New York State Assembly Member Jon Rivera and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Announce $100,000 in Funds Secured for Restoration Equipment, Scientific Instruments and Field Supplies to Support Programmatic Work
The capital investment will provide laboratory supplies, transportation logistics support, and field gear needed for Waterkeeper supplies, transportation logistics support, and field gear needed for Waterkeeper to fill critical gaps in water quality monitoring and regional adaptive management of natural habitats and public spaces.
BUFFALO, NY – New York State Assembly Member Jon Rivera and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper announced today $100,000 in capital funding the Assembly Member has secured for the organization’s Riverwatch and RestoreCorps programs.
“For more than three decades, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has pursued scientific knowledge of the health of our local waterways and served as a guardian for our region’s freshwater resources,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director. “Whether it is the front-line information and data we collect in the field or the staff and volunteers we deploy to local ecosystems for adaptive ecosystem management, this work requires specialized equipment and supplies for every season. Waterkeeper’s work continues to fill data gaps and functions that local or state government agencies are unable to provide, and we are grateful to Assemblyman Rivera for his partnership to seek out and secure crucial funds for the benefit of our WNY community.”
Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper plays a vital role in safeguarding one of our region’s most valuable natural resources: our water. I am proud to secure $100,000 in capital funding to support the expansion of their Riverwatch and RestoreCorps programs, which are essential to protecting the health of our waterways and the communities that depend on them. From real-time water quality monitoring to hands-on restoration efforts, this investment will equip Waterkeeper with the tools they need to continue serving as a first line of defense against threats like harmful algal blooms and bacterial contamination. By strengthening these programs, we are not only protecting our Great Lakes ecosystem, but also ensuring a cleaner, safer environment for generations to come.”
Jill Jedlicka, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director, speaks to the media during the funding announcement alongside Assemblyman Jon Rivera, left.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Riverwatch and RestoreCorps programs are core to the organization’s mission of protecting and restoring our Great Lakes ecosystems. With over 5,500 miles of streams and 21% of the world’s fresh surface water in our region, Waterkeeper’s programs have expanded in recent years and fill critical gaps in government services through real-time, water quality monitoring, data collection and habitat stewardship. Waterkeeper’s RestoreCorps program fills a gap in regional adaptive management that is needed to maintain investments in restored shorelines, habitats, and public natural assets. In addition, the organization frequently conducts rapid response to public reports of Harmful Algal Blooms and mobilizes quickly to identify and alert the public to potential risks. ”
View the news conference below.
