Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the dates and locations of four summits supporting the state's comprehensive effort to protect vulnerable lakes and waterbodies in Upstate New York from harmful algal blooms. The four regional summits are part of the $65 million four-point initiative unveiled in the Governor's 2018 State of the State to aggressively combat harmful algal blooms in Upstate New York. The increasing frequency and duration of harmful algal blooms threaten drinking water quality and the recreational use of lakes essential to upstate tourism. The first of the summits will be held on Tuesday, February 27, in New Paltz, New York.
"Protecting water quality is a top priority and New York is committed to addressing growing threats like harmful algal blooms," Governor Cuomo said. "These summits are bringing experts from across the country and New York leaders together with local authorities to develop new and innovative strategies to safeguard our water for future generations."
As part of his 2018 State of the State announcements, the Governor directed the state's Water Quality Rapid Response Team, co-chaired by Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos and Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, to convene four regional Harmful Algal Blooms summits. The summits will bring together national and state experts, including scientists from Kansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Vermont, as well as SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Cornell University, the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and local stakeholders.
Each of the four summits will include an evening session that is open to the public where background information about harmful algal blooms will be provided. The sessions will include talks by experts, a panel discussion and an opportunity for local residents to share recommendations and ideas.
The four evening sessions will be held on:
Mid-Hudson
Tuesday, February 27 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
SUNY New Paltz Student Union Multi-Purpose Room, 2nd Floor
1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561.
Free parking will be available on the campus
Central New York
Tuesday, March 6 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
SUNY ESF Gateway Center Building
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
Free parking available in all ESF designated lots
North Country
Tuesday, March 20 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Best Western Ticonderoga
260 Burgoyne Road
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Western New York
Monday, March 26 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, SUNY Monroe Community College, the Forum
1000 East Henrietta Road
Rochester, New York 14623
Free parking in campus lots N and M
At these summits, nation-leading experts will work with local steering committees to begin development of tailored action plans to address the causes of algal blooms in the twelve priority waterbodies across the state. The action plans developed for each waterbody will be used to guide the development and implementation of priority projects, including new monitoring and treatment technologies. The action plans will be complete by the end of May and the lessons learned through these action plans will be applied to other impacted waterbodies.
The state's panel of national Harmful Algal Blooms experts includes:
Greg Boyer, Professor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Karl Czymmeck, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University Department of Animal Science
Tim Davis, Associate Professor, Bowling Greene State University, Ohio
Art DeGaetano, Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University
Sally Flis, Director, Agronomy, The Fertilizer Institute
Jennifer Graham, Research Hydrologist, USGS Kansas Water Science Center
Nelson Hairston, Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Environmental Science, Cornell University
Dave Matthews, Director, Upstate Freshwater Institute
Tim Mihuc, Professor of Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh
Hans Paerl, Professor, University of North Carolina
Heather Raymond, Program Coordinator, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Angela Shambaugh, Aquatic Biologist, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Dr. Steve Souza, Founder, Princeton Hydro LLC
Dr. Harold W. Walker, co-director of the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, SUNY Stony Brook
Judy Westrick, Director of the Lumigen Instrument Facility, Wayne State University
Steve Willhelm, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee
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Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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