BUSINESSES IN RIVER COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT NEW APPROACH TO
WATER LEVEL REGULATION

Business Community Joins Environmental Groups Calling for Speedy Approval of Plan Bv7.
Additional Environmental, Conservation and Sportsmen Organizations Offer Support.

A growing group of 18 business and business-related groups in the river community today joined environmental organizations by sending a letter to the International Joint Commission (IJC) urging the adoption of Plan Bv7. Plan Bv7 is a new proposed approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The plan would move towards more natural flows in the lake and the river which will benefit the environment and provide economic benefits to the region.

The latest letter is a strong show of support from business interests who recognize that this new approach to water level regulation is helpful to the economy. On March 26, 2012 an international group of 24 environmental, conservation and sportsmen organizations, led by Save The River and The Nature Conservancy, sent a letter of support for Bv7 to the IJC. The latest letter adds to a growing, diverse coalition of environmental, economic, landowner, and citizen groups that are supporting the new plan. Furthermore, the list of environmental, conservation and sportsmen organizations supporting Plan Bv7 has grown to 28.

In the letter submitted today the groups state, “Our businesses, organizations and the economy of this region depend on the health and beauty of the lake and river and their ecosystems. Moving toward more natural water flows in these bodies of water will not only improve the environment, it will also provide substantial economic and shoreline benefits.” The list of businesses supporting Plan Bv7 will grow in the coming weeks as organizations from the river community and across New York State add their names to this letter.

Jennifer Caddick, Save The River executive director, said, “Plan Bv7 is a balanced approach to regulating water levels and the letter sent to the IJC today is clear evidence of that. Momentum is growing and we are very pleased that this growing support includes businesses from our community that recognize that this new plan has real, substantial benefits for everyone.”

The letter of support was signed by:

The Clayton Guides Association (Clayton, NY); Classic Island Tours (Clayton, NY); Chalk’s Marina & Boat Sales (Fisher’s Landing, NY); Chaumont Yacht Club (Chaumont, NY); Coyote Vision (Pittsford, NY); Gamble Distributors (Carthage, NY); Garlock’s Lumber and Hardware (Alexandria Bay, NY); Martin’s Marina & Motel (Cape Vincent); Northern Marine (Clayton, NY); Paul Norton Canvas (Chaumont, NY); RJ Marine (Clayton, NY); Schermerhorn Harbor (Hammond, NY); The Ship Motel (Alexandria Bay, NY); Sign Man Charters (Clayton, NY); London and District Labour Council (London, Ontario); Uncle Sam Boat Tours (Alexandria Bay, NY); Van’s Motor Marine Inc. (Alexandria Bay, NY); and Wright’s Marine (Morristown, NY).

Four environmental, conservation and sportsmen organizations have added their names to the coalition’s March 26th letter. These groups include: Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, The International Water Levels Coalition and The Lake Plains Waterfowl Association.

Plan Bv7 was announced on January 30th and represents an innovative approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. At that time Save The River and The Nature Conservancy expressed their support for the approach contained in Plan Bv7, which will deliver environmental improvements along with substantial benefits for the regional economy and property owners.

A copy of the letter is attached. More information on Plan Bv7 is available on web sites of Save The River and The Nature Conservancy. These pages will provide continuous updates on the review and approval of Plan Bv7. Any group, business or individual interested in supporting Plan Bv7 is invited to contact either organization.

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About Save The River:

Save The River was formed in 1978 to protect and preserve the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education, and research.

About Plan Bv7:

Plan Bv7 has been formulated over the course of ten years with the input of more than 180 stakeholder representatives, experts, and scientists from government agencies, academia, NGO’s and industry in New York, Ontario, and Quebec.

GROWING COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, CONSERVATION AND SPORTSMEN GROUPS VOICE SUPPORT FOR NEW APPROACH TO WATER LEVEL REGULATION

Organizations from the United States and Canada Sign Letter Calling
for Speedy Approval of Plan Bv7

March 27, 2012
Contact: Stephanie Weiss, Save The River, (315) 686-2010

A growing international group of 24 environmental, conservation and sportsmen organizations, led by Save The River and The Nature Conservancy today urged the speedy adoption of Plan Bv7, which is a new approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

In a letter sent to the International Joint Commission (IJC), the groups state that they are “Very encouraged by the balanced approach to regulation exemplified by Plan Bv7.” The letter goes on to say “This plan achieves the IJC’s previously-stated goal of moving toward more natural flows to benefit the environment while respecting other interests.”

Plan Bv7 was announced on January 30th and represents an innovative approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. At that time Save The River and The Nature Conservancy expressed their support for the approach contained in Plan Bv7, which will deliver environmental improvements along with substantial benefits for the regional economy and property owners. Additional organizations have reviewed the plan and have added their support for it through this letter. These 24 organizations represent environmental and conservation advocates as well as hunters and anglers in the United States and Canada.

