New REFERENCE BOOK:
Guide to Public Access Wetlands in and near Monroe County


The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is an object lesson in what happens when wetlands are ignored or destroyed. One local effort to preserve local wetlands takes the form of a newly published reference guidebook listing local wetlands, preserves and trails, recently published at www.lulu.com.  The author,  Christine Sevilla, will introduce the guidebook and explain its relationship to the project WATERSHED in a visual, verbal and musical presentation on Wednesday December 7th at 12:30pm at the Wednesday Gathering Place, held at the First Unitarian Church at 220 Winton Road South. The event is free and open to the public.  Copies of the book will be available for review.
 
Impatient that there was no reference compendium of local wetlands, Sevilla gathered content for this guidebook.  Sevilla is an information designer as well as an author and photographer; she is keenly interested in presenting these often hidden landscapes in a manner both bold and clear.  “I’ve organized the book to make it easy to find local wetlands, even if all you know is the name of the town it’s in, or the name of the organization that protects it.  And the maps that accompany the location lists will give readers an instant view of what is right nearby.  It’s the book I wanted to have for myself two years ago!”  In addition to over 60 of Sevilla’s photographs, the guide includes basic background on wetlands and encourages involvement in protecting the land.

The guidebook is the result of a community effort over the past year. The Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation Service assisted with maps, the Monroe County Environmental Management Council and Rochester Regional Sierra Club reviewed lists of wetlands, and the Monroe County Department of Parks supplied park descriptions. Sponsorship was provided by the Genesee Audubon Society and The Central & Western New York Nature Conservancy and Genesee Land Trust offered valuable guidance.

Creation of the guidebook of local wetlands is part of a larger project, WATERSHED, which has included events associated with art exhibits that feature wetland images as well as interviews with area leaders involved in wetland conservation and habitat protection.  Encouraging involvement and stewardship of the land has been a focus for this project.  Events provided a place where people could interact with others who have similar interests. Participants included those who recognize the importance of our area's wetlands and habitat –hunting, birding, fishing, and boating enthusiasts who met with invited area conservation leaders. Creating new linkages among groups with common goals has been a goal of the WATERSHED project.  June Summers, President of the Genesee Valley Audubon Society, is enthusiastic about the energy of the project.  "This is truly out-of-the box thinking that we need to bring wetlands habitat to the public's attention."
 
EVENT LOCATION and TIME
The Wednesday Gathering Place, December 7th
First Unitarian Church
220 Winton Road South
Rochester, NY  
585.271.9070
noon- bring a lunch and share in the conversation
12:30pm- presentation begins (one hour)
Free and open to the public

 

BOOK INFORMATION

Guide to Public Access Wetlands in and Near Monroe County

Author, Christine Sevilla

www.lulu.com

$25
ISBN  1-4116-6168-0

This project is sponsored by the Genesee Valley Audubon Society and funded by the New York State Legislature, New York State Council on the Arts, and the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester.