For Release: Tuesday, April 20, 2010

State Environmental Commissioner Celebrates Progress along the Genesee River

Site Chosen to Highlight Environmental Gains since Original "Earth Day"

New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis celebrated this week's 40th anniversary of Earth Day by highlighting progress in the Greater Rochester area at a news conference today at Turning Point Park on the Genesee River.

"In the 1950s and 1960s, the Genesee River was being polluted at an alarming rate," Commissioner Grannis said. "Communities were dumping untreated or partially treated sewage into the river, industries were discharging waste products, and spills and low oxygen levels were killing and choking fish and triggering frequent closings of Lake Ontario beaches. The Genesee, like many other water bodies, had become a convenient dumping spot."

"Forty years later, it's a different story," the commissioner continued. "Massive infrastructure investments and tighter regulations have made significant impacts, reducing pollution and improving the health of the river. While much remains to be done to achieve the long-term recovery we all desire, this anniversary gives New Yorkers a chance to take stock of the gains we've made."

Commissioner Grannis, who helped organize New York City's original Earth Day celebration in 1970, is touring sites around the state that illustrate the significant environmental progress New York has made over the past 40 years. The commissioner noted Genesee River highlights that include:

More than $1 billion in federal, state and local funds has been invested to help replace outdated sewer systems with modern wastewater controls.
An extensive combined-sewer-overflow abatement system, featuring deep tunnel storage and cutting-edge instrumentation, has worked to intercept and treat stormwater that previously poured straight into the river.
Tighter regulations on industry have reduced improper discharges and better controls on construction and agricultural activities have reduced erosion and runoff.
The formation of the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition has worked regionally to reduce stormwater pollution from various sources.
An experiment to stock lake sturgeon in the river has thrived and grown. Trout and salmon stocking have helped make the river a popular fishing spot.

"Because of these efforts, water quality has improved and oxygen levels in the water have increased enough to support a robust fishery," Grannis said. "Trails and access points along the river corridor have increased opportunities for hiking, biking and boating. Beaches are open more frequently than in the past. And the Genesee now ranks as the state's 10th-most popular river or stream to fish."

40 Years of Improvement

"Since the first Earth Day in 1970 and the creation that year of Department of Environmental Conservation, we've seen a number of concrete examples of environmental improvements in New York," Commissioner Grannis said. "Signature water bodies, such as the Hudson River, have made significant comebacks. The number of waterways classified as severely damaged by pollution have declined 88 percent. Wildlife icons, such as the Bald Eagle, have returned."

"The fact is, as Earth Day turns 40, we've made enormous strides in a relatively short amount of time," Grannis continued. "But it is not time to hoist the 'Mission Accomplished' banner. Not by a long shot. There is plenty of work to do across the state and many new issues to address - from climate change to invasive species. If we are to continue making progress, we'll need the same amount of passion and dedication as those first Earth Day marchers had. It's time to rededicate ourselves to taking the next step."

The commissioner noted other examples of environmental progress in the state:

The comeback of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, with record-high populations in 2010.
The resurgence of moose and wild turkey.
Complete cleanups of nearly 1,800 polluted sites and approximately 330,000 spills.
Reduction of toxics in the environment, such as DDT.
Signs of progress in the fight against acid rain, with dozens of Adirondack Park lakes showing improvements.
Successful launch of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (a Northeast states' program to establish a cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gases from industrial sources) and new requirements to reduce vehicle emissions.
Improvements in important water bodies, including the Hudson River, Onondaga Lake and Lake Ontario.
Millions of acres of open space preserved by state and local governments.
Eradication of dozens of old tire dumps and removal of 27 million (and counting) used tires from the landscape.