Hello River Lovers.
Welcome
to The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Inc., (AKA River
Friends). We are a not-for-profit corporation, formed in December 2008
to preserve and promote the 45-mile-long Chemung River and encourage
people to better use, enjoy and respect it. We are also committed to
the watershed - the Canisteo, Cohocton, Cowanesque and Tioga rivers
that feed the Chemung River and the hills and valleys that surround
them. We are a non-government organization, working full-time to
protect these rivers and weave them into the development and improved
quality of life in our communities.
River
Friends is an outgrowth of the former Chemung River Council that
formed in 2007 to devise a master plan for development and use of the
Chemung River. We intend to make that master plan and the Southeast
Steuben River vision project realities and do so with the help of
the Chemung Basin River Trail Partnership.
Some of our planned goals:
- Construction of a picnic pavilion at the Grove Street boat launch in Elmira and the Bottcher's Landing boat launch in Big Flats.
- Guided paddle trips, hikes, bike treks, cross-country skiing and other eco-recreation activities along the river.
- Regular cleanups of litter and illegal dump sites along the river.
- Summer lunch hour walk-and-talk educational programs along the river.
- Riverside nature education and conservation programs through public schools, colleges and nature centers.
- Easier access to the river through improvements to the existing boat launches and the construction of additional launch sites.
- Construction of a boat portage and fish ladder around the Chase-Hibbard Dam in Elmira.
- Historic/educational
programs involving the river and Native American settlements, the
Revolutionary and Civil wars, the Chemung Canal and Mark Twain who
spent his summers living, writing and strolling along the river in
Elmira.
- Construction of a solar-powered weather station and wayfinding kiosk at the Grove Street boat launch in Elmira.
- Continued public outreach and development of river maps, informational kiosks and signage along the river.
- Fishing derbies and canoe/kayak races.
- A watchdog and stewardship role to protect the river.
- Construction of a multi-use river trail along the entire Chemung River.
To
accomplish our goals we need the community’s help from volunteers and
financial aid to donations of equipment and materials. The Twin Tiers
has many people and organizations interested and willing to protect and
enjoy the Chemung River watershed. This is potential energy, waiting to
be tapped. When citizens organize around the river, get their feet wet
and get involved, they can create an advocacy group to focus their
efforts into achieving our goals.
We want to
be the focal point where all these river interests converge and turn
awareness, cooperation and dreams into tangible and visible results.
The river is a wonderful natural resource that can help improve the
Twin Tiers quality of life, economy and environment.
Yes,
the river provides great opportunities for eco-recreation. But it also
offers a beautiful and serene piece of accessible nature where you can
enjoy a leisurely walk or simply sit on a grassy riverbank in the warm
sun and watch the river flow. It is a great way to wash away the
stresses of daily life.
The river is a
public resource that belongs to us all. It connects neighborhoods,
communities and states; and it bonds us with our natural environment
and our future. The river runs through us all. Water is a common
denominator to all life. It is up to us to use the river wisely and to
protect it for our enjoyment and that of future generations.
Thank you
Jim Pfiffer
Director of the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Inc.
111 N. Main St.
Elmira, N.Y 14901
(607) 846-2242
E-mail: riverfriends@stny.rr.com
Membership/Donation Form - please use this form membership and/or to make donations
The Chemung Basin River Trail covers nearly eighty miles in the Chemung
Basin, and is formed by the confluence of the Tioga, Canisteo and
Cohocton Rivers which joins the Susquehanna River. There are presently
fourteen boat launch sites located along the Chemung River Trail.
Experience the fun and beauty.
Photographs provided by Dr. Dan Lodico, Steve Brinthaupt, Sam Draper and Jim Pfiffer.
Welcome!