Area residents have read some dire news in the paper lately about the state of Clayton’s sewer and water infrastructure. (For background, read Clayton’s water systems ‘alarming’, from the January 8 edition of the Watertown Daily Times.)

The Watertown Daily Times today ran Save The River’s letter to the editor supporting the Village of Clayton’s efforts to update their sewer and water systems. As we note in our letter below, these are difficult, but critical, issues to address and investing in our sewer and water infrastructure today will ensure that future generations of Clayton residents will have safe drinking water and a river free of sewer overflows.

Watertown Daily Times Letter to the Editor
Clayton mayor, board deserve praise for facing water issue

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

Regarding the article “Clayton’s water systems ‘alarming,’” Save The River would like to express appreciation to the Clayton Village Board and Mayor Norma Zimmer for biting the bullet and taking on the difficult, but essential issue of water infrastructure. Those present at the meeting on Jan. 7 got the message loud and clear — over the last 30 years, not enough has been done to maintain the village’s sewer and water system, and unless that changes, costs will continue to skyrocket, opportunities for government assistance will be lost and pollution entering the St. Lawrence River will continue.

This is a difficult situation to be sure, as no one looks forward to higher bills, but the facts are plain. Lack of action by prior boards has resulted in significant deterioration of the water and sewer system. Unfortunately, funding from various government programs is limited, which requires that local communities show they are contributing their fair share. This means that grants are not available without higher rates, and the costs are too high to accomplish without grants. The village is moving in the right direction by abandoning the piecemeal approach of the past and developing comprehensive solutions. Putting off this effort will only lead to more problems and a bigger cost down the road, whereas sewer and water infrastructure improvements today will ensure that current and future generations of Clayton residents will have safe drinking water and a river free of sewerage overflows.

Save The River applauds Clayton’s leaders for tackling this tough but essential job of investing in a sewer and water system that can function effectively into the future while protecting the St. Lawrence River as well. We stand ready to help the village board in this important effort.

Jennifer J. Caddick

Clayton

The writer is executive director and upper St. Lawrence riverkeeper for Save The River.

Save The River presents yet another packed Winter Weekend conference, on Saturday, February 6 at the Clayton Opera House, filled with informative and timely presentations and discussions. We are pleased to announce that New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis will address conference attendees during the morning session.

Advance registration is recommended by calling Save The River at 315-686-2010. Cost to attend the conference is $25, which includes lunch.

Please note – the agenda presented below is still tentative, speaker times may change. Check back to this page for updates.

Save The River Winter Weekend Conference Agenda

8:30 a.m. – Registration (Conference cost: $25, includes lunch; Advance RSVP requested by calling Save The River at 315-686-2010)

9:00 a.m. – Morning Session Speakers include
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis

Tony Maas, Director, Fresh Water Program, WWF-Canada, “Rivers at Risk – Protecting and Restoring Nature’s Water Needs”

Dr. John Farrell, SUNY ESF-Thousand Islands Biological Station,“The St. Lawrence River Fish Habitat Conservation Strategy”

Dr. John Casselman, “Climate Change, Fish and Fisheries: What to Expect, How to Adapt” Queen’s University Department of Biology

12:00 Lunch

12:30 Afternoon Session Speakers include:
Paul Lloyd Sargent, Multidisciplinary Artist, “Precious Cargo: Water, Art, and Experimental
Geography”

Kathleen Morris-Kortz, Save The River’s Education Curriculum Consultant,  “Exploring the Living Environment: Learning About the Save The River In the Schools Program”

Jennifer Nalbone, Great Lakes United, “Oh Carp! Ongoing Efforts in the Battle Against an Asian Carp invasion”

3:00 p.m. – Adjournment

Evening Keynote Presentation

And, don’t forget the evening keynote address by Jeff Alexander, author of Pandora’s Locks. Visit our Winter Weekend page for more information.

Clayton, NY (January 18, 2010) – Save The River’s 21st annual Winter Environmental Weekend will be held February 5 – 6 at the Clayton Opera House. This annual event brings together policymakers, scientists and citizens to discuss the most important issues facing the St. Lawrence River environment. Highlights of the weekend’s events include a keynote presentation by award winning author Jeff Alexander and conference remarks by NY Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis.

