Genesee River (New York & Pennsylvania)

Mouth of Genesee River at Rochester Harbor Watershed location and features: ¾ tributary to Lake Ontario north of the City of Rochester in Monroe County, NY ¾ total watershed area is 2,500 square miles ¾ watershed includes all or parts Genesee, Livingstone, Wyoming, Monroe, Allegany, Steuben, Ontario, Orleans and Cattaraugus Counties in New York and Potter County in Pennsylvania ¾ discharges to Federal navigation channel at Rochester Harbor ¾ discharges to Federal flood damage reduction reservoir (Mount Morris Dam and Reservoir)

Watershed characteristics: ¾ 52% agricultural, 40% forested, 4% urban, 2% wetlands/water, 1% transportation; 1% rangeland ¾ topography above Mount Morris Dam is steep and rugged and below is gently rolling; elevations range from 2,500 feet in the Allegany Mountains 247 feet at the mouth at Lake Ontario

Soil erosion and sedimentation issues: ¾ rapid river channel migration and streambank instability in the Lower Genesee River - below Mount Morris Dam ¾ agricultural erosion, increased development, roadside ditching, wetland displacement

Contamination issues: ¾ Rochester Embayment is designated Area of Concern ¾ degradation of the benthos, loss of fish and wildlife habitat, cultural eutrophication ¾ primary pollutants include pathogens, thermal changes, silt/sediment, oxygen demand, nutrients and priority organics

Partners on tributary modeling: ¾ Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council ¾ Allegany, Livingston, Monroe, and Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation Districts ¾ Livingstone County Planning Department ¾ Rochester Embayment Remedial Action Plan Committee

Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program – Tributary Fact Sheet

Modeling approach: ¾ update land use GIS layer database using existing 2002 orthophotos with a focus on detailing the Lower Genesee River ¾ SWAT hydrologic modeling for watershed sediment erosion and yield ¾ CONCEPTS modeling of stream-bank stability in areas of severe channel movement to address the meandering problems of the Lower Genesee River in Livingstone County

Status: ¾ modeling to be completed by August 2005 and training workshop for state and local partners scheduled for September 2005

Applications: ¾ the Genesee/Finger Lakes Planning Council will use the model to support their efforts to complete and implement a watershed restoration and protection strategy plan that will incorporate stakeholder feedback from all of the sub-watersheds in the basin ¾ soil and water conservation districts will use the models to prioritize areas for the implementation of best management practices ¾ Livingstone County will use the models to develop a streambank stabilization strategy for the rapidly meandering Lower Genesee River

Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program – Tributary Fact Sheet