This article was scraped from Rochester Subway. This is a blog about Rochester history and urbanism has not been published since 2017. The current owners are now publishing link spam which made me want to preserve this history.. The original article was published July 24, 2013 and can be found here.
![Local photographer Clarke Conde has been snapping photos of the Genesee River all year. This patch of trash has been growing slowly like a giant, smelly tumor. [PHOTO: Clarke Conde]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-river-garbage-clarke-conde-01.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
The City of Rochester recently put the finishing touches on some beautiful hardscaping and pathways connecting Mount Hope Avenue to the Genesee River Trail. Doesn't a stroll along the river on a warm summer evening sound divine?
Umm, nah... I'll take a rain check maybe. Have you seen our river lately?! LOOK at this...
![This was the same pile of debris back in February. [PHOTO: Clarke Conde]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-river-garbage-clarke-conde-02.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
Local photographer Clarke Conde
has been snapping photos of the Genesee River all year. His photos
show this patch of trash growing steadily (like a big 'ole smelly tumor) for at least the past 12 MONTHS!
One of Clarke's trashy photos was even printed in The Wedge last summer ( here
on page 2). So why is nothing being done to clean it up?
For one thing, no one seems to know who's responsibility it is. After seeing this mess for myself, my first reaction was to contact the City. No answers there. After several emails and phone calls I learned this section of river is actually maintained by the New York State Canal Corporation
(a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority) in Albany! So I called one of the numbers on their web site. After bouncing around inside the automated phone system, and filling out the online form, a few days later Bill Sweitzer (from the Albany press office) gave me a call back.
![There's a steady stream of dead trees, algae, and garbage float down river. It all collects downtown. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-river-garbage.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
Bill was very nice and he explained that the Canal Corporation is responsible for 524-mile inland waterways across the state. After many budget cuts, layoffs, and some problematic flooding
across central New York, his organization is simply spread too thin. In addition, this section of the Genesee River is not considered a "navigation channel." So as priorities go, the Genesee doesn't rank highly.
After a lengthy phone conversation and a review of the photos, Bill said he would check in with his people "on the ground" here in Rochester. But so far, no promises.
As always, I'll keep you updated on any progress. But in the meantime, if you're hosting out-of-town guests DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take them here to show off the Rochester skyline.
How You Can Help
The simplest thing you can do is to dispose of your trash properly. When you toss trash on the ground , it inevitably winds up in our waterways.
Call or write...
Brian U. Stratton
Director
NYS Canal Corporation
518-436-3055
[email protected]
or...
Governor Cuomo or
Leuitenant Governor Duffy
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
Email Form
And ask these guys to please send a giant pool skimmer or something to clean up Rochester's river.
