RANTS

BY DANNY LINSNER

The Genesee Valley Conservancy deals with many environmental issues, both long-term and shortterm. From creating natural wild re areas that residents can enjoy for many generations, to ensuring walking trails in the preserves are clean and relatively mudfree, the Genesee Valley Conservancy protects land in the Genesee River Watershed and helps provide a long-term plan to keep the Watershed viable for many years to come. ese goals are part of the conservancy’s strategic plan. One of the more important aspects of the Genesee Valley Conservancy is that they protect around 27,600 acres in the watershed, primarily in Livingston and Steuben Counties. For example, the Genesee Valley Conservancy owns and protects the Railroad Bed Trail in Avon, the Island Fort and Island Preserves in Geneseo, and the Mill Creek Nature Preserve and Gully Preserve in Wayland. e Conservancy also runs the Genesee Valley Blueway, a 165-mile kayak path along the Genesee River running from Rochester to the New York State line.

ere are two primary ways the Conservancy acquires land for its preserves. A private landowner may give land to the conservancy for preservation or the conservancy pools money together to buy land outright from the landowner.

e conservancy uses di erent methods to maintain the preserves and keep them safe for everyone to use. A signi cant preservation method the conservancy uses is invasive species removal. is prevents one singular plant from overtaking the entire preserve and allows other noninvasive plants to grow and thrive in the preserve. One invasive species terrorizing ash trees in the conservancy and most of the Genesee Valley region over the past few years is the emerald ash borer. e Conservancy mitigates ash borer invasion within the preserve by having a tree inspector walk around the forest o en to identify trees impacted by the ash borer.

Other invasive species the Conservancy deals with are the honeysuckle, the giant hogweed, buckthorn, the multi- oral rose, and the Asian long-horned beetle.

e Conservancy uses many of the same methods used on the ash borer to deal with these invasive species.

e Genesee Valley Conservancy helps support land protection e orts through fundraising events throughout the year, such as the Oak Tree Race in Geneseo each September, the Genesee Valley Quiz Night each July, and the Genesee Valley 100, a year-round art exhibit, yet to begin for 2023.

Ben Gajewski, Executive Director of the Conservancy, said the organization does not have concrete plans for the upcoming year. Gajewski said the Conservancy will maintain their preserves and keep them strong so generations to come may enjoy them, a goal the Conservancy strives for every year.

Gajewski also said the Conservancy does not have speci c plans to acquire new lands in 2023, but they will eagerly hear any proposals that come up.

Most of the Conservancy’s decisions are made through Gajewski and a 22-member board of local community members interested in conservation. e Conservancy has six full-time positions: Gajewski, Matt Halladay, the Land Conservationist; Molly Cassatt, Stewardship Director; Kim Wells, Organizational Assistant; Jim Mott, Stewardship Coordinator, and Marcia Koch, the accountant.

People may support the Conservancy through individual or monthly donations through the Conservancy’s website: www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org. ey seek help in the eld, such as mowing, painting, trail cleaning, planting, and invasive species removal. ey also seek volunteers in the o ce, such as by creating newsletters, planning and running events, mailing, lead nature walks, and other professional services like surveyors, lawyers, and accountants.

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