EPA removes Rochester Embayment from ‘Areas of Concern’ list

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — In 1987, the United States and Canada identified the Rochester Embayment, along with 42 other areas, as “areas of concern” on the Great Lakes. After decades of hard work, the area has finally been taken off the list.

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia joined state and local partners at an event to celebrate the cleanup and restoration of the Rochester Embayment. Thanks to a collaborative effort from all levels of government, the embayment has undergone a remarkable recovery and is the seventh of the U.S. sites to be delisted.

“This delisting is a tribute to what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors, local agencies and passionate community members come together with a shared vision,” says Starr O’Neil, who is the Rochester Embayment Remedial Action Plan Coordinator.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invested approximately 14 million dollars in the embayment, largely focusing on habitat restoration efforts.

“We worked extensively to restore the wildlife habitat across the area, including 340 acres of wetland habitat,” says Garcia. “This project reestablished a barrier beach to protect newly restored wetlands.”

The 35 square mile bay on Lake Ontario’s south shore is also home to many communities, who felt the effects of the contamination for decades. Now, they once again have access to certain renewable resources.

“Cleaning up areas of concern is not only beneficial for the ecology of the Great Lakes, but a duty to surrounding communities. The delisting improves communities’ access to clean water, to green areas, green space and of course the value of these resources cannot be matched,” Garcia says.

Although the Rochester Embayment has been delisted from the “Areas of Concern,” that does not mean that the embayment’s work is done.

“Yes, we’re able to take this off of the list now and that’s a huge accomplishment. But, rest assured, our work is not done. We’re going to keep monitoring this. We’re going to make sure this restoration sticks and we’re going to be back out here to make sure this progress continues,” says Sean Mahar, who is the Interim Commissioner for the DEC.

Like Interim Commissioner Mahar stated, their work is far from over. However, with all of the hard work from multiple different local and state agencies, he hopes that the progress continues in a positive direction.

Click here to learn more about the history of the Rochester Embayment.

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