Environmental Events and News for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming Counties
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 06/10/2020 06:29 PM EDT |
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Environmental Events and News for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming Counties (Region 9) |
Record White Bass Caught on Lower Niagara River, First New York State Record Fish Established for 2020
While out fishing with his father, Joe, on May 6th, Morgan Fonzi of Gasport, Niagara County, reeled in a new state record white bass from the Lower Niagara River. Weighing in at 3 lbs. 8 oz, it surpassed the previous state record set in 1992 by 2 ounces. Interestingly, the father-son duo had been out the day before when Joe Fonzi caught one even larger. When they realized what the (then) state record white bass weighed, they set out the following day specifically targeting that species, and the rest is history. It's safe to say, the fishing season in New York State, and especially in Region 9, is off to a great start! Congratulations Morgan! For more information on New York's Angler Achievement Awards Program which covers state records, visit DEC's website. Region 9 ECO Receives Award for Outstanding Service, ECO Timothy Machnica named "Officer of the Year" by NECLECA
NECLECA consists of the law enforcement chiefs from 13 Northeastern states, three Eastern provinces of Canada, and the United States and Canadian Federal Conservation Law Enforcement agencies. Each year, NECLECA sponsors an award for "Conservation Officer of the Year Award," acknowledging the important role that Conservation Police Officers play in local, national and international wildlife conservation. ECO Machnica has served with distinction in DEC's Division of Law Enforcement for 12 years. He graduated DEC's 18th Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2008 and served in Region 2, Manhattan for 5 years, before transferring back to the WNY area where he was raised. After serving tours in Regions 6, 7 and 8, ECO Machnica transferred home to Region 9 in 2017, where he has been stationed since. ECO Machnica currently patrols Erie County, where he enforces New York's environmental conservation laws to protect the area's natural resources. His responsibilities broadly range from investigating hunting, poaching and environmental quality violations to providing support for various emergency response initiatives and educating the next generation of sportsmen and women about safe hunting traditions, conservation ethics and environmental stewardship. DEC's ECOs are on the front line daily in their efforts to protect our wildlife, natural resources and citizens. ECO Machnica's award recognizes his excellent case work, outstanding professionalism, and distinguished service. Region 9 is fortunate to have ECO Machnica serving on its front line. Kestrel Rescued by Region 9 ECO Jason Powers
County to Host "Contactless" Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event in Southtowns on June 27The well-loved, no-cost Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event is back and is safer than ever! On Saturday June 27, 2020, Erie County will be hosting a Household Hazardous Waste collection event for county residents. An appointment is required to participate. To make an appointment, visit Erie County's website. Residents will register via the website or HHW hotline and receive an appointment time within a 15-minute window. When you get to the site, you do not even need to roll down your window. You will be checked in remotely based on your car description. When it is time to unload, you will sit in your vehicle with a mask on while a masked and gloved contractor removes the HHW materials from the trunk or very back of the vehicle. Location will be given when scheduling an appointment time. *Voucher Program: New Starting June 15th - Unavailable on that day or not in the Southtowns? Erie County now has a voucher program for residents to use to dispose of your HHW at your convenience. Erie County has contracted with Hazman to provide vouchers that allow residents to bring up to 50 pounds of HHW to Hazman at no cost to you. The voucher program will also require a reservation which you can make via the Hazman website or the HHW hotline. New "GeoPDFs" Now Available for Certain R9 Lands and Forest PropertiesSome Lands and Forests properties in Region 9 now have a new built-in feature for online maps – georeferencing! Georeferenced maps, or “geoPDFs”, allow you to track your actual location on the map by using your smartphone’s GPS. This feature adds an extra level of safety for visitors by helping them locate a trail, campsite, road, etc. using their real-time location. The user does not need to be connected to the internet or have cell service while using the map, though service is required for the initial download. Here are some Lands and Forests properties in Region 9 that have geoPDFs so far, more to come soon! Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Currently, there are about 30 georeferenced maps for Lands and Forests properties available online across regions 3, 7, 8, and 9. Regions have been notified about the easy process for incorporating this feature into maps going forward, and geoPDFs will be made as new maps are created and as old maps are updated. You can read more information about these maps on DEC's website, and keep an eye out for the (GeoPDF) label coming soon to a property’s webpage near you! Partners & Projects Webinar Series to be Held This Summer as Part of New Yorks' Great Lakes Action AgendaDEC's Great Lakes Program invites you to "sign on" this summer to learn about partners & projects working to protect, restore and enhance our Great Lakes lands and waters, and funding opportunities to advance additional projects, in support of NY's Great Lakes Action Agenda (GLAA).
Click on the date below to register: June 16, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - NY's Great Lakes Action Agenda & Accomplishments Learn about NY's ecosystem-based approach to keeping our Great Lakes waters and land healthy, what we've achieved and what remains to be accomplished. June 30, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Water Quality Projects Learn how the Thousand Islands Land Trust is protecting the source waters of the St. Lawrence River, and how partners of the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance are teaming up to clean up Lake Erie beaches. July 14, 2 - 3 p.m. - Natural Resource Projects Learn how Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District is mitigating floods and restoring fish passage in partnership with towns. The Onondaga Environmental Institute will discuss their successful community-based partnership to restore native habitats & species, including brook trout, and uses of the Ley Creek watershed. July 28, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Sustainability & Resiliency Projects Learn how Genesee County's Green Genesee/Smart Genesee initiative is planning for the future using an innovative, ecosystem-based land use planning approach. The NYS Department of State and the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay/NY Sea Grant will review the new NYS nature-based shoreline monitoring protocols and discuss related efforts to promote coastal health and resiliency. August 11, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Education & Research Initiatives Learn how NY Sea Grant is equitably engaging K-12 students through the Great Lakes Ecosystem Education Exchange program and others. Dr. Gregory Boyer will discuss his work to better understand harmful algal blooms and their functions, and the role of the Great Lakes Research Consortium. |
Fishing in WNY has never been better. Fisheries biologists describe current angling quality and catch rates on WNY's world class freshwater fishing waters including Lake Erie and Lake Ontario as 'once in a generation fishing.' On another top WNY fishery, a local angler fishing on the Niagara River recently established a new state record.
DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Timothy Machnica was recently named the "New York Officer of the Year" by the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association (NECLECA).
On June 5, 2020, Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Jason Powers received a report of a possible infant rare raptor that needed rehabilitation in the Town of Allegany. ECO Powers immediately responded to the location of the bird. He successfully transported the raptor to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Olean. The raptor was identified as a Kestrel falcon and will be cared for in the rehabilitation facility until it is ready for release back into the wild.
This webinar series is being held in place of our regular spring GLAA work group meetings. We hope it will be a valuable opportunity to learn about what's happening in other parts of the watershed, and inspire us to continue this important work with renewed energy and reinvigorated ideas.
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