At Seneca Park Zoo, our dedication extends beyond caring for animals—we’re committed to protecting the environment that sustains them and us. That’s why we’re excited to collaborate with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the local community to address a pressing issue: plastic pollution in our waterways, focusing on stormwater’s impact on the North American Great Lakes. Stormwater and Plastic Pollution Plastic debris is the largest type of human-made waste affecting our planet’s waterways, including the Great Lakes. While global efforts, like the United Nations’ treaty negotiations, aim to regulate plastic waste, the connection between stormwater runoff and lake health is often overlooked, especially in inland communities. Stormwater is a major pathway for land-based debris to enter our lakes, harming water quality and aquatic life. We’re taking proactive steps to reduce debris and microplastics in our waterways. LittaTraps and CASCADE To combat this, Seneca Park Zoo and RIT have installed LittaTraps—trash capture devices—in storm drains across Rochester, including our Zoo’s parking lot. These traps intercept debris before it enters the stormwater system, reducing the waste that reaches the Genesee River and Great Lakes. Through the CASCADE program (Community Action for Stormwater Clean-up and Debris Prevention), we’re fostering a connection to our waterways and inspiring community action against debris pollution. This 12-week educational program, offered in schools and community centers in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse, engages participants in collecting and analyzing debris from the LittaTraps, empowering them to develop local solutions. Expanding Our Reach With support from the Community Action Coalition, we’re expanding this program to Buffalo and Syracuse, creating a regional network dedicated to debris pollution prevention throughout Western New York. Our goal is to raise public awareness of stormwater’s impact on the environment. Education and Engagement at the Zoo Seneca Park Zoo is committed to educating the public about plastic pollution. Our H2OHero exhibit teaches visitors about the importance of clean water and the impact of plastic waste. Additionally, our Urban Ecologist program, a two-year internship supported by the City of Rochester, involves high school students in nature-based programming focused on plastic pollution. The Zoo Society’s partnership with RIT and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) ensures that our staff and interns receive professional development to deliver this critical programming. Over the next year, we will host 18 dedicated days of programming on plastic pollution, reaching more than 400,000 annual visitors through various educational experiences.