Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

File photos by Tom Rivers: Fishermen try to catch salmon and trout along the Oak Orchard River in October 2015.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Saturday, September 24 as a Free Fishing Day in New York State.

This free freshwater fishing day is one of six held annually and coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is celebrated to promote outdoor activities that are significant contributors to New York’s economy and help support fish and wildlife conservation.

“From Babylon to Buffalo, Free Fishing Days are a great opportunity for New Yorkers to enjoy the outdoors at one of New York State’s many world-class fishing locations,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this weekend’s Free Fishing Day, support New York’s local economy, and see the benefits of our extensive conservation efforts to protect and enhance our natural resources.”

On Free Fishing Days, New York residents and non-residents may fish New York’s fresh waters for free without a fishing license. Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. The sixth and last Free Fishing Day of 2022 is on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “DEC is thrilled to support Free Fishing Days throughout the year to help introduce people to the sport of fishing. Along with other improvements like our new Tackle Box feature on the HuntFishNY smartphone app, DEC continues to work to make fishing more accessible for local anglers of all skill levels to enjoy the excellent fishing in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in every region.”

Earlier this summer, DEC launched the new ‘Tackle Box’ feature to enhance fishing-related tourism and help new and experienced anglers enjoy the great fishing offered throughout New York.

The Tackle Box feature is available on DEC’s HuntFishNY smartphone app, (available for iOS and Android) which provides information on nearly all State fishing regulations, waterbodies, State-operated fishing access sites, stocking information, and other useful features like photos to help identify fish likely found in a certain river, lake, or stream. More information on the HuntFishNY Mobile app can be found on DEC’s website.

Provided photo: Robin Boyle of Waterport holds two of the fish she caught in last year’s Reelin’ for the Cure derby. She is shown with captain Mitch Polkinkowski of Hemlock. He keeps his fishing boat at Point Breeze.

OLCOTT – Reelin’ for a Cure is a group of ladies and captains who gather annually in August to fish for top prize money in an All-Ladies Fishing tournament to raise money for women fighting cancer.

Each year the RFAC committee selects a different benefactor to receive proceeds of the derby. This year’s event will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Project.

This year’s Reelin’ for a Cure takes place on Friday, with fishing from 6 a.m. to noon. The goal of the ladies’ teams is to catch the biggest trout or salmon and/or most up to six during the six-hour time frame. They are always looking for more captains and lady angler teams to participate each year, bringing more attention to the awesome sportfishing on Lake Ontario as well as coming together for one day to help in the fight of women’s cancers, said organizer of the derby, Stephanie Pierleoni of Newfane.

All boats leave from Olcott or Wilson harbors.

An after party for participants, their families and volunteers takes place after the weigh-in at 1 p.m. in Krull Park.

Pierleoni started the women’s fishing derby in 2016, after hearing about a similar one in Oswego.

“They donated the proceeds to support causes dealing with women’s cancer,” Pierleoni said. “I thought why can’t we do something like that on this end of the lake.”

She has always loved to fish and often fishes with her husband Vince, who has been a fishing boat captain since 2009. Her first Fishin’ for a Cure was huge success, and she has done it every year since. Ten boats participated the first year and 45 are registered this year.

Three captains are participating from Point Breeze – Tom Boddy, Mitch Polkinkowski and Rick Hajecki. Several others are entering from Bald Eagle Marina in Kendall.

Robin Boyle of Waterport participated in the derby last year in support of her sister Sherri Boyle of Morristown, Tenn., who was battling a metastatic breast cancer. Sadly, Sherri died July 16, prompting Robin to enter the derby this year to support the event in memory of her sister. Robin is a member of the team on Polkinkowski’s boat.

Some of the charities Pierleoni has donated to in the past include the Wig Room, Look Good Feel Better and the Breast Cancer Network of Western New York. Individuals may donate by logging on the Reelin’ for a Cure website and clicking on “Donate money.”

Women each pay a fee of $250 to enter the derby.

Brockport embraces designation as ‘Trail Town’

Photo by Tom Rivers: A big group of cyclists stop by Tinsel and the Lockstone in Albion on Monday morning, where they were offered orange slices. About 750 cyclists passed through the community on the Cycling the Erie Canal journey, which covers about 400 miles over 8 days.

By Jules Hoepting, Guest Contributor

BROCKPORT – If you passed by the Erie Canal in Orleans County Sunday evening or Monday morning, you probably noticed an abundance of cyclists gliding through.

