Genesee River Wilds Project

Discharge Stabilization: Dramatic fluxes in water levels in the Genesee River between periods of high and low precipitation can be mitigated by reforestation in the Genesee River floodplain, restoration of accompanying wetlands, and improved water use, including development of alternative water supplies. In contrast to paved parking lots and other forms of development, reforestation in the floodplain retains more of the water needed to replenish the local aquifer for drinking water; slows the transmission of water from a variety of sources into the river so that the river’s level is more consistent through dry periods; and reduces the rapid runoff that causes flooding. A more consistent stream flow during summer would improve the recreational potential of the river for boating, its quality as a fishery, and its stability as a water supply.

Education: Many of the costly abuses of the Genesee River are due to lack of experience with better practices. Education about these better alternatives and their economic advantages would encourage cooperation and help recruit allies from county and municipal officials, business developers, and farmers. Although this does not justify diverting the budgetary focus of the project away from conservation, collaboration with educational institutions in developing educational programs for adults, youth, and children would help generate more responsible use of the river. Incorporation of educational signs, trails and recreational equipment suitable for children, and other features with instructional value often require minimal cost. Recreational infrastructure that brings people in contact with wilderness areas is itself a resource for experiential learning.

Fishery Enhancement: Reforestation along the river and its tributaries increases shade and thereby cools the streams. This makes their summer temperatures more appealing for cold water fish and thereby potentially expands the size of the Genesee River system’s cold water fisheries. Cleaner water sustains delicate life forms needed for the healthiest food chain. It also helps reduce toxins that make fish unsafe to eat. Since reforestation also provides flood control without disruptive construction projects, it allows for the gradual restoration of natural shorelines and obstructions that provide crucial fish habitat. Enhanced fisheries attract more tourism and are therefore a profitable investment.

Flood Control: Reforestation of the Genesee River valley is a far less expensive and far more effective means of flood control than construction projects. Directing agricultural development, municipal growth, and businesses away from the floodplain also can pay enormous dividends by reducing damage when a flood does occur. Reducing runoff and erosion in the upper Genesee River not only impacts the immediate area, but also all areas downstream as far as Rochester. Given the large areas affected, the payoff in reduced flood damage can easily tally in the tens of millions of dollars in just a short time.

Health: Clean water is fundamental to human health. The Genesee River and Lake Ontario are major resources for drinking water, recreational swimming and boating, and fishing. Improvement of water quality helps reduce the transmission of toxins by the river that threaten human health through ingestion of contaminated water and fish.  Since forests and aquatic weeds in riverside wetlands provide a natural water filtration and purification system, creation of a forested buffer zone along the upper Genesee River offers a relatively inexpensive way to reduce toxins that currently seep into the river from polluted areas nearby.  It also will help preempt future threats to health posed by new developments that may endanger the water quality of the river. 

Legacy for Future Generations: Failure to restore and protect the Genesee River and its resources undermines expensive efforts to invest in our own children. The implications of clean water, recreational resources, and other benefits of the project assure the health, safety, and quality of life for future generations.

Quality of Life Enhancement: Clean water, aesthetically pleasing forests, and relaxing recreational park systems that accommodate children and adults enhance family relationships, health, and other features associated with the quality of life. In addition, they attract businesses and highly-skilled workers such as physicians and young engineers trained at nearby universities, whose expertise allows them to choose the most appealing locations in which to live. Such individuals contribute to local infrastructure that attracts even more business development, thereby increasing the opportunities for profitable employment.  Studies indicating that some of the most frequent users of recreational trails are over 50 years old suggest that the region’s aging population will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the enhanced quality of life brought by the project’s park and trail systems.

Reforestation: Reforestation of the areas adjacent to the river and its tributaries is the fundamental strategy for the project. Yet the value of forests extends beyond water quality to improvement of air quality, climate, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and other environmental resources. Reforestation is therefore a legitimate goal in its own right.

Sustainability in Agriculture: Some of the richest and most tillable soils in the Genesee River Wilds region are in the floodplains of the Genesee River and its tributaries. Understandably, this makes it difficult to persuade even sympathetic farmers to avoid cultivating next to the river and its tributaries, even though they are aware that flooding and erosion may quickly deprive them of such an investment. Education, financial incentives such as rent or purchase, offering other appealing farmlands in trade for river bottom lands, and other approaches that fairly compensate and assist farmers is the most effective way of winning their support in reducing the flood damage and nutrient pollution caused by unsustainable agricultural practices.

Sustainability in Development: Increasing development in the floodplain ultimately undermines the river’s ability to provide sufficient water resources needed to sustain such development. Businesses, industry, housing projects, paved parking lots, and even waste facilities have been located in or near the floodplain because it is easily developed. Human carelessness and other factors circumvent regulations and construction features designed to protect the river from the runoff, toxins, road salts, and other dangers posed by development in such close proximity to the river. Such development also raises the costs of flood damage when floods occur and increases the frequency and intensity of flooding downstream by creating more runoff. More sustainable practices can be encouraged by zoning and other policies that direct development away from the river.

Sustainability in Water Usage: Population growth, irrigation, and development in towns that draw from the Genesee River or the nearby aquifer will place increasing strain on the river water supply unless alternatives (such as existing lakes or new reservoirs) are identified and developed in advance. Reforestation, restoration of wetlands, zoning, and other programs can reduce runoff and help preserve rainwater and other sources needed to replenish the aquifer and the river so that clean water continues to be available for generations to come. Failure to pursue these programs will only increase the stresses on water supplies.

Tourism and Business: In the long run, the expenses of flood damage and loss of water resources far outweigh the short-term economic advantages of business development and other common uses of land in the river’s floodplain. Forested nature park systems provide an alternative that allows the floodplain to remain financially productive by attracting tourism and business to the surrounding area. Large recreational park systems along rivers have been successful in generating economic revitalization in both major cities and rural areas comparable to the Genesee River Wilds (e.g., Lehigh Gorge in PA, Pine Creek Gorge in PA, and Letchworth State Park in NY).  Some of the largest and most profitable recreational resources in the northeast function as guardians for water resources that ultimately serve large population centers further downstream (e.g., Adirondack State Park for the upper Hudson River watershed; the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for the upper Delaware River basin).  The upper Genesee River currently lacks such protections despite its impact on Rochester and Lake Ontario.   Zoning and other policies that direct business, housing, and other forms of development away from the upper sections of the river may appear restrictive at first, but by making the area more attractive in its beauty and as a place for recreation they actually will encourage business development.

Water Quality Improvement in the Genesee River and Lake Ontario: Clean water is becoming such an increasingly precious commodity that in some regions the growing demands for it have threatened international stability. Even in our own country tensions over supplies of clean water have frequently erupted between states. Stewardship of the Great Lakes thus has significant global implications. They contain 21% of the world’s freshwater and 84% of the freshwater in North America. Since the Genesee River is one of the major sources for Lake Ontario, improving its water quality impacts both the immediate area and the larger international network affected by the Great Lakes.

Wildlife Preservation and Restoration: The unique needs of the bald eagles, river otters, and other relatively rare wildlife that make their home along the upper Genesee River justify more investment in reforestation, water quality improvement, and other projects that will help restore and preserve wildlife habitat.  The success of New York State’s efforts to reintroduce river otters to the upper Genesee River is especially dependent on the water quality of the river and the size of protected areas nearby.  The preservation and expansion of the unique ecological niche that is found along the edges of a large river passing through a wilderness area is thus inherently valuable.  But wildlife preservation also can generate profitable tourism.  This is demonstrated by the magnet for entire families of tourists created by the revived wolf populations in Yellowstone or restored elk herds in parts of Pennsylvania.  In the same way, the bald eagles, great blue herons, beavers, and other wildlife that live along the upper Genesee River may be complemented with viewing platforms and other infrastructure that can transform their habitat into a rich economic and educational resource for struggling communities nearby.  Investment in the protection and growth of riverside wildlife habitat can also be made more profitable for these communities by complementing habitat protection projects with minimally-invasive parking lots and boat launches for canoes and kayaks.  The silent efficiency of a canoe or kayak being carried downstream by the river makes it easy to glide remarkably close to unsuspecting wildlife in the water and on the banks.  It also offers one of the few realistic hopes for catching a rare glimpse an elusive river otter.  Combining habitat conservation with expanding the infrastructure for use of water-craft entices more tourists seeking these experiences.  Improvement of habitat for sportfish such as trout and game animals such as deer also helps to assure continued appeal for anglers and hunters who visit the region.