Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper's Fall Shoreline Cleanup Tomorrow

New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan will participate in Riverkeeper's Fall Shoreline Sweep and will be discussing the renewed community commitment and various efforts currently underway to restore Scajaquada Creek at a press event on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 10:00 in Buffalo, NY. (Location will be on the Jesse Kregal Pathway that can be accessed from the side parking area at Wegmans located at 601 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY. See map below)

Hundreds of volunteers participate in the clean-up of the banks of Scajaquada every year, and this community commitment demonstrates how important this waterway is to Western New York.

"Scajaquada Creek is one of many orphaned and abused waterways that is finally starting on the path of restoration, states Jill Jedlicka, Riverkeeper's Executive Director.  "These dedicated volunteers demand and deserve to see the Creek restored within their lifetimes, and Riverkeeper and Assemblyman Ryan are fully committed to help making that happen."

"I thank Riverkeeper for their steadfast commitment to cleaning up Scajaquada Creek, and I share their passion for improving the health of Buffalo's important waterways," said Assemblyman Ryan. "We must do everything possible to protect our waterways here in Buffalo and Western New York and I plan to continue to work side-by-side with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper to continue that mission. I would especially like to thank all the volunteers who are donating their time to ensure that Scajaquada Creek is restored to its full potential."

Several collaborative efforts are currently underway in the lower Scajaquada Creek watershed and include restoration partners like Forest Lawn Cemetery, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, City of Buffalo, Erie County, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Buffalo Sewer Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers.  These efforts include projects such as the  recently constructed green streets on Clarendon Place and Windsor Avenue, groundwater well pumping improvements near Hoyt Lake, and efforts to address botulism in Scajaquada Creek.

Riverkeeper's Shoreline Sweep will be held from 9:00AM-12:00PM along Scajaquada Creek and 22 locations throughout the Buffalo Niagara Region. A Volunteer Appreciation picnic will be held at American Legion Post #1041, 533 Amherst Street, Buffalo, from 11:00 am-12:30 pm.

For more than a decade, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper has coordinated the biannual Shoreline Sweep.  During Saturday's Sweep, over 1,000 volunteers have registered to remove trash and debris as well as remove graffiti and beautify waterfront areas.  The Shoreline Sweep is sponsored by M&T Bank.