National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

[left panel] Broderick Park Welcome to Broderick Park, a waterfront park of the City of Buffalo! Broderick Park is significant as the site of the Black Rock Ferry, a historic crossing point between the United States and Canada for over 120 years. It is also a documented site of the Underground Railroad from the decades before the Civil War and is listed in the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Background: Detail of the ferry wharf and customs house with the Frontier Mills beyond. Huntress (1880, Propeller). Source: C. Patrick Labadie Collection / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena, MI. [right panel] Distinctive River Ecosystems. The Niagara River is a strait which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and is the outlet for four of the five Great Lakes. the Great Lakes Systems contain approximately 20% or one-fifth of the world's fresh water. The 37 mile-long river is divided into two distinct ecosystems by Niagara Falls, the monumental waterfall over the ancient Niagara Escarpment. Historically, the Upper Niagara in the vicinity of Black Rock was lined by marshes that provided feeding, breeding and resting areas for an abundant array of resident and migrating animals. It continues to be a world class habitat for migrating birds today.
Over 80 species of fish have been recorded in the river, which is a well known fishing hotspot. This area along Broderick Park is a breeding place for the Emerald Shiner, a native fish that's about three to four inches long and is eaten by many lf the sport fish and the fish-eating birds that nest or migrate along the Upper Niagara. Emerald Shiner: Source: Photo by Nate Tessler. School of Emeral Shiners. Source: Joshua Fisher, Great Lakes Center at Buffalo State [College]. Fish in the Niagara River at Broderick Park include: Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch, Sheepshead, Smelt, Lake Trout, Steelhead Trout, and Walleye. Source: NPS. Above: Teh Niagara River is designated as a Globally Significant Bird Area. Source: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, photographer Jay Burney. Left: Buffalo United Front hosts an Annual Family Fishing Day at Broderick Park - 2014. Source: Buffalo United Front, Inc. Development and industry over the past two hundred years have severely altered the habitat and water quality in the river. However, significant regional initiatives to restore river ecosystmes are underway. Information may be found at http://bnriverkeeper.org.

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