Genesee RiverWatchGenesee 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.
Genesee RiverWatch 50th Anniversary Gala
You are Invited to the Genesee RiverWatch
50 Year Anniversary Gala
Please join Genesee RiverWatch and our Honorary Chairpersons:
Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester
&
Karl Rosengren, Professor of Psychology, University of Rochester
for an unforgettable evening of art, music, fine dining, a silent auction, and distinguished speakers to celebrate the 50-year legacy of environmental leadership begun by the
Center for Environmental Information
and continuing as
Genesee RiverWatch
Keynote Speaker
Doreen M. Harris, President & CEO
New York State Energy Research And Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Co-Chair, New York State Climate Action Council
Friday, October 11, 2024
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester, NY
5:30 – 9:30pm
Ticket Price: $200
(Ticket deadline 10/3/2024)
Business Attire
Call Genesee RiverWatch (585-233-6086) to discuss sponsoring a table of 8.
Your presence at this gala not only celebrates the past achievements of Genesee RiverWatch and its predecessor, the Center for Environmental Information, but also directly supports its ongoing mission to improve the Genesee River’s water quality and connect people to this vital natural resource.
Read About Our 50 Years of Environmental Leadership
Our distinguished speakers – including Elizabeth Thorndike, founder of the Center for Environmental Information – will offer a unique perspective on 50 years of environmental progress. Our keynote speaker is Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) where Ms. Harris leads NYSERDA’s role in implementing New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and serves as Co-Chair of the New York State Climate Action Council.
Indulge in the art work of the MAG before a fine dinner, enjoy the enchanting melodies of the Maple Quartet of Eastman School of Music, and bid on Genesee River-themed artworks in a silent auction featuring original works by local artists Phyllis Bryce Ely and Erica Bryant. Try your luck at a paddleboard raffle!
We look forward to seeing you. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Genesee RiverWatch’s legacy and help shape the next 50 years of environmental conservation in our region on Friday, October 11, 2024, at the Memorial Art Gallery!
If you cannot make the Gala and would like to support Genesee RiverWatch, a donation of any amount is much appreciated.
Thank you to our 50th Anniversary Supporters!
ROC the Riverway Guided Paddle Cleanup: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Help the environment & enjoy the outdoors
Registration is open to join Genesee RiverWatch and the Genesee Waterways Center in celebrating ROC the Riverway Weekend on Saturday, October 5, from 3:00-6:00pm.
We are teaming up with the Seneca Park Zoo Society to celebrate ROC the Riverway Weekend with an educational stewardship paddle along the Genesee River. This all-levels paddle offers participants opportunities to see the Genesee riverfront development projects up close while also learning about our local environment and helping to clean up our river. Bring your friends and help us keep the Genesee River beautiful!
- We need to start promptly at 3:00PM, so plan to arrive around 2:30PM in order to sign in and get your life vest, paddle, and kayak.
- No prior experience necessary.
- Paddlers must be at least 10 years old. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Pre-registration is required at the Genesee Waterways Website.
- We will meet at the Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Avenue.
Any questions? Call the Waterways Center at 585-328-3960.
See you on the River!
Caroline Kilmer joins Genesee RiverWatch as Assistant Executive Director
Genesee RiverWatch is pleased to announce that Caroline Kilmer has joined our organization as Assistant Executive Director. Caroline joins us with over 20 years of experience working in the field of water quality. 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 started her career at the Maryland Department of the Environment where she carried out a variety of studies on the effects of pollution on the health of the Chesapeake Bay. In 2004, she moved back to Rochester to take on the position as Executive Director of the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District. As the District’s director she oversaw staff, and was responsible for obtaining grants and funding to support programs that protect local water quality such as the implementation of best management practices that stabilize soil, improve water quality, and mange stormwater runoff. 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. As a consultant, she continued her efforts providing education, technical expertise and grant writing services on a variety of water quality projects, to clients such as the Rochester Museum & Science Center, Monroe County and many local municipalities.
Caroline is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), a Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), a Certified Professional in Municipal Stormwater Management (CPMSM). 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.
The Genesee River Basin: Getting the Attention it Deserves
Genesee RiverWatch is greatly encouraged by the ongoing and recent work of several groups including the Genesee River Watershed Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, Southern Tier West and Central Regional Planning and Development Boards, and the Department of Environmental Conservation to update the Nine Element Plan for the Genesee River Basin. The updated Plan is designed to garner increased engagement from stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of best management practices to reduce phosphorus and sediment impacts in the Genesee, its tributaries, and Lake Ontario.
Since its formation a decade ago, Genesee RiverWatch has undertaken its own work to address sediment and phosphorus loading but also advocated strongly for a more comprehensive approach like the plan now being developed by DEC.
At our inaugural basin summit in 2014, Genesee RiverWatch articulated four principles to guide our efforts, including helping to prioritize basin needs, attracting additional funding for watershed improvement projects and bringing together stakeholders.
At the 2019 summit, we shared a detailed plan for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading caused by streambank erosion.
And at our 2023 summit, we presented a more comprehensive proposal that called for the solicitation of regular and sustained funding from state and federal sources to increase the pace of sediment and phosphorus reduction work in the basin. The proposal stipulated that the funding should go toward the following:
- Streambank Restoration (SBR) – Increase the development and implementation of high priority SBR projects along the main stem and tributaries
- Agricultural Best Management Practices (AgBMPs) – Increase the development and implementation of AgBMPs on eroded farmland throughout the basin
- Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) – Increase outreach and technical assistance to WWTP operators to facilitate implementation of projects geared towards reducing phosphorus and pathogen releases into the river and tributaries
- Water Quality Monitoring – Develop, fund, and implement a robust and routine water-quality monitoring program allowing for adaptive management
- Dairy Industry Sustainability – Increase outreach and technical assistance to help dairy producers access funding to implement best practices to reduce phosphorus loads
As outlined at our 2024 Summit by Ryan Elliott, the DEC’s Southwest Lake Ontario Watershed Coordinator, the watershed implementation plan now being updated by the agency and other partners would continue to achieve our collective Genesee goals. Specifically, Elliott outlined five sectors that would be implemented by DEC staff, the Genesee River Watershed Coalition of Solid and Water Conservation Districts (GRWCCD), and other partners.
The sectors are agriculture, forested (defined as undeveloped land like forests, grasslands, wetlands, streams, and barren land), wastewater, urban environments, and septic systems. Elliott also discussed adaptive management and associated water quality monitoring as an element of the Plan. This is a huge step forward for the ongoing efforts to protect and improve the Genesee basin. A progress update of the implementation plan will be presented next year.
Genesee RiverWatch will support the efforts of other Genesee River Basin stakeholders in any way we can while continuing our work to define and implement projects that do not duplicate efforts of others and to attract additional funding to the Basin.
For more information, please contact George Thomas, Genesee RiverWatch at gthomas@geneseeriberwatch.org .
If you are interested in learning more about DEC’s efforts, please contact Ryan Elliott at ryan.elliott@dec.ny.gov .
Join Us Saturday, August 17, 2024, for the City Skyline Paddle
Starting at 10:00AM on Saturday, August 17, we will take our kayaks on a round trip down the Genesee River to Corn Hill and back to the Waterways Center. Along the way, we will enjoy the view from our unique water-level vantage point. Be sure to bring your cameras to capture the Great Blue Herons, Egrets, and other wildlife along the shore.
At approximately 4.5 miles length, this paddle is one of the longer trips in this summer’s series. Therefore, you should pay special attention to the following:
- You should be sufficiently experienced to be confident in your ability to paddle for 3 hours with limited rest. The waters of the river are generally calm and will not require technical skills.
- We will need to start promptly at 10:00AM, so plan to arrive around 9:30AM in order to sign in and get your life vest, paddle, and kayak.
- Paddlers must be at least 10 years old. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Pre-registration is required at the Genesee Waterways Website.
- We will meet at the Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Avenue, between 9:30 – 10:00AM.
Coming in October: The fall ROC the Riverway Paddle Saturday, October 5, 2024, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Join Genesee RiverWatch and the Genesee Waterways Center in celebrating ROC the Riverway Weekend with an educational paddle along the Genesee River, offering participants an opportunity to see the Genesee riverfront development projects up close. Registration is open now!
Any questions? Call the Waterways Center at 585-328-3960.
Please Note: Due to staffing changes at the Genesee Waterways Center, the Kayak Lower Falls Gorge paddle originally scheduled for August 17 has been changed to the City Skyline Paddle. The Erie Canal paddle scheduled for Sept 14 has been cancelled.
See you on the River!
Genesee River Waterfalls Added to Official Federal Maps
Some news!
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.
Genesee RiverWatch, the Rochester nonprofit whose mission includes advocating for the river, raised the issue earlier this year and asked the city of Rochester to join in a request to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names that the waterfalls be given their commonly used names.
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.
Genesee RiverWatch filed the necessary paperwork with federal officials that same day.
U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle, whose district includes the portion of the Genesee in Monroe County, also urged the federal board to act.
The board, a federal inter-agency body charged with maintaining uniformity in the use of place names in the United States, entered the three waterfall names into the record several days ago.
Our 2024 Genesee River Basin Summit featured a second mayoral proclamation from Mayor Evans, one in which the city honored RiverWatch and its predecessor organization for 50 years of service to the Rochester community. As Evans noted, Genesee RiverWatch grew out of the Center for Environmental Information, an influential environmental educational group that was founded in Rochester in 1974.
Lower Falls near the Driving Park Bridge and Middle Falls at the foot of Brewer Street have been identified by those names since European Americans settled the area in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The southernmost of the three cataracts, at the edge of downtown Rochester, was known as Upper Falls until 1990, when city officials re-branded it as High Falls. That name has been in common usage since that time.
The first U.S. Geological Survey map of the Rochester area, produced in 1895, identified two of the Rochester cataracts only as “Falls” and omitted the third entirely. USGS officials have not been able to explain why its surveyors never recorded the names of the waterfalls.
“Place names anchor us to our community and its history. As advocates for the river, Genesee RiverWatch felt it important that the names of these beautiful waterfalls be reflected on federal maps and records. We were most pleased that the city of Rochester and Representative Morelle joined us in seeing that these waterfalls’ good names were finally memorialized,” said Steve Orr, a board member of Genesee RiverWatch.
Orr revealed the naming oversight in a story in the Democrat and Chronicle in 2018 and was told the matter would be addressed. After leaving the paper and joining RiverWatch, he learned the oversight hadn’t been corrected and brought the issue to the group’s board for action.
2024 Paddles on the Genesee
Each summer, Genesee RiverWatch partners with the Genesee Waterways Center for organized paddles on the Genesee River. Pre-Registration is required at the Genesee Waterways Website. We continue to be guided by the idea that there is no substitute for experiencing the Genesee from water level. Check out our Photo Galleries of previous paddles.
Paddle dates for 2024 are:
- Learn to Paddle – Saturday, July 13, 2024 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
- A guided paddle down the Genesee River to the Erie Canal and up Red Creek
- Genesee River Kayak Cleanup – Wednesday, July 24, 2024 – 5:30pm – 7:30pm
- Learn about environmental stewardship while getting out on the water and actually helping to protect our waterways with this hands-on, educational paddle through the Genesee River, Erie Canal and Red Creek
- PADDLE CHANGE: City Skyline Paddle – Saturday, August 17, 2024 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
- For experienced paddlers – Take in the stunning Rochester City Skyline from the comfort of a kayak! Join our guided tour as we paddle past Corn Hill Landing to the Ford Street bridge on the Genesee River, offering you a one-of-a-kind perspective of the cityscape. This journey is over 4 miles long and requires endurance and paddling efficiency!
- Kayak Clean Up and Roc the Riverway (RTR) Projects – Saturday, October 5, 2024 3:00pm – 6:00pm
- Celebrate ROC the Riverway Weekend & see Genesee riverfront development projects up close
Please Note: Due to staffing changes at the Genesee Waterways Center, the Kayak Lower Falls Gorge paddle originally scheduled for August 17 has been changed to the City Skyline Paddle. The Erie Canal paddle scheduled for Sept 14 has been cancelled.
For more information and to pre-register (required), visit the Genesee Waterways website. Scroll down to find the event(s) you’re interested in. Register soon – space is limited.
See you on the River!
Paddle to Red Creek with Us on Saturday, July 13, 2024
Register soon – space is limited. Pre-register (required) here.
Join us on Saturday, July 13, 10:00AM-1:00PM, at the Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14611, for an unforgettable paddle adventure to Red Creek.
Beginning paddlers, including those who have never been in a kayak before, will learn how to enter, exit, paddle, and control their boat. Knowing these basic skills will vastly increase your enjoyment on the water and is a prerequisite for what we have termed “intermediate” events later this summer.
Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a beginner, we have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to create unforgettable memories and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the surroundings while paddling with our experienced team. Join us for a leisurely journey to Red Creek, a hidden gem abundant with wildlife, including great blue herons, kingfishers, painted turtles, and more!
Here’s what you need to know and to pre-register (required).
Hope to see you there!
Upcoming Paddling Events
Several more paddle events are scheduled for this summer. For more information and to pre-register (required), click here.
Stewardship Paddle – Wednesday, July 24, 2024 – 5:30-7:25pm – Help protect our waterways with this hands-on, educational paddle
PADDLE CHANGE: City Skyline Paddle – Saturday, August 17, 2024 – 10:00am-1:00pm – For experienced paddlers. Take in the stunning Rochester City Skyline from the comfort of a kayak!
CANCELLED Erie Canal Paddle – Saturday, September 14, 2024 – 10:00am-1:00pm – Journey from the Waterways Center to Lock 32
Kayak Clean Up and RTR projects – Saturday, October 5, 2024 – 3:00-5:00pm – Celebrate ROC the Riverway Weekend & see Genesee riverfront development projects up close