Genesee RiverWatchGenesee RiverWatch Provides Comments on NYSDEC’s Proposed Water Quality Guidance Values (GVs) for Phosphorus
On December 20, 2024, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) released new proposed water quality guidance values (GVs) that will advance the State’s regulation of the nutrient phosphorus to protect human health and aquatic life in both flowing and ponded ambient freshwaters. Comments were requested and GRW submitted ours on February 16, 2025. Genesee River Watch has been advocating for a phosphorus standard for flowing waters for some time and it’s good to see that NYSDEC is moving in that direction. In addition, RiverWatch comments included recommendations on how the values could be applied to new and existing wastewater discharges. See attached document for our detailed comments.
Genesee River Basin Summit: “Emerging Issues” – Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Genesee RiverWatch is hosting its annual Genesee River Basin Summit on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the RIT Inn and Conference Center. The topic of this year’s Summit is “Emerging Issues”. Join Genesee RiverWatch and fellow stakeholders, experts, and community members for a vital discussion on Emerging Issues affecting water quality and recreation in the Genesee River Basin. This will be a unique opportunity to learn about critical topics impacting our watershed and to participate in meaningful conversations that can drive positive change.
Emerging issues to be discussed include:
- Methods to sample dissolved greenhouse gases in the Genesee River. Learn more
- The impact of the Erie Canal on water quality of the Genesee River. Learn more
- Characterization of plastics in the Genesee. Learn more
- Wood debris removal in the Upper Genesee. Learn more
The event includes a continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments, exhibitors, and is free to attend.
The link to register and the complete agenda are below.
>> REGISTER HERE for the May 28, 2025, Summit <<
Agenda
| Time | Topic | Presentation(s) | Presenter(s) |
| 8:00 to 8:30 | Registration | Continental Breakfast | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 8:30 to 9:15 | Opening Remarks | 1. Welcome 2. Why Emerging Issues | 1. Mike Haugh – Genesee RiverWatch 2. George Thomas – Genesee RiverWatch |
| 9:15 to 10:15 | Greenhouse Gases | Methods for Continuous Sampling of Dissolved Greenhouse Gases and Other Environmental Variables in the Genesee River (Presentation highlight) | Katie Gregory – University of Rochester |
| 10:15 to 10:45 | BREAK | Coffee Refresh | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 10:45 to 11:45 | Erie Canal | Impact of the Erie Canal on Genesee River Water Quality (Presentation highlight) | Joe Makarewicz – Genesee RiverWatch |
| 11:45 to 12:45 | LUNCH | Provided | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 1:00 to 1:15 | Awards | Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Awards | Mike Storonsky – Genesee RiverWatch |
| 1:15 to 2:15 | Plastics | Characterization of Plastics in the Genesee (Presentation highlight) | Christy Tyler – Rochester Institute of Technology |
| 2:15 to 2:45 | BREAK | Cookies & Beverage Provided | VISIT EXHIBITS |
| 2:45 to 3:45 | Logjams | Woody Debris Removal Project in the Upper Genesee River Basin (Presentation highlight) | Rebecca Rowley and Rando Morgan – Genesee River Wilds and River Rangers |
| 3:45 to 4:00 | Wrap-up | Thank You | Genesee RiverWatch |
George Thomas Discusses Genesee RiverWatch Initiative on Warm 101.3
Jon Goehring of local radio station Warm 101.3 recently interviewed our executive director George Thomas about Genesee RiverWatch. Take a listen to this 15 minute recording and learn interesting facts about the Genesee, how to enjoy the river, and Genesee RiverWatch’s work to improve its water quality.
Seeking Your Support for 2025 and Beyond
Our Year End Appeal
As we bring our 50th Anniversary Year to a close, we are grateful for the community support that makes our work possible. Together, we are having a meaningful impact on the Genesee River and its surrounding communities. That is why we invite you to consider a donation of $100, $250 – or an amount of your choosing – to Genesee RiverWatch. Your donation will be matched through the end of 2024 due to the generosity of Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester & her husband Karl Rosengren, Professor of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester.
We launched Genesee RiverWatch 10 years ago, building on 40 years of environmental leadership of the Center for Environmental Information, started in 1974. Our mission: “To champion solutions that improve the water quality of the Genesee and initiatives that connect people to the River.” At the inaugural Genesee River Basin Summit, we presented our film “Restoring Our River, Work Worth Doing”. This short film focuses on the beauty of the Genesee, from its source in Gold, Pennsylvania to Rochester’s harbor and the work needed to preserve and enhance the Genesee for future generations. We stand by the film’s conclusion – this is indeed “Work Worth Doing”. View the film.
In that spirit, your participation in our Year End Appeal will help ensure that we have the funding in 2025 and beyond to continue our work. Any amount is welcome and appreciated! The table below summarizes our 2024 accomplishment and future plans. Our 2024 Newsletter has all the details. We hope you check it out, consider supporting our work and take advantage of the matching donation through the end of 2024!
| 2024 Work | 2025 and Beyond |
| 10th Annual Genesee River Summit Conference | Annual Summit conferences to inform public and prioritize work |
| Streambank restoration – Two sites on Oatka Creek | Streambank restoration – Babbitt’s Farm and Rush Creek |
| 2024 Public Paddling Program with City of Rochester attracted 130 first-time and experienced paddlers | Continue and expand Paddling Program exposing more people to the beauty of the Genesee |
| 50th Anniversary celebration and fundraising | Complete upgrades of access sites in Avon and Geneseo |
| Earth Day clean up below Ford Street Bridge | Continue clean up activities at key sites |
| Hired Assistant Executive Director to expand capacity and ensure continuity | Publish updated Blueway Map, adding river-adjacent hiking trails |
Newsletter 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters:
As the year comes to a close we find ourselves reflecting on a unique (and busy!) year for Genesee RiverWatch. It’s the year we celebrated our 50th anniversary as the region’s oldest locally established environmental organization, culminating in our October Gala. It’s the year we added an Assistant Executive Director (welcome Caroline!). And it’s the year we added river cleanup to our activities, helped add the names of the iconic waterfalls on the Genesee River in Rochester to federal maps and records, and the year we presented our 10th annual Genesee River Basin Summit, focusing on the Future of the Basin.
All this was accomplished while continuing our core mission of improving water quality and connecting people to the river. We completed the Oatka Creek streambank restoration demonstration project and have other major projects funded for 2025. We had our highest number of attendees at our summer paddling program, held in conjunction with the Genesee Waterways Center.
We couldn’t do any of this without our dedicated Board of Directors, volunteers and donors. Thank YOU for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the Genesee River and its surrounding communities.
Sincerely,
Mike Haugh, President of the Board
George Thomas, Executive Director
Genesee RiverWatch Celebrated Its 50th Anniversary with a Gala
Genesee RiverWatch and guests spent a wonderful evening celebrating our 50th anniversary with a gala on Friday, October 11, held at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. Mike Haugh, President, and the entire Genesee RiverWatch Board of Directors thank all who attended and our generous sponsors in helping to make the evening a success and setting the stage for the next 50 years of environmental stewardship in the Genesee-Finger Lakes region.
Special thanks go to Sarah Mangelsdorf, President of the University of Rochester, and her husband, Karl Rosengren, Professor of Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University, who are generously serving as co-Honorary Chairpersons to commemorate this half-century milestone. Sarah and Karl are supporting our anniversary fundraising effort with a generous matching gift of $10,000 that will double donations made through the end of this year.
Our keynote speaker was Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Ms. Harris also serves as co-chair of the New York State Climate Action Council. Other distinguished speakers were Elizabeth Thorndike, co-founder of the Center for Environmental Information, or CEI – the forerunner organization to Genesee RiverWatch – and George Thomas, Executive Director of Genesee RiverWatch.
Read all about the Gala here!
Genesee River Basin Summit 2024 Wrap-Up: “The Future of the Basin”
Genesee RiverWatch hosted 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 was “The Future of the Basin”. It brought 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.
Among the topics discussed, attendees learned about the NY Department of Conservation’s commitment to the Genesee River Watershed and the City of Rochester’s Roc the Riverway initiative. The full agenda and presentations can be found here. We are grateful to the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) for sponsoring this year’s Summit event and for their commitment to the future of the Genesee River as a community resource. RACF was also the sponsor of our inaugural Summit in 2014! Learn more.
A Genesee Paddling Season for the Record Books!
Interest in paddling the Genesee keeps growing year by year! For the five events of 2024, 130 people joined us – up from 102 last year, which was itself a record for this program that started in 2018. Genesee RiverWatch partners with the Genesee Waterways Center and the City of Rochester to offer this summer series of on-the-water kayak paddles because we feel strongly that the best way to really appreciate the Genesee is to explore it from water level, along with the herons, turtles, muskrat, mink, and occasional eagles that make their homes on the river and its banks.
This season’s paddles included two “learn to paddle” events, Kayak Cleanup, City Skyline and Roc the RiverWay. Learn more.
Streambank Restoration & Agricultural Best Management
Our work to improve water quality includes stabilizing and restoring eroding streambanks and applying agricultural best management practices that reduce sediment and phosphorus loads to the river, and that slow the rate of erosion, preserving agricultural land and fertile topsoil. These projects also restore and improve wildlife habitat in and along the river by establishing wild plantings in the riparian zones.
2024 Project Updates
Evaluation of Streambank Restoration Techniques on Oatka Creek
Genesee RiverWatch has completed an evaluation of novel streambank restoration techniques on Oatka Creek. The study used bio-engineering techniques that create aquatic and riparian habitat, making maximum use of materials available on-site and minimizing purchased materials and equipment from off-site. This project was funded by a grant from NYS Sea Grant and completed in partnership with the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee and Genesee Country Village and Museum. Learn more and read the White Paper.
Babbitt’s Farm – Genesee River Streambank Restoration
The project will restore 850 feet of highly eroded streambank on Babbitt’s Farm north of Caneadea, NY. We will also install river training structures to prevent further erosion at the site and downstream, affecting 2,250 feet of riverbed. The project is funded by a $200,000 grant from the Great Lakes Commission and a $50,000 in-kind match by the landowner, Babbitt’s Farm. The design process was delayed and is now expected to be completed by year-end with construction planned for the summer of 2025.
Rush Creek Riparian Restoration
A $212K grant from National Fish & Wildlife Foundation/Sustain Our Great Lakes with $245K matching work by Allegany County Highway Department and Allegany County S&WCD will enable us to stabilize and re-direct the flow of Rush Creek to prevent erosion both on the creek itself and on the West Bank of the Genesee, where the creek meets the river. This is a complex project with significant regulatory/environmental issues and several landowners involved. We are working toward a design for this project in the spring of 2025. We expect to submit the permit application by early 2025 and begin construction in the fall of 2025.
Other News
Caroline Kilmer Named Assistant Executive Director
Caroline Kilmer has joined Genesee RiverWatch as our Assistant Executive Director. Caroline grew up in Pittsford and received her B.A. in biology from SUNY Oswego and her M.S. degree in biology from Illinois State University, both with a focus on conservation. She brings over 20 years of experience working in the field of water quality, including, from 2004-2011, Executive Director of the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District. During her tenure, she formed partnerships and implemented new initiatives with local stakeholders including landowners, farmers, government agencies, non-profits, academia and the construction industry.
In 2011, Caroline left the Soil and Water District and started CMK Consulting LLC, a NYS certified woman-owned stormwater consulting business. She is also a member of the Town of Pittsford Environmental Board. Caroline lives with her husband and 2 sons and together they enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, skiing and sailing on Lake Ontario. Caroline is looking forward to using her experience and knowledge to support the mission and goals of the Genesee River Watch. Learn more about Caroline!
Genesee RiverWatch Welcomes “New” Board Members
We are pleased to give a belated welcome to Michael Chislock, PhD who joined our board in January, 2024. Michael is an Associate Professor of Limnology in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology at SUNY Brockport. As a board member, Michael looks forward to supporting efforts in the watershed while engaging SUNY Brockport students, staff, and faculty on interdisciplinary efforts that address existing and future challenges in the watershed.
We note with sadness the passing of Matthew Altenritter, PhD in March, 2024. Matthew, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology at SUNY Brockport had also joined the board in January, 2024. We were looking forward to collaborating with Matthew to explore novel avenues for addressing concerns and knowledge gaps throughout the Genesee watershed. We extend our deepest sympathies to Matthew’s family.
Learn more about our Staff and Board of Directors.
Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Awards
Genesee RiverWatch has recognized its 2024 Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award recipients:
- Letchworth State Park – This NY State park and its 14,000 acre, 17 mile long stretch of the Genesee River is an environmental, recreational, and educational resource for the entire region. Twice voted Best State Park in the US by the USA Today Readers Poll, Letchworth attracted over 975,000 visitors in 2023.
- Peter Lent – Until recently, Pete was a Board Member of Genesee RiverWatch, serving a key member of the Board group that developed the Genesee RiverWatch initiative and launched it at the first Basin Summit in 2014. Over the past 10 years, Pete has been a valued member of the RiverWatch Operations and Technical committees and has served several terms as chairman of the Board Nominating Committee. He has been involved with all our major riverbank stabilization projects, organized volunteers for planting events, and helped lead the volunteer team collecting turbidity and orthophosphate data from the Genesee and its tributaries.
- S. Ram Shrivastava – The Center for Environmental Initiatives and Genesee RiverWatch have been the beneficiaries Ram’s experience and wise counsel for over 31 years – the longest tenure of any board member in our history! As a life-long contributor to the environmental improvement of western New York and to the success of CEI and Genesee RiverWatch, Ram Shrivastava is a perfect example of the spirit behind the Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award.
The awards are given to individuals, organizations, projects or events in recognition of significant contributions to our mission of “championing solutions that improve the water quality of the Genesee and initiatives that connect people to the River”. The awards are given in honor of Elizabeth Thorndike, longtime supporter of Genesee RiverWatch and one of the founders of its predecessor organization, the Center for Environmental Information. Learn more about our Award winners!
Genesee River Waterfalls Added to Official Federal Maps
Thanks to a collaboration between Genesee RiverWatch and the City of Rochester, the names of the three iconic waterfalls on the Genesee River in Rochester have now been officially added to federal maps and records, ending an oversight dating back almost 130 years. The names we all know them by – High Falls, Middle Falls and Lower Falls – were never included on U.S. Geological Survey maps or the official database of American place names until now. After Rochester City’s Council unanimously passed a resolution on May 20 supporting the request, Mayor Malik D. Evans presented Genesee RiverWatch with a proclamation at our annual Genesee River Basin Summit on May 22 that endorsed the action. Learn more.
Earth Day Cleanup!
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, volunteers from Genesee RiverWatch, in cooperation with the City of Rochester, conducted a cleanup of trash that had been accumulating on the east bank of the Genesee River near downtown Rochester. We were happy to help the South Wedge neighborhood! Learn more.
Canoe/Kayak Access Projects
Genesee RiverWatch is continuing to work with our partners (USFWS, villages of Avon, Geneseo) to improve car-top boating access sites off Route 20 in the village of Avon and at Geneseo River Access Park in the village of Geneseo. Funding includes $87K from the Kodak Environmental Response Trust. Engineering plans have been finalized and permit applications submitted. We are hopeful construction can be completed next summer.
Quick Notes:
Recreation in the Genesee River Basin
The Genesee River Basin is filled with natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Check out our “Recreation” page to find hiking, paddling and fishing opportunities on the Genesee.
Photo Galleries
Ever since we launched Genesee RiverWatch, we have planned to organize the many beautiful photos taken by Genesee RiverWatch volunteers into Photo Galleries. We have finally got a start and invite you to check out on our new Photo Galleries page.
Genesee River Blueway Map Update
The Genesee River Blueway Map is your guide to paddling the Genesee from its headwaters in Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario. It shows safe access sites and provides the river mileage between these points. Currently, the map is available as a tri-fold brochure at many of the access sites and is downloadable from our website. Also on the website is an interactive map. We have begun the process of adding hiking trails along the river and plan more updates in the future.
Donor Support Helps Us Do Our Work – Please Support our Year End Appeal!
Genesee RiverWatch relies heavily on community support to continue its work of improving water quality and connecting people to the river. We are very appreciative of Our Supporters. As part of our 50th Anniversary year, donations will be matched through the end of 2024 due to the generosity of Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester & her husband Karl Rosengren, Professor of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester. We hope you consider supporting our work!
A Genesee Paddling Season for the Record Books!
