Senator Mark Grisanti, President Conway-Turner Announce Funding for Great Lakes Center Field Station

New York State Senator Mark Grisanti and Buffalo State leaders announced that $150,000 has been allocated to enable the Great Lakes Center (GLC) to improve its boat launch ramp at the college’s field station. The field station, located on the Black Rock Canal in the Niagara River, has three large vessels that rely on the ramp for access to research sites. When the water level in Lake Erie is low, the ramp is not deep enough to permit launching the vessels from the field station; they must be transported to other launch sites.

"Lake Erie has always been vital to Buffalo’s economic success," Grisanti noted. "I am pleased that our office, working with Buffalo State, is contributing to the renaissance of Buffalo’s waterfront. Contributing to the scientific knowledge necessary for protecting Lake Erie is essential to safeguarding our region’s most valuable asset."

"We are very grateful to Senator Grisanti for helping us obtain the funds to allow the most efficient use of our field station,” said Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner. “This improvement will save our research team valuable time and money by enabling us to launch from our own ramp even when the water levels are low.”

Over the past year, GLC scientists have conducted research into water quality, native and invasive species, and carcinogens in the food web. The center’s field station also supports the work of numerous partners, including the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

"Our mission is to improve the quality of the environment by providing the best possible science to decision-makers concerned with the health and sustainability of Lake Erie and its watersheds,” said GLC Director Alexander Karatayev. “We are grateful for the support that enables us to pursue this critical goal.”

In addition to deepening the boat launch ramp, the center plans to replace an aging fixed dock with a state-of-the-art floating dock. Once the new dock is completed, the field station staff will be able to dock boats in the water instead of bringing them on shore for brief storage.

Pictured at podium (left to right): Buffalo State Dean of Natural and Social Sciences Mark Severson, Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner, New York State Senator Mark Grisanti,