ADK Asks Your Support For Two Bills In NYS Legislature

Two bills in the NY State Legislature could give a big boost to recreation and conservation right here in Western New York. The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) and the local ADK-Niagara Frontier Chapter are calling on you to contact NY State Legislators to ask them to co-sponsor the bills.

1. Bill to define the boundaries of the Niagara River Greenway:
We have all been disappointed in the way the $400 million Niagara River Greenway money has been used as a slush fund rather than to build the strip of parks and trails along the Niagara River that we were promised.

S.4824 by Senator Marc Panepinto and A.478 by Assembly Member Sean Ryan would correct that by requiring these funds be spent on establishing a linear system of parks and conservation areas along the Niagara River.

ADK Memo RE: Niagara River Greenway - Click Here

2. Bill to add 18 Mile Creek to the definition of inland waterways:
Water and waterways are among Western New York's most valuable assets. Scenic 18-Mile Creek in Erie County looks beautiful, provides lots of fish and clean water, and overlays an aquifer.

S.4109-A by Senator Panepinto and A.3475-B by Assembly Member Ryan will have 18-mile creek classified as an "Inland Waterway" which will protect and preserve those qualities.

ADK Memo RE: 18 Mile Creek - Click Here

Take Action: Contact your NYS Senator & Assembly Member
Urge them to Co-sponsor these two bills.

Senate Directory and Identity:
- For phone number, address and to contact by Email, visit: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

- To identify your Senator, go here: http://www.elections.ny.gov/district-map/district-map.html

Assembly Member Directory and Identity:
- For phone number, address and to contact by Email, visit: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

- To identify your Assembly Member, go here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/search/

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Niagara River Greenway

The Niagara River Greenway Commission will hold two meetings May 19 at the Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo [Map]. The executive committee will meet at 2:00 p.m. and the full commission will meet at 3:00 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public.

[Click image to enlarge]

Projects that are being considered for consistency review are as follows and posted at http://www.niagaragreenway.org:

• City of Niagara Falls - Hyde Park shoreline and upland improvements
• City of Niagara Falls - Niagara Riverview Trail improvements 53rd Street node
• Town of Lewiston - Kiwanis Park courts restoration
• Town of Lewiston - Colonial Village Park playground project
• Erie County - Amos Sangster and Annie Crawford Memorial markers

To review the Final Niagara River Greenway Plan or to learn more about the commission, visit www.niagaragreenway.org.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission is a public benefit corporation charged with the planning and development of a greenway of interconnected parks, river access points and waterfront trails along the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario at the site of the historic Fort Niagara.

Conservationist of the Year - Sam Magavern

By David Kowalski
Conservation Committee Member
Adirondack Mountain Club - Niagara Frontier Chapter (ADK-NFC)

The ADK-NFC Conservation Committee honored Sam Magavern with the “Conservationist of the Year” award at the Chapter's Annual Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, June 7, 2014.

       Sam Magavern    photo/Artvoice

Sam Magavern is the founder and co-director of the Partnership for the Public Good, a local think tank that provides research and advocacy support to help revitalize Buffalo-Niagara in many areas, including our natural environment. The group works to cultivate our regional assets, including Lake Erie, Niagara Falls, the waterfront, and natural areas. The Partnership also tackles some of the most serious problems of the region such as air pollution, poor water quality, and numerous brownfields.

Magavern, in collaboration with his law students and others, has authored a number of important reports on behalf of the environment, conservation and the public good. Three of these reports are briefly described below.

A recent report, The Niagara River Greenway: Fulfilling the Promise, served to restore progress in developing the Niagara River Greenway by ensuring that Greenway funds are used only for their intended purpose — creating a world-class system of parks, trails, and conservation areas along the Niagara River.

"No one has articulated and publicized the problem and its solutions as effectively as Sam Magavern and his 'think tank,' the Partnership for the Public Good," wrote Larry Beahan, ADK-NFC Conservation Committee member, after reviewing the report.

Sam Magavern is now a commissioner on the Niagara River Greenway Commission, and he currently serves as chair of the Citizens' Advisory Committee. He welcomes public input on Greenway matters and can be contacted at sam@ppgbuffalo.org. 

A 2008 report, Greening Buffalo: What Local Governments Can Do, describes the Partnership's vision on promoting 'green' initiatives such as mass transit, energy-efficient buildings, recycling, and the conservation of energy, water, and habitats. Such initiatives are not only friendly to our environment, but also will generate business, helping to revive the economy of the Buffalo-Niagara region and provide new jobs.

Magavern's latest report is titled Building the Blue Economy: Opportunities for Community-Based Organizations in Stormwater Management. With a combined stormwater-sewage system like that in Buffalo, stormwater management is key to protect water quality and public health. To address the problem, the report presents innovative 'green infrastructure' methods, which can deliver environmental benefits and create community jobs, including entry-level jobs. The report was prepared in collaboration with PUSH Buffalo.

Sam Magavern has chaired the boards of several non-profits, including a land conservancy.  He teaches at the SUNY Buffalo Law School and the Cornell University ILR School. He is a graduate of Harvard University and UCLA Law School.

About the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK-NFC): ADK-NFC, with some 1000 local members, subscribes to and supports the mission of The ADK, both in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and in Western New York. Components of the mission include conservation, advocacy, recreation, education and stewardship. Join us to support this mission and to share our joy and knowledge of outdoor activities. Visit our website at ADK-NFC.org

Job Opening at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is seeking a full time Habitat Restoration Program Manager to implement the new “Living Shorelines” Program and support other Riverkeeper riparian restoration efforts. The “Living Shorelines” Program will utilize bioengineering and “natural shoreline” techniques through 5-8 demonstration projects in the Niagara River Greenway. Download the full job announcement  - Habitat Restoration Project Manager.

Application deadline is Monday, July 8, 2013.

The ideal candidate for the position will be a self-motivated, high-energy person with excellent interpersonal communication skills and direct experience in shoreline restoration projects, including engineering and construction methods using bioengineering techniques. The candidate will be expected to coordinate multiple stakeholders to accomplish project goals.  The position will be located at the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Office in Buffalo, NY.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary range is $50,000-$53,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health insurance option, three weeks paid time off, 10 paid holidays and flexibility in the work schedule.

BUFFALO NIAGARA RIVERKEEPER SUMMARY:
Since 1989, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper leads the Buffalo Niagara’s efforts to safeguard our water for present and future generations.  Our mission is to protect the quality and quantity of our water while connecting people to Great Lakes water.  

JOB SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: