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Joseph Brill 518-474-5987 | joseph.brill@ogs.ny.gov
June 21, 2021
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NYS OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES ANNOUNCES