Tuesday, March 4, 2008

State-by-State Wrap Up: New York


I'm continuing to follow up with some state leaders for the campaign about how Great Lakes day went and how folks back home can build on the momentum. Here's my email interview with Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment:

How did it go? How were legislators and staff reacting to the Great Lakes message?

Great Lakes Day was once again a great success. The NY delegation heard loud and clear from constituents and advocates about the urgent need to enact the comprehensive blueprint to restore and protect our Great Lakes. Key legislators and staff were familiar and passionate about halting Aquatic Invasive species hitching a ride in ballast water, reauthorizing and improving the Great Lakes Legacy act to remediate toxic mud that persists along our shorelines, and increasing funding for communities to deal with sewage fouling beaches. We recognize the competing interests for a small amount of money, but it was clear that NY delegation has a sophisticated understanding of the threats facing the Great Lakes, our upstate economy, and our recreational assets.

What are some political and environmental issues specific to New York that people there should know about if they want to get behind Great Lakes restoration?


New York is the gateway to the Great Lakes. Ocean going ships must traverse through the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario before arriving to the ports of Toledo and Duluth. New York receives little economic benefit from shipping, but experiences all of the costs associated with aquatic invasive species that arrive in our waters unchecked by predators. New York's remaining 5 toxic hotspots must be cleaned up for current and future generations--Congress must strengthen and improve the Great Lakes Legacy act before it sunsets on Sept 30th of this year. Additionally, Congress must appropiate adequate resources to improve our aging and failing sewage systems that lead to foul beaches, contribute to algal blooms and low oxygen levels that choke aquatic life.
Revitalizing the upstate economy is directly tied to restoring and protecting New York's freshwater coasts. Forty percent (40%) of New York's land mass is wholly located within the Great Lakes Basin, including the Finger Lakes and residents depend upon our amazing freshwater ecosystem for hydropower, drinking water, agriculture, industry, and recreation.

What can New Yorkers do to get involved with Great lakes and wetland restoration?


New Yorkers can sign up to receive timely action alerts at Citizens Campaign for the Environment (LINK) and join the Healing Our Waters Coalition at healthylakes.org.


If I’m a New Yorker who loves the Lakes with time only for three letters or phone calls to legislators or newspapers, where should those go and what should they be about?


Write to your local paper, a brief letter to the editor (200 words or less) about how much the Lakes mean to you and how important it is for Congress to protect the lakes by improving sewage treatment plants, stopping aquatic invasive species, and cleaning up toxic mud and restoring habitats. Drop a quick line to your Congressional member and Senators about the Great Lakes and what this amazing freshwater ecosystem means to the upstate economy and identity. Tell Congress to reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act, enact a coast guard bill that stops aquatic invavise species from hitching a ride in the ballast of ships, and fund sewage treatment plants to keep our beach clean and safe!
LINKS:
Audubon New York
Save the River (Upper St. Lawrence River Keeper)

Photo courtesy of Finger Lakes Visitor Connection

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