The Great Lakes are a finite resource, with less than 1% of the water renewed annually by rain and snowmelt. We need strong programs in place to ensure that our Great Lakes water is preserved for current and future generations!

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Compact, a historic piece of legislation to protect the Great Lakes from large scale water withdrawals, was passed by the legislators in all of the Great Lakes states and approved by Congress in 2008. The Compact ensures that the abundant water resources of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River stay here in our basin and are not diverted to other parts of the world.

Each state that has signed onto the Compact is now required to develop its own rules for implementing the Compact and for regulating water withdrawals in their portion of the Great Lakes basin.

Contact Your New York State Representatives in Albany Today!

The New York State Legislature is about to act on the Water Resources Protection Bill. When adopted, the bill will:

• Require large water users in New York, such as industrial facilities, to obtain a permit to withdraw large quantities of water.

• Establish a water conservation and efficiency program to preserve our freshwater.

• Establish streamflow standards that are protective of fish and other aquatic life.

A few talking points for your call:

• Tell the receptionist your name and city/town of residence

• I’m calling to urge you to support the Water Resources Protection Act (Bill number S.3798/A.5318-A), which is legislation that will implement the Great Lakes Compact in New York State and regulate large-scale water withdrawals.

• The legislation is an important step forward in protecting our region’s abundant fresh water resources that are so critical to our local economy and way of life.

Who to call:

Call the Assembly switchboard at 518-455-4100, and ask to be connected with your Assembly member’s office. Find your Assembly member

Call the Senate switchboard at 518-455-2800, and ask to be connected to your senator’s office. Find your Senator

Learn More

Thanks to our friends at Environmental Advocates of New York for two great fact sheets with more information about this issue!

The Great Lakes Compact: Protection for New York’s Precious Water Resources

Protect Our Waters: Manage New York’s Water Use Responsibly

Thank you for taking action to protect the St. Lawrence River!

Calling all artists! Save The River is searching for the next t-shirt design for our River Day 5K Fun Run/Walk, slated for Saturday, July 30th, and we want it from you, our members. We’re looking for a design that connects running/walking and the River. The deadline to submit your design is Monday, May 23rd @ 5 p.m.

If your design is selected you will receive a free t-shirt,  recognition for your design at the River Day 5K, and two tickets to the Rock for the River Concert on Saturday, July 2nd!

We’re looking for creative ideas but we do have a few requirements:

• Design should have a theme of running/walking and the River or Save The River.
• Designs should be simple and able to be easily transcribed to a t-shirt.
• Photos will not be accepted.
• Artwork submitted electronically must be  high resolution files to be eligible.
• All designs submitted must be original work from the artist.
• Any artwork submitted becomes the property of Save The River and may be used for other purposes (e.g., website, newsletter, etc.) Save The River will make every effort to credit the original artists.

T-shirt designs will be selected anonymously, so please be sure to include your name, phone number and address on the back of your design.

To submit your design, mail to:
Save The River c/o T-shirt contest
409 Riverside Dr.
Clayton, NY 13624

Or e-mail your design to: striver@savetheriver.org, with the subject line: River Day Run T-Shirt Contest.

The deadline for design submissions is Monday, May 23rd!

Support Save The River and showcase your business by becoming a sponsor of our 9th annual River Day 5K Fun Run/Walk!

Save The River’s annual River Day 5K attracts more than 200 participants – from serious runners to families with strollers. The event is a fun, family event raising funds for Save The River’s River protection programs.

In addition to supporting a fun family event, Save The River is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and sponsorship donations are tax deductible. You can feel confident that you are investing in not only a valuable exposure package for your company, but also helping support grassroots advocacy work to protect the St. Lawrence River.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gold Sponsor ($1,000)

• RECOGNITION AS PREMIER SPONSOR

• Logo prominently placed on the back of T-shirts (Logo needed by June 3rd)

• Recognition at award ceremony on race day/Assist in presenting medals to participants

• Recognized as premier sponsor in all event promotional materials such as press releases, website, Save The River newsletter, etc.

• Premier recognition on day of event: logo on signage and marketing materials in Run/Walk Registration bags.

Silver Sponsor ($500)

• Logo on the back of T-shirts (Logo due by June 3rd)

• Recognition as key sponsor in promotional materials such as press releases, website, Save The River newsletter, etc.

• Key recognition on day of the event: logo on signage and marketing materials in Run/Walk Registration bags.

Bronze Sponsor ($250)

• Name on the back of T-shirts.

• Recognition in promotional materials such as press releases, website, Save The River newsletter, etc.

• Recognition on day of the event: logo on signage

Interested in sponsoring the River Day 5K? Call Jennifer Caddick at (315) 686-2010 or download and mail the sponsorship commitment form.

Many of the presentations from Save The River’s Winter Environmental Weekend Conference are available via Save The River’s Vimeo channel. Or, select a specific presentation from the list below.

“Save The River’s Evolving Education Program: Teaching River Appreciation Inside the Classroom & Out” (22nd Annual Winter Enviro from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

“River of the Iroquois” (22nd Annual Winter Environmental Conference, 2/5/11) from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

Wind Turbine Impacts on Birds & Bats: Sorting Out the Truth and Moving Forward (22nd Annual Winter Environmental Conference 2/5/ from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

“Preventing Invasive Species: Updates on Policy and Regulatory Improvements and How You Can Help” (22nd Annual Winter Environmen from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

“Restoring Common Terns To New York’s Great Lakes and Rivers” (22nd Annual Winter Environmental Conference, 2/5/11) from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

Remarks by Judy Drabicki, NY Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director (Region 6) (22nd Annual Winter Environme from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

Water Levels and the FDR Hydropower Settlement: An Attempt to Right an Historic Wrong (22nd Annual Winter Environmental Conferen from Jennifer Caddick on Vimeo.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Osprey nesting near your house? We’ve got the program for you!

Save The River’s Riverkeeper Program is offering an Osprey Monitoring program training session on Thursday, April 28th at 6 p.m. at the Thousand Island Land Trust Office.

Volunteers will learn how to observe and collect information on nesting Osprey along the St. Lawrence River. Osprey are a New York State Species of Special Concern and have been making a great comeback to the River. Although this species is growing in population, annual data is still needed to learn more about these birds and to ensure that their population stays healthy.

Interested volunteers will attend a one hour training session and be outfitted with data sheets and information sheets to help them make weekly observations at home.

Not here on the River? It’s okay! We will also be offering this training session on our website. Just let us know you are participating and we will get you the data sheets you need. We are looking for observations of nests throughout the nesting season so any data you can collect is helpful.

Please RSVP to this event by calling Save The River, 315-686-2010, or email us.

Save The River’s 9th annual 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, July 30th with the race starting at 10 a.m. in Frink Park, Clayton.

Pre-registration is $20 and registration on the day of the event is $25. You can pre-register now at active.com or stop by our office! Online pre-registrations will be accepted up until 5 p.m. Monday, July 25th. (Online registration fees do apply.) Or you can download the registration form and bring it to our office in Clayton. We will be accepting in person pre-registrations until 5 p.m., Thursday, July 28th.

Race day registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30th at Frink Park in Clayton, NY with the race beginning at 10 a.m. The first 200 registrants will receive a free t-shirt and water bottle.

Special thanks to our event sponsors Caskinette Lofink Ford Mercury, Phinney’s Charitable Foundation, Comunity Bank, Cheney Tire and Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions!

Interested in becoming a sponsor for the River Day 5K? Learn more.

Save The River is hiring a full time Program Manager to coordinate several of our fastest growing programs, Riverkeeper Monitoring and Save The River In The Schools. The Program Manager also plans and coordinates events, develops written materials for public relations and outreach efforts, and assists the Executive Director to meet both programmatic and fundraising goals.

To learn more, download the full job description or read the details below.

To apply, send your resume, cover letter and references to Save The River, 409 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624 or e-mail to jennifer@savetheriver.org No calls please.

Save The River Position Announcement

Position Title: Program Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Exempt/Full time

Overview:

For more than 30 years, Save The River has been the leading advocacy group working to protect the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research. Save The River’s advocacy programs have included working to halt Seaway expansion and oppose winter navigation, campaigning for healthier water levels regulation, and promoting improved spill response planning along the River. Save The River also works to improve the River’s water quality, protect its natural wildlife and to educate communities up and down the River about this unique and wonderful natural environment.

The Program Manager has significant programmatic responsibilities. S/he does a wide variety of community outreach and works with volunteers in a variety of programs to promote River protection. S/he coordinates two of the organization’s fastest growing programs, Riverkeeper Monitoring and Save The River in the Schools. S/he will also work closely with other Save The River staff to plan and produce events, write and produce materials about River issues, inform membership of recent developments through the newsletter and assist the Executive Director to meet both programmatic and fundraising goals.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate volunteer involvement in the Riverkeeper Monitoring and Save The River in the Schools programs as well as the Beach Watch, shoalmarking and common tern monitoring programs

• Manage growth and development of Save The River’s volunteer and education programs

• Hands on coordination of outreach and fundraising events, specifically Winter Environmental Weekend and River Day 5K Fun Run/Walk, and assist with other events as appropriate

• Develop written materials for Save The River’s public relations and outreach efforts including the River Watch newsletter, press releases, web pages, etc.

• Assist with grant writing and reporting

• Assist with other Save The River program and office duties as assigned

Knowledge and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, environmental policy, environmental education or relevant social sciences plus five years experience in relevant field.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable teaching volunteers and speaking before small and large groups.

• Strong organizational skills and a strong commitment to working in a team effort with board, executive director, volunteers and members.

• Capacity to manage a number of projects at once and deal effectively with the stress of multi-tasking.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Access).

• Knowledge of the St. Lawrence River, and environmental policy and restoration techniques strongly preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Mostly office environment with some outdoor river related activities during the summer

• Must be available during the summer for extensive weekend work. Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for conferences and meetings.

• Position provides ample opportunity for professional growth.

• Competitive non-profit salary commensurate with experience, plus benefits.

To Apply

Send resume, cover letter and references to Save The River, 409 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624, or email full application package to jennifer@savetheriver.org. No phone calls please.