From July 10 to 18, 750 cyclists are pedaling from Buffalo to Albany along the historic 360 mile Erie Canalway Trail. Organized by statewide nonprofit Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), the 24th annual Cycle the Erie Canal is bringing cycling enthusiasts, volunteers and history buffs from 40 states to local canal towns. The median age of riders is 63 with the eldest aged 83 and the youngest aged 10.

Photos by Erica Schneider: Volunteers offer the cyclists refreshments and souvenirs during a stop in Brockport on Monday.

When asked about their experiences at a rest stop in Brockport, tour participants had plenty of compliments about the community — both in the towns passed through and within the tour itself.

Couple Stan and Laurie Frey from Wisconsin are embarking on their second Cycle the Erie Canal tour and are bringing along Laurie’s sister, Linda for her first tour. The group talked fondly of going into canal communities, stopping for food and enjoying the atmosphere.

“All these little towns [are] welcoming, doing all the music and [sending free canal-themed] postcards, free fruit — it’s just really delightful,” Laurie Frey said.

Her sister, Linda agreed, saying the local towns “seem like warm, tight communities” adding “When I think of stopping at little towns, it’s this right here.”

Linda also praised the ability to “see the depth of the history” of the canal through trail signage and lectures for tour participants. Stan Frey found the Canal Culvert in Ridgeway — the only place you can drive under the Erie Canal — to be highly interesting as well.

Volunteer Mark Proia from Pavilion, NY, uses the tour as a way to give back to a cycling community that helps support his 7,000-plus miles in annual cycling. Proia’s been a regular Cycle the Erie Canal volunteer and tour rider since 2007, and his favorite is befriending people from all over the U.S. Tour participants cover between 40–60 miles a day, which is “a huge milestone” for some of them, and Proia enjoys watching the joy that comes from personal achievement.

Proia also enjoys the canal towns and the variety of ways they welcome cyclists coming through. He said he often comes to Brockport and utilizes the charging station at the Brockport Welcome Center for his hybrid car, then goes for a bike ride.

According to Susan Smith, the Director of the Brockport Welcome Center, the center additionally offers a kayak launch, a bike fix-it station, showers, laundry facilities and camping options. The center is a prime example of PTNY’s Erie Canalway mission: connecting the Erie Canalway Trail to Erie Canal towns.

In early 2022, the “Victorian Village on the Erie Canal” was selected by PTNY and the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC) as the pilot community for the new Empire State Trail Town program, based on its long-standing connection to the canal and commitment to the trail.

Cyclists in Brockport were greeted by musicians on Monday as part of the Cycling the Erie Canal trek.

The Erie Canalway Trail is a portion of the Empire State Trail. Over the last six months, PTNY has been working with village officials and a dedicated group of volunteers to help Brockport attract and profit from the growing bicycle tourism market, improve the trail and infrastructure for those that walk and bike in the village and establish a strong identity tied to the trail.

According to Margay Blackman, Brockport mayor, the village “proudly” defines itself as an Erie Canal community and is “passionate” about being selected as the first Empire State Trail Town.

“When I first moved here in 1977, the [trail] path wasn’t well groomed… there was talk of filling in [the canal] for years and years,” Blackman said. “Parks & Trails has helped a tremendous amount with bringing in recreation and tourism to the canal.”

Another initiative PTNY and NYSCC has taken to tie communities to the canal is the Bike-Friendly Business Certification program, which recognizes and promotes businesses that provide special accommodations for cyclists.

In Orleans County, Bike-Friendly certified locations include Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Bunkhaus Hostel, Orleans County YMCA and Hart House Hotel in Medina, The Downtown Browsery Inc., Hoag Library, The Coffee Joint and Tinsel ice cream in Albion.

For more information on Cycle the Erie Canal and PTNY’s programs, visit ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal. To stay up to date with the tour, follow Parks & Trails New York on Facebook (@parksandtrailsny and @eriecanalwaytrail), Instagram (@parkstrailsny and @eriecanalwaytrail) or Twitter (@PTNY and @cycletheeire).

The tour is in partnership with the Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is the premier heritage sponsor of the event. Nine regional tourism agencies, including Orleans County Tourism, also sponsor the ride.

Editor’s Note: Jules Hoepting of Albion is an intern with Parks & Trails New York.

Photo by Jules Hoepting: The pins are from riders marking where they are from.

Press Release, Kathy Hochul’s Office

Photo by Tom Rivers: These cyclists head east past Presbyterian Road along the towpath in Albion in July 2017 when 650 cyclists passed through Orleans County for the annual Cycle the Erie Canal trip.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has signed new legislation (S.8204a/A.9177) naming Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton as Chair of the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force.

