Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site: Feasibility Study and Nomination

Transcription

1 Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site: Feasibility Study and Nomination Prepared for: NIAGARA RIVER GREENWAY COMMISSION Project Consultation and Review Prepared by: The Niagara River Corridor RAMSAR Working Group On behalf of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

2 Project Registration Number Niagara River Greenway Commission Consultation and Review Form Type of Review Required: X Mandatory Consultation Voluntary Review and/or Endorsement PROJECT SPONSOR INFORMATION Name: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Mailing Address: 1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo State: New York Zip Code: Federal Id# Charities Registration # PROJECT TYPE Check all that apply: X Environmental X Cultural/Heritage Land or Water Public Access Cultural Trail Educational/Interpretive Waterfront or Land Based Development Signage Recreational X Other Project Name: Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site: Feasibility Study and Nomination Location: Niagara River Site Address: Not Applicable State: New York Zip Code: 14174, 14092, 14305, 14301, 14303, 14304, 14120, 14072, 14150, 14207, 14213, Minor Civil Division(s): Town of Porter Village of Youngstown, Town of Lewiston, Village of Lewiston, City of Niagara Falls, Town of Wheatfield, City of North Tonawanda, City of Buffalo, Town of Grand Island, Town of Tonawanda, City of Tonawanda County: Erie, Niagara Project Proponent Property Interest (own, lease, easement or other): Other. (See Attachment 1: Letters of Support, and Attachment 6: Tax Exempt Status)

3 AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL Name: Title: Jill Jedlicka Executive Director Business Address: 1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo State: New York Zip Code: Telephone Number: Cell Number: Fax Number: Address: PROJECT POINT OF CONTACT (same as authorized official) Name: Title: Jill Jedlicka Executive Director Organization / Firm: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Business Address: 1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo State: NY Zip Code: Telephone Number: Cell Number: Fax Number: Address: jedlicka@bnriverkeeper.org

4 PROJECT NARRATIVE 1: NIAGARA RIVER CORRIDOR RAMSAR SITE: FEASIBILITY STUDY AND NOMINATION At the request of the Niagara River Corridor RAMSAR Working Group, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper submits this proposal to support a stakeholder-led effort to determine the feasibility of designating the Niagara River Corridor as the first transboundary Ramsar Site in North America. If found feasible, a nomination package will be submitted and a Ramsar Site designation will be pursued. The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on Wetlands, is an international treaty that both the United States and Canada are part of ( The Convention is independent from other international organizations. It promotes the conservation and wise use of wet lands, defining wetlands broadly to include freshwater lakes and rivers, among other wetland types. A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance that has been designated under the terms of the Convention. A transboundary site is one that is shared by two or more countries, but is comprised of separately designated but congruent sites in each country. The Ramsar Site designation is voluntary and nonbinding. Unlike federal or state / provincial wetlands designations, the Ramsar designation does not come with additional regulations for landowners or any entity with resource or use rights. Each signatory country is responsible for designating its own sites, although final approval must come from the Ramsar Secretariat, the governing body of the Ramsar Convention. This national designating authority lies with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service. The Ramsar Secretariat establishes ecological guidelines for designating sites and each potential Ramsar Site must meet at least one of nine criteria in order to be designated. Each country establishes its own additional guidelines for the nominations. Both the U.S. and Canada have separate but similar requirements for endorsements and stakeholder involvement. The U.S. requires: agreement / endorsement from all landowners and stakeholders; endorsement from local or state wildlife or natural resource agency; and endorsement from a member of Congress. Canada requires: endorsement and/or concurrence from the government of the province or territory; concurrence from all landowners; and proof of engagement with other stakeholders. A nomination package, which includes a Ramsar Information Sheet (the standard application) and proof of fulfilling country-specific requirements, must be submitted to the national designating authorities for review and public comment before being forwarded to the Ramsar Secretariat for final designation. This Ramsar Site feasibility study and nomination project was initiated by the Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Working Group, an ad-hoc group comprised of numerous stakeholders in the U.S and Canada. A Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from the UB Regional Institute, Western New York Land Conservancy, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) at Brock University, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Niagara Parks Commission, and private citizens is guiding the effort and reporting to the Working Group. The work is being supported a faculty from the University at Buffalo Law School and School of Architecture and Planning through a joint class of graduate students during the spring 2014 semester. The Working Group s initial proposal is to designate the Niagara River itself as the Ramsar Site, from lake to lake, shore to shore. The site may include riparian areas and protected greenspaces along the shoreline in order to help ensure ecological completeness, but like the river itself, these areas can only be included with the endorsement from landowners, both public and private. In keeping with Niagara River Greenway Commission guidelines, this proposal for Project 1

