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Genesee – Finger Lakes Regional Blueway Analysis an Inventory and Description of Regional Blueway Opportunity Areas

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Genesee – Finger Lakes Regional Blueway Analysis an Inventory and Description of Regional Blueway Opportunity Areas GGeenneesseeee –– FFiinnggeerr LLaakkeess RReeggiioonnaall BBlluueewwaayy AAnnaallyyssiiss An Inventory and Description of Blueway Opportunity Areas in the Genesee – Finger Lakes Region Prepared for the Town of Wheatland, New York and the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. June 2010 Front Cover: Oak Orchard Creek from Rt. 63 in Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. 9/14/09 Genesee – Finger Lakes Regional Blueway Analysis An Inventory and Description of Regional Blueway Opportunity Areas June 2010 This document was prepared for the Town of Wheatland, New York and the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. Contract No. C006794 This project is classified as a “Type II Action Requiring No Further Review” under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. See §617.5(C)18. Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council 50 West Main Street • Suite 8107 Rochester, NY 14614 (585) 454-0190 http://www.gflrpc.org [email protected] Mission Statement The Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) will identify, define, and inform its member counties of issues and opportunities critical to the physical, economic, and social health of the region. G/FLRPC provides forums for discussion, debate, and consensus building, and develops and implements a focused action plan with clearly defined outcomes, which include programs, personnel, and funding. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Project Coordinator / Report Layout, Design and Editing Brian C. Slack, AICP – Senior Planner Contributors Thomas Kicior, Planner Razy Kased, Planner All photos were taken by Brian Slack unless otherwise noted. Project Advisory Committee Laura Arney, Citizen, Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club Representative Jerry Koehler, Representative, Finger Lakes Ontario Watershed Rick French – Pack, Paddle, Ski (FLOW) Paddlers Club Nicole Fulle, Andy Cook, Cindy Stachowski, Representatives of Todd Lippa, New York State Canal Corporation Genesee Waterways Center Richard Parker, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Wayne Hale, Orleans County Department of Planning and Tourism Historic Preservation Daniel Hallowell, New York State Department of Transportation John Wimbush, New York State Department of State Division of Region 4 Coastal Resources Charlie Helman, Waterways Chairperson of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Club Thanks to each member of the Project Advisory Committee who contributed their time and expertise to evaluating the project’s goals and objectives and reviewing draft reports and other associated documents. Special thanks to the Town of Wheatland for providing project sponsorship. Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council David S. Zorn, Executive Director This report, along with other relevant project information, is available online at the following web address: http://gflrpc.org/blueways.htm Genesee – Finger Lakes Regional Blueway Analysis An Inventory and Description of Regional Blueway Opportunity Areas TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... VII I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................1 What is a Blueway? .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 What is a “Blueway Opportunity Area”? ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Project Principles ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 How to Use this Document...................................................................................................................................... 3 Project Disclaimer.................................................................................................................................................... 4 II. PROJECT METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................5 Methodology Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Stakeholder Outreach ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Field Reconnaissance.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Project Methodology, Step-by-Step...................................................................................................................... 6 Step 1: Preliminary Blueway Opportunity Corridor Identification..................................................................................................... 6 Step 2: Access Point Verification ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Step 3: Field Reconnaissance and Verification................................................................................................................................. 9 Step 4: Establish Final Blueway Opportunity Areas............................................................................................................................ 9 Step 5: Establish Rating Systems for Evaluating Blueway Attributes............................................................................................... 10 Access Point Rating .........................................................................................................................................................................10 ADA Compliance.............................................................................................................................................................................11 Parking...............................................................................................................................................................................................12 Complementary Facilities ...............................................................................................................................................................12 III. RANKING BLUEWAY OPPORTUNITY AREAS ...............................................................................................13 Obstacles to Ranking ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Key Criteria for Ranking Corridors........................................................................................................................ 14 Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council i Genesee – Finger Lakes Regional Blueway Analysis An Inventory and Description of Regional Blueway Opportunity Areas Scale for Ranking Blueway Opportunity Areas .................................................................................................. 14 Primary Blueway Opportunity Corridors ........................................................................................................................................... 15 High Priority Blueway Opportunity Corridors.................................................................................................................................... 16 Medium Priority Blueway Opportunity Corridors ............................................................................................................................. 17 Low Priority Blueway Opportunity Corridors..................................................................................................................................... 18 Other Blueway Corridors of Local Significance............................................................................................................................... 19 IV. BLUEWAY OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR ANALYSIS.........................................................................................21 Blueway Opportunity Areas – Analysis Components ........................................................................................ 21 Blueway Area Opportunities and Constraints.................................................................................................................................. 21 Primary Nodes .................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Cost Estimates..................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Access Point Inventory Charts .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Additional Map Notes ......................................................................................................................................................................
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