The task force will identify and recommend reasonable measures that can be taken to enhance flood management and mitigation along the Erie Canal. The task force will meet for the first time on Aug. 22.

“As New York experiences more extreme weather events due to climate change, it is more important than ever before that we plan for and prioritize resiliency measures,” Governor Hochul said. “Countless New York communities are at risk of climate-related dangers like flooding and storm damage. By convening the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task force, we are taking action to identify flood mitigation strategies that will protect the people who live in communities along the Erie Canal, and ultimately help to relieve these communities from the impacts of repeat flooding.”

The new task force will explore the cost or impact of flooding along the Erie Canal over the last five years to agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, land use, public health, insurance, tourism, recreation, and power generation.

In addition, the task force will assess the canal system operation, procedures and plans that may impact flood mitigation and management and identify adaptive measures, with costs, that could be executed to mitigate flood damages. The taskforce will prepare a report by July 1, 2023, to publicly site its findings.

“I am pleased to serve as the designated chair of the Upstate Flood Mitigation Taskforce,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “By coming together with my state agency colleagues and leading subject matter experts in hydrology, civil engineering, conservation, and climate change, I am confident that the task force’s collaboration, research and recommendations will provide a roadmap for improved water management.”

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the start of the 2022 “I BIRD NY” challenges for beginning and experienced birders.

Two levels of challenges provide the opportunity to identify birds and learn about birdlife and offer a chance to win birding equipment. With the launch of many New York State Birding Trail segments this year, DEC will be increasing the chances of winning if participants find birds on a New York State Birding trail site.

“No matter where you live, birdwatching is a fun, easy, affordable activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds,” said Commissioner Seggos. “This summer is a great time to start birding or take your birding skills to the next level by observing birds in the diverse variety of habitats and locations the New York State Birding Trail offers.”

New York State’s wide-ranging habitat types, from the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches to majestic Catskill and Adirondack peaks, Great Lakes shorelines, and everything in between create a birder’s paradise that supports more than 450 different bird species throughout the year. New York offers a wide variety of options in Birding Trail locations with ongoing new sites being added, making it even easier for New Yorkers to get started with this fun activity.

The annual I BIRD NY Beginner’s Birding Challenge is open to anyone 16 years of age and younger. To complete the Beginner’s Birding Challenge, participants must identify 10 common New York bird species and submit their challenge sheet to DEC.

In addition to the Beginner’s Birding Challenge, DEC is offering the I Bird NY experienced birder challenge. To complete birders of any age must identify at least 10 different bird species found across New York State.

Entries can be submitted online or be mailed or emailed and must be received by October 14. Both entry forms are also available in Spanish. All participants in both challenges will be able to print a certificate of participation and be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win birding accessories, including binoculars and a grand prize spotting scope. All participants will also receive an extra entry for identifying half of the birds on NYS Birding Trail sites. As a bonus, the first 50 participants from either challenge will receive a special goodie bag of birding swag items.

The I BIRD NY program was launched in 2017 to build on the State’s efforts to increase access to New York’s vast natural resources and promote no- and low-cost opportunities to explore the great outdoors and connect with nature.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Kimberly Stawicki took this photo of the sunset last week on the south side of the canal in Medina near Fruit Avenue.

BUFFALO – Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State has been selected by Inland Waterways International as the host of the 2025 World Canals Conference, an event that brings together hundreds of canal and inland waterway enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world to learn about a variety of topics related to canals.

The 2025 conference will be held in Buffalo as the State commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening there in 1825. The New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Visit Buffalo Niagara, are the joint sponsors and will be coordinating all aspects of the conference.

“I am honored that New York State, and particularly the City of Buffalo, will host the 2025 World Canals Conference, providing us with the opportunity to host attendees from around the globe while highlighting a critical part of our state and nation’s history during the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening,” Governor Hochul said. “The Erie Canal has been an integral part of New York’s economy and landscape since Governor Dewitt Clinton began the 10-day inaugural voyage in Buffalo in 1825 on the newly completed canal, culminating in the famous ‘Wedding of the Waters’ ceremony in New York Harbor.”

The World Canals Conference is a key component of a comprehensive, four-month celebration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial planned at the historic Buffalo waterfront between May and September of 2025. The event will highlight Buffalo’s transformed waterfront Canalside district, which has recently seen more than $400 million in new investment including new hotels, a major sports arena, a children’s museum, retail shops and a fabulous, re-created waterway on the footprint of the original Erie Canal in the Queen City. Today, Buffalo’s Canalside attracts more than 1,000,000 persons annually.

The conference program will be vibrant, relevant and undeniably future focused as canals and inland waterways are inexorably linked with the social, cultural and economic fiber of their surrounding communities.

Accordingly, the event will be structured to embrace discussion of the innovations, opportunities and challenges which are driving healthy and sustainable waterways of the world today. Sessions on waterways and communities, tourism and recreation, waterway management, historic preservation, and inclusion and accessibility will comprise a diverse and compelling conference agenda. International attendees will mark the indelible impact the Erie Canal has brought to North America and beyond and will be able to chart the course for a vibrant and promising future to be shared by inland waterways across the globe.

New York Power Authority Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, Our New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation family is incredibly proud to join Governor Hochul and our partners as we celebrate the bicentennial of New York State’s iconic Erie Canal on a world stage. This international event will not only showcase our still working Canal system but will also promote its continued positive impact on local economies and highlight the endless opportunities for adventure along our network of water and trailways.”

The upcoming conference in Buffalo will mark the fourth time in recent years that New York State has hosted this international event. It was previously held in Rochester in 2000 and 2010, and again in Syracuse in 2017 which marked the 200 years since the start of construction of the Erie Canal in 1817. Specific details regarding the 2025 World Canals Conference will be announced as conference planning gets underway.

Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “For nearly two centuries, the Erie Canal has connected people and commerce across our state, and as the stewards of this iconic waterway, I am thrilled to celebrate its bicentennial alongside Governor Hochul and our colleagues as we bring the international focus of the World Canals Conference back to New York State. This global gathering of inland waterway leaders and canal enthusiasts allows us to truly showcase how our continued investments in the Canal system support recreation and local businesses in canalside communities across upstate New York.”

Work includes survey, geophysical investigation and soil borings

Press Release, NYS Canal Corp.

The New York State Canal Corporation announced that routine inspections of water retaining embankments along the Erie Canal in Niagara and Orleans Counties will begin this week.

These inspections, which provide information on the embankment composition, will be completed by Canal Corporation contractors, and are necessary to ensure the embankments are functioning as designed. If deficiencies are discovered during the inspections, repairs will be appropriately scheduled.

The contractors will complete surveying, geophysical investigations, and soil borings at the following locations:

• Between Eagle Harbor Road and Gaines Basin Road (Town of Albion)
• Between Wruck Road and Peet Street (Middleport)
• From Halls Waste Weir Dam to Lake Avenue (City of Lockport)

This routine work is not associated with the Canal Corporation’s proposed Earthen Embankment Integrity Program.

While this routine inspection work is performed, residents may notice crew members, wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, as well as their geophysical and drilling equipment called “rigs” in the vicinity of the locations noted above.

During the inspections, access to the Erie Canalway Trail may be disrupted for brief periods of time. Any trail detours will be posted on signs and shared with municipalities in advance.

It is anticipated that this inspection process will be completed by June 30.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience while this work is completed.

Photo from DEC of round goby which range in size from 4 to 10 inches.

Press Release, DEC and Canal Corp.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Canal Corporation have announced a new comprehensive effort, including a new rapid response plan, to combat the potential spread of the round goby, an aquatic invasive species, to the Lake Champlain Basin following the discovery of the fish in the Hudson River near Troy in July 2021. Aquatic invasive species can out-compete native fish species, disrupting ecosystems and damaging local economies dependent on recreation.

Aquatic invasive species are non-native aquatic plants and animals that can negatively impact the environment, local economies, and even human health. These harmful species have been found in many of New York’s lakes, ponds, and rivers, and can be transported from waterbody to waterbody on watercraft, equipment, and bait. Research shows that recreational watercraft are the greatest vector for transport and introduction of these invasive species throughout the United States.

“DEC is working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners at Canal Corporation to address the threat of round goby and other invasive species to waterbodies like Lake Champlain,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “We are bolstering current invasive species surveillance education and taking a hard look at the immediate threats posed by these water-borne invaders to implement the most effective strategies that will protect our fisheries, wildlife, and local recreational economies today and into the future.”

The round goby is one of the biggest threats to New York waters, particularly Lake Champlain, and DEC lists round goby as a prohibited invasive species in the New York Code of Rules and Regulations. Native to Europe and Asia, this fish was introduced in the Great Lakes in 1990, and spread throughout the lakes’ system. Round goby reproduces quickly, outcompetes native benthic fish species for food and habitat, eats the young and eggs of other fish, and can transport botulism up the food chain to waterfowl.

“The Canal Corporation is proactively partnering with DEC to ensure the Canal system helps implement any necessary steps, including education and awareness programming, to combat against invasive fish, like the round goby, and other aquatic invasive species, while at the same time ensuring the Canal remains a driver of economic activity and a thriving tourist destination,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “As we implement risk reduction strategies along on the Champlain Canal this season, we ask users and stakeholders for their patience and encourage them to learn how they can assist in mitigating the spread of aquatic invasive species to ensure the Canal’s resiliency for generations to come.”

DEC and Canals will conduct a full evaluation of the potential ecological and economic impacts of aquatic invasive species, including the round goby, to the public, canal users, municipalities, and New York State. Working with partners, the agencies will develop a rapid response plan to take effect before the opening of the Canal system on May 20 to identify appropriate actions if round goby enter the Champlain Canal. These measures and metrics will be driven by research tracking the spread of aquatic invasive species.

In addition to the rapid response plan, the agencies are working collaboratively with partners, like the Lake Champlain Basin Program and others, to the associated economic impacts, implement new risk reduction strategies and potential mitigation measures in select locks on the Champlain Canal, and provide enhanced public education so all New Yorkers can help prevent the spread of invasives. Prior to advancing any actions, DEC and the Canal Corporation will work with partners to educate and engage stakeholders on any measures identified to limit the spread of round goby.

Press Release, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand

Photo by Tom Rivers: Fireworks are reflected in the Erie Canal in Holley during the June Fest celebration on June 2, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are announcing the introduction of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Act, legislation that would extend the canalway’s authorization as a National Heritage Area (NHA) for the next 15 years, through FY 2037.

Currently, Congress reauthorizes NHAs in two-year periods; this 15-year extension would be a long-term solution to preserve one of New York’s most critical economic engines. In addition to extending the reauthorization period for the Erie Canalway Corridor as a National Heritage Area, this bill would raise the funding cap for the Erie Canalway from $16 million to $18 million.

The Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor consists of the 57 canalway locks, spanning 524 miles and connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River. It was designated a National Heritage Area by Congress in 2000, granting the waterway a federally appointed Canalway Commission tasked with ensuring that the historical and natural features of the Canal and its communities are preserved.

The corridor spans upstate New York from Buffalo to Albany and along the Champlain Canal to Whitehall. Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors boat, bike, and walk along the corridor, supporting tourism, businesses, and job creation across the state. Gillibrand and Schumer successfully fought for reauthorization of the Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor’s funding in 2009.

“It is time to open the gates and let long-term federal support flow into the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor so that Upstate New York’s economy can rise. The Erie Canal is a vital economic engine for tourism in Upstate New York, not to mention one of the Empire State’s greatest attractions and most impressive features. This legislation will ensure the legacy of the Erie Canal’s beauty remains intact and continues to inspire the next generation,” said Senator Schumer. “The history of the Erie Canal is not just the history of New York, but of America and the rise of our great nation. A rising tide lifts all boats, and I am proud to be leading the charge in ensuring the Erie Canal gets the funding it needs to continue to lift communities from Buffalo to Albany.”

“The Erie Canal is one of our nation’s richest treasures and spans across the great state of New York. The legacy of the canal helps drive millions of dollars and is a critical economic engine for Upstate New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “From Buffalo, through Wayne County and up to Lake Champlain, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has helped sustain strong communities with miles of adventure and endless recreation for the millions of New Yorkers who call the Corridor home. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to provide a long-term fix for the Erie Canalway’s reauthorization and funding cap. As a native of Upstate New York, I have always fought to preserve the canal’s natural resources and history and will continue serving as a champion in the Senate to conserve its beauty for generations to come.”

The senators have a long history of fighting for this important New York NHA. Congress has imposed cumulative funding caps on the amount of funding NHAs can receive over their lifetime, but also has the authority to increase the caps. In 2019, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Tonko successfully increased the funding cap for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to $14 million. The FY 2022 omnibus funding package included an increase for the Erie Canalway to $16 million; however, as Congress figures out a long-term reauthorization solution, the senators want to ensure the Corridor is adequately funded should it reach its funding cap during that time frame.

The FY 2022 omnibus also reauthorized the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission through FY 2037, so this bill would align the Corridor’s reauthorization time frame with the Commission’s. Senator Gillibrand previously introduced bicameral legislation with Congressman Tonko to extend the Commission’s reauthorization.

“Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, along with Congressman Tonko, have long recognized the value of investing in canal communities’ heritage and recreational opportunities as important economic drivers for upstate New York,” said Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Bob Radliff. “With their critical support, Erie Canalway will continue to preserve, foster and showcase this legendary place for millions of Corridor residents and visitors from all over the world.”