Conference will address coastline issues

Local, state, tribal, and federal officials and agencies, environmental and civic groups, economic and agriculture interests will convene in Rochester on May 3 for a conference on New York's North Coast - A Troubled Coastline.

Organized by the Center for Environmental Information, the conference is co-sponsored by federal, state and local agencies, environmental groups, research institutions, and industries, including such groups as Save Our Sodus, and the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The North Coast stretches for 300 miles through seven counties on Lake Ontario's south shore, from the Niagara River in the west to the St. Lawrence River in the east. In the 30 years since enactment of the Clean Water Act, the water quality of Lake Ontario's open waters has shown significant improvement.

However, the embayments along the coastline-bays, river and creek mouths, wetlands, and ponds, are of vital importance to the economic well-being of the area; and they are still suffering from impairments that severely limit their recreational use and ultimately affect the economic development of the region.

The coastal waters provide habitat for most aquatic species, influence levels of nutrients and pollutants entering the open waters, support diverse, productive wetland vegetation, and provide desirable locations for water-oriented human activities.

Conference speakers include experts on the ecological, economic, tourism and recreational aspects related to restoration and remediation. The conference program will alert the public to the problems affecting the coastal waters and embayments; identify work in progress and opportunities for constructive remedies; and create a regional action framework for restoration of coastal waters and embayments.

The conference will be held at the Burgundy Basin Inn in Pittsford from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $35 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments and program materials.

To register, call the Center for Environmental Information at 585.262.2870.

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