Making the most of our aquatic resources
JOEL GIAMBRA Erie County Executive
The summer has finally arrived in Erie County and it's a time for enjoying one of our greatest resources, fresh water. We are blessed with an abundance of fresh water and a world class fishery.

As a way of protecting our fresh water and all of its recreational uses, we recently announced a sewer merger with the Town of Hamburg. Hamburg Supervisor Steve Walters has been a great partner in tying in the Hamburg system with Erie County.

This merger not only saves Hamburg taxpayers around $150,000 a year, it also improves that area's watershed.

By combining the Hamburg system with Erie County, it helps prevents a run-off during storms by the sanitary sewers. It has been that issue that has closed beaches like Woodlawn every time there is a heavy rain.

I understand how frustrating it is to have a hot summer day and no beach access because of high levels of bacteria at the local beaches.

The day we announced the sewer mergers we held the news conference on the sandy Woodlawn Beach. Behind myself and Supervisor Walters, Legislators Kozub and Reynolds, was the windmill farm on the former Bethlehem Steel site.

It was rewarding to see those tremendous white windmills turning in the background, providing electricity from the lake-generated breeze. That project has created interest on an international level as many are taking a trip to Erie County to see the largest collection of urban windmills in the world.

Sometimes you have to wade through all the negative rhetoric in this community to see how many projects have been done right the last eight years.

The two Great Lakes at our doorstep also provide this area with a terrific fishery.

Coming to Erie County in the middle of July is the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series. This prestigious fishing tournament brings 100 of the top bass fishermen to Erie County to compete in the four-day tournament. Many of you already know that Erie County and the area has one of the finest small mouth bass fishing areas in the world.

This national tournament will bring in millions of dollars as these fishermen and their families spend a week in the area.

Not to mention the support staff of the actual tournament, sponsors and fans tagging along to see who will be the top angler. Plus, ESPN 2 will provide taped coverage of the event and give us terrific national coverage.

If you would like to know more about Erie County's terrific fishing spots, go to www.erie.gov/hotspot/ or try another great Web site, www. niagararegionfishing. com.