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Seneca Lake Pure Waters 2026 Volunteer Recognition

GENEVA, N.Y. – Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association (Pure Waters) is proud to recognize the volunteers, community partners, and continuous supporters whose dedication makes the work to protect Seneca Lake possible. Over 170 volunteers contribute their time and expertise to water quality monitoring, environmental stewardship, education, outreach, and other programs throughout the Seneca Lake watershed. 

At the 2026 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition, held on Thursday, September 10 at Watershed Brewing Company in Geneva, Pure Waters celebrated three honorees whose generosity and commitment have made a lasting impact on Seneca Lake.

Mary Rose Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award

Recipient: Karen Welch

The Mary Rose Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award honors volunteers who go above and beyond in service to Seneca Lake Pure Waters. This year, Karen Welch was recognized for her incredible leadership of the Lake Friendly Living Committee and, in particular, her work on the Clute Park Native Plant Demonstration Garden in Watkins Glen.

What started as a modest planting project grew, through Karen’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and persistence, into an ambitious demonstration garden encompassing three retention basins surrounding the park’s playground. Karen planned the garden, selected appropriate native species, coordinated purchasing and planting, and organized dozens of volunteers to ensure the project was a success.

Karen also worked closely with the Village staff to establish plans for the gardens ongoing care and led the development of interpretive signage to help visitors understand the value of native plants and lake friendly living landscaping.

The Clute Park Garden will benefit Seneca Lake while educating thousands of park visitors and strengthening Pure Waters’ partnership with the Village of Watkins Glen. Karen’s leadership and dedication were the driving force in making this project a successful reality.

Friend of Seneca Founders Award

Recipient: The Rose Family Foundation
Sonia Rose. representing

The Friend of Seneca Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose sustained commitment has significantly advanced the mission of Pure Waters. This year, Pure Waters is proud to recognize the Rose Family Foundation for its exceptional support of efforts to better understand and protect Seneca Lake and its watershed. 

Since its first grant to Pure Waters in 2023, the Rose Family Foundation has provided $187,600 to support water quality research and environmental stewardship. Early funding helped launch PFAS and neonicotinoid monitoring efforts while strengthening Pure Waters’ stream monitoring and Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). More recently, Foundation support has helped advance Nearshore Nutrient research to improve understanding of Seneca Lake’s changing ecology

The Foundation has also played a critical role in the launch and expansion of the Seneca Lake Watershed Hemlock Initiative. Its support funded initial surveys and planning and enabled the treatment of 320 threatened hemlock trees in 2025 and 2026. A new $77,000 grant will substantially expand that work through Spring 2027, providing important resources to continue protecting hemlocks throughout the watershed. 

Through its sustained investment in science, stewardship, and action, the Rose Family Foundation has helped Pure Waters take on important environmental challenges and build programs with lasting benefits for Seneca Lake

Rich Adams Memorial President’s Award

Recipient: Jody Tyler

Presented at the discretion of the President of Pure Waters, William Roege, the Rich Adams Memorial President’s Award recognizes extraordinary leadership and service to Seneca Lake Pure Waters. This year, Jody Tyler was honored for her many years of dedicated service to the organization and the Pure Waters community.

For well over a decade, Jody has been a dedicated and versatile contributor to Pure Waters. Early in her tenure, she provided essential administrative support that helped keep the Association functioning and moving forward. As Pure Waters has grown, Jody has continued to find new ways to strengthen both the organization and the community surrounding it. 

Jody is perhaps best known for her leadership of Pure Waters’ fundraising and special events. For many years, she has led the planning of the organization’s annual summer gathering, now the Summer Soiree, bringing together more than 100 members and friends of Seneca Lake. She helped establish the auction that has become an anticipated part of the event and has championed the Summer Business Guide, which raises funds for Pure Waters programs while strengthening relationships with the local business community. 

Throughout her years of service, Jody has continually found creative ways to engage members, supporters, businesses, and neighbors. Her commitment has helped strengthen the sense of community that makes Pure Waters’ work possible. 

Learn more about Pure Waters

To learn more about volunteering: https://senecalake.org/volunteer-opportunities/
To learn more about donating: https://senecalake.org/giving/

Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to preserving, protecting, and promoting the abundant resources of the largest Finger Lake. Seneca Lake is a source of drinking water, recreation, and economic opportunity for the greater community and its visitors. Our programs and partnerships make it possible to monitor water quality, educate the public, and evaluate threats to help ensure a healthy future for Seneca Lake and all who depend on it.