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Designation opens door for state cleanup and revitalization funding
State Sen. Marc Panepinto, D-Buffalo, released the following statement Monday on his renewed call to designate Eighteen Mile Creek an "inland waterway" opening the door for important state funding:
"The second largest tributary in Lake Erie, Eighteen Mile Creek plays an important role in Western New York. Few bodies of water in the Great Lakes region compare. Each year, Eighteen Mile Creek serves as a habitat to thousands of migrating salmon and steelhead from August to April, a runoff for more than 120 square miles of agricultural and residential land and a recreational haven for fishermen year-round. Keeping it healthy is paramount to protecting our environment. With proper designation as an inland waterway, that goal can be achieved opening the door to vital state funding.
"Having sponsored multiple pieces of legislation, I am steadfast in my commitment to protecting and keeping our waterways viable. Therefore, I am calling on my colleagues in the Senate to join in that commitment and pass this necessary legislation before the end of session."
Panepinto's legislation (S.4109A) aims to accomplish the following:
•Provide Eighteen Mile Creek with immediate designation as one of New York state's major creeks and as an inland waterway
•Open opportunities for pollution cleanup and waterfront revitalization funding
In addition to S.4109A, Panepinto has sponsored the following legislation in the fight to protect Western New York's waterways: