Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Thanks to all in attendance at the 2007 Second Annual New York State Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Conference at Niagara University on December 1, 2007. Focused on stopping species invasion and coastal degradation, the conference was attended by over 80 citizens, elected and municipal officials, agency staff, Great Lakes experts, and enthusiasts from across the state.

Compromised coastal water quality and invasive species are realities that remind us that much must be done to protect our Great Lakes and all the great waters that feed this unique system, vital to our health, economic well-being, spirit, and identity. The NYS Healing Our Waters conference highlighted these issues and provided a forum for us to learn from each other, renew our spirit, and forge stronger collaborations to actualize Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives for all.

SECOND ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE HEALING OUR WATERS COALITION GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE

Protecting New York's Northern Coast:
Stopping Species Invasion and Coastal Degradation

Saturday, December 1, 2007
Niagara University, Niagara Falls, NY
9:30 am—5:00 pm

Dear Friend of the Great Lakes,

You are cordially invited to the second annual New York Healing Our Waters Coalition conference - Protecting New York’s Northern Coast: Stopping Species Invasion and Coastal Degradation on Saturday, December 1, at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY.

The Great Lakes are essential to the economic and cultural identity of our region. Forty-two million people depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water. Today, the health of our Lakes is seriously threatened by problems such as untreated sewage and invasive species.

The good news is we have manageable solutions to these problems. The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy is a comprehensive plan to modernize sewage treatment, clean-up polluted harbors, restore wetlands, and prevent unwanted, new species from invading the lakes. Each of these steps is essential if we are to restore the lakes and safeguard our Great Lakes way of life.

It is time we use these solutions, because every day we wait, the problems get worse and the solutions get more costly. We must act now to restore the health of the Great Lakes, and you can be a part of the solution. The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is working to advance Great Lakes restoration efforts in New York and Washington, and we need your help.

At this conference, activists and interested citizens learn how their voice can help advance important state and federal measures to address the spread of aquatic invasive species and clean our waterways and beaches of untreated sewage. This conference will also provide participants with many opportunities to network with other groups working throughout the Great Lakes, and we have scheduled an informal meet and greet the Friday night before the conference at the Four Points Sheraton in Niagara Falls.

Get plugged in, let others know about initiatives in your part of the state, and do your part to protect these Great Lakes. Please consider attending the second annual New York State Healing Our Waters Coalition Conference - Protecting New York’s Northern Coast: Stopping Species Invasion and Coastal Degradation, Saturday, December 1, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration and lunch are free.

We hope to see you at the conference.

Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director, Audubon New York
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Robert Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York
Chris Grubb, Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes