Clean Water Milestones for the Great Lakes and Greater Rochester Region

Rochester Embayment Area of Concern [AOC] map showing the AOC boundary along Lake Ontario and the Genesee River near Rochester, NY. Created April 2021 by NYSDEC with data from ESRI, NOAA, and the U.S. E.P.A.

In October 2024, the Rochester Embayment was officially removed from the EPA’s list of environmental “areas of concern”. For decades, our watershed suffered from historic industrial and urban contamination that degraded sediments, impaired wildlife habitat, and limited public use.

The expansive restorations were made possible through a coordinated effort built on strong partnerships between federal, state and local governments, non-profits and community stakeholders who leveraged nearly $14 million in funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and others.

Thanks to eight targeted habitat restoration projects, the embayment now supports healthier wetlands, connected channels for wildlife, and improved shoreline ecosystems.

As a result:

Water quality is improving
Wildlife populations and habitat conditions are recovering
Recreational use, tourism and community connection with the waterfront are increasing

This success story demonstrates that long-term environmental restoration is both possible and beneficial. With the Rochester Embayment’s removal from the list of impaired areas, our region has a stronger foundation for a thriving, resilient waterfront ecosystem and a cleaner Great Lakes future!