Some great news regarding environmental remediation.
Rochester Embayment recommended for removal from areas of concern
NewsThat's the areas of concerns. Embayments are a https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embayment.
Can they make the river smell less?
Is the Genesee river an area of concern within the great lakes revitalization initiative?
I would hope so since dumping in it is the reason those areas were so polluted. And the river was giving off some serious stink earlier this week.
So it goes from lower falls to the lake.
Havent been impressed with the DEC lately so hoping that EPAs involvement means that this is real.
What this means is that they are found to be sufficiently remediated under the great lakes revitalization initiative and thus no longer pose a threat to humans or environmental life. It's super important.
So can we eat more fish now?
Typically, that's one of the options, yeah. I would still personally be weary of that, but if it's in moderation you'd likely be fine.
I think this is obviously good news.
That said, I'd love to know more about what this means from someone with a background in ecosystems, biology etc.
For example, one of the main delisting criteria for this type of zone is fish not showing detectable levels of bad stuff. Of course this might create the impression the fish are now safe to consume. In reality we know the Genesee is loaded with microplastic, so it's possible we're just not measuring the 21st century pollutants; only the 20th century ones.
The other big issue is the phosphorous that makes the River and Lake turn to pea soup. It's probably one of the bigger health hazards related to the lake as it even impacts swimming, but I don't believe this factors into it.
So good news yes, but doesn't make me feel THAT warm and fuzzy.
https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/rochester-embayment-aoc
Here you are, you can read this.
For anyone who doesn't know what an Embayment is (like me):
The list, designated under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, contains 43 polluted hotspots in the Great Lakes Basin due to decades of industrial and urban pollution in the watershed leading to contaminated sediments, habitat loss, and fish and wildlife impairment.
After years of cleanup and restoration efforts criteria has been met to delist the area, which consists of the 35-square mile embayment along the south shore of Lake Ontario, and an approximately six-mile reach of the lower Genesee River.