Jennifer Caddick, Save The River executive director, said, “Support for Plan Bv7 is growing and we are very pleased that so many organizations have signed this letter calling for adoption of Plan Bv7. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system is the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem and constitutes an irreplaceable international treasure. Plan Bv7 takes the necessary steps to start reversing the damage caused by 50 years of regulation under the current plan.”

The letter of support was signed by: Alliance for the Great Lakes; APT Environment; Audubon New York; Buffalo Audubon Society; Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper; Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment; Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes; Don’t Waste Michigan; Environmental Advocates of New York; Freshwater Future; Genesee Valley Audubon Society; Great Lakes United; International Institute of Concern for Public Health; Izaac Walton League of America; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy; New York; Lake Ontario Fisheries Coalition; Lake Ontario Trout & Salmon Association; New York State Conservation Council; Quinte Watershed Cleanup Inc.; Sierra Club; Atlantic Chapter Great Lakes Committee; Save The River – Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper; Thousand Islands Land Trust; and, Welland Riverkeepers.

Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter executive director, remarked, “These bodies of water are the source of drinking water and the foundation for the quality of life for millions of citizens in New York, Ontario, and Quebec. Plan Bv7 will improve these ecosystems while providing benefits to the region and the economy. The momentum in support of Plan Bv7 is building. We are excited that so many organizations feel the same way.”

In addition to supporting the plan, the coalition strongly encouraged the IJC to “engage the public in a full discussion of its merits, so that the benefits will become clear to the entire Lake Ontario -St. Lawrence River community. “

A copy of the letter is attached. More information on Plan Bv7 is available on web sites of Save The River and The Nature Conservancy. These newly created pages will provide continuous updates on the review and approval of Plan Bv7.

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About the US Groups Supporting the New Approach To Water Level Regulation:

Save The River and The Nature Conservancy represent over 17,000 homeowners living on the lake and river, business people, environmentalists, hunters, anglers and recreational users of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The groups have a combined 85 years of experience conserving and advocating for these bodies of water and the people who use them.

Save The River was formed in 1978 to protect and preserve the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education, and research.

About Plan Bv7:

Plan Bv7 has been formulated over the course of ten years with the input of more than 180 stakeholder representatives, experts, and scientists from government agencies, academia, NGO’s and industry in New York, Ontario, and Quebec.

Join Save The River Executive Director Jennifer Caddick & fellow ‘river rats’ for a casual reception in support of Save The River on April 25 in New York City!

Kick off another River summer with new and old River friends and learn the latest about Save The River’s growing advocacy, education and research programs. From leading the fight for a new water levels plan, to working with hundreds of volunteers to monitor River health, to partnering with schools to educate the next generation of River stewards, Save The River is the leading advocate working to protect the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands for generations to come.

Save The River

Wednesday, April 25
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Hors d’oeurves & Beer/Wine

Papillon Bistro & Bar
22 East 54th Street, New York, NY
www.papillonbistro.com

$50 per person
Proceeds support Save The River’s advocacy, education and research programs

Please RSVP by downloading and mailing your registration
or call Save The River at (315) 686-2010.

Many thanks to the volunteers organizing this event: Heather McNally, Jennifer Churchill and Eva Rippeteau!

Thank you for supporting Save The River!

Save The River and the Thousand Islands Land Trust are looking for volunteers to help with our annual Common Tern exclusion grid installation on Thursday, April 12^th at 9:00 am. Volunteers will meet at the Land Trust office in Clayton at 8:45 am to gather equipment and catch the boat to the project location.

Since 2003, Save The River and TILT have teamed up to install an exclusion grid on both the Eagle Wing Shoal and Tidd Island. The grid helps protect these New York State threatened species from harassment and predation from other water birds such as gulls. The grid also helps to preserve nesting habitat for this species that is constantly competing for nesting space amongst gulls and Double-Crested Cormorants.

This annual effort, along with careful monitoring of nesting birds by Save The River’s volunteers, is all part of Save The River and TILT’s joint Common Tern Monitoring Program. The program originated in the late nineties and works to monitor nesting Common Terns annually to assess the population. Additionally, volunteers participate in habitat restoration initiatives such as grid installation, placing nest boxes and chick shelters on nesting sites and adding gravel to areas to make suitable and safe nesting habitat for terns. All of these efforts have helped to increase tern populations on the St. Lawrence River.

To read more about Save The River’s Common Tern Monitoring Program visit our Terns page.

Help us help terns! To RSVP to help with the grid installation call the Save The River office, 315-686-2010 or email the Save The River Program Manager, Kate Breheny at kate@savetheriver.org.