Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Expands Geographic Reach

“Our new jurisdictional boundary spans 2,300 square miles and includes parts of eight counties in Western New York,” said Jill Jedlicka, executive director of the nonprofit. “This represents a 94% increase in the area we will seek to serve, with a population of approximately 1.2 million.”

Waterkeeper, celebrating its 35th anniversary as a defender and steward of the region’s waterways, “knows what it takes to protect and restore our freshwater system, whether it’s our Great Lakes, main rivers or creeks and streams in our neighborhood,” Judlicka added. “It requires focus, perseverance and coordination within the community.

“Whether it was a 20-year, $100 million partnership that resulted in the restoration of the toxic and impaired Buffalo River, or the study and planning to build resilient shorelines, or awareness, education and engagement of our Western New York community around fresh water,” she added, “with. more than 250 partners and 35 years of experience, we continue to rise to the challenge to meet our environmental challenges.”

Judlicka was joined by Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski at the Ohio Street boat launch to make the announcement expanding Waterkeeper’s reach.

“I am very fortunate to have the majority of my district surrounded by the Buffalo River and waterfront,” Nowakowski said. “And so the fight of my generation is really to keep the Buffalo waterfront and the Buffalo River not only healthy and safe and clean, but also an asset to our region and its economy.”

The organization will continue to work to improve the Buffalo River while expanding its regional leadership and advocacy on local waterways that also include Scajaquada Creek, Niagara River, Ellicott Creek and Cayuga Creek, Judlicka said .

“We know that our fresh water is a globally important resource that needs the unified support and participation of our entire Western New York community,” she said , “to stay ahead of stressors, challenges and opportunities.

Waterkeeper has identified its priorities, she said, including increasing protection of the Great Lakes through advocacy and building coastal and climate resilience on the regional coastline. It will also continue to monitor the lake’s water quality, emerging contaminants and other threats.