Just this morning, a friend sent me an article in The Guardian, “Troubled Lake Erie is being transformed into a vast water research facility.” It’s an insightful read into the history of industry, and the resulting environmental issues that continue to plague Lake Erie. It also discusses some of the current problems at hand, including the proliferation of manure that is seeping into the lake, due to farming. That said, there are new monitoring efforts underway thanks to hundreds of sensor buoys that have been deployed by Cleveland-based researchers. By collecting data on E coli, algal blooms, turbidity levels, etc., we can better understand the problems at hand, and how to address them.
That’s the big picture.
Locally, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper continues to do its part in the expansion of public access to its waterways. The organization has announced a newly enhanced Buffalo Blueway site at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Harlem Road Fishing Access and Boat Launch on the Buffalo River. The site is now Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for fishing, and boasts a new concrete paddle launch and staircase, a gravel pathway, shoreline vegetation, educational signage, and a Blueway marker that is visible from the water. Other site enhancements include the Buffalo River’s first ADA-accessible paddle launch dock, a massive public art mural, new seating, and parking areas.
The Harlem Road Fishing Access Site is near the transition point where the Buffalo River splits into Cayuga Creek and Buffalo Creek, and it changes from a slower river to more of a large stream.
The project, funded in part with a grant from Empire State Development, is part of an even greater Buffalo Blueway waterway trail and Greenway system.
“Thanks to our partners at Empire State Development, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of West Seneca, our vision and implementation of the Buffalo Blueway continues to expand,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka. “This Harlem Road access project complements the interconnected water trail system of the other Blueway sites that have opened or will open soon and provides new and improved fishing access to all members of our community.
“For over 37 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper worked tirelessly to advocate for and lead the partnership efforts that resulted in a restoring a once-dead Buffalo River into a thriving, vibrant ecosystem that is now being activated with recreational activity from locals and tourists alike. Supporting the growth of a sustainable blue economy continues to be a goal of our ongoing environmental restoration work, and by offering increased access to our waterways through the Blueway system, these kinds of projects will continue to benefit local communities as well as accelerate economic activity for the greater WNY region.”
The site is considered a prime fishing spot, as it is stocked each spring by DEC staff with steelhead from DEC’s Salmon River Fish Hatchery.
Fishing report:
- Steelhead will begin running up the Buffalo River in the fall months, typically late October, and will be present until the following spring.
- Smallmouth bass along with species like Suckers and Redhorse will move into the stream in the spring months.
“The opening of the Harlem Road site marks another significant milestone to reconnect Western New Yorkers with our world-class waterfront,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight “By investing in the Buffalo Blueway, we are protecting our precious freshwater ecosystems while creating a destination for recreation and tourism. This site ensures that people of all abilities can experience the Buffalo River, ultimately inspiring the community engagement and local investment that drives regional growth.”
DEC acquired the property in March 1992 and officially opened and dedicated the Harlem Road Fishing Access Site on June 14, 1997.
“The New York State Department of environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to partner with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper on this important project that enhances public access and recreational opportunities in Western New York,” said DEC Region 9 Director Julie Barrett-O’Neill. “DEC acquired the property more than three decades ago and dedicated this access site to retired Regional Director John Spagnoli, who championed a canoe trail along the Buffalo River. Making fishing access and boat launches more accessible for community residents and other visitors is vital to the ongoing revitalization of our waterways by bringing people closer to nature and amplifying the ecological and social benefits of these sites for future generations.”
Up next:
After Harlem Road is complete, Waterkeeper’s next Buffalo Blueway construction projects will include a public access site at Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park and installing a Blueway site at the newly reimagined Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park. Building on the success of Buffalo Blueway, in 2026 Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper will be expanding this eco-tourism water trail to include additional public access water sites throughout the Niagara River/Lake Erie watershed. With funding from the Buffalo Erie County Greenway Standing Committee, the expanded water trail will now be known as the Buffalo Niagara Blueway.
For more information on this project, visit www.buffaloblueway.com. For more information on Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, visit www.bnwaterkeeper.org.