Mount Morris Dam expands public engagement during 2026 visitor season

Official Statements

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, November 9: “The Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area expanded public engagement during its 2026 visitor season, increasing participation in ranger-led dam tours, special events, educational programs and volunteer service while continuing to deliver flood risk management and environmental stewardship for the Genesee River Valley.

  The site and its team of dedicated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers and staff welcomed an estimated 123,830 guests during the season.

  Park rangers led 280 guided public tours of the dam for 4,088 participants, exceeding the number of people who joined tours the previous year. Rangers also provided interpretive services to 15,634 visitors at the William B. Hoyt II Visitor Center - an 11% increase over the long-term average - helping the public understand the dam’s history, flood risk management mission and role in protecting downstream communities.

  Visitor feedback reflected those experiences. The dam and recreation area held a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on Recreation.gov at the close of the 2026 visitor season in October. “The ranger who led the tour was very knowledgeable and friendly,” one visitor wrote. “We learned a lot and had fun as well.” Another visitor said walking through the dam helped them “truly understand its scale.”

  “The Mount Morris Dam demonstrates how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivers for the American people every day,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Anderson, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District. “The dam continues its essential flood risk management mission while the recreation area connects visitors with the natural resources, history and public benefits made possible by that work. I am proud of the rangers, volunteers and partners whose efforts help us serve the public safely and effectively.”

  The Mount Morris Dam spans the Genesee River Gorge and has protected downstream communities, including Rochester, New York, from flooding for more than seven decades. Beyond its flood risk management purpose, the 3,800-acre recreation area provides opportunities for visitors to learn about engineering, environmental stewardship, water safety and the natural history of the Genesee River Valley.

  More opportunities to learn and explore

  Rangers hosted 23 on-site STEM field-trip experiences for 730 students from regional schools and universities, an increase from 16 school visits serving 623 students in 2025. Through off-site outreach, rangers reached an additional 1,325 students, bringing total student contacts to 2,055 during the year.

  The programs introduced students of all ages - from kindergarten through doctoral-level study - to topics including engineering, flood risk management, environmental stewardship and water safety.

  Rangers also represented the Corps of Engineers at community outreach events, including LivCo Family Fest and Monroe and Ontario county Conservation Days. These activities extended the Mount Morris team’s public-engagement efforts beyond the recreation area and into communities throughout the region.

  “This season’s increased participation in tours, educational programs, special events and volunteer projects reflects the dedication of our rangers and partners to making the Mount Morris Dam a meaningful public resource,” said Steve Winslow, Mount Morris Dam manager. “Whether visitors come to learn how the dam reduces flood risk, explore the Genesee River Gorge or take part in stewardship activities, we want them to leave with a stronger connection to this place and the Corps of Engineers mission.”

  On-site special events drew 2,229 participants in 2026, an increase of nearly 37% from the prior year.

  Programs and events included the Sehgahunda Trail Marathon and Relay, Many on the Genny Ultra-Marathon, North American Butterfly Association Count Day, National Public Lands Day and two New York Path Through History events.

  Rangers also offered recurring scenic overlook talks from May through October in Letchworth State Park. The talks gave park visitors and travel groups an opportunity to learn about the dam’s flood risk management mission and its significance to the Genesee River Valley.

  Stewardship in public view and behind the scenes

  Environmental stewardship remained a central part of the 2026 season.

  Rangers held 15 monarch butterfly tag-and-release programs for more than 200 participants throughout the season. Visitors learned about monarch life cycles, pollinator habitat and the tag-and-release process that contributes to national migration tracking efforts.

  Mount Morris staff also partnered with New York State Parks for the annual North American Butterfly Count. The survey identified 19 butterfly species on Corps of Engineers project lands and in the neighboring state park.

  Behind the scenes, rangers conducted invasive-species management, maintained pollinator gardens and supported surveys for protected species. These efforts help sustain the ecological health of the recreation area while supporting the Corps of Engineers’ environmental stewardship mission.

  “The Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area Park Rangers’ hard work, both in the public eye and behind the scenes, safeguards the environment, supports vital flood risk management operations, and connects thousands of visitors to the beauty and history of the Genesee River Valley,” said Ranger Amanda Jerome.

  Volunteer support also continued to strengthen the site’s ability to serve the public.

  Rangers organized more than 919 volunteer hours in 2026, valued at more than $33,000, compared with nearly 845 hours valued at more than $29,000 in 2025.

  During National Public Lands Day, volunteers from Arc GLOW worked alongside Corps of Engineers staff on improvement projects at the recreation area, including refreshing playground mulch to improve safety and prepare the site for the fall field-trip season. Throughout the year, Arc GLOW volunteers and work crews also supported groundskeeping, litter removal, trail maintenance, playground upkeep and visitor-area beautification.

  The 2026 season demonstrated the Mount Morris Dam remains both a critical flood risk management project and a public destination where visitors can experience the Corps of Engineers mission firsthand. Through tours, education, recreation, volunteerism and stewardship, the Mount Morris team continued connecting people to the engineering, environment and history of the Genesee River Valley.

  This information includes elements of SI-generated content, which were reviewed and edited by relevant DoW personnel to verify appropriateness and compliance with DoW policies and guidance.

  The Buffalo District delivers world-class engineering solutions to the Great Lakes region, the Army and the nation to ensure national security, environmental sustainability, water resource management and emergency assistance during peace and war. Learn more at www.lrd.usace.army.mil/buffalo.”