5 Consultation and Review is for the U.S. side feasibility study and nomination. Each country has to submit its own nomination, even for a transboundary nomination, and a separate but parallel feasibility study nomination process will proceed in Canada. However, much of the data on the river itself will be shared. Initial research shows that the Niagara River Corridor meets nearly all of the ecological criteria established by the Ramsar Secretariat for Ramsar Site designation. At the same time, the Niagara River, its natural resources, species, habitats, and ecological services the values that make the river worthy of the designation are threatened. Impact The feasibility study and nomination process have the potential to be transformative, not only for the ecosystems of the Niagara River Corridor, but for the people, economy and history of the bi-national region. Although the Ramsar Site designation is non-regulatory, it has proven in other places to have many benefits. The designation can: make the region more competitive in national and international funding programs; create opportunities for tourism and environmental education; increase awareness of the importance of the wetland, locally, nationally and internationally; and when appropriate, lead to improved conservation, management and use of a water body. As noted in the Regional Economic Development Council s (REDC) A Strategy for Prosperity Progress Report 2013, Providing, protecting, and improving public access to waterfront areas enhances quality of life for the region s residents while drawing visitors and expanding our tourism industry. Infrastructure investments that allow the public to easily access the water s edge while preserving open space and critical environmental areas add ecological and economic value and advance this agenda. The Ramsar designation is in keeping with the spirit and intent of the REDC s language. Transboundary designations elsewhere have fostered international cooperation around a shared resource. The potential designation for the Niagara River Corridor coincides with the 200 th anniversary of the end of the War of 1812, a celebration of two hundred years of peace between the United States and Canada. In addition, the designation reinforces the region s transformation from a rust to blue economy, acknowledging and placing emphasis on the intersection between healthy ecosystems and healthy, vibrant communities. The designation in the Niagara River Corridor can offer a new paradigm for collaboration around the Great Lakes as a whole. 2: CONSISTENCY WITH THE NIAGARA RIVER GREENWAY PLAN The potential Ramsar Site designation is guided by the same principles as those of the Niagara River Greenway, particularly the following: Excellence: The nomination process will closely follow the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Ramsar Site nominations. Support from a UB Law Clinic, directed by a former US Ramsar Committee member and current wetlands law researcher at the UB Law School, as well as support from numerous other researchers, agencies, and organizations with experience in environmental planning and law, will ensure excellence throughout the nomination process. Sustainability: The Ramsar Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution 2

6 towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world". The designation of Ramsar Sites is the principle method of achieving this mission. Ecological Integrity: The conservation of wetlands - and the species of plants and animals they support - is a primary purpose of the Ramsar Convention. The designation also reinforces the value and impact of the Niagara River Greenway, lending its Nationally and Internationally recognized Ramsar status to the communities along the River. Public Well-being: In additional to conservation, the Ramsar Convention promotes wise use and sustainable development within and around wetlands. The Convention recognizes that the natural resources in wetlands support healthy communities and economies, and that better understanding and management of our shared resources furthers a regional agenda built upon sustainable communities and economies. Celebration: If designated, the Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site will be the first transboundary Ramsar Site in North America and one of only a handful in the entire world. It will be an opportunity to celebrate two centuries of peace and cooperation between the U.S. and Canada. Partnerships: Nominating the bi-national Niagara River Corridor will require coordination between multiple jurisdictions and organizations in two countries, and will help create partnerships across borders. The Working Group is comprised of many of these agencies and organizations that are already working together. Community-based: The project was initiated by the Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Working Group, an ad-hoc group comprised of numerous stakeholders in the U.S and Canada. The nomination process will ensure participation by landowners, stakeholders, government agencies and elected officials. The potential Ramsar Site designation achieves the goals of the Niagara River Greenway Plan, particularly the following: Make Connections: Although not physical connections, the Ramsar Site will connect the communities, protected greenspaces and habitats in the Niagara River Corridor through a shared designation and nationally and internationally recognized status. Protect and Restore Environmental Systems: By elevating the status of a wetland to wetland of international importance, the designation will help encourage conservation and restoration activities. Celebrate History and Heritage: The designation will be a celebration of both our natural heritage but also a heritage of peace along an international border. The designation will coincide with the 200 th anniversary of the end of the War of 1812, a celebration of two hundred years of peace between the United States and Canada. Spark Revitalization and Renewal: Ramsar Site designations have the potential to attract tourists, researchers and innovative thought leaders that in turn have positive impacts on the local economy. Promote Long Term Sustainability: The Ramsar Convention was first signed in Its purpose is promoting the long-term sustainability of wetlands and surrounding communities. Extend Olmsted s Legacy: Olmsted recognized the Niagara River as an important place where the natural world and the built environment coexist, a place in need of protection, restoration, and enhancement. The Ramsar Site designation will build upon that vision and encourage actions to expand the network of greenspaces along the river. 3

7 And lastly, the potential Ramsar Site designation measures well in relation to the evaluative criteria established in the Niagara River Greenway Plan s Action Plan. Consistency with Principles: As noted already, the proposed project is guided by the same principles that guide the Niagara River Greenway Plan. The RAMSAR designation would elevate and advance the visibility of the Niagara River Greenway. Priority Status: The potential Ramsar Site designation addresses several of the priorities in the Niagara River Greenway Plan. The designation will: help integrate a binational park system through celebration, interpretation, and collaborative management; encourage habitat conservation and the restoration of Niagara River ecosystems; and create new opportunities for interpretation and education about the region s cultural, natural and historic resources. Focus Area: If designated, the U.S. side Ramsar Site boundaries will fall entirely within the Greenway focus area. Environmental Soundness: Eligibility for the Ramsar Site designation requires strong scientific data. The application is reviewed for technical accuracy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, and then by the Ramsar Secretariat. The resulting designation encourages conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Implementable: Multiple agencies and organizations are contributing to the project, all with invaluable expertise. The project is being supported by an experienced wetlands and Ramsar Convention researcher from the UB Law School who has supported other successful Ramsar Site designations. Economic viability: Except for staff time, and outreach and meeting materials, this project has very little cost. The majority of costs associated with submission of the nomination package or the possible designation that would follow are being absorbed through in-kind work at UB and within the Steering Committee. Local Sponsor or Partner: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is a local not-for-profit organization supporting a water-based economy and community. Matching funds / Leveraging: The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has committed to funding approximately $2,500 for initial outreach materials. These funds are tentative and have not been included in the project budget. The UB Law School and UB School of Architecture and Planning have committed in-kind support of the project through students and faculty in a sum of $70,000. Other in-kind support includes support by a Principal Steering Committee member at $14,160 and additional time contributions of the Working Group and Steering Committee members that are otherwise not compensated. Potential Funding Sources include Greenway standing committees, local foundations, and other state and federal grants. At least one of the organizations on the Steering Committee is seeking outside funding to support their efforts associated with this project. Consideration of Other Planning Efforts: The project is consistent with local and regional planning documents as outlined in the One Region Forward planning document summary, all of which were developed with significant public input. It supports the Regional Economic Development Council priority focus on tourism as a major economic strategy. It supports the development of a Greenway system with the Niagara River as its anchor. It will provide a framework for developing a management plan for the upper river island ecosystem. It advances binational interests as highlighted in New York's Great Lakes Action Agenda and the Niagara River Remedial Action Plans (both US and Canadian). It supports the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Study by protecting and celebrating the region s natural and cultural heritage. It 4

8 will build on the international Important Bird Area designation (IBA) already given to the Niagara River and complement the IBA s Conservation Plan. Clear Benefits: The nomination process and eventual designation can: make the region more competitive in national and international funding programs; create opportunities for tourism and environmental education; increase awareness of the importance of the wetlands, locally, nationally and internationally; and when appropriate, lead to improved conservation, management and use of a water body. Transboundary designations in other places have fostered international cooperation around a shared resource. 3: BUDGET Planning $35,671 Construction $0 Acquisition $0 Administration $5,780 Operation and Maintenance / Year $0 TOTAL PROJECT COST $41,451 Matching Funds $84,160 A description of each budget item is below: Planning: Total planning costs are estimated to be $35,671. Funds in this category will primarily be used to shepherd the US / NYS feasibility study and nomination for this binational process and to engage critical stakeholders. Included tasks are: coordinating public and elected official engagement and meetings, engaging the public in the RAMSAR designation process, and providing general support for any other aspects of the feasibility study and nomination as necessary. A portion of the funding ($15,000) in this category will be allotted for a contract with a local entity to assist with the planning work. Administration: These costs cover staff time spent to engage the Steering Committee and form consensus as well as costs associated with printing materials, outreach, travel and overhead support. Anticipated Funding sources: The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has committed to funding approximately $2,500 for initial outreach materials. These funds are tentative and have not been included in the project budget. Potential other funding sources include Greenway standing committees, local foundations, and other state and federal grants. At least one of the organizations on the Steering Committee is seeking outside funding to support their efforts associated with this project. Matching Funds: Extensive matching resources are being provided to leverage the community impact of this grant application. Specifically, the UB Law School and UB School of Architecture and Planning have 5

9 committed in-kind support of the project through students and faculty. The amount totals approximately $70,000 through combined student and professor time. In addition, $14,160 of in-kind work is provided through a Principal member of the Steering Committing. Other in-kind support can be calculated based on contributions of time for other members of the Working Group and Steering Committee that are otherwise not compensated. Allocated funds: Except for in-kind Steering Committee member and stakeholder organization staff time for meetings, as well as graduate student commitments from the UB Law School and UB School of Architecture and Planning, no funds have been allocated to this project to date. Operations: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper will be responsible for operating this project, in coordination with the Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Working Group and Steering Committee. The UB Regional Institute is a member of the Steering Committee and will work in close cooperation with Riverkeeper. 4: COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The process to nominate a wetland for the Ramsar Site designation requires substantial community and government support. Along with the Ramsar Information Sheet, the nomination package to be submitted to the national designating authorities must include an endorsement from all landowners and stakeholders, an endorsement from the local or state wildlife or natural resource agency, and an endorsement from a member of Congress. The process to research the feasibility of designating the Niagara River Corridor as a Ramsar Site has been and will continue to be participatory. The Working Group is comprised of numerous stakeholders. The following organizations have already participated in Working Group meetings: USFWS, NYS DEC, Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, Niagara University, Buffalo Audubon Society, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Western New York Land Conservancy, Niagara Parks Commission, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) at Brock University, and the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The Working Group is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the UB Regional Institute, Western New York Land Conservancy, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) at Brock University, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Niagara Parks Commission, and private citizens. The project is also consistent with local and regional planning documents as outlined in the One Region Forward planning document summary, all of which were developed with significant public input. It supports the Regional Economic Development Council priority focus on tourism as a major economic strategy. It will provide a framework for a management plan for the upper river islands. It advances binational interests as highlighted in New York's Great Lakes Action Agenda and the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan. It supports the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Study by protecting and celebrating the region s natural and cultural heritage. It will build on the international Important Bird Area designation (IBA) already given to the Niagara River and complement the IBA s Conservation Plan. 6

10 5: ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The Niagara River is a 37-mile strait of water that flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It is home to one of Earth s natural wonders, Niagara Falls, and drains the majority of the Great Lakes Basin. It has an average flow of 212,000 cubic feet per second. Its depth averages 20 feet but reaches 190 feet in the gorge below the falls. The river marks the border between the United States and Canada. The Niagara River is ecologically important. According to a 2005 New York Power Authority report, there are at least 49 rare, threatened, or endangered species and significant natural communities in the Niagara River. This list includes five significant natural communities, 14 plants, three native mussels, one crayfish, seven fish, one amphibian and 18 birds. Examples include birds like the Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle and the Common Tern, and fish like the Lake Sturgeon. The entire Niagara River is internationally designated as a globally significant Important Bird Area. Protected areas along the U.S. side of the river include an extensive system of state parks as well as municipal parks and greenspaces. On the Canadian side, the Niagara Parks Commission manages a connected system of parks and parkways that stretch from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The Niagara River is also home to hundreds of thousands of people who depend on its natural resources. It is an important area for recreation and tourism. Its waters power large hydroelectric plants on both the U.S. and Canadian sides. Because of historic and ongoing human-caused contamination, the Niagara River is listed as a Great Lakes Areas of Concern. A Ramsar Site designation for the Niagara River Corridor will not, by itself, alter these conditions for better or worse since it is non-regulatory and voluntary. However, Ramsar Site designations have the potential to increase conservation and sustainable use of natural resources within the Niagara River Greenway, integrate the promotion of tourism and recreation into regional planning and promote the integration of economic and environmental policies which work in tandem to create healthy, vibrant communities. 7

11 ATTACHMENTS 1. LETTERS OF SUPPORT 2. PROJECT SCHEDULE 3. PHOTOS 4. MAPS 5. CONCEPTUAL PLANS (NA) 6. TAX EXEMPT STATUS 7. STATE ENVIRONMENTA QUALITY REVIEW ACT (SEQRA) (NA)

12 1. LETTERS OF SUPPORT We have received and included the following letters of support and have included them with the application: Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Steering Committee Niagara Falls National Heritage Area UB Law Clinic UB Regional Institute 2. PROJECT SCHEDULE The Ramsar Site designation process does not have established deadlines or due dates. The following project schedule is based on estimated timeframes for each phase of work, but may change as work progresses. Working Group and Steering Committee Formation (July 2013 December 2013) Initial meetings of interested agencies, organizations, and individuals Formalizing the Working Group and selecting a Steering Committee Feasibility Study and Nomination (January 2014 June 2014) UB Law Clinic / UB Planning Students work on the feasibility study and nomination package Stakeholder, landowner, and elected official engagement If feasible and all requirements are met, submit the nomination package to appropriate federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service) National and Ramsar Secretariat Review (July 2014 February 2015) Review by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service, including a public comment period Submission of nomination package to Ramsar Secretariat If accepted, designation on World Wetland Day in February 2015

13 3. PHOTOS Source: Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Source: Ana Hernandez Balzac

14 Source: Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Source: Ana Hernandez Balzac Source: Niagara Falls National Heritage Area

15 Source: Jay Burney Source: Jay Burney

16 Source: Jay Burney Source: Jay Burney

17 Source: Jajean Rose-Burney Source: Jajean Rose-Burney

18 4. MAPS

19 5. CONCEPTUAL PLANS This project does not require conceptual plans. 6. TAX EXEMPT STATUS Documentation of tax exempt status is attached. 7. STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT (SEQRA) No permits are needed to complete this project. There is no requirement for review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

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21 125 TlMON NIAGARA FALLS HALL ' p Box x T T T NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY NATIONAL I IERITAGE AREA (7i6) January 14, 2014 Mr. Robert Beleu Executive Director Niagara River Greenway Commission Beaver Island State Park 2136WestOakfieldRoad Grand Island, NY Dear Mr. Beleu, Designated by Congress in 2008, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area stretches from the western boundary of Wheatfield, New York to the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario, including the communities of Niagara Falls, Youngstown, and Lewiston. The region is home to natural wonders, rich cultural traditions, and nationally significant historical sites. As Executive Director of an independent not-for-profit responsible for the heritage area, I work with the region's organizations and residents to coordinate preservation and promotion of the region's resources and stories. We are extremely pleased that the cross-border Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Working Group (NRCRSWG) is actively exploring the feasibility of the Niagara River Corridor being designated a Ramsar site to reflect its value and status as an internationally important wet land. We are committed to working with the NRCRSWG to enhance the heritage site potential of the Niagara River. To that end, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has itself already committed some funds for outreach and communications activity for this initiative. The very process of pursuing a designation/heritage site status enables critical research, analysis, issue refinement, mapping, communications, stakeholder engagement and the building and maintenance of important relationships etc. - all of which are part and parcel on a daily basis of a vibrant heritage asset. If successful, the work to secure a designation provides on-going transformative opportunities for the asset - from the status to pursue new funding opportunities to heightened international recognition which itself can attract broad new interest as well as investors. Further, and most locally, new designations offer new reasons for visitors, and new places to visit once they are here. We hope that the Niagara River Greenway Commission will support the feasibility study and possible nomination of the Niagara River Corridor as the first transboundary Ramsar site in North America. This is an important next step in the preservation and heritage of this mighty wet-land river. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

22 NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA 125 TIMON HALL / P.O. Box 1932 NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY (716) The outcomes of this project will strengthen the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area as a center of cultural and natural heritage tourism. Our participation on this project helps us strengthen the partnerships that we need to fully achieve the mission of the National Heritage Area. And, as the United States and Canada approach the official close to the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in 2015, an international designation for the Niagara River would be a notable, and noble, way to celebrate our shared natural and cultural heritage, and the great legacy of peace and cooperation that has ensued. Sincerely, Sara Capen Executive Director IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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25 Office of the Dean School of Architecture and Planning January 17, 2014 Rob Belue, Executive Director Niagara River Greenway Commission Beaver Island State Park 2136 West Oakfield Road Grand Island, New York RE: Greenway Commission Proposal to fund Niagara River Corridor Ramsar Site Nomination Feasibility Study Dear Rob, The UB Regional Institute has an abiding interest in the Niagara River and its greenway. Over the years through the UBRI and Urban Design Project, we have been involved in planning for the City of Buffalo Waterfront, the City of Niagara Falls waterfront, the Niagara Park for the 21 st Century, the REDC and Buffalo Billion planning efforts, and most recently, the current HUD/EPA grant on One Region Forward to develop a sustainability plan for Erie and Niagara Counties. The success of each of these is dependent on the intelligent and creative address to the extraordinary river that flows the length of our region and the success of the greenway as a corridor that protects our natural heritage and provides public access and economic vitality. We have now made a commitment to work on the feasibility of nominating the Niagara River Corridor as a Ramsar Site, or wetland of international importance, under the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance. The Regional Institute participates on the Steering Committee and has committed time from our Landscape Director, Lynda Schneekloth and Associate Himanshu Grover, also a faculty member in the Department of Planning at UB. We will also be involved in a communication strategy and in the integration of this important designation in the ongoing planning for the two Niagara River counties. As you know, an international designation for the Niagara River would have many benefits even if no regulatory power. It can be used to encourage more appropriate development and the attention generated by the designation can increase science and tourism activities at the site. 114 Diefendorf Hall 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, New York Tel.: (716) Fax: (716) rshibley@buffalo.edu

26 It is important to note that if this Feasibility Study results in an active nomination for a Ramsar designation for the Niagara River, this will be the first transboundary Ramsar Site in North America, shared between the U.S. and Canada. This is perhaps an appropriate way to celebrate the 200 years of peace between our countries. If I can provide further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at Sincerely, Robert G. Shibley FAIA, AICP Professor and Dean Director, UB Regional Institute 2

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