Press Releases
Ahead of Earth Day, Congressman Kennedy Secures $443,000 for Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to Assess Threats and Solutions for Niagara River and Lake Erie Watershed
Washington,
April 20, 2026
Tags:
Climate and Environment
Funding Secured by Kennedy Will Support Data Collection in Water Quality Monitoring and Shoreline Risk Assessment, Also Creating Science-based Educational Opportunities for Students in WNY BUFFALO, N.Y. - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper announced today Kennedy’s securing of $443,000 in federal funding to help Waterkeeper assess threats, risks, and solutions for Lake Erie’s Eastern Basin, while offering enhanced place-based Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) opportunities for Western New York Students. “The responsible stewardship of the Great Lakes ecosystem and its surrounding waterways is a critical cornerstone of Western New York’s future,” said Congressman Kennedy. “This federal investment will empower Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to expand critical monitoring, confront emerging threats like harmful algal blooms and PFAS contamination, and equip our community with the tools and knowledge to protect our region’s most vital natural resource. I’m proud to deliver this funding to ensure Western New Yorkers can continue to enjoy safe, healthy waterways while strengthening our region’s leadership in scientific innovation and environmental management.” “For over two decades, Congressman Kennedy has been an unwavering champion for clean water in Western New York at the local, state, and now federal level,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. “Water defined our region’s history, and it will define our future, and everyone from elected officials to area residents and youth leaders have a responsibility to be stewards and protectors of the largest source of fresh water in the world. We are grateful for the Congressman’s ongoing efforts to direct attention and funds to our region that will enable us to better monitor, assess, and seek out solutions for the most persistent water quality and shoreline challenges.” New York State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “As climate change and pollution continue to impact our waterways, investments like this are critical. I’m grateful to Congressman Kennedy for securing this funding, which will not only protect public health, but build a stronger, more inclusive pipeline into environmental and STEM careers for our local students. It’s an investment in both our ecosystem and our future.” Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “This $443,000 in federal funding secured by Rep. Kennedy is a big step forward for protecting Lake Erie and the communities that rely on it. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper does essential, on-the-ground work to monitor water quality, track threats like harmful algal blooms and E. coli, and make sure the public has timely, accurate information to stay safe. At the same time, this project gives local students a chance to get hands-on STEM experience, building skills while helping to better understand and protect our shoreline. This is a critical investment in both our environment and the next generation, at a time in which safety standards and environmental protections are being rolled back.” Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s programs fill the gaps in water quality monitoring and public notification of water quality threats, as well as shoreline risk assessment. The organization mobilizes staff and volunteers in the field to monitor water quality and ecological conditions, and is often looked to as the first line of defense in alerting the public to potential threats to human health attributed to increasing appearances of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and E. coli bacterial contamination in local waterways. The organization’s place-based data collection and modeling for multiple shoreline risk assessment studies is unique in the Great Lakes. This federal funding will enable Waterkeeper to expand public awareness and understanding of Eastern Lake Erie, as well as enhance local knowledge around water quality, shoreline conditions, and ecosystem health while offering opportunities for local students in water education and STEM-based mentorship programs. The gathering of data is shared with local, state, and federal agencies and will contribute to the understanding of the condition of local recreational waters as a means to protect human health, inform pollution prevention, and identify potential community and shoreline risks and solutions. The secured funds will allow Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to expand its water sampling and shoreline assessments across the entire Western New York Niagara River and Lake Erie watershed.
This funding will support the following initiatives:
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