Photo by Tom Rivers: The Erie Canal is shown on April 29 with the Presbyterian Road canal bridge in the back. This was taken before the historic waterway was filled for the season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 May 2024 at 7:03 am
The Erie Canal opens its 200th consecutive navigational season today, with the lift bridges and locks to be operational with standard hours daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The season continues until Oct. 16.
During the peak navigational season from May 17 to Sept. 11, there will be extended hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the lift bridges, including the seven in Orleans County. (The Albion Main Street bridge remains under construction this year.)
The standard hours have been moved back an hour this season. Last year the hours were 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There won’t be any tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system for the 8th straight year. Those tolls were normally $25 to $100 for a season pass, depending on the size of the vessel.
There are seven lift bridges in Orleans County – Holley, Hulberton, Ingersoll Street in Albion, Main Street in Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville and Medina. There are 16 lift bridges on the canal and Orleans has more than any other county in the state.
The canal was completed in 1825, linking Buffalo to Albany. It has operated every year since. Next year will be the bicentennial of the original 363-mile-long canal, which took eight years to build, from 1817 to 1825.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 May 2024 at 8:10 am
Provided photo: Logan Sauer has helped lead a dramatic increase in attendance and participation in programs at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
BASOM – When Logan Sauer learned there was opening at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, he jumped at the chance to apply.
Sauer, 27, who grew up in Virginia, was working as a Visitors Services Specialist for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the Twin Cities and was anxious to return to the northeast.
He started his new position with the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in January 2023, and since then has broken records for attendance and participation in programs.
Sauer’s position is to work with the public and create programs to bring people to the refuge.
“I’m essentially a ‘people person,’” he said.
Sauer has revamped a lot of programming with the refuge open to visitors every Saturday.
“As a result, we’ve seen a high uptake in visitation and public programming,” Sauer said.
In 2022, the year before Sauer arrived at Iroquois, 857 people participated in programs, but the first year Sauer was here, that number jumped to 5,470, or a 538 percent increase. Likewise, visitation rose from 1,619 in 2022 to 2,549 (a 58 percent increase) in 2023.
One of the most popular new events was a Full Moon Luminary Night Hike, in which the Headquarters’ Trail was lined with ice lanterns and hot chocolate was provided afterwards in the Welcome Center.
“Four hundred and thirty people attended that and want to do it again,” Sauer said.
A Warbler Walk at Swallow Hollow on Knowlesville Road today (Saturday), led by photographer and professor at Buffalo State, Ruth Goldman, sold out.
Sauer, who also happens to be an artist, has incorporated art into events at the refuge.
“We started painting classes, free of charge,” he said. “People come here to bird and fish, and now they can paint what they see.”
Next Saturday (May 11) is the Spring Spectacular, the biggest event of the year, Sauer said. His goal is to have 1,000 visitors, and 800 have already signed up.
“We will highlight the interaction of nature, culture and arts,” he said.
Thirty exhibitors are expected, along with raptors, food vendors and special art projects by Friends of Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, funded by GO Art!
May programming will also include a beginner nature photography course from 9 a.m. to noon May 18 at the Visitor’s Center. Pre-registration is required.
On May 25, seed ball and paper making will take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Participants can drop in any time and materials will be provided.
More details on programs can be found on the Refuge’s Facebook page (click here). To pre-register for programs, e-mail Sauer at logan_sauer@fws.gov or call and leave a message at (612) 759-8662.
Sauer added he didn’t know much about Western New York when he came here and didn’t think he’d like it.
“But I’m happy to be here and I don’t plan to leave any time soon,” he said.
He said he is always open to new ideas and welcomes suggestions.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A fisherman stands in the Oak Orchard River on Oct. 20, 2023. Several of the tributaries get a boost in water from the Erie Canal from the fall through early December.
Posted 30 April 2024 at 12:07 pm
Press Release, New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corp.
The New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corp. announced its annual fall fishing program was honored this month with an Engineering Excellence Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) New York.
The fall fishing program received a Diamond Award in the category of Water Resources for its strategic use of canal infrastructure that allows regulated flows of water from the Erie Canal into Lake Ontario tributaries.
The enhanced flows, through deliberate releases of canal water, improve spawning conditions, expand angling opportunities, and enrich the world-class fishing destinations in Monroe, Orleans and Niagara counties.
“The construction of the Erie Canal has long been viewed as an engineering marvel and, as we look ahead to the canal’s third century of operation, the fall fishing program is an excellent example of how we are using canal infrastructure and its water in a different way to benefit more than just mariners,” NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said. “As we prepare for the fifth season of the program, the recognition from the American Council of Engineering Companies, both at the state and national levels, reaffirms how thoughtful engineering adjustments play a key role in our operations that allow the canal to be a driver of economic activity today and in the future.”
New York State Canal Corp. Director Brian U. Stratton said, “As we approach the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, the prestigious awards from both the New York and national chapters of the American Council of Engineering Companies confirms the historic waterway’s continued impact and influence on our state. Through the fall fishing program, we are strategically adjusting century-old water management control gates along the western Erie Canal to improve conditions for both fish and anglers, and that, in turn supports the local canalside economies and boosts tourism.”
The fall fishing program is one of 124 projects from across the state that encompasses both the public and private sector that was recognized with an Engineering Excellence Award this year. Annually, more than 50 ACEC New York member firms submit projects that are judged on a rigorous set of criteria, which includes complexity, innovation and value to society.
In addition to receiving recognition from ACEC New York, the fall fishing program will also be honored with a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies 2024 Engineering Excellence Awards competition. The national award will be presented in May.
In 2023, the fall fishing program and Orleans County were recognized with an “Excellence in Tourism Marketing” award from the New York State Tourism Industry Association for the “More Water = More Fish” campaign. The collaborative effort raises awareness of the program and aims boost regional tourism.
Each fall through early December, the program supplies four Lake Ontario tributaries with elevated flows to improve conditions for fish, thereby enticing more salmon, steelhead and brown trout to enter and remain in these streams. The north flowing tributaries include Sandy Creek and Oak Orchard Creek, the premier streams of Orleans and Monroe counties, along with Eighteenmile Creek of Niagara County and Johnson Creek of Niagara and Orleans counties.
As the upcoming season approaches, the Canal Corp. will update its fall fishing webpage to provide anglers with the program’s latest news and information.
Photo from Canal Corp. – Brian Stratton, director of the NYS Canal Corp., speaks on Wednesday at Monroe Community College in Rochester in the first installment of the Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum series. The first segment of the series is focused on increasing accessibility and inclusion along the canal.
Posted 13 April 2024 at 8:41 am
Press Release, NYS Canal Corporation
ROCHESTER – The New York State Canal Corporation on Wednesday hosted the first installment of its SUNY/Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum Series as part of New York State’s commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the original Erie Canal’s opening in 1825 and the waterway’s continued influence on the state.
The forum at Monroe Community College in Brighton focused on ways local governments, businesses and recreational service providers can make the New York State Canal system and Canalway Trail more accessible and welcoming for people with and without disabilities. Coinciding with the event’s panel discussions was a vendor expo that showcased adaptive equipment and information to further assist attendees in making Canal communities more accessible.
“Since its opening nearly 200 years ago, the Erie Canal has had a profound impact on our state and today’s focus on accessibility and inclusion is just one example of how this industrial waterway continues to evolve as it supports an incredible network of recreational activities,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “The Canal system and Canalway Trail provide endless opportunities for adventure, fresh air, and exercise, but there are often barriers for people with disabilities.”
With more than 120 attendees present, the audience learned that according to Cornell University one in five Americans lives with a disability. Further, the buying power of people with disabilities along with their direct family members is $1 trillion, making the case for the substantial economic impact of accessible and inclusive recreation.
The forum was broken into two panel discussions – “Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion,” moderated by New York State’s Chief Disability Officer, Kim Hill Ridley and the second panel, moderated by John Robinson, CEO of Our Ability, focused on “Implementing Accessible Opportunities – Assisting Canal Providers/Municipalities.”
The first panel served as important education on understanding ableism and culture, leading to inclusion and employment, reframing our language, reframing disability, planning from a perspective of functional ability and the importance of universal design, as well as the role of Independent Living Centers.
The second panel built on this foundation, providing specific examples of organizations focused in this space, how to incorporate inclusion in their areas and organizations, and the system view needed to make inclusion a reality.
