Buffalo River Area of Concern

• Case Study 8. Buffalo's rebirth as "Queen City of the Great Lakes"

The Buffalo River has gone from a severely degraded waterway to one of Buffalo's greatest assets. Decades of industrial and municipal contamination had overwhelmed the river, even resulting in a fire on the river in 1968. Named as one of the Great Lakes most polluted waterways in the 1980s, the river has since undergone a substantial cleanup effort fostered by public-private partnerships, and in recent years, federal funding from the Great Lakes Legacy Act and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Now the river attracts new developments and provides a popular destination for all sorts of recreational opportunities.

Photos

Please feel free to use the following photos in any publicity about this story. Please credit the source indicated.

Buffalo River restoration has been a catalyst for creating waterfront public spaces in Buffalo, New York. Credit: Joe Cascio.

Contaminated sediment remediation in the Buffalo River. Credit: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.

Shoreline habitat restoration along the Buffalo River. Credit: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.

Preschool children releasing butterflies as part of habitat restoration along the Buffalo River. Credit: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.

RiverWorks sports and entertainment complex along the Buffalo River. Credit: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.