March General Meeting

Education Program: Nathan Ibarra, a Financial Advisor and partner at LPL Financial in Williamsville. Nathan will be sharing some ideas about how to identify investments that can align our values, such as conservation, and how to be sure that our dollars are actually being directed toward those investments that advance the ideals that they say they advocate for. What to look for, what to watch for.

Main Program: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper – Local Waterway Issues, and What We’re Doing About Them

Robert Rob Coady, Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, Buffalo Niagara Water Keeper (BNW)

Water Keeper staff will present on the Niagara River Watershed, and what impacts water quality at a local, regional, and statewide level. The presentation will focus on identifying these issues, connecting attendees to the source of these issues, and what BNW staff and volunteers are doing to combat them. Citizen Science is a large part of the solution to ongoing water quality issues, as monitoring helps us identify where the issues are, what might be driving them, and how they’re impacting points of interest within our watershed. Waterkeeper has a robust Citizen Science element to its organization, and our volunteers act as eyes and ears on the water where staff cannot. The data they collect helps drive real solutions to the issues Western New York faces, and Waterkeeper has a proven track record of tackling problems head on. The presentation will also highlight key success stories for restoration and data-driven solutions within our watershed, empowering individuals to make a positive impact on our waterways.