New York State Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill Ridley said, “The New York State Canal system is a treasure trove of history and recreational opportunities and by making the water and trails more accessible and inclusive, we open them up to a whole new segment of the population. An accessible canalway benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities, as it creates a more vibrant and diverse community experience and leads to new partnerships and economic opportunities where everyone feels welcome.”
As part of the Canal Corporation’s continued commitment to ensuring the canal waterways and trails are accessible for all outdoor recreational enthusiasts, this season’s “On the Canals” program seeks to provide greater opportunities for accessible and inclusive outings that will allow people with and without disabilities to participate together. With more than 30,000 participants over the last four years, “On the Canals” offers a variety of free activities including kayaking, cycling, boat tours, birding, wildlife hikes, and painting.
The SUNY/Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum series is a collaboration of the Canal Corporation, the New York Power Authority, the State University of New York (SUNY), and the New York State Department of State. The series will continue through 2024 and 2025 as a component of the New York State Erie Canal Bicentennial celebration announced by Governor Hochul during the 2024 State of the State address.
Additional forums will focus on ensuring the Erie Canal and 524-mile New York State Canal system remains a vibrant economic contributor and is sustainable for the next 100 years. The Erie Canal’s Bicentennial celebration will culminate with the 2025 World Canals Conference in Buffalo.
Press Release, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
BASOM – Learn about wildlife and outdoor skills at a variety of free guided tours, trail walks, and classroom presentations provided by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors are able to stop by the refuge’s Cayuga Overlook on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to see and learn about bald eagles from Friends volunteers. The Cayuga Overlook is located on Lewiston Road in the Town of Alabama, and offers excellent viewing of resident bald eagles flying near their nest.
Join experienced birders and outdoor guides to learn about the region’s wildlife. Birding By Car is an opportunity to discover the refuge’s overlooks in both Genesee and Orleans counties, and the birds found there. I
roquois National Wildlife Refuge includes 10,283 acres of federally protected lands that includes wetlands, forests, grasslands, and walking trails visited by 75,000 people each year.
As warblers and other songbirds return to the area, join a trail walk on the refuge to learn about their habitats and behaviors. Participants may also see herons, ospreys, hawks, swans, coots, geese, and a variety of ducks in the wetland areas.
The beginner survival skills and bird feeder workshops will teach you the how-to for enjoying the outdoors. These presentations are held at the visitors’ center at 1101 Casey Rd., Basom, NY. To register, call 585-948-5445.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge April Free Program Schedule:
2 new species – Ruddy Duck and Lesser Black-backed Gull – found in annual tally
Press Release from Celeste Morien, bird count compiler
Photos courtesy of Celeste Morien, not taken on bird count day: The Lesser Black-backed Gull was spotted for the first time during the Christmas Bird Count.
SHELBY – Despite a cold snap before the Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 28, the weather was unusually warm, with a low of 48 and high of 50. There was no snow cover.
Open and moving water were not frozen. Rain occurred throughout the day and was occasionally heavy with the only break at midday. Ground fog reduced visibility at times.
Perhaps due to the warm weather, the 37 count participants reported high counts of ten species, and found two new species! These dedicated volunteers found 72 species and 19,890 individual birds. Counters logged 33 hours on foot and 67.75 hours by car. Counters walked 26.5 miles and drove 577 miles by car.
Ruddy Duck and Lesser Black-backed Gull were new species, and were also seen at other locations outside the count circle during the same time period.
Species that remained in the area in greater numbers were Tundra Swan (73), Herring Gull (764), Sandhill Crane (17), Barred Owl (4), Belted Kingfisher (5), Northern Flicker (59), Merlin (2), Common Raven (6), Tufted Titmouse (39) and Eastern Bluebird (86).
Here are the numbers for species seen in the count:
Tundra Swan, 73
Trumpeter Swan, 2
Snow Goose, 1
Cackling Goose, 3
Canada Goose, 8,151
American Wigeon, 4
American Black Duck, 25
Mallard, 365
Redhead, 4
Ruddy Duck, 3
Common Goldeneye, 2
Common Merganser, 63
Ring-necked Pheasant, 1
Wild Turkey, 78
Great Blue Heron, 1
Bald Eagle, 12
Northern Harrier, 9
Cooper’s Hawk, 5
Accipiter sp., 1
Red-tailed Hawk, 42
American Kestrel, 6
Ruddy Duck is new to the Christmas Bird Count at the Oak Orchard Swamp.
Provided photo: A group of middle school boys and 6th grade teacher Dustin Gardner found lots of trash and also a ski, a bat, golf balls and 13 dollars during last year’s Canal Clean Sweep in April. Holley had more than 100 students help with the annual spring trash pickup.
Registration has opened for Canal Clean Sweep 2024 with trash pickups welcomed from April 19-21.
Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, is organizing the 19th annual Canal Clean Sweep in celebration of Earth Day.
Community service clubs, co-workers at a business or organization, Scouts or even families are encouraged to register for a spot or section of the canal. Or they can check back later to register as a volunteer for a public event. Use the Event Finder Map on Parks & Trails website.
Most events will occur on Earth Day weekend. However, volunteers can pick another day if it works better.
Click here to fill out a form to register a Canal Clean Sweep event, indicating the clean-up location, how many volunteers are expected, and what t-shirt sizes are needed.
After registering for a Canal Clean Sweep event (click here), Parks & Trails will provide more information and materials.
Last year, not-for-profit organizations, civic groups, businesses, and social clubs took part in more than 130 events along the Canal System and the Canalway Trail as 2,700 volunteers helped pick up nearly 1,500 bags of garbage.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 February 2024 at 4:58 pm
All local state parks see increase in visitors, except for Golden Hill
Photos by Tom Rivers: A motorist drives through Letchworth State Park on Oct. 28, 2023. The park had 975,406 visitors in 2023, up by more than 100,000 from the previous year when there were 869,513.
Attendance at the state park system set a new record in 2023 with 84.1 million, breaking the previous record set in 2022 by 4.7 million.
Most of the local state parks all saw an increase including Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton and the Oak Orchard Boat Launch in Carlton.
Attendance at nearby state parks includes:
Lakeside Beach State Park – 109,596 in 2023, 104,207 in 2022, and 116,817 in 2021
Oak Orchard Boat Launch – 11,030 in 2023, 9,849 in 2022 and 10,940 in 2021
Hamlin Beach State Park – 381,964 in 2023, 356,714 in 2022 and 367,960 in 2021
Letchworth State Park – 975,406 in 2023, 869,513 in 2022 and 903,505 in 2021
Golden Hill State Park in Barker – 48,694 in 2023, 50,065 in 2022 and 58,038 in 2021
Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted the record attendance, which see said is the 11th straight year of more people at the parks. Over the last two decades, state park attendance has climbed steadily, increasing nearly 60 percent, she said.
“These numbers reflect New Yorkers’ strong demand and appreciation for places to swim, hike, camp, gather with friends and family, and enjoy safe, healthy recreation,” Hochul said in a news release. “As we celebrate the New York State Park Centennial this year, my administration is committed to keeping this progress going to ensure New Yorkers have access to world-class recreational facilities for years to come.”
New York State Parks this year is celebrating of its 100th anniversary of the creation of the park system in 1924.
“State Parks is welcoming many millions more visitors than ever before to see all our improved facilities have to offer,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “With continued support from Governor Hochul and the hard work of our State Parks team, more exciting projects and programs are coming as we celebrate our State Park Centennial this year, and I am confident we will keep seeing more visitors, who help drive many local economies across the state.”
Letchworth State Park in Wyoming and Livingston counties offers many gorgeous views.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Anglers cast their lines on Nov. 10 while fishing in the Oak Orchard River in Carlton.
Posted 5 February 2024 at 1:37 pm
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul announced today the six designated free fishing days in New York will take place on: February 17 to 18 (Presidents’ Day Weekend), June 29 to 30, September 28 (National Hunting and Fishing Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day).
During these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New York’s waters.
“The Free Fishing Days program provides a great opportunity for aspiring anglers to try freshwater fishing for the first time or former anglers to reconnect with one of America’s favorite pastimes,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is blessed with an abundance of freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, allowing for memorable fishing experiences that increase tourism and benefit the economy.”
The Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to give people who might not fish a chance to try the rewarding sport of freshwater fishing at no cost, to introduce people to a new hobby, and to encourage people to support conservation by purchasing a New York State fishing license. Outside of free fishing days, anglers over the age of 16 must have a valid fishing license.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Free Fishing Days are spread out throughout the year to give anglers a chance to enjoy freshwater fishing in various climates. It is the perfect time for families and friends to take advantage of the State’s plentiful fishing opportunities and learn or re-refresh a recreational hobby without the traditional fees.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: A boat heads west on the Erie Canal on Oct. 7, 2023 and approaches the lift bridge in Eagle Harbor. The boat was captained by Veronica Morgan. It was part of a program highlighting hoggees, who were children who walked with mules that pulled boats on the canal in the 1800s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2024 at 6:27 pm
The Erie Canal will open for its 200th navigational season on May 17. The canal will close to boaters on Oct. 16.
The state Canal Corp. announced today there will again be no tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system this year.
“This year marks the 200th consecutive season of navigation along New York’s Canals,” the Canal Corp. announced today. “The 200th anniversary of the original Erie Canal’s completion and opening will be commemorated as the Erie Canal’s bicentennial in 2025.”
Provided photo: Officials at Stewart Park in Ithaca cut the ribbon for new interpretive signs that tell the story of the city's waterway history. Funding support for the signs came from a NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Amenity Grant.
Posted 8 January 2024 at 9:31 pm
Press Release, NYS Canal Corporation and 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 and recreation along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.
The 2024 program will support tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events. Applications are open now through February 23, 2024.
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 Jan. 25 at 10 a.m.
Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes located within the National Heritage 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, “Each year, as more visitors come to New York’s canalside communities for outdoor recreational activities, the Canal Corporation looks for ways to enhance and improve their experiences. The Tourism Infrastructure and Events Grant program allows us to do just that. Working with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, we are financing bright ideas from municipalities and stakeholders throughout the Canal corridor. We look forward to bolstering local economies by supporting this new round of upgrades and improvements.”
In 2023, 37 nonprofit organizations and municipalities received NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $190,000. The grants supported seven tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 34 events that drew 86,500 people to the canals.
“We are pleased to offer another year of tourism investment in the Canalway Corridor. Supporting communities in their efforts to improve recreational amenities and infrastructure and host events is a key component to a thriving and vibrant waterway,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Photos courtesy of Celeste Morien: A Dark-eyed Junco is at left and an Eastern Screech Owl is at right.
Posted 23 December 2023 at 7:01 pm
Press Release, Celeste Morien, count compiler for Oak Orchard Swamp Christmas Bird Count
BASOM – It’s time again for the Oak Orchard Swamp Christmas Bird Count! The count began in December 1968. The National Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts since their inception.
Count compiler and Medina resident Celeste Morien would like the public to be alert for counters with spotting scopes and binoculars who will be out and about December 27th on local roads, searching for birds in fields and at bird feeders.
Here is the map showing different sections for the Oak Orchard Swamp Christmas Bird Count. One of the recent counts totaled 20,843 birds in 73 species.
Filling bird feeders now and keeping them stocked ahead of the count helps fulfill the count objective of counting all wild birds seen and heard within the circle. The Oak Orchard Swamp count is centered at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge on the Orleans and Genesee County line at Route 63.
Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle, which includes more than the refuge and state wildlife areas, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.
According to the Audubon website, “Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt.” They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.
Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.
So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America.
From December 14 through January 5 each year tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action.
The data collected by observers over the past century allow Audubon researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have
changed in time and space over the past hundred years.
The long term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well.
If you are interested in participating in the count for December 2024, to do so please contact celeste.morien@gmail.com.
Please consider donating to the Christmas Count here since the Audubon Society no longer collects fees from each participant. (Click here for more information.)
Photo by Katie Oakes: These Honey Locust leaves at the fairgrounds will compost in place and add nutrients and organic matter to the soil below.
Posted 6 October 2023 at 1:00 pm
Contributed by Master Gardener Deb Roberts
The trees are turning beautiful colors…and the leaves are falling onto everything! Before you just blow or rake those leaves into bags or to the street, STOP! There is an alternative that will improve the environment, save you money, beautify your yard, and save pollinators & other important creatures – LEAVE THE LEAVES!
According to US EPA reports we have 40 million acres of lawn in the United States making it the number one crop! The US EPA estimates that leaves and other yard debris make up 13% of our solid waste that goes to landfills. By keeping our leaves, we are reducing the solid waste in landfills and the methane they create. Think of it as recycling in place.
Now, leaving the leaves doesn’t mean you have to just leave them where they lay, though you could, but they may not be in the best location to provide all these benefits. The optimal action you can take is to rake your leaves into garden beds or other plantings as mulch up to about 6 inches deep.
Over time the leaf mulch breaks down into the perfect fertilizer. Also you can rake them into deeper circle-piles around established trees as mulch. The mulch helps to retain moisture and to reduce run-off from sudden rains.
If you have extra leaves from sidewalks or driveways, leaves can be composted in a bin or pile in a corner of your yard. A light layer of leaves can be left on grass where it will break down into fertilizer as well. All of which saves you money next year on buying mulch and fertilizers, plus it beautifies your yard – two for one!
There are exceptions, however. Black Walnut leaves and Pine Needles can inhibit desired plant growth and alter soil chemistry, so those are best kept out of your garden beds.
You may have mowed the leaves laying on the lawn in the past, which is another alternative, however leaves are a vital wildlife habitat providing food, shelter and nests for many species. Toads, turtles, birds, butterflies in their various stages, fireflies, and bumblebees are among them. Most butterflies and moths do not migrate like the Monarch, most of them live their entire life cycle in a yard!
By leaving a layer of leaves around trees, it creates a “soft landing” for insects that drop from the tree to the ground where they overwinter. Swallowtail butterflies and Luna moths use leaves to attach their cocoons.
Wooly bear caterpillars, which will become Isabella Tiger Moths next spring, overwinter best underneath a pile of leaves. Firefly larvae and Bumblebee queens overwinter a couple of inches under the surface of the soil and need the leaves as insulation to survive.
The larvae and insects that overwinter may even become food for baby birds next spring! If you have the space, a brush shelter with some fallen branches and a pile of leaves is a great space for insect eating animals like salamanders, toads, box turtles, and chipmunks to overwinter.
So when it’s time to rake your lawn, be a hero to wildlife and the environment by keeping leaves away from curbside pickup – Leave the Leaves!
For more information about Leaving the Leaves, check out National Wildlife Foundation, Xerces.org, and Cooperative Extension.
This photo of “Sunrise Kayak Paddle” in Macedon was taken by Dan Judd of Rochester and won first place in the “On the Water” category.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2023 at 3:35 pm
The Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor has announced the winners in the 18th annual photo contest featuring scenes from the state’s canal system.
Usually there is a winning photo from Orleans County, but this year’s winners didn’t include a scene in Orleans.
There were 314 entries and judges selected first, second, and third place winners in four contest categories as well as 12 honorable mentions. The four categories include Canal Communities, Classic Canal, Along the Trail and On the Water.
“As we approach the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal in 2025, these images reveal to us what makes New York’s canals worth preserving, visiting, and celebrating,” 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 (click here) and will be featured in the 2024 Erie Canalway calendar. The calendar will be available for free at libraries, visitor centers, and by request beginning in December.
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “I send my heartfelt congratulations to the winners of this year’s annual photo contest, and my thanks to all of the exceptional photographers, amateur and professional alike, who participated. This year’s photos help us showcase the remarkable sights and recreational resources along the canal system. As celebrate the bicentennial of the Champlain Canal and prepare for the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s completion, they are a wonderful reminder of the Erie Canal’s legacy, impact, and presence in New York, both today and through generations of our history.”
“Fall in Fairport” was taken by Karen Millspaugh of Bergen and won first place in the “Classic Canal” category.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 September 2023 at 11:44 am
400 attend celebration as Lockport finishes 10-year, $1.5 million project
Photos by Tom Rivers
LOCKPORT – It was a day of celebration in the City of Lockport on Saturday for the dedication of a 14-statue Lock Tenders Tribute Monument.
The top photo shows descendants of the people memorialized in the statues. The descendants are wearing the blue sashes.
The monument honors the canal lock tenders who worked 12-hour days and were responsible for opening and closing the locks for boats to safely pass through. They also worked on maintenance at the site.
One of the descendants sits next to one of the new statues. Six were unveiled on Saturday. The first three were unveiled in 2020 with five more added in 2021.
These 12 Lockport Lock Tenders plus a young girl were photographed in 1897 by Frank B. Clench. The tenders were part of a 20-person workforce at the locks in 1897.
A big crowd of about 400 gathered to celebrate the completion of the monument. Thirteen of the statues are installed on the stairs in the Lockport Locks where the tenders were photographed nearly 125 years ago.
The other statue of the photographer shows Frank B. Clench taking the iconic image.
This photo shows David Kinyon, chairman of the Lockport Locks Heritage District which pushed for the Lock Tender statuary.
“Lockport’s intent has been to explain the role of the workers who made the Erie Canal such a tremendous success in opening the interior of our country to development,” Kinyon said.
“Other communities have celebrated the Erie Canal by depicting those who dug the canal, the captains who operated canal boats and even the mules who pulled the packet and freight boats,” Kinyon said. “Lockport celebrates those who manually opened and closed the 5-ton wooden gates that raised and lowered boats through the 363-mile man-made waterway.”
Kinyon speaks during the ceremony on Saturday after the six new statues were unveiled. The six new statues were covered up until their names were announced later in the program. The descendants were given VIP seating for the event.
Kinyon said the $1.5 million project has been a decade in the making. The group hoped to have it done by 2025, the 200th anniversary of the 363-mile-long Erie Canal.
The project reached the finish line two years ahead of schedule.
He praised contributors to the project, including $575,000 from Niagara County (using funds through the relicensing of the Niagara Power Project), $550,000 from the state and Canal Corp., $150,000 from the Grigg Lewis Foundation, $100,000 from the John R. Oishei Foundation, and 35 businesses in Lockport that gave $100 or more. There were also numerous fundraisers with raffle tickets, and merchandise celebrating the lock tenders, from mugs, jewelry, magnets and shirts.
Susan Geissler of Youngstown, center, designed and crafted the statues which is now the largest outdoor bronze monument in Western New York.
She sits on the steps after the ceremony for a group photo with the statues.
“It’s been a wonderful journey,” she said about the project.
She said she has develop many “wonderful friendships and relationships” through the effort that honored the lock tenders.
“I’m very humbled and proud I could you something historic that will last forever,” she said.
Geissler was presented a citation and commendation from the State Legislature which was presented by State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assembly members Michael Norris and Angelo Morinello.
Norris praised Geissler for her painstaking artistry, “right down to a wrinkle on a forehead.”
Ortt noted his Senate district includes canal communities from Niagara, Orleans and western Monroe counties. Throughout the state all canal towns are proud of their heritage, but Ortt said no community is more synonymous with the canal than Lockport.
“She has done a remarkable job with this,” Ortt said about Geissler.
Brian Stratton, director of the State Canal Corp., said the tribute to the lock tenders highlights people who were critical to the canal’s operation at its peak. He praised the Lockport community for adding an attraction along the historic waterway in time for the bicentennial celebration in 2025.
Niagara County Legislator Richard Andres praised the volunteers who pushed for the lock tender tribute, who worked for a decade to line up financing, select an artist, research the people in the original photo, and get the community to back the ambitious effort.
“We certainly wouldn’t be here without vision and a lot of communities are lacking vision,” he said. “We are happy to support people with vision and tenacity and follow through, which is sometimes rare in government.”
Andres, the county legislator, said the Erie Canal deserves more prominence locally and nationally. The canal helped turn cities on the eastern seaboard into world powers, he said.
“The canal changed the world and you’re sitting right here in the midst of it,” said Andres, a history teacher at North Tonawanda. “We need to tell people what the canal did for the world.”
Craig Williams, president of the Canal Society of New York State, said the statues will help people better connect to the history of the canal.
“It’s not just a paragraph being read,” he said. “Getting people to pay attention is essential in history. Here people can get up close and touch these statues. Once you have that attention, you get a better appreciation of history.”
People enjoy sitting and interacting with the statues after the dedication ceremony on Saturday.
