Nowakowski joins Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to 'open' WNY water season, announce expanded jurisdiction to Pennsylvania border in 35th anniversary

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Press Release and Images

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper (BNW) was joined by Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski on Monday to recognize the opening of the Western New York water season, while announcing a major expansion of BNW’s geographic jurisdiction in its 35th anniversary year.

The new jurisdictional area in which the organization will expand its impact includes the entirety of the eastern Lake Erie shoreline and numerous communities within the expanded watershed all the way to the Pennsylvania border.

In describing the decision to officially expand the geography, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka said, “This action allows us to better integrate and engage the many diverse voices across Western New York, so our region can be better coordinated around clean water. Western New Yorkers are all Great Lakes residents who share these resources and share the same future challenges. We are excited to engage with more WNY residents through advocacy, volunteer events, idea sharing and project implementation for the benefit of our freshwater and ecosystems.”

Nowakowski said, "Today marks a significant milestone for Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and our community as their expanded jurisdiction signifies a bold step towards more comprehensive water stewardship across Western New York. As we celebrate their 35th anniversary, I am proud to stand alongside and support an organization that exemplifies environmental leadership and dedication, and I am excited to see the continued progress in preserving our water resources for future generations."

While Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been known for its leadership role in restoring the Buffalo River and improving ecosystems in Western New York for the past 35 years, Jedlicka described the top 10 ongoing challenges and the work the organization and the community must prioritize in the years to come:

√ Protecting our Great Lakes through building community capacity and implementing coastal resiliency projects

√ Ongoing water quality monitoring for PFAS, emerging contaminants and other threats

√ Advocating for local, state and federal resources for investments in water infrastructure such as sewers, shorelines, and living ecosystems

√ Collecting data and advocating for solutions to eliminate plastic pollution

√ Educating the next generation to become local stewards of our Great Lakes and local waterways

√ Restoring fish and wildlife habitat, open spaces and making greenway connections between our community and natural environment,

√ Mitigating the harmful impacts of stormwater and nutrient runoff on our waterways

√ Cleaning up legacy pollution and preventing contamination of our shorelines and waterways

√ Implementing water protection and restoration strategies with municipalities throughout our new jurisdiction watershed

√ Creating equitable access to our waterways for all members of our WNY community

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper invites the entire community to join these efforts through volunteering, trainings and education programs. To learn more about how to get involved, check out our website at bnwaterkeeper.org/volunteer or are social media channels on all major platforms: @bnwaterkeeper. More information about the expansion of watershed jurisdiction and action plan can be found at https://bnwaterkeeper.org/actionplan/.

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is celebrating its 35th year of operation with an evening at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum on Tuesday, May 21. The evening will feature food, drinks, music by Vibrant Strings, and awards for outstanding water advocates, including a lifetime achievement award being given to former congressman Brian Higgins. Sponsors for the celebration event include Gross Shuman P.C., The Johnston Family Foundation, Labatt USA, Lawley, M&T Bank, Rich Products, The David & Joan Rogers Foundation, Scott Lawn Yard, and UBS Financial Services Inc.

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is a community-based nonprofit organization that protects and restores our waters and surrounding ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. For over 35 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been the guardian of Western New York's fresh water, protecting clean water, restoring the health of ecosystems, connecting people to the water, and inspiring sustainable economic growth and community engagement. For more information about the “Spring Sweep,” visit www.bnwaterkeeper.org/cleanup. 

Old Niagara River Watershed boundaries. (Images provided by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper)

New Lake Erie and Niagara River Watershed boundaries. (Images provided by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper)