Local AOC Coordinator Perspective

Jill Jedlicka, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Riverkeeper combines firsthand knowledge of our waterways with an unwavering commitment to the

rights of our communities to clean water.

Our goal is for everyone to have access to fishable, swimmable and drinkable waterways throughout the

Buffalo Niagara region.

Space Shuttle Photo Courtesy of USEPA-GLNPO/NASA

Buffalo River Watershed

"The Buffalo River is a repulsive holding basinrepulsive holding basin for industrial and municipal wastes, it is devoid of oxygen

and almost sterile..."

““In places the river's surface is a In places the river's surface is a boundless mosaic of boundless mosaic of colorcolor and patterns resulting from the mixture of organic and patterns resulting from the mixture of organic dyes, steel mill and oil refinery wastes, raw sewage, and dyes, steel mill and oil refinery wastes, raw sewage, and

garbage." garbage." Statement by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Statement by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration,

United States Department of the Interior, United States Department of the Interior, 1968.1968.

“It could have been just the normal oil load that happened to collect in that spot”

How do you make this…….turn into this?

Photo courtesy of: Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society

The Value

Aesthetic

Commercial

Cultural

Ecological

Economic

Habitat

Historical

Marketing

Quality of Life

Recreational

of a Waterway

PARADIGM SHIFT…

“…repulsive holding basin?”

“…boundless mosaic of color?”

Changing attitudes…

Changing perspectives…

Changing behaviors…

..results in real action.

Stakeholder Collaboration for the Buffalo River Project

Development of RI/FS Data gaps analysis Risk characterization and analysis

of Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI)

Peer review of design work

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Honeywell

USACE

Peer review of RI/FS Peer review of design work Public interaction &

communication with the community

Identification and development of restoration alternatives

Peer review of RI/FS and design Permitting CDF engineering, upgrades, review Lead GLRI dredging of the

navigation channel

NYSDEC Peer review of RI/FS Peer review of design work Ensure CERCLA and RCRA compliance Remedy negotiation Permitting

USEPA Region 2 & US AG Peer review of RI/FS Peer review of design Ensure CERCLA and RCRA

compliance

USEPA GLNPO Peer review of RI/FS Lead detailed design Public relations / meetings Project management

Buffalo River Collaboration

Promote the successes.

Build community support.

Current River “Investors”

• USEPA-Region 2• USEPA-GLNPO• US Fish & Wildlife Service• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation• NOAA• USACE-Buffalo District• NYSDEC- Region 9• NYS Dept. of State- Coastal Zone• NYS Dept. of Health• NYS Dept. of Transportation• NYS Attorney General’s Office• City of Buffalo• County of Erie• Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper• Old First Ward Community Center• Valley Community Association• Buffalo State College• University at Buffalo

• Honeywell• Exxon Mobil• Ontario Specialty Contractors• Ellicott Development Corporation• Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.• Buffalo Urban Development Corp.• China Light Marina• RiverWright, Inc.• New York Power Authority• Buffalo Sewer Authority• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority• Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association• Niagara River Greenway Commission• Margaret L. Wendt Foundation• Seneca Nation of Indians• Railroad Historical Society

Love that “muddy little river”…

1) Buffalo River RAP Coordination

• Sediment, habitat, sewers, non-point source, outreach, BUI assessment, delisting targets, overall remedial strategy

2) Buffalo River Sediments

• 312 agreement, GLNPO discretionary funds, Legacy RI/FS and RD partnerships (4 agreements to date); GLRI-USACE dredging in 2011, beneficial re-use

3) Buffalo River Brownfield Opportunity Area

4) Buffalo River Greenway

5) RiverBend Master Planning, GLRI- habitat restoration (EPA and NOAA), Green infrastructure, etc.

6) Seneca Bluffs Habitat Restoration/Volunteer Engagement

7) Buffalo RiverFest Park

Love that “muddy little river”…con’t

8) Erie Canal Harbor revitalization/public access

9) Railroad Historical Society (former Brownfield), Industrial Heritage Trail, Edward M. Cotter fireboat

10) Ohio Street Greenway/Green Infrastructure improvements

11) Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association

12) NYPA ice boom park

13) Bailey Avenue Bridge mitigation and Park design

14) West Seneca Oxbow

15) NRD litigation

Buffalo’s Economy feeling “Blue”

Measuring the Investment in River Restoration

• Riverkeeper-USACE 312 Agreement = $2.1 million

• Riverkeeper-USEPA/GLNPO Legacy Act Agreement = $2 million

• Riverkeeper/USEPA/Honeywell Legacy Act Agreement = $6 million

• Buffalo River Ecological Master Plan = $250,000

• USACE-GLRI Enhanced Navigational Dredging (2010-11) = $8.2 million

• Brownfield Opportunity Area Planning, South Buffalo and Buffalo River = $1.4 million

• BUDC/RiverBend Upland Master Plan = $600,000

• Riverkeeper 2010 Buffalo River GLRI Restoration Projects (3 of 5) = $1.3 million

• Pending Great Lakes Legacy Act-Buffalo River Remediation = ~$40+ million

• Valley Community Center-Buffalo RiverFest Park = $3+ million

• Buffalo Sewer Authority/Riverkeeper Pilot Green Infrastructure Project = $35,000

QUESTIONS?

Jill Jedlicka

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

1250 Niagara Street

Buffalo, NY 14213

716-852-7483 ext. 21

jedlicka@bnriverkeeper.org