From the Finger Lakes to the Susquehanna River, the state of New York is rich in its bodies of water. But even today, there are still plenty of waterfronts that are going unused.

One county in the Southern Tier is hoping to change that.

"The first step is we're trying to get the word out there that the rivers are a great asset. We can use them,” said Beth Lucas, the director of the Broome County Department of Planning.

What You Need To Know

  • With 70,000 miles of rivers and 7,600 freshwater lakes and reservoirs, there’s no shortage of water across New York

  • Leaders in Broome County are now moving forward with a waterfront plan that started in 2011

  • Broome County's planning committee will soon host public meetings to share more potential new waterfront ideas

With 70,000 miles of rivers and 7,600 freshwater lakes and reservoirs, there’s no shortage of water across the state. And while larger cities like Buffalo have taken advantage of some of these areas, many believe there’s still plenty of untapped potential.

"Historically, throughout our area, I think people have looked at the rivers very negatively. Obviously, we have a history of flooding and everything, but they can also be a really great asset to the community. And because we have so many to offer, it's really important to show people,” said Lucas.

Leaders in Broome County are now moving forward with a waterfront plan that started in 2011. They’re currently gathering feedback on ways they can improve untapped waterfront access on more than 90 miles of river.

"We've really tried to look at all of the assets we currently have, try to identify maybe where there are some gaps, where we can make some improvements, and really with a focus on improving our public areas like parks, but also with consideration that there might be opportunities for private development," said Lucas.

That could mean future waterfront restaurants or even more boat launch areas.

But along with looking at new oppurtunities, Broome County is looking to spread the word about what they currently have. Pamphlets will soon head to parks and other tourist areas to draw more people to the region.

"You can go out and kayak on the river today. There's no problems in doing that. And so we want to make people aware of that and know that it's not only can you do it, it's safe to do with some precautions and it can be really fun,” said Lucas.

Broome County's planning committee will soon host public meetings to share more potential new waterfront ideas.