Winter Weekend kicks off with a cocktail reception on Friday, February 5 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., which includes hors d’oeuvres and a chance to reconnect with friends. The weekend’s main events – the Winter Weekend conference and evening reception – will be held on Saturday, February 6. The packed conference agenda includes morning remarks by NY Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis and presentations on impacts of water levels regulation on the River environment, the latest news on the Asian carp situation, Save The River’s new partnership with area schools, and much more. Conference registration beings at 8:30 a.m. with presentations beginning at 9 a.m. The registration fee for the Saturday conference is $25.00, lunch included. The conference agenda, when finalized, will be available on Save The River’s website, www.savetheriver.org

The weekend’s events will be capped off with a keynote presentation by Jeff Alexander, award winning journalist and author of Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Jeff Alexander has been covering Great Lakes issues for the past 20 years in several Michigan papers and has received numerous awards for his journalism. His efforts as a journalist also helped to spur $30 million dollars worth of pollution clean-ups within the Great Lakes Region. Pandora’s Locks explores the opening of the Great Lakes 50 years ago to exposure of invasive species, one of the world’s worst environmental disasters, and has been called a ‘must read’ by anyone interested in Great Lakes issues. To learn more about Jeff and his books visit jeffalexander.org. Saturday evening’s events begin with a cocktail hour at 5:30 and an opportunity to view silent auction items and to participate in our live auction. Dinner, featuring Jeff Alexander’s keynote presentation, begins at 7 p.m. Dinner is $75.00 per person.

Advance reservations by January 27^th are recommended as space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling Save The River at 686-2010.  All events are being held at the Clayton Opera House.

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For more information contact Jennifer Caddick, Save The River Executive Director, at (315) 686-2010, or visit www.savetheriver.org.

Interested in learning more about the latest River issues? Join Save The River along with local officials, scientists, policy makers and community members at our annual Winter Weekend conference to discuss the most important issues facing the St. Lawrence River.

This year’s conference topics include a discussion on the impacts of water levels regulation on the River and Lake, an update on local habitat restoration activities, an update on Asian Carp and more. For the full agenda and additional event details, visit our Winter Weekend page.

Register for the conference today! Conference fees are $25/person which includes lunch. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the morning program beginning promptly at 9 a.m. To pre-register call Save The River at (315) 686-2010 or e-mail our Office Manager, Katie.

For more information on this event check out our event invitation and lodging options.

Save The River is pleased to announce Jeff Alexander, award winning journalist and author, as this year’s Winter Weekend keynote speaker. His latest book “Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway” has been called a ‘must read’ for anyone concerned about the future of the River and Great Lakes.

Jeff Alexander has been covering Great Lakes issues for the past 20 years in several Michigan papers and has received numerous awards for his journalism.  His book, “Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway,” explores the opening of the Great Lakes 50 years ago to exposure of invasive species, one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.

To learn more about Jeff and his books, visit http://jeffalexander.org.

Jeff Alexander will be giving his keynote address at the Winter Weekend evening dinner reception Saturday, February 6th. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 followed by a dinner reception at 7 p.m.

Dinner reservations are $75/person. Advance reservations by January 27th are requested as space is limited. To make reservations call Save The River (315) 686-2010.

For updates on the conference agenda and other event details please check our Winter Weekend page frequently.

This fall, Save The River joined dozens of other supporters in funding a satellite telemetry unit on a juvenile Bald Eagle in the Thousand Islands.

Biologists from Bird Studies Canada placed satellite telemetry units on two male juvenile Bald Eagles in an effort to understand the movements of young eagles during the first 3 -5 years of life. Satellite telemetry units allow for biologists to assess real time data on the locations of juveniles to determine if they are spending time in contaminated ‘hotspots’ in the Great Lakes region and whether the young will return to their birth spot to eventually raise their own young.

To learn more about this research effort and how you can be involved visit Bird Studies Canada’s Bald Eagle website.

To track the two young Bald Eagles who were born in the Thousand Islands during summer 09 (Hal and Moose), visit the Eagle Tracker website.

To read learn about Bald Eagles in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River check out the Bald Eagle Great Lakes Fact Sheet.