Senator Helming & Assemblyman Walczyk Appointed to Birkholz Institute Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Nutrient Task Force

Senator Pam Helming and Assemblyman Mark Walczyk today announced that they have been appointed to represent New York on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Nutrient Task Force. This bipartisan group is composed of legislators and policy makers from seven states and two Canadian provinces. The task force is focused on addressing water quality issues and pollution prevention.

“Communities across our region rely on Lake Ontario for their drinking water, which is also a major driver of economic development and job creation. Residents and visitors alike take advantage of the tremendous fishing, boating and other recreational opportunities it offers. Preserving and improving the water quality of Lake Ontario is key for the success of upstate New York. That is why I am committed to working with Assemblyman Walczyk to advocate on behalf of our constituents and make sure their voices are heard when it comes to making decisions that will impact Lake Ontario. This opportunity will give us another chance to both advocate for full repeal of Plan 2014 and support improving the water quality of Lake Ontario,” said Senator Pam Helming. 

“I’ve often said that one of the most important causes I fight for in Albany is making sure the next generation has a cleaner, more sustainable world then we were born into,” said Assemblyman Mark Walczyk.  “As the only member of the State Assembly to serve on this Nutrients Task Force, I’m humbled to have been selected.   I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and work side-by-side with Senator Pam Helming and other like-minded lawmakers from across the Great Lakes Region to develop a unified approach to help preserve our shared waterways, which will help keep the Front Yard of America a great place to live work and raise a family for generations to come.”       

New York has many innovative policies and practices in place related to pollution prevention,

especially with waterways. As new members of this task force, Senator Pam Helming and Assemblyman Mark Walczyk look forward to sharing some of these policies and practices. Additionally, they have reached out to Cornell University and the New York State Department of Environmental, as well as other stakeholders impacted by Lake Ontario flooding to request their feedback on a draft action plan. 

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