Genesee RiverWatch
Genesee RiverWatch is hosting its 10th annual Genesee River Basin Summit on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The topic of this year’s summit is “The Future of the Basin”. It will bring together key stakeholders, experts and community members to discuss and collaborate on strategies and plans to enhance the environmental, economic and recreational aspects of the Genesee River Basin. The link to register and the complete agenda are below.
RACF Sponsorship
Genesee RiverWatch is pleased to announce that the Rochester Area Community Foundation is sponsoring this year’s Summit event. RACF was also the sponsor of our inaugural Summit in 2014. We thank them for this support and for their commitment to the future of the Genesee River as a community resource.
>> REGISTER HERE for the May 22, 2024 Summit <<
The Future of the Basin: Agenda
| Time | Topic | Presentation(s) | Presenter(s) |
| 8:00 to 8:30 | Registration | Continental Breakfast | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 8:30 to 9:00 | Welcome | 1. Welcome 2. CEI/Genesee RiverWatch 50th Anniversary Celebration | 1. Steve Orr – Genesee RiverWatch 2. Mike Haugh – Genesee RiverWatch |
| 9:00 to 10:15 | Basin-wide Initiatives | 1. Genesee RiverWatch: Formation, Current and Future Work 2. Genesee River Watershed Implementation Plan | 1. George Thomas – Genesee RiverWatch 2. Ryan Elliott – NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
| 10:15 to 10:45 | BREAK | Coffee Refresh | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 10:45 to 12:15 | Why should we care about the river? | 1. City of Rochester Perspective 2. Economic Development Perspective – ROC the Riverway | 1. Malik Evans – Mayor, City of Rochester 2. Vinnie Esposito – NYS Economic Development |
| 12:15 to 1:00 | LUNCH | Provided | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 1:00 to 1:15 | Awards | Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Awards | |
| 1:15 to 2:45 | Regional Perspectives | 1. Allegany County 2. Livingston County | 1. Kier Dirlam – Allegany County Planning 2. Kelly Burns – Livingston County Tourism |
| 2:45 to 3:00 | BREAK | Cookies & Beverage Provided | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 3:00 to 4:30 | Recreational Opportunities | 1. Paddling in the Upper Basin 2. Paddling in the Lower & Middle Basin 3. Recreational Initiative in the Upper Basin | 1. Rebecca Rowley – Genesee River Wilds 2. Amanda Matkosky – Genesee RiverWatch 3. Anna Huizenga – Houghton University |
| 4:30 to 4:45 | Wrap-up | Next Steps | Genesee RiverWatch |