Posted on February 26, 2018
By Tim Fenster, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Niagara County has signed on to a multi-county plan to explore additional dredging in harbors along Lake Ontario, seeing it as a necessity after last year’s high water levels.
After the legislature’s vote Feb. 20, the county joined Orleans, Cayuga and Wayne counties in signing a memorandum of understanding to implement a Regional Dredging Management Plan at a cost of $5,000 apiece. All six counties along the lake are being asked to sign on to the plan, which will study the feasibility of dredging the harbors more frequently.
Legislator Clyde Burmaster, R-Ransomville, said the high water levels last year washed away more of the shoreline, and deposited much of that earth on the lake bed in the harbors.
Burmaster added that it’s crucial for municipalities to protect the economic activity generated by the harbors in Olcott and Wilson.
“It’s a major industry. Tourism and charter boat fishing and what it brings to the economy here, it’s part of the reason that we need to keep on top of this,” Burmaster said. “It’s not the cost of the dredging; it’s the economic impact if we let this area deteriorate.”
Burmaster said county estimates have put the cost of dredging at about $40,000 per harbor. The participating counties will apply for any available state or federal grants to fund the work, which would likely take place on an as-needed basis.
“I’m sure it’s going to have a lot to do with what damage has been done to each of those affected areas,” Burmaster said. “Some are worse than others. But obviously it’s going to have to happen as quickly as possible.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does dredge harbors across the Great Lakes, but smaller recreational harbors are cleared less often than larger commercial harbors.
ACE spokesperson Andrew Kornacki said that the harbors in Olcott and Wilson were both dredged last in 2014, and Wilson Harbor is scheduled to be dredged again this year. Meanwhile, ACE dredging is done every two years in Buffalo’s harbor and every year in Cleveland’s.
“Dredging is part of the operations and maintenance program. There are many competing needs across the nation with limited funds,” Kornacki said. “Historically, commercial harbors are a higher priority and receive more funding, while recreational harbors are much harder to fund.”
High accumulations of silt and rock on the lake bed can damage boats that strike low areas, particularly boats with keels, such as sailboats, Burmaster said.
“You’re in pretty dangerous water” in areas that have become shallow, Burmaster said. “It doesn’t lay flat at three feet. It goes up and down and there’s debris in there.”
Burmaster added the county would also explore offering discounted dredging rates for private property owners who live near harbors. Because the contractor would have already gone through the permitting process, and would already have the equipment in the area, Burmaster believes it’s possible to negotiate a lower rate for residents.
“I’m sure that when this coalition is finalized, we’ll be able to do some dealing with the contractors (to offer) a cheaper rate for the privately owned properties,” Burmaster said. “The economies of scale will be a big factor.”
Source: Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
