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Legislators table push for marine sanctuary designation for upper St. Lawrence River

Posted 7/28/21

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week CANTON — St. Lawrence County Legislator Jim Reagen, R-Ogdensburg, urged his colleagues to support making the upper St. Lawrence River a National Oceanic and …

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Legislators table push for marine sanctuary designation for upper St. Lawrence River

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON — St. Lawrence County Legislator Jim Reagen, R-Ogdensburg, urged his colleagues to support making the upper St. Lawrence River a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Sanctuary, which could drive more divers to explore wreckage from the county’s past.

“This is a one time opportunity to get a federal agency to enlist their efforts to help market and bring to the world's attention some of the underwater wrecks that are across St. Lawrence County’s St. Lawrence River shoreline,” he said, adding that there are many that are likely yet to be discovered.

He said the area played a large role in navla and mercantile history of the past. He said a lot of times when federal agencies put money toward the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River is forgotten.

“This will be our opportunity to get NOAA to take a look at some of the other wrecks,” he said.

He said that people have asked if it would interfere with boaters' ability to use the St. Lawrence River.

“I would argue that no, it’s not,” he said.

Reagen said the river is plenty big for divers and boaters alike.

He said that divers are already enjoying the wreckage at the bottom of the river, but this

Arquiett said he will not support the resolution.

He said that in Monterey California they were promised a sanctuary wouldn’t impact finishing, but said that it had a very big impact.

The majority of what’s utilized out there could find themselves jeopardized. He fears the agencies that run sanctuaries have little knowledge of the areas that they oversee and says he is concerned about the unintended consequences of such a designation.

County Administrator Ruth Doyle said that they have been given assurances that the designation would not impact fishing, but she said there remain concerns that the reality could be different.

In the end the resolution was tabled until the full-board of legislators meeting, which will be held Aug. 3 at the Gouverneur fair.

According to NOAA's website the organization works to conserve coastal places and provide economic benefits to local communities.

“These communities rely on dollars spent on activities such as recreation and tourism. NOAA works to conserve marine areas — and preserve the economic benefits of these special places to local communities — through its coastal management and place-based conservation programs,” the website says.