LOCI 2002-2005: Milestones and Resources for Input and Public Participation

2000 “New York’s North Coast: A Troubled Coastline”, report prepared by Dr. J. Makarewicz, SUNY Brockport and published by Finger Lakes – Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance.

2002 “New York’s North Coast: A Troubled Coastline” conference, organized by Center for Environmental Information in Rochester—34 co-sponsoring agencies and organizations, 176 participants from 112 affiliations. Conference program available here.

2002-03 U.S. EPA Wetlands Program Grant, “Protecting Wetlands and Aquatic Resources of New York’s North Coast: A Community-based Regional Approach,” supplemented with small grant from Rochester Area Community Foundation, to develop network list (over 1000 identified in first year); organize stakeholder workshops in three sub-watersheds (58 attended); set up website to provide focal point for LOCI information; and begin outreach program to North Coast.

Steering Committee with representatives of public and private stakeholders is assembled and adopts LOCI name and Mission Statement in January, 2004. Click here to view Top LOCI County Workshop Priorities 2005.

2004 NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources Grant, “A Proposal to Provide Partial Support for Phase Two of the Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative,” for outreach and input from thirty-six town and village officials in coastal municipalities and for developing the framework for a strategic planning process with partners.

2004-2005 FY 2004 U.S. EPA Grant, “Strategic Plan for Lake Ontario Coastal Region,” advocated by Congressman James Walsh, has enabled the following actions:

1. Governance Workshop, March 2005—“Learning from Experience”, for steering committee and guests. Presentations and information on Onondaga Lake Partnership, Tug Hill Commission, Canandaigua and Keuka Watershed plans, led by Langdon Marsh of the National Center for Collaborative Watershed Planning.
2. Research Agenda Workshop, March 2005, “Developing a Research Agenda for New York’s Participation in Great Lakes Restoration,” held at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and co-sponsored with Great Lakes Research Consortium, Sea Grant and Congressman James Walsh. Click here to view Research Workshop Agenda.
   
   Workshops to identify priorities in Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson Counties, June-July, 2005— 133 persons attended. You can view the State and Federal Legislative Districts in the LOCI Project Area and a Partial Inventory of Streams and Tributaries in the LOCI Project Area generated through this workshop.
3. Conference, “Saving New York’s North Coast: The Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative”, May 2005, with twenty-five co-sponsoring organizations and agencies and 146 participants from 108 affiliations. Conference program available here.
   1. Three workshops with feedback from local government, business, and environmental perspectives
   2. Evaluations from conference participants, 25% response
   3. Input from speakers representing similar models:
      1. Tug Hill Commission, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Onondaga Lake
      2. Partnership, Hudson River Estuary Program, Hamilton Harbor
   4. Conference Executive Summary, published 2005
   5. Development of the Action Agenda

2002-2005

1. Twenty-five presentations to groups and organizations—1932 people reached
2. Contacts/ input from elected officials and staff: federal (6), state (24).
3. Steering Committee meetings (16) and Executive Committee meetings (18).

Federal FY 2005 U.S. EPA Grant, advocated by Congressman James Walsh, will begin implementation of the Action Agenda.

• LOCI History
• EPA Grant Summary
• Who's Who in LOCI