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EC Students Get Muddy For A Good Cause

Elmira, NY (10/29/2021) — Several students have been getting muddy and grubby recently, but all in the service of good, clean fun and to remove garbage and debris from the area riverways. Volunteers have been helping the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed clean four sets of boat launch sites within the region. They've cleaned up two and have two more sets to go.

"I was looking for something that would be nice for the community and this lined up perfectly," said Chris Zelezniak '22. He cleaned up the White Wagon Boat Launch and the Route 427 River Access Site in the town of Chemung on Oct. 21, and the Dunn Field Boat Launch, Grove Street Boat Launch, and Fitch's Bridge Boat Launch in Elmira on Oct. 25. He plans to attend the next two clean-ups on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 as well.

"I like getting outside and doing things because it is a more direct way to help our ecosystem," he said. "Every item of trash you pick up, that is one less opportunity for an animal to choke on plastic."

Zelezniak has been impressed with the general conditions he has encountered at the boat launches. He said many river access points get pretty dirty. He's also been surprised by how high the Chemung river has gotten this year. He had never before noticed the bunches of matted leaves in the trees that are a visual watermark. But this year they are very evident.

"It is always incredible what you find near the banks of a river, this time a large inflatable party barge and several sacks of wood chips," said Trevor Browning, assistant professor of environmental science and EC Environmental Club advisor.

"This has been a great opportunity to expose students to the power of rivers and streams right in their own backyard," he said. "Beyond the opportunity to help the community, we can use this as a teaching moment to show how no matter how far away you drop trash from the river, it will find its way there eventually."

"We are so lucky to have a great college like Elmira in our backyard!" exclaimed Emily Marino, executive director, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed. "Their students have been so thoughtful and motivated in their efforts to improve the community's environmental resources."

"We are always looking for individuals who are committed to helping us to promote and preserve the Chemung River Watershed, and welcome volunteers at our events or programs. Our River Guardians Pilot Program is a great way for students to get involved and is like an "adopt-a-highway" program, but instead, you are "adopting" a stretch of riverside trails. Participants get training on how to keep our trails clean and have an opportunity to get outside and be our "eyes and ears" along the River."

Anyone interested in the Our River Guardians Pilot Program can learn more at https://www.chemungriverfriends.org.

River Access Point and Boat Launch Clean-Up Dates

If you are interested in joining, reach out to tbrowning@elmira.edu to register.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 2, 3:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m - starting location is the Senator William T. Smith Boat Launch, Big Flats, NY (a total of three sites will be cleaned during this event)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. - starting location is the Conhocton Street River Access, Corning, NY (a total of three sites will be cleaned during this event)

Media Attachments

Elmira College students and members of the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed cleaned five boat launch sites and will clean up additional sites on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.

The most interesting item the EC volunteers found was an inflatable party barge.

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