Expressions of support  from Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River community have more than quadrupled since July 2012.

Much of the new support for Plan Bv7 came from the south shore of Lake Ontario.

This updated compendium of support includes:

• 9,170 expressions of citizen support through petitions and letters in support of Plan Bv7.  Last Fall this number stood at 1,962.
  • 1,000  letters and 3,331 petition signatures from Monroe County
  • 316 letters and 885 petition signatures from Onondaga County
  • 239 letters and 828 petition signatures from Erie County
  • 115 letters and 601 petition signatures from Jefferson County
  • 52 letters and 125 petition signatures from Niagara County
  • 23 letters and 115 petition signatures from Seneca County
  • 76 letters and 127 petition signatures from Wayne County
  • 17 letters and 37 petition signatures from Cayuga County
    

PRESS RELEASE- Support for Bv7 Surges (STR)

Environmentalists, scientists, government officials and tourism officials were dismayed to wake up to the news this morning that a new and potentially devastating invasive species has been found in the St. Lawrence River – Sea Monkeys.

After the discovery of thousands of tiny carcasses, and hundreds of floating packages of “Sea Monkey Food”, biologists raced to discover what they were dealing with. Resembling tiny mermaids (and possibly brine shrimp) it took 68 year old Mervin Smenkle, biologist and avid comic book reader as a child, only seconds to proclaim the River is facing an onslaught of Artemia salina x nyos.

Awakened early this morning, a shocked and clearly shaken Lee Willbanks, Executive Director of Save The River, stated, “We knew the River was suffering from 186 other invasive species, legacy pollution, and a 50 year old water levels management plan – now we have to deal with another relic from the past. How much more can the River and our communities take.”

Speculation centers on the possibility that, much like Plan 1958DD, which has been left lying around wreaking havoc on the environment for the last 50 years, the ecological and economic costs of sea monkeys is about to be felt. Ironically the return now on the 50th anniversary of 1958D, of these seemingly harmless and adorable creatures, purchased in the millions by gullible young comic book readers in the ’50’s only to be discarded as dead up and down the River may significantly divert attention from the effort to get Plan Bv7 adopted.

Standing on the shore in Clayton. a local civic leader who asked to remain anonymous, said, “River region businesses, citizens and visitors have struggled right along with the River to adapt to every circumstance that’s been thrown at us – invasives from all over the world, an out-dated water levels plan, but this could be it. We’re just afraid once the kids see them, they’ll want to keep replacing them. It’ll decimate our budgets and divert our attention from more pressing matters.”

Along with the food packets, the discovery of advertising for the creatures discarded near the Clayton docks, has raised suspicions that the sea monkey crisis is a manufactured one to distract government officials, business leaders and concerned River citizen from the more pressing effort to have New York’s Governor Cuomo endorse Plan Bv7 and have the International Joint Commission adopt the plan which will restore tens of thousands of acres of wetlands and reverse the decline in populations of Northern Pike, Common Tern and other indigenous and valuable species.

Said Willbanks, “If that’s the case its truly tragic, Bv7 is a modern levels management plan developed after years of research that will return the River to health with little cost to the State. On the other hand the cost of controlling sea monkeys is currently incalculable. But we River folk are hardy, we’ll get through this – just like we’ll keep pushing on Bv7.”

P.S. APRIL FOOLS!! (but not about the need for Bv7)

In spite of blizzard-like conditions Saturday, over 100 community members, scientists, policy makers, educators and advocates filled the 3rd floor of the Clayton Opera house to hear about the state of the St. Lawrence River. Speakers shared information about invasive species, wetlands and habitat restoration, mercury contamination in common terns, and a program under consideration to expand Save The River’s successful Muskie catch and release program to bass. Area educators also shared personal accounts about Save The River’s In the Schools program.

“To see so many people come from near and far, through challenging conditions to exchange information about the state of the River we all love is very heartening,” stated Lee Willbanks, Executive Director of Save The River. “The information shared at our Winter Conference empowers individuals and decision makers to take actions to preserve and protect the St. Lawrence now and for the future.”

Teddy McNally, Chair of the Save The River Board of Directors said, “We are very pleased to see this kind of turnout for our 24^th Winter Conference. It shows the information our presenters are providing continues to be relevant and useful to the River community.”

Attendees included the Honorable David Henderson, Mayor of the City of Brockville, Ontario, and representatives from Senator Ritchie and Congressman Owen’s office, as well as state, local and St. Regis Mohawk Tribal offices.

They heard from Jeff Garnsey, owner Classic Island Tours, and Clif Schneider, former NYS DEC Conservation Biologist, about the background and justification for an expanded catch and release program. Christina C. Killourhy, a graduate student at SUNY-ESF, presented her research on the impact the round goby has on nesting fish in the River. Yasmeen Smalley, a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology, showed her work in progress documenting the aggressive nature of gobies through underwater photography.

Jennifer Nalbone, Director of Navigation and Invasive Species at Great Lakes United, updated the audience on invasive species.  Christopher Baird (seen here on the right),  master’s candidate at Queens University, spoke about his research into mercury contamination in Common Terns on the River . Dr. John Farrell of SUNY-ESF spoke about wetlands restoration success stories. Concluding the day, Kathy Morris and Heather White, both educators, provided compelling stories of the positive impacts on the area’s elementary and high school students of Save The River’s In the Schools Program.

Throughout the room there were exhibits highlighting many of Save The River’s programs and partnerships and showcasing various projects completed by students in the In the Schools program. Of particular note were the papier-mâché replicas of many of the River’s indigenous fish species made by Ron Burris’ seventh grade art class in Sackets Harbor, complete with research notes into habitat and habits of the fish depicted.

Save The River would like to thank the following Sponsors for their generous support:

Conference Sponsor

Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours, Alexandria Bay

Supporters

Ed Huck Marine, Rockport, Ontario

Islander Marina and Lodge, Clayton

And to the following individuals, artists, organizations and businesses for donating artwork, goods and services to the Silent Auction.

Dark Island Tours

Charles Garlock & Sons

Garnsey’s Classic Island Cruises

Greene Structures

The Ivy Restaurant

Kate McGee

Margot Miller

Fred Munk

Chris Murray Photography

Frank Musto

Northern Marine

Schermerhorn Harbor

St. Lawrence Pottery

Cecilia Thompson

Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund

Thousand Islands Playhouse

Treasure Island

Sherman Ward

White’s Lumber and Hardware

The Winter Conference would not have been a success were it not for the dedicated volunteers who helped before, during and after the event. Save The River thanks the following for their tremendous support:

Save The River staff now turns their attention to the upcoming summer season which will include the 10^th annual Rock for the River concert July 6^th and the River Day 5K / 10K Run July 27^th.

Lee Willbanks, Save The River’s Executive Director, will be a guest on WPBS Public Eye Friday, January 11th at 8:30pm with Dave White,Recreation/Tourism Specialist and Great Lakes Program Coordinator for the New York Sea Grant Extension Program, and Greg Boyer, SUNY-ESF Chair of Chemistry and Director of Great Lakes Research Consortium discussing the recently released Great Lakes Environmental Assessment Mapping (GLEAM) Project.

The GLEAM research team built new tools to integrate spatial information for environmental management decisions on the Great Lakes.  The goal was to build maps to visualize and understand environmental impacts on the lakes and benefits humans enjoy from the lakes; many, if not most of which make their way to the St. Lawrence River.  The high resolution map of cumulative ecosystem stress the GLEAM team created will help guide future restoration, conservation, and management efforts. The map merges data for all major categories of environmental stressors to the Great Lakes, ranging from climate change to pollution to invasive species.  The interactive map can be viewed at the GLEAM website (http://www.greatlakesmapping.org/).

(The show will repeat Sunday, January 13th at 7:30am, and be available to stream on the WPBS website (http://ow.ly/gIjxn) Monday, January 14th)

For 35 years, the River community has been actively protecting the St. Lawrence River – from testing septic systems to preventing winter navigation. During the coming year we will be remembering Save The River – the history, the people, the stories. Because we have all done this together, we will also be asking for your stories – what do you remember? What people? What programs? What stories or accomplishments? Even what tee shirts?!

Do you have an old photo or memory? If so, please share it on Facebook, Google+, Twitter or email it to info@savetheriver.org.

More great coverage in Thousand Islands life.com of 7th graders doing science to examine the impact on River health of natural levels and flows.

“Sometimes Mother Nature needs a hand. Low water levels on the St. Lawrence presented environmental groups the perfect opportunity to help. On October 10th, dozens of seventh grade Environmental Science students from Alexandria Central School pulled on their boots and headed to Wellesley Island.”

Removing the duff

The students seem to “get it”.

“I think it’s actually really good for the meadow marshes to come back. And it’s like, a good experience for kids my age. And I also think it’s really fun.”

“I liked the fact that we had to go through all the cattails, like a maze. It was pretty cool. And knowing that we’re helping the environment by doing it, and doing all the research – I thought that was pretty cool.”

Our cattail project with SUNY-ESF was the subject of a tremendous story by NCPR reporter Joanna Richards. These quotes are taken from it.

We also appreciate Ms. Richards’ attention to the context – the impact of constrained water levels and the need for a more natural levels and flow regime – Plan Bv7.

No amount of yanking up cattails can make up for the damage done by the water levels regime of the last 50 years. Save The River wants to get the word out that a proposed new plan – called BV7 – would help marshes like Eel Bay return to greater biodiversity.

“Any awareness we can bring to it, whether it’s through seventh graders doing something like this and us publicizing it, or working with the villages and towns to go and talk to DEC and to the governor’s office, we’re just trying to get people to understand that this is a reasonable plan.”

It is worth a read. AND a listen.

See full letter, published as a special commentary, in the Watertown Daily Times.

Thursday, October 18^th was the 40^th anniversary of the signing of the federal Clean Water Act. After being used for decades as dumping grounds for all manner of industrial, commercial, agricultural and household waste, it began a restoration of America’s waterways that we benefit from today. Where once most of the nation’s waterways were literally unapproachable, many are now swimmable, fishable and drinkable again. Many others are on the path to recovery.

As a nation we should celebrate the progress that has been made to heal our rivers and lakes, bays and streams. But as we do, we should also take a moment to consider what remains to be done even in our own backyard.

Sadly, we now know there are some threats to a healthy River that are masked by the beauty of its surface and shore. Among these are: legacy pollution – toxins released before there was a Clean Water Act, such as PCBs from past industrial activities; myriad invasive species that have crowded out indigenous plants and fish and upset the ecological balance in ways we are still discovering; and a water levels control plan – 1958DD – made necessary by the construction of the Seaway, that has been damaging the River for 50 years.

The new plan – Bv7 – developed after 10 years of research and consultation with stakeholders all along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence will reverse this damage by halting the trend toward monoculture wetlands. Plan Bv7 will achieve these benefits through a return to more natural levels and flows that are neither extreme nor frequent. In most years it will provide a longer recreational and commercial boating season by avoiding the rapid draw down of the Lake and River in the fall, increase hydropower production and lead to conditions that rebuild beaches naturally.

We, who love the River and believe it can be restored, call on Governor Cuomo to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and join every elected official and candidate in districts bordering the River to support the implementation of Plan Bv7. That would be a great way to celebrate the Clean Water Act.

Click here to write to Governor Cuomo.

Sign our petition here.

Click here to donate to help Save The River fight for Bv7.

Three “incidents” in three days have reminded us of the risks and challenges inherent in using one of the mightiest rivers in North America as a highway.

Early Sunday morning the Sedna Desgagnes experienced mechanical difficulties and went aground in the vicinity of Ogdensburg. Tuesday morning the Phoenix Star apparently hit a shoal outside of the shipping channel and went to anchor near Bartlett Point to determine the extent of the damage.  Then during the day Tuesday a vehicle which may have been improperly operated by its driver rolled over the side of the Cape Vincent ferry.

Sadly, in the ferry mishap one of the owner / operators had a heart attack and remains in serious condition. In the other two incidents, initial and subsequent reports have indicated that there were no injuries and no releases of pollution to the River. Neither ship took on water.

An inspection was performed on the Phoenix Star and she was cleared to continue. No explanation for the strike has been determined. The Sedna Desgagnes remains aground while a plan is developed to off-load enough of her cargo – pig iron – to allow refloating. Then she will be towed to the Port of Prescott for inspection. The Sedna, which may have experienced mechanical problems, is owned by the same company whose ship the Sarah Desgagnes was earlier this year accompanied by a tug for her entire transit of the St. Lawrence because of concerns about her steering. Both mishaps will continue to be investigated by the Seaway Corporation and each nation’s Coast Guards. Water levels is not considered a factor in either incident, as channel depth has been maintained.

These incidents once again highlight the dangers that are inherent in using the River as a highway. It re-enforces the need for all parties – shippers and their crews, the Seaway Development Corp., both nations’ Coast Guards and first responders up and down the River – to make certain that ships are maintained to the highest standards, protective measures are constantly checked and refined, and that we remain actively engaged in emergency planning and training.

Progress has been made, but certainly more can and should be. Human error and mechanical failure are always possible, making it imperative that every step be taken to anticipate and eliminate them where we can and to deal effective with them when we can’t.

It appears no harm was done to the River we swim in, fish in and drink from with either the grounding or the strike. For that we are thankful. We also appreciate the fact that the Seaway Development Corp. placed a courtesy call to us shortly after each incident occurred. Of course, it would be much better if these calls never had to be made.

2012-10-14 TI Sun Article re Incidents