Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A total lunar eclipse returned to the early morning sky today. I was out trying to get photos around 6:20 a.m., but didn’t get anything great. I’ll need an equipment upgrade. But the top photo shows the reddish glow of when the Earth was positioned between the sun and the moon. That full lunar eclpise has been called a “blood moon” because of the reddish hue.

I took the photo at the very top from the parking lot of the Crooked Door Tavern. I also tried it from the Clarendon Street bridge and took the second photo around 6:45. Anyone with better pictures is welcome to send them to news@orleanshub.com.

While trying to get photos of the eclipse I also took ones of this canal boat just east of Main Street in Albion.

This large canal boat seems to be waking up for another day on the historic waterway.

The Sun is making its way up in this photo, looking east from the Clarendon Street bridge along the railroad tracks.

Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The leaves are starting to change near the Holley Waterfalls, making one of the area’s nicest natural attractions even more appealing.

I would highly recommend a visit during October. You can reach the waterfalls by turning onto Frisbee Terrace off Route 31 in the Public Square. Follow Frisbee Terrace past Save-A-Lot and the village’s DPW garage.

The waterfalls seem to burst out of a hill in a wooded area. The east branch of Sandy Creek flows under the canal and then tumbles down the falls in this spot.

The site includes a pedestrian bridge over the creek leading to a picnic area.

Press release, Orleans County Planning Department

KNOWLESVILLE – The Lake Ontario counties of Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, the town of Greece and the city of Oswego are jointly undertaking an update and expansion of the Lake Ontario Regional Harbor Dredging Management Plan completed in 2000.

Two Public Meetings will be held, in Orleans and Wayne counties, to review findings and receive public feedback.

The meeting in Orleans County will be 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Orleans County Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Rt. 31 (4-H Fairgrounds).

The Wayne County public meeting will be held in November on a date to be announced.

This is the second and final round of public meetings before completion of the Dredging Plan. The Project Advisory Committee and its consultant will present economic impacts of business activity generated at 20 federal and non-federal harbors on Lake Ontario, review their existing conditions and need for dredging, and outline the organizational structure and long-term financing alternatives for plan implementation. A Question & Answer Session will follow.

Safe navigation through our recreational harbor channels provides access to public property, fishing resources and many other water dependent recreational opportunities. These channels also provide safe harbors for regional and international tourists.

Unfortunately, federal funding for maintenance dredging of shallow draft recreational channels has been severely limited, leaving some channels with restricted access. This Regional Plan will serve as a blueprint for efficient and sustainable maintenance of the harbors that are the lifeblood of our coastal communities and businesses.

This project is funded in part by an Environmental Protection Fund grant from the New York State Department of State.

Press release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

BASOM – Beginning today, trapping permits will be issued for the Oak Orchard, Tonawanda and John White Wildlife Management Areas for the 2014-2015 license year.

Permit applications can be obtained weekdays from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, by appearing in person at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Office on Casey Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by writing to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, New York 14013.

Trappers who obtain a permit will be required to report their harvest and trapping efforts on each area. The Western New York trapping season for fox, raccoon, coyote and other upland furbearing animals opens Oct. 25 and closes Feb. 15, with the exception of the John White WMA. On John White WMA the upland trapping season will run from Nov. 1 to Feb. 15.

This year beaver season in this area of NY (including on Tonawanda, Oak Orchard and John White WMAs) will run from Nov. 25 until Feb. 15.

The Western New York trapping season for mink and muskrat opens on Nov. 25 and closes on Feb. 15.

However, the 2014-2015 muskrat and mink seasons at the three WMAs start later than the Western NY trapping season and will run from Dec. 6 to Feb. 15. In addition, a 25-trap limit will be in place for muskrat and mink on the three WMAs (traps set for upland trapping and beaver will not require numbered tags and will not be considered in the trap limit). The trap limit provides a more equitable distribution of the harvest and prevents trappers from monopolizing the better trapping areas.

The maximum number of traps a trapper can set for muskrat and mink on the three areas is 25. To accomplish this, the DEC issues 25 numbered tags to each trapper who obtains a permit. A tag must be attached to each trap the trapper is using on the areas. Any trap that does not have one of these tags attached is considered an illegal trap. Also, an individual trapper can only operate traps that contain tags with their assigned numbers.

Management of the muskrat population promotes prime emergent marsh habitats used by waterfowl and uncommon marsh birds such as the black tern and least bittern. The trap limit allows Bureau of Wildlife personnel to better regulate the muskrat harvest according to water availability, habitat needs and population.

Hunters and trappers are reminded that no gas or electric motor boats are allowed on Oak Orchard or Tonawanda WMAs.

Photos by Pamela Moore

The leaves are starting to change colors as fall foliage begins. Pamela Moore sent in these photos from the waterfowl overlook on Albion Road. They were taken Thursday and Friday night in Barre and Oakfield.

Environmental groups push to have plan accepted

Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign on the shore of the Golden Hill State Park in Barker warns of an eroding shoreline.

Officials from Orleans and Niagara counties continue to fight a new plan for regulating Lake Ontario water levels, fearing the lake would see more extremes in water levels, leading to an eroded shoreline during high water and parched marinas during low levels.

The two local counties were represented in a meeting on Thursday in Buffalo with board members from the International Joint Commission. That group includes representatives from the United States and Canada.

It has endorsed a plan that calls for the biggest changes in regulating water levels in the lake and St. Lawrence Seaway since 1958. Orleans and Niagara officials fear hundreds of millions of dollars of valuable property will be lost from erosion, which will force taxes to rise on every resident in the southshore counties.

Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey met with several IJC officials to again state their strong opposition to the proposal, Plan 2014. Johnson said the meeting was attended by Gordon Walker, acting chairman, Canadian Section; Dereth Glance, commissioner of U.S. Section; and Frank Bevacqua, public information officer, U.S. Section.

U.S. Rep. Chris Collins helped to set up the meeting, Johnson said. Collins issued this statement after the meeting.

“Plan 2014 is unacceptable,” he said. “It has been plagued by public backlash and flawed economic analyses from the onset. Most disturbing is that Plan 2014 shows no concern for the negative economic impact its implementation will have on the thousands of individuals, families, and businesses along the south shore of Lake
Ontario.”

Johnson and Godfrey went to Washington, D.C. in early August to meet with federal officials, including the State Department, to rail against the plan.

The six southshore counties from Niagara to Oswego have 10,025 parcels of lakefront land with a total assessed value of $3.7 billion. If they suffer a 10 percent loss, those communities would lose $370 million in value, with the difference to be made up by other taxpayers in the counties, Johnson said

Besides the potential loss of valuable shoreline, the plan could cripple fishing and recreational industries on the south shore of the lake, Johnson and Godfrey said.

Plan 2014 has a lot of support from environmental organizations. Representatives from 41 organizations signed a letter, urging U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and elected officials and representatives of federal agencies in the two countries to back the new Lake Ontario plan.

Supporters say Plan 2014 will protect against extreme water levels, restore tens of thousands of acres of wetlands, boost hydropower production, and enhance outdoor recreation and increase the resilience of 712 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline in the U.S. and Canada.

“This is a once-in-a-generation chance to restore a Great Lake, invest in New York’s recreation-based economy and prepare for climate change,” said Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter executive director. “We hope everyone will explore the facts about this plan, and express their support for its adoption.”

Signatories for the letter included the New York League of Conservation Voters, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Save The River, New York State Conservation Council, Clarkson University, Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Nature Quebec, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and several others.

Plan 2014 follows 13 years of exhaustive study and bi-national consultation with stakeholders and the general public, supported by state-of-the-art simulation of the impacts of alternative regulation plans, according to The Nature Conservancy.

The environmental groups say the plan is an “economic winner” for the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River region by providing increased hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Collins spoke against the IJC plan during a news conference at Oak Orchard Harbor on July 2. He has urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reject the plan due to its potential harm to the southshore. Collins and the local officials say they will continue to voice their concerns.

“Today’s meeting offered my colleagues and me another opportunity to reiterate our strong and continued opposition to this plan, and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to preventing its implementation,” Collins said on Thursday.

Press release, Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District

ALBION – This past Saturday 15 volunteers from Orleans County participated in the American Littoral Society’s annual New York State Shoreline and Beach Cleanup.

These volunteers collected, recorded and removed more than 900 items of trash weighing 1,769 pounds from our local waterways over the course of three hours. That equates to more than 61 pounds per person.

The enthusiastic volunteers convened at 9 a.m. at Bullard Park for instructions and introductions before dispersing to assigned locations.

Groups tackled trash at locations along Lake Alice and the Erie Canal. At noon everyone reconvened back at Bullard Park to weigh the 17 bags of trash collected along with various items such as a rug and over 20 discarded tires.

Every item collected, down to the last cigarette butt, was recorded and categorized on data sheets that were then sent to the American Littoral Society for statistical analysis along with data submitted by all the groups participating across the country. This allows them to observe and track trends in sources of trash. In Orleans County, over half of the items collected were from food and beverage items.

Along with concerned citizens, volunteers participating in the cleanup represented 4-H and local high school students. This event was sponsored locally by the Orleans County Water Quality Coordinating Committee in conjunction with the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Photos by Brandon Blount-Carpenter

CARLTON – Brandon Blount-Carpenter, a local wildlife photographer, has been intrigued by gray tree frogs the past couple years. He has pictures of them in different colors, including the light green one in the top photo and the gray one below.

“If you handle one it will literally change color right in front of you,” he said. “When they are excited they turn that bright green color.”

Blount-Carpenter sent in these photos after seeing the one on the Orleans Hub of a frog camping out along an office wall outside at the offices for Orleans Hub and The Lake Country Pennysaver at 170 North Main St.

Blount-Carpenter took the top photo in the spring 2012, with the second photo taken this past spring. Both were taking outside by his house in Carlton.

This picture was taken last September.

Blount-Carpenter also has rescued some gray tree frog tadpoles and put them in garden ponds.

“On warmer nights in the spring summer and fall, you can hear them singing. It’s like a chorus out here at night.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A visitor at the office for Orleans Hub and the Lake Country Pennysaver created a stir today. Many of the long-time employees at 170 North Main St. can’t recall a tree frog (if that’s what this is) camping out on the wall of the building.

It’s been an interesting year with wildlife on the move with the all of the Snowy Owl sightings in the winter and the two black bears spotted this summer in the county. Now you may find a tree frog nestled at your workplace.

Update 8:54 p.m.
A reader sent a message to say this frog is either a gray tree frog or a Cope’s gray tree frog. The only way to tell for sure is to listen to the frog’s call. The Cope’s gray tree frog has a faster-paced and slightly higher-pitched call than the gray tree frog.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The Glenwood Avenue canal bridge in Medina was constructed during the canal expansion a century ago. It’s one of many canal bridges and structures that remain from when the canal was widened to become the Barge Canal.

Press release
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the National Park Service to place the Barge Canal on the National Register of Historic Places.

Including the Erie Canal, Oswego Canal, Champlain Canal and Cayuga-Seneca Canal, this designation would expand opportunities for federal historic tax credits and other resources, to support economic development initiatives near the Barge Canal.

“The Barge Canal is a historic treasure in New York State and includes some of America’s most recognized waterways,” Gillibrand said. “Spanning across the state, the New York State Barge Canal is home to many recreational activities and commercial developments. I will continue to work hard to ensure the National Park Service recognizes how important the Barge Canal is to New Yorkers and to ensure this much-deserved designation is granted.”

The Barge Canal spans more than 500 miles and includes the Erie Canal, the Oswego Canal, the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, and the Champlain Canal. The Erie Canal was established in 1825 and development of other canals soon followed.

The New York State Board of Historic Preservation nominated the canal as “The Barge Canal Historic District” for the state and national registers. The nomination notes many of the historical artifacts from the widening and deepening of the canal from 1905 to 1918. Orleans County has many of those features: lift bridges, single-truss bridges, guard gates, terminals and waste weirs.

According to a report by the New York State Canal Corporation, the Erie Canal’s non-tourism economic impact is more than $6.2 billion annually, supporting over 8,800 direct and 26,400 indirect jobs. The canal systems have shaped history in upstate New York, and created opportunities for economic developments throughout the state.

In her letter to National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, Senator Gillibrand wrote, “Listing the NYS Barge Canal in the National Register of Historic Places would be an exciting and appropriate action, further establishing the waterways’ stature and creating additional economic development opportunities for NYS residents and business owners. The NYS Barge Canal has had a great impact on the northeastern region since its construction. To this day, the canal remains widely visited by tourists and school groups who go to learn of the rich history associated with the waterway. National recognition of the Canal on the Register of Historic Places is important to the preservation and celebration of this national treasure.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

It was another gorgeous sunset this evening as summer winds down with school only a few days from opening for a new year. The top photo shows the sun setting over Lake Ontario near the Golden Hill State Park in Barker.

The 30 Mile Point Lighthouse, built in 1875, is a focal point of the state park just across the Orleans County line in Niagara County.

This photo shows Atwater Farms, a dairy farm in Barker near the Golden Hill State Park.

