Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and Partners Share Draft Concepts for Priority Projects in Scajaquada Ecological Restoration and Resiliency Plan with Community
Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the community-driven plan will provide framework for future restoration efforts in the Scajaquada Creek Corridor
CHEEKTOWAGA, NY – During the organization’s sixth annual Scajaquada September celebration, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and its consultants, Anchor QEA and Highland Planning, announced the release of the preliminary concepts for priority restoration projects identified through the Scajaquada Creek Ecological Restoration and Resiliency planning process today at Anna Reinstein Memorial Library on the banks of Scajaquada Creek in Cheektowaga.
The concepts are being shared to continue gathering community input that will be incorporated into the final draft of the plan. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Habitat Conservation, the watershed-wide plan will serve as a foundational framework for long-term habitat restoration, investment, and resilience strategies along Scajaquada Creek corridor —a historic but highly impaired waterway that runs through multiple municipalities in Western New York.
The final draft of the plan is expected to be released in October and will be available on Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s website. During the month of October, community members will have an additional opportunity to review the final draft and provide feedback. It is anticipated that the Scajaquada Creek Ecological Restoration and Resiliency Plan will be released by the end of 2026.
View the news conference announcing the draft plan below.
Throughout Scajaquada September, community meetings and events at proposed project sites, including walk-and-talks and cleanup activities, will also provide opportunities for residents and stakeholders to share input and local insights that can help inform the final plan.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka said, “This planning process was intentionally organized around the priority to incorporate local stakeholders who are most impacted by current conditions and future restoration efforts. Scajaquada Creek is fed by an ancient aquifer that provides an ongoing source of clean water, and if we pursue efforts to minimize pollution and enhance surrounding ecosystems, the creek can thrive again. The completed plan will not sit on a shelf, but become a tool for targeting investment, revitalization and restoration into local communities and public green spaces. We are grateful to NOAA and to the community members who supported this project with funding, donations, time and input.”
Click an image below to view the draft concepts
Town of Cheektowaga Supervisor Brian Nowak said, “I’m excited to see this project progressing. The effort to include community input and have a well-developed plan is readily apparent.”
The draft plan was developed through a multi-year community engagement process anchored by the Scajaquada Creek Community Advisory Group (CAG) and included public meetings, neighborhood outreach, mapping activities and numerous opportunities for residents and stakeholders throughout the watershed to share priorities, concerns and local knowledge. The CAG brought together residents, business owners, community partners and other stakeholders from across the Scajaquada Creek corridor to help inform the planning process and recommendations, while also leading outreach and engagement within their own communities and networks. The completed plan will be shared publicly and will serve as a resource for future decision-making by:
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Providing a comprehensive overview of current conditions, opportunities, and restoration efforts along Scajaquada Creek;
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Addressing key questions and gaps identified through previous planning and community engagement efforts; and
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Identifying and prioritizing science-based, community-informed opportunities to improve ecological function, enhance flood resilience, and support revitalization throughout the watershed.
With the final draft of the plan complete, Waterkeeper will continue to engage communities living closest to creek, to ensure their knowledge, concerns, and perspectives help shape the priority restoration projects. Waterkeeper will seek opportunities to work alongside community members, municipalities, agencies, and funding partners to advance these projects, pursue future investment, and coordinate long-term improvements that reflect community needs throughout the watershed. This is a restoration model and method that has been successful for Waterkeeper in dozens of projects throughout Western New York, including efforts along the Buffalo River, Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls, and Scajaquada Creek in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Click an image below to view the draft concepts
Scajaquada Creek is a 13-mile-long stream that drains a 29-square-mile watershed in Erie County, flowing through the Town of Lancaster, Village of Depew, and Town of Cheektowaga before entering the City of Buffalo. The creek is buried approximately 3.7 miles beneath the East Side of Buffalo, starting at the Cheektowaga/Buffalo border, before reemerging in Forest Lawn Cemetery. It then flows westward through key segments of Buffalo’s historic Olmsted Park System, ultimately emptying into the Black Rock Channel and the Niagara River.
The watershed is densely developed and shaped by decades of industrial, residential, and transportation infrastructure that have severely degraded the creek’s natural condition. Key impairments include:
• Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and stormwater pollution,
• Legacy contaminants in sediment and soil,
• Fragmentation of aquatic and riparian habitats,
• Physical burial of major creek sections, and
• Flooding and erosion caused by inadequate infrastructure.
Ellen Harris-Harvey, President of Trinidad Neighborhood Association said, “As a member of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and President of the Trinidad Neighborhood Association, I have seen firsthand how this community-driven plan is a vital step toward restoring Scajaquada Creek as a recreational and ecological asset. My time as a CAG consultant and advisory member has been incredibly rewarding, particularly in helping to ensure the restoration process is transparent and centers the voices of those living closest to the waterway. Engaging the community through neighborhood tabling, cleanup events, and mapping workshops has had a profound impact by uncovering critical local concerns, such as water drainage issues in the buried sections of the creek. These collective efforts have successfully connected residents to their local watershed, transforming the creek from a neglected resource into a focal point for community pride and environmental justice.”
Cassie Pelz, Buffalo Women of Environmental Learning and Leadership (BWELL), said, “Being part of this project has been a meaningful opportunity for Buffalo Women of Environmental Learning and Leadership (BWELL). Helping to bring community voices to the table and engaging in the process reminds us all that protecting our creek isn’t only about the environment — it’s about building connection, pride, and a shared commitment to the places we hold dear.”
Dr. Cortasia L. Solomon-Carter said, “Being a member of the Scajaquada Community Advisory Group has been a rewarding and educational experience. I have learned so much about the importance of Scajaquada Creek, environmental stewardship, and the value of meaningful community engagement. I truly admire the dedication behind this initiative and am proud to be part of an effort that brings people together, listens to community voices, and creates a positive and lasting impact.”
Anne McCooey, Black Rock Riverside Alliance said, “The BRRAlliance is proud to have partnered with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers (BNW) on not only this project, but on others over the years. Our appreciation goes to the BNW for ensuring that our community has a voice at the planning table. Our organizations’ focus area is the largest waterfront community in the City of Buffalo, the North District, with over 4 miles of waterfront along the Niagara River and Scajaquada Creek, so collaborating with BNW on projects in our community is important, especially when it comes to bringing community engagement and education to those that live and work in the community. Our resident population is incredibly diverse and range from those that remember swimming in the Creek as children 50 years ago to those that are new to not only the community, but the country. But no matter how long they have been part of the community, they have all expressed a desire to reclaim the water as a safe recreational, life sustaining, accessible asset. This project is the start of making those dreams come true.”
Ryan Sajdak said, “Being part of the Scajaquada Creek Community Advisory Group has reinforced how important it is to bring the community into conversations about the future of the creek. Scajaquada Creek is more than a waterway. It connects our neighborhoods, schools, parks, and communities. Through my work with students, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when young people have opportunities to learn about the creek, investigate the challenges it faces, and recognize that they can play a role in its future. The work happening around Scajaquada is an opportunity not only to restore an important local ecosystem, but also to reconnect people with a waterway that has been part of Buffalo’s story for generations.”
Britney-Bay Croyle said, “Being a member of CAG has been such a sweet and meaningful chapter of my journey. I became a mom just a short time before the first CAG meeting and since then I’ve had my second while still participating. Being a mother, an artist, and a CAG member has allowed me to see the beautiful intersectionality that life can be. All at once we can raise our family, create, and restore the Scajaquada piece by little piece to honor the land and earth that serves us. The project to me feels like an effort to bring that joy into more homes in our community. It’s magic.”
Aurora Sliwinski said, “As an aspiring aquatic biologist and member of the Scajaquada Community Advisory Group, being part of the CAG has been a very valuable experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn more about the planning and restoration efforts taking place throughout the Scajaquada Creek Watershed and to see how important community input is throughout the process. Engaging with community members and hearing different perspectives has shown me how connected people are to the creek and how much they care about its future. I think the plan is an important step toward restoring and improving the watershed while also helping connect people to their local waterway. I’m excited to see the continued impact of this work throughout the Scajaquada Creek Watershed!”
Dr. Kate Haq, Mother Earth Literacies, said, “In my time on the CAG, I have learned a great deal about the history and environmental impacts on the Scajaquada Creek and the watershed. My favorite activity was when we went took the Watershed tour–I not only gained a better appreciation of the work that has been done and is planned to reclaim our waterways, but I got to spend time with other CAG members outside of meetings. The information I learned that day is still with me.”
Pastor Steve Lane said, “Buffalo’s very being is connected to its waterways. The efforts of Waterkeeper have brought much of it back, but there is much more to do.”
Scajaquada September is Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s annual month-long, watershed-wide celebration of the region’s historic and iconic Scajaquada Creek. Sponsored by Linde and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, this year’s events will include public tours of the creek corridor, community meetings, virtual lunch ‘n’ learns, a cleanup and other community activities. For more information, a calendar of events (including the next two community meetings) and to register, visit www.scajaquadaseptember.com.
