Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments project

Press release:

New York Sea Grant is inviting public stakeholders in the Lake Ontario region of New York State to share their best thinking on what actions are needed through lake and watershed planning to prepare for possible future extreme climate conditions and population changes in the region at workshops at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in Watertown and at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 in Rochester.

Specific areas for discussion at the workshops include potential actions related to water resource management, infrastructure, land use and zoning, governance, economic development related to agriculture, recreation and tourism, and ecosystem management.

The workshops will consider potential recommendations to address both exceedingly wet and dry futures in the Lake Ontario region through stormwater management, riparian buffers, wetlands restoration, stream hydrology, job training, and energy considerations.

These workshops offer the public the opportunity to voice thoughts on the changing dynamics in the Lake Ontario region and how those changes may impact their communities, their businesses, the environment, and boating, fishing and other recreation interests, says workshop organizer David B. MacNeill, New York Sea Grant, Oswego.

Lake and watershed planning informed by grassroots wisdom along with input by experts in climate, natural resources, and other fields will help communities be better prepared to adapt to the challenges of an uncertain future, says New York Sea Grant Associate Director and Cornell Cooperative Extension Assistant Director Katherine Bunting-Howarth, Ithaca.

New York Sea Grant will add public input to a report that will be presented to local, State and Federal agencies and stakeholder organizations to assist future planning efforts.

Seating is limited for the Nov. 10 workshop at Cornell Cooperative Extension Jefferson County, 203 N. Hamilton St., Watertown. The Nov. 12 workshop in Rochester will be held at the Rochester Museum and Science Center Bausch Auditorium, 657 East Ave. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. for each workshop. Registration is recommended by calling New York Sea Grant at (315) 312-3042, slm22@cornell.edu.

Funding for the workshop is through the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to build capacity to manage risks from climate change and variability in the Great Lakes region.
 
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The counties included in the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments project in New York State are Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, and Wayne.

The watersheds included in the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments project in New York State are: Black, Buffalo Eighteenmile, Cattaraugus, Chaumont Perch, Chautauqua-Conneaut, Conewango, French, Indian, Irondequoit Ninemile, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lower Genesee, Niagara, Oak Orchard Twelvemile, Oneida, Oswegatchies, Oswego, Salmon Sandy, Seneca, Upper Allegheny, and Upper St. Lawrence.

New York Sea Grant is a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on New York Sea Grant activities, www.nyseagrant.org <http://www.nyseagrant.org> has RSS, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube links.