The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District today announced a virtual public meeting from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, to discuss restoration progress in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern (AOC) in Niagara County. The meeting will also offer an opportunity for public input on the proposed removal of the Degradation of Benthos Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI). Benthos are organisms that crawl, burrow, swim, or stay attached to the material on the bottom of a lake or stream. 

The Eighteenmile Creek AOC is located in the town of Newfane, Niagara County, and encompasses the lower portion of Eighteenmile Creek from just below Burt Dam to Olcott Harbor at the outlet to Lake Ontario. The Eighteenmile Creek AOC was designated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of poor water quality and sediment contamination by former industrial and municipal discharges, waste disposal, and pesticide use. The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has been instrumental in providing funding to address these environmental challenges and advance the BUI removal process. Once all BUIs in an AOC are removed, the AOC can move forward with delisting. 

The Degradation of Benthos BUI was listed as impaired based on historical data which indicated that macroinvertebrate communities were adversely affected by contaminated sediments. Recent DEC and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) surveys show these benthic communities are now similar or superior to those in a regional reference stream. After reviewing available data on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the AOC, DEC and partners found improved conditions meeting BUI removal criteria and now seek public feedback on the proposed change in designation. 

During this virtual meeting, DEC's Great Lakes Program and representatives from the Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District will provide details and criteria establishing support for the removal of the BUI. Comments on the draft report and proposed BUI removal may be made during the meeting, via the AOC website or by email at: eighteenmilerap@gmail.com until July 30, 2025. 

Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, coordinates restoration efforts under the Eighteenmile Creek AOC Remedial Action Plan. A draft report, which details the completed actions and assessments supporting the BUI removal, is available for public review at the Eighteenmile Creek AOC website. 

When: Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. 

Where: This is a virtual event and registration is required. To participate, visit https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r4bfe4f53d41eee53bf6ea7673411305d 

For more information about the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern, visit:

Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District’s website

DEC's Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern webpage

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website