system’s 57 locks and 16 lift bridges will operate daily through Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
BASOM – Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge held its annual meeting Saturday, Nov. 23, to elect officers and several new board members.
