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CCFE PROGRAMS

Water Resources

Image of children at the shore.Water is essential to a prosperous and safe community.  CCFE has been involved in efforts designed to improve and protect water resources in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and the nation.

The Great Lakes

Protecting, restoring, and improving the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem on the globe, is a core program area. In 2006, CCFE’s Great Lakes efforts focused on the following policy and educational priorities:

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Basin Water Resources Compact (Compact) and Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Agreement
These documents are a result of a bi-national effort led by the eight Great Lakes States and Canadian Provinces of Ottawa and Québec to develop ecologically-based resource standards to scrutinize all proposed large water withdrawals. On Dec 13, 2005, all eight Great Lakes Governors signed the Compact for ratification by each state legislature and Congress. In May 2006, the Compact was introduced into the NYS Assembly and Senate. CCFE built upon our previous research and outreach to educate the public and policymakers on the importance of New York’s leadership on adopting the Compact. In 2006, the New York State Assembly became the first state legislative branch of government to ratify the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Water Resource Compact. 

Image of Sean Mahar, Peter Annin, Rochester Mayor Duffy, Molly Flannagan, Kasey Jacobs; Back Row L-R: Reg Gilbert, Dereth Glance, Brian Smith

Sean Mahar, Peter Annin, Rochester Mayor Duffy, Molly Flannagan, Kasey Jacobs; Back Row L-R: Reg Gilbert, Dereth Glance, Brian SmitInitiated by Presidential Executive Order 13340 in 2004, the GLRC is comprised of over 1500 stakeholders, including CCFE, and charged with crafting a comprehensive action plan for critical environmental priorities in the Great Lakes basin. The final plan was released on December 12, 2005.

TheGreat Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC)
In 2006, CCFE extensively worked to educate the public and members of Congress about the national importance of restoring and protecting the Great Lakes by addressing sewage pollution, cleaning up toxic hot spots, halting invasive species, restoring habitat, and protecting remaining wetlands through passage of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act. In 2006, Congress passed the first piece of the comprehensive legislation, called the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. 

Restoring the Gateway to the Great Lakes: NY Healing Our Waters Coalition conference
CCFE, along with our partners hosted the first annual conference at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. Attended by over 50 Great Lakes leaders, the conference highlighted on local, state, and national projects and initiatives to improve Great Lakes water quality and protect Great Lakes water quantity.  Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars served as the conference keynote speaker. Additionally, speakers from Great Lakes United, Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Alliance, Center for Environmental Information, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon New York, American Rivers, Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, Seneca Park Zoo, National Wildlife Federation, as well as CCFE’s Dereth Glance and Brian Smith. The conference helped connect and organize the multitude of New York activists working to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

New York and Connecticut Estuaries

New York State is fortunate to have over 1,500 square miles of bays and estuaries and 120 miles of ocean shoreline. NY and CT collectively have 2.035 miles of tidal shoreline. The Long Island Sound and the South Shore Estuary Reserve contribute immensely to our regional economy, New York & Connecticut’s current culture, and our historical maritime culture. CCFE works to preserve, protect, and restore our ecologically important bays and estuaries.

Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER)
In 2006, the New York State Department of State (DOS) continued to implement key recommendations of the South Shore Estuary Management Plan. In January of 2006, CCFE was elected Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee. CCFE continues to serve on the Stewardship Award Subcommittee.  The subcommittee worked to put in place an annual “Stewardship Award” that is given to an individual, group, or business that has demonstrated dedication to protecting and preserving the estuary. CCFE also serves on the Reserve Bayway Workgroup, the Education Workgroup, and the Western Bays Workgroup.

CCFE continues to provide research and educational outreach to improve water quality in the SSER by reducing storm water runoff sewage discharges, and other threats.

Long Island Sound Victory!  
Image of butterflies on plant life at the shore.CCFE was part of the comprehensive effort to bring Long Island Sound back to a state of health and vitality.  In the spring of 2005, CCFE won an historical campaign to stop the dumping of dredged materials in Long Island Sound (LIS). CCFE in collaboration with our sister organization, CCE, successfully urged New York and Connecticut to work together to phase out the dumping of dredged materials in the Long Island Sound and develop a comprehensive Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) that addresses the needs of all stakeholder groups, citizens, and the LIS ecosystem. This landmark agreement to phase out dumping dredge materials into the Long Island Sound was signed in spring 2005. The phase out will take eight years. During that time a DMMP will be developed. This plan will identify four major objectives: reduce the need to dredge, reduce contamination, beneficially reuse as much material as possible, and only dispose of material which cannot be used.  Once this plan is in place, the LIS will not be viewed as a dumpsite and will become a healthier, more productive ecosystem. In 2006, CCFE continued to monitor the progress of establishing a DMMP.

Ocean Protection 
Our coastal and inland communities are dependent upon our waters for recreational and commercial activities, such as boating, fishing, clamming, and kayaking. CCFE has actively supported proactive local, state, and federal measures protective of our water resources and the historical use of our waterways. In 2006 CCFE continued collaborations with a several environmental organizations in the NY Ocean and Great Lake Coalition to advance ocean and Great Lakes protection and restoration. CCFE, in conjunction with the coalition, is active in educating the public and policymakers on Ecosystem Based Management (EBM).  EBM takes a holistic protection approach, which is a positive departure from the species-by-species management approach that state agencies have historically taken. CCFE participated in the New YorkState working forums on Ecosystem Based Management. The regional forums brought stakeholders together to discuss what EBM means for protecting and sustaining New York’s coastal resources.

Protecting the Clean Water Act (CWA)
The CWA is one of the most successful environmental laws ever enacted in the United States. Recent Supreme Court decisions have weakened the CWA’s protection for wetlands and other “non-navigable” waterways. CCFE continues to work with Congress to restore the intent of the CWA to protect “all waters of the United States” by enacting the Clean Water Restoration Authority Act.