The weather looks good for most of Labor Day. The National Weather Service in Buffalo is forecasting a chance of thunderstorms with a high of 82 degrees.

Lyndonville site is full of natural splendor

Photos by Tom Rivers – A tree is pictured next to Smith’s Pond near Platten Road in Lyndonville, part of the Robin Hill Nature Preserve.

Robin Hill has about 400 varieties of trees. They create a natural sanctuary.

LYNDONVILLE – If you’re looking for serenity and a sense of awe, Robin Hill Nature Preserve should provide your needs.

The site off Platten Road is a nature paradise with about 400 types of trees. Many tower high in the sky. Others are short and the branches shoot outward, creating a canopy of leaves you have to stoop to miss.

It’s a great place. I was fortunate to stop by this evening with my family to see Doug Pratt. His late grandfather, William Smith, developed the 45-acre site, and also built the accompanying house of Medina sandstone.

The site is popular with photographers and nature lovers. Pratt enjoys sharing the space. He created the Robin Hill Foundation with an educational mission for the property. Click here for more information.

Smith owned a canning factory in Lyndonville and built a nature preserve. In 1948, he and his wife Mary began work on the sandstone home, doing much of the work themselves with some help from family and employees at the canning factory. It took several years to build the house.

Smith and his wife Mary kept swans, and many Lyndonville youths from two generations ago grew up feeding the majestic creatures.

William and Mary Smith created the site after their daughter Lucille died from Scarlet Fever at age 19. They named it Robin Hill. Many of the trees and plants are rare and exotic, and they attract numerous varieties of birds.

Press release, DEC

BASOM – Special permits are now available for the opening weekend of duck season to hunt waterfowl at two popular state-managed locations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced.

The permit requirement is needed for waterfowl hunting for the first weekend, which is expected to be Oct. 18 & 19, at the Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas in Genesee and Niagara counties. The intent of the special permits is to promote hunter safety and increase the quality of hunting on days when the areas receive the greatest use.

A special permit is required to hunt waterfowl at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas on the duck season’s first Saturday and first Sunday. These days are the only times the special permits are needed. Waterfowl may be hunted without a special permit during the rest of the season. The permit system has been used successfully at both wildlife management areas in recent years. No special permits are required to hunt other game species at Oak Orchard or Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas.

DEC has announced tentative 2014-2015 duck hunting season dates. Western New York’s tentative opening day/weekend dates for duck hunting are Oct. 18 and 19. These dates will not be finalized until the federal regulations are adopted in late summer. Hunters are advised to confirm the final dates before hunting any waterfowl.

Opening weekend waterfowl hunting permits for the two Wildlife Management Areas will be distributed by a random lottery. For each of the two days, DEC will issue 100 permits for Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area and 50 permits for Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. Hunters must choose from four options: Oak Orchard first Saturday; Oak Orchard first Sunday; Tonawanda first Saturday; and Tonawanda first Sunday.

To apply for the lottery, hunters must send in a postcard with their name, address and their first three choices, in order of preference, clearly indicated. Applicants must also have completed a Waterfowl Identification Course, and their course certificate number must be indicated on the postcard. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15, and must be mailed to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, NY 14013. Each permittee will be allowed to bring one companion over the age of 18 and an additional companion 18 years old or younger.

Duplicate permits will not be issued to hunters who have already been issued a permit to hunt on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Any cards submitted by hunters who have been selected to hunt on Iroquois on the first Saturday will be excluded from the lottery for that day at both Oak Orchard and Tonawanda.

Issued permits are nontransferable and are not valid for companion(s) unless the permittee is present and hunting within 50 yards. The permittee is responsible for completing and returning the questionnaire portion of the permit to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife by Nov. 15, 2014. If the completed questionnaire is not received by Nov. 15, the permittee will be ineligible for next year’s lottery.

Photos by Sue Cook – The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the channel.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

POINT BREEZE – The Army Corps of Engineers has begun the long-awaited dredging of the Oak Orchard Harbor. This will clear silt and sediment which has caused shallow areas in the channel.

The last time this dredging occurred was in 2004. The harbor should be cleared of buildup every three to five years.

Boats are still able to enter and leave the harbor while the dredging barge is working near the breakwall.

Photo by Tom Rivers

GAINES – An Orleans Hub reader asked me to take a picture of the “big green angel” on Route 98. The ivy-covered pole has turned a little brown in late summer. I’ve noticed this for more than a year and finally stopped to get a picture.

The “angel” is north of Watt Farms and south of Route 104.