Interest in paddling the Genesee keeps growing year by year! For the five events of 2024, 130 people joined us – up from 102 last year, which was itself a record for this program that started in 2018. Genesee RiverWatch partners with the Genesee Waterways Center and the City of Rochester to offer this summer series of on-the-water kayak paddles because we feel strongly that the best way to really appreciate the Genesee is to explore it from water level, along with the herons, turtles, muskrat, mink, and occasional eagles that make their homes on the river and its banks.
June 28th Paddle
We began the season on June 28th with a free evening “Learn to Paddle & Ice Cream Social” program. Waterways Center, City, and RiverWatch staff were on hand as guides and instructors for those new to kayaking. The evening was sunny and warm. Bryan Wang provided guitar accompaniment and Lucia’s Ice Cream made for a perfect ending to this day on the river.
July 13th Paddle
July 13th again focused on learning to paddle, but we expanded our horizon by going up the Genesee to the Erie Canal and from there into Red Creek. This narrow and secluded by-way is home to painted turtles, white egrets, geese, and muskrats. As we paddled up the creek, away from I-390 and under the Genesee Valley Park bridges, the trees grew over the waterway, forming an almost silent green tunnel, broken by stretches of open sun.
July 24th Paddle
July 24th found us back on Red Creek with our “Genesee River Kayak Cleanup” paddle. We were joined by staff from the Seneca Park Zoo who weighed and categorized the trash collected and by Katie Stoss from RIT who described the new RIT/UR Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health in a Changing Environment.
August 17th Paddle
The “City Skyline Paddle” on August 17th, took us downriver, past the university of Rochester, to the Ford Street Bridge where we discussed the buildings visible from the river and some of the history of canals, railroads, and floods that have left their imprint along the Genesee. Though the weather looked threatening, we stayed warm and dry for the entire trip.
October 5th Paddle – Roc the Riverway Weekend
Our final paddle of the season took place on October 5th – Roc the Riverway Weekend. Again, we did a “Kayak Cleanup”, this time downriver through the University toward Corn Hill. It was a lovely warm fall day with the leaves beginning to turn. 15 paddlers did great work, picking up trash along the riverbank which the Seneca Park Zoo staff again weighed and categorized for their on-going study.
2025 Plans
For 2025, we hope to hold six events, including two “Learn to Paddle” programs and the very popular “Kayak Cleanup” trips. We also hope to return to the Lower River with a trip from Seth Green Park to the harbor through the wildlife- and history-rich area we call the “Wilderness in a City”. Also on the wish list is a repeat of 2023’s trip through Erie Canal Lock 33 – always spectacular from the seat of a kayak!
Join us next year to personally experience the magic of the Genesee and its adjacent waters.
Have a wonderful winter – and take the opportunity to walk the river’s banks following one of the hikes outlined at Hiking in the Genesee River Basin | Genesee RiverWatch.
Novel Streambank Restoration Techniques Evaluated on Oatka Creek
Genesee RiverWatch has published a white paper describing an evaluation of novel streambank restoration techniques. In partnership with the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee and Genesee Country Village and Museum, Genesee RiverWatch designed, installed, and evaluated two novel streambank restoration techniques on a segment of Oatka Creek using bio-engineering techniques that create aquatic and riparian habitat.
These techniques made maximum use of materials available on-site and minimized purchased materials and equipment from off-site. Both designs compared favorably to typical toe wood construction with stone barbs. The most notable conclusions were:
- Site 2 installation costs per foot were significantly less while Site 1 costs were more than traditional methods
- Both designs used significantly less material from off-site
- Both designs used a comparable amount of material from onsite
- Both designs used many fewer root wads, thus preserving carbon-absorbing mature trees.
- Both designs created riparian and aquatic habitat
- Both of these designs were relatively straightforward to install
This project was funded by a grant from NYS Sea Grant to identify, design, install, and evaluate two options to restore eroded streambanks and/or prevent erosion on Oatka Creek using bio-engineering techniques that create aquatic and riparian habitat.
Genesee River Basin Summit 2024 Wrap-Up: “The Future of the Basin”
Genesee RiverWatch hosted 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 was “The Future of the Basin”. It brought 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 complete agenda and presentations are linked below.
Among the topics discussed, attendees learned about the NY Department of Conservation commitment to the Genesee River Watershed and the City of Rochester’s Roc the Riverway initiative.
RACF Sponsorship
Genesee RiverWatch is grateful to the Rochester Area Community Foundation for 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.
50th Anniversary Recognition
Genesee RiverWatch counts itself as the area’s oldest locally established environmental organization. At the Summit, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans issued a proclamation honoring the organization for its half-century of service, saying its work was “critical to our well-being, quality of life and the future of our community.”
The Future of the Basin: Agenda & Presentations
| 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 |
Genesee RiverWatch Celebrated Its 50th Anniversary with a Gala
Genesee RiverWatch and guests spent a wonderful evening celebrating our 50th anniversary with a gala on Friday, October 11, held at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. Mike Haugh, President, and the entire Genesee RiverWatch Board of Directors would like to thank all who attended and our generous sponsors in helping to make the evening a success and setting the stage for the next 50 years of environmental stewardship in the Genesee-Finger Lakes region.
Special thanks go to Sarah Mangelsdorf, President of the University of Rochester, and her husband, Karl Rosengren, Professor of Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University, who are generously serving as co-Honorary Chairpersons to commemorate this half-century milestone. Sarah and Karl are supporting our anniversary fundraising effort with a generous matching gift of $10,000 that will double donations made through the end of this year. In addition, they hosted 29 students and coaches from the university’s Yellowjackets Rowing Team who brought a wonderfully youthful energy to the event!
We are grateful that Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), agreed to be our keynote speaker. Ms. Harris, who earned a chemical engineering degree at the University of Rochester, also serves as co-chair of the New York State Climate Action Council.
Other distinguished speakers were Elizabeth Thorndike, co-founder of the Center for Environmental Information, or CEI – the forerunner organization to Genesee RiverWatch – and George Thomas, Executive Director of Genesee RiverWatch.
In a special moment, Ram Shrivastava was awarded the Elizabeth Thorndike Leadership Award for his long service on the Genesee RiverWatch board of directors.
Thanks also to the Maple Quartet for providing chamber music during the reception and to the Archive Ravens for enhancing our dinner with their acoustic jazz.
50 Years Ago
In 1974, when the green movement was new and reliable information on environmental topics was not widely available, Mrs. Thorndike and five other local women recognized the need for a regional environmental information clearinghouse and founded CEI. In the following decades, CEI served as a vital source of reference information and took an active role in convening stakeholder conferences and fostering collaboration on major issues such as acid rain, global climate change, and water quality in Lake Ontario and its tributaries, including the Genesee River. The group won numerous national and regional awards for its work.
Not long after completing those in-depth water quality studies, CEI leaders decided to shift the group’s focus to the Genesee River in 2014, launching Genesee RiverWatch.
Over the 10 years since, Genesee RiverWatch has used grants and donations to perform $2.8 million in work to restore stream banks suffering from erosion along the Genesee and its tributaries, thus reducing runoff of pollutants and sediment, preserving valuable farmland, and improving habitat for fish and wildlife along the river. RiverWatch also works with local entities to identify and support new and improved small-boat access points on the river. The group, which relies almost exclusively on volunteers, has engaged in countless educational efforts and worked to bring public attention to the river.
Genesee RiverWatch counts itself as the area’s oldest locally established environmental organization. In May, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans issued a proclamation honoring the organization for its half-century of service, saying its work was “critical to our well-being, quality of life and the future of our community.” Genesee RiverWatch was also recognized with commendations for its long years of environmental stewardship from Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Joseph Morelle and NYS Senator Samra Brouk.
Thank you to our 50th Anniversary Supporters!
2024 Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Awards
Genesee RiverWatch has recognized its 2024 Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award recipients – Letchworth State Park, Peter Lent and S. Ram Shrivastava. The awards are given to individuals, organizations, projects or events in recognition of significant contributions to our mission of “championing solutions that improve the water quality of the Genesee and initiatives that connect people to the River”. The awards are given in honor of Elizabeth Thorndike, longtime supporter of Genesee RiverWatch and one of the founders of its predecessor organization, the Center for Environmental Information.
Award winners have demonstrated success in (1) improving the water quality of the Genesee River Basin; (2) creating environmental, recreational, and economic assets for their communities; and/or (3) connecting people to the river by encouraging them to explore, experience, and celebrate the river.
A separate category of the awards recognizes volunteers whose work on behalf of Genesee RiverWatch has significantly aided us in furthering our Mission.
Letchworth State Park
Founded as the result of a 1906 gift by William Pryor Letchworth, Letchworth State Park is now the custodian of a 14,000 acre, 17 mile long stretch of the Genesee River that contains three of the Genesee’s six magnificent waterfalls.Visitors can choose among 66 miles of hiking trails, some of which are available for horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Letchworth also offers nature, history and performing arts programs, guided walks, tours, a summer lecture series, whitewater rafting, kayaking, a pool for swimming and hot air ballooning.
The Humphrey Nature Center offers year-round environmental education opportunities for school groups, scouts, youth organizations, and the general public. Programming and interactive exhibits highlight the geology, wildlife, and ecology of the park.The new Autism Nature Trail (A.N.T.) provides a safe and inclusive area for individuals with autism or other related disabilities. This accessible mile long trail hosts eight different sensory stations for individuals and families to experience and explore nature.
In addition to its direct delivery of environmental, recreational, and educational services that focus on the Genesee and its surroundings, Letchworth State Park is an economic resource for the entire region. Twice voted Best State Park in the US by the USA Today Readers Poll, Letchworth attracted over 975,000 visitors in 2023.
Renee Wickman
Environmental Stewardship Specialist received the award on behalf of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Peter Lent
New York State and two Genesee River Basin organizations devoted to improving our region’s water quality have been the lucky recipients of Pete Lent’s knowledge and experience.An expert in biomonitoring of water quality, Pete retired from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 2010 after a 26 year career, culminating in service as the Region 8 Permit Administrator.
In 2012, Pete joined the Board of Directors of the Center for Environmental Initiatives – now Genesee RiverWatch. He was a key member of the Board group that developed the Genesee RiverWatch initiative and launched it at the first Basin Summit in 2014. Over the past 10 years, Pete has been a valued member of the RiverWatch Operations and Technical committees and has served several terms as chairman of the Board Nominating Committee. He has been involved with all our major riverbank stabilization projects, organized volunteers for planting events, and helped lead the volunteer team collecting turbidity and orthophosphate data from the Genesee and its tributaries.
Pete also volunteers with the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee (OCWC) and has been its chairman since 2012. He has guided the Committee’s work which includes educational outreach, both at community events (e.g., tree planting and festivals) and presentations to municipal boards. He provides information on areas of concern and the status of water resources in the watershed and helps implement the recommendations and strategies found in the Oatka Creek Watershed Management Plan.
Pete’s willingness to offer his knowledge and skills for the benefit of the Genesee Region makes him an example to the community and a deserving recipient of the Thorndike Award.
S. Ram Shrivastava
Ram is one of the trail blazers of the Finger Lakes environmental movement and a true leader of this community in all his activities. As President and CEO of Larsen Engineers for 55 years, he has built a respected firm focused on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Green Design. As a board member of the Friends of the GardenAerial, he helps guide its work on revitalization of the High Falls area and its Green Visions workforce development initiative. As a board member of the India Community Center for 12 years, he chaired the Building Committee that established the current ICC facility. As a member of the Brighton Rotary Club and President in 2021-22, he helped shepherd the organization through the difficult COVID years.
The Center for Environmental Initiatives and Genesee RiverWatch have been the beneficiaries of this experience and Ram’s wise counsel for over 31 years – the longest tenure of any board member in our history! Ram served as President of the Board for five years from 2002 to 2006. In the deliberations resulting in the launch of the Genesee RiverWatch Initiative, Ram supported this new direction while keeping the Board focused on the key values that made CEI successful, including collaboration and a focus on science as the touchstone for all our work. As RiverWatch has grown, he has continued to keep the Board aware of the opportunities for environmental improvement in the communities along the river, including the growth of rural solar power and the need to reduce heat islands in river-adjacent communities. In addition, while it appears prosaic, Ram has made our cost-efficient “virtual” form of organization possible by freely providing the critical resource of a physical location for mail and storage of the materials used in field work and community outreach.
As a life-long contributor to the environmental improvement of western New York and to the success of CEI and Genesee RiverWatch, Ram Shrivastava is a perfect example of the spirit behind the Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award.