A series of four public workshops on the Great Lakes Action Agenda will be held in late January through early February 2015.

Contact:
 
Dave White, New York Sea Grant Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist, E: dgw9@cornell.edu, P: 315-312-3042

Mary Penney, New York Sea Grant Coastal Community Development Specialist, SUNY Oswego, E: mp357@cornell.edu, P: 315-312-3042

Oswego, NY, January 14, 2015 - New York Sea Grant and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)'s Great Lakes watershed program are hosting a series of public workshops across New York's Great Lakes basin later this month and early next month on the newly-released "Great Lakes Action Agenda."

The 73 page document is a guide to promote successful ecosystem-based management through existing programs and partnerships involving state and federal agencies, municipalities, academic institutions, non-profits, and other stakeholders in New York's Great Lakes basin.

The action agenda identifies pressing problems and actions needed to protect natural resources, environmental quality and resilient communities. It helps focus federal and state programs on key challenges faced by this region of the state. Most importantly, it is a tool that agencies, communities and organizations can use to help plan, fund and track projects that help achieve our shared vision for the conservation, restoration and protection of New York's Great Lakes basin.

"The purpose of these workshops is to provide information on the Great Lakes Action Agenda, to discuss the proposed strategy for implementing the Agenda, and to seek input on priorities for achieving watershed health across the region," says Dave White, New York Sea Grant Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist and associate director of the Great Lakes Research Consortium.

There are currently four workshops scheduled in various New York Great Lakes basin locations to further discuss the Acton Agenda. An optional discussion and networking session will be held from 5-6pm, following each of the workshops. Although there is no cost to attend these workshops, pre-registration is required through New York Sea Grant at sgoswego@cornell.edu or 315-312-3042.

Wednesday, January 28, 3-5pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County
203 North Hamilton Street
Watertown, New York 13601

Thursday, January 29, 3-5pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County
248 Grant Avenue, Suite I
Auburn, NY 13021-1495

Wednesday, February 4, 3-5pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County
21 Grove Street
East Aurora, NY 14052-2345

Thursday, February 5, 3-5pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County
480 North Main Street
Canandaigua, NY 14424


Workshop Agenda and Action Agenda Goals

Workshop Agenda (Draft)

• Welcome and Introductions
• New York's Great Lakes Action Agenda
• Implementation plan
• Funding approach and opportunities
• Strategies to Move Forward
• Design and operation of regional workgroups
• Optional: A networking reception will be held from 5-6pm

Goals

The action agenda brings together new priorities, as well as existing environmental, social and economic goals previously identified for New York's Great Lakes region, using an ecosystem-based management approach. The action agenda's ten priority goals guide conservation, restoration and protection efforts in New York's Great Lakes basin.

1. Virtually eliminate discharges of persistent toxic substances
2. Control sediment, nutrient and pathogen releases
3. Accelerate the de-listing of New York's Areas of Concern
4. Combat invasive species
5. Conserve and restore fish and wildlife
6. Conserve Great Lakes water supplies
7. Enhance community resiliency and ecosystem integrity
8. Promote smart growth, redevelopment and adaptive reuse
9. Enhance recreation and tourism opportunities
10. Plan for energy development

Status of the Great Lakes Action Agenda

The action agenda is being released as an "interim" document, in recognition of key federal and state initiatives that are currently undergoing significant revisions and refinement, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan and the U.S./Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, among others. Therefore, this will be a working document at this time, to best accommodate new priorities and be open to new partners as we move forward with implementation.

NYSDEC provides updates and additional information on the Action Agenda at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/91881.html#Workshops.


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG also offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/coastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published several times a year.