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Save The River® Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®

Save The River® Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®

Save The River is a non-profit, member-based environmental organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research.

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Advocacy

You are here: Home / Get Involved / Advocacy

Be a Voice for the River

We need your help to protect the River – speak out!

Writing or calling elected officials, attending public hearings, signing petitions, all of these actions make a difference! Each letter or voice helps to ensure that elected officials and government agencies ensure the protection of the St. Lawrence River.

Blind Bay
Blind Bay is an environmental treasure and has open and protected wetland areas. It has served as a long-term aquatic habitat research site monitored by the Thousand Islands Biological Station (TIBS) and has been documented as one of the most prolific muskellunge spawning areas in the Thousand Islands. Learn more at saveblindbay.com
 
Winter Shipping

Save The River was formed in 1978 to fight proposals for year-round navigation on the St. Lawrence River. Learn more about Save The River’s work to prevent shipping in ice conditions here.

Water Levels

Learn more about Plan 2014, International Joint Commission (IJC), and Save The River’s campaign for improved water level regulations here.

Sewage Testing

Save The River advocates for better septic testing protocol at the local, state, and federal level. Learn more about the legacy of our now-retired Kingfisher Water Quality Program, and read our Sewage Handbook.

Clean Up the Ballast

Learn about aquatic invasive species and Save The River’s campaign to stop their introductions here.

Spills & Accidents

A spill from one of the many ships passing by each day on the St. Lawrence Seaway would have devastating impacts on the River environment and our local economy. Learn more about Save The River’s involvement in spill response planning. 

Navigation Study

Learn about Save The River’s work to prevent the expansion of Seaway infrastructure here.

Alternative Energy

Save The River is concerned about the scale and siting of proposed power projects in the region. Read more about it here.

Issues We're Following

Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act

NY State Assembly Bill S1464

In Senate Committee

More about S1464

Banning the use of polystyrene foam docks, buoys, and floating structures

NY State Assembly Bill S1129

In Senate Committee

More about S1129

Brandon Road Project Stalled

Phase I of the US Army Corps of Engineer’s latest project to block invasive carp in the Des Plaines River, IL was abruptly canceled February 11, 2025 due to the Federal funding freeze. President Trump’s administration is withholding $117 million in federal infrastructure grants, including funds for the Brandon Road Project.

5Chicago Coverage

Federal Firings Hit Sea Lamprey Prevention Program

As part of the February 14th nationwide purge of federal workers, 14 employees responsible for operating the invasive Sea Lamprey prevention program at the US Fish & Wildlife Service were fired.

Great Lakes Now Coverage

Protect NOAA

The Trump Administration has threatened a total dismantling of NOAA as part of sweeping cuts to environmental-related agencies within the Federal government.

NPR Coverage

Disapproval of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper, Chapter 8 of Title 5

This joint resolution (H. J. Res. 18) nullifies the rule titled National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI). The rule removes certain restrictions of lead levels for drinking water standards.

More about HJ Res 18

Endangered and Threatened Species: Species Status with Section 4(d) Rule for Monarch Butterfly and Designation of Critical Habitat

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a rule that will list monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) as a threatened species.

More about the Proposed Rule

Know Your Reps

State

Scott Gray

State Assembly Representative

District 116

Contact Assmblymember Gray

Mark Walczyk

State Senate Representative

49th District

Contact Senator Walczyk

Congressional

Kirsten Gillibrand

U.S. Senator

New York

Contact Senator Gillibrand

Chuck Schumer

U.S. Senator

New York

Contact Senator Schumer

Claudia Tenney

US House of Representatives

24th District of New York

Contact Rep. Tenney

Know Your Regions

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 6

Region 6 Headquarters:

317 Washington St.

Watertown, NY 13601

(315) 785-2239

DEC Contact Website

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2

Region 2 Main Regional Office:

290 Broadway 

New York, NY 10007

EPA Contact Website

Save The River is a 501(c)3 and was designated the Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper in 2004 and is a member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance. The Waterkeeper Alliance is the world’s fastest growing environmental movement, with more than 300+ local Waterkeepers patrolling rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on 6 continents.

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Contact Us

409 Riverside Drive

Clayton, NY 13624

info@savetheriver.org

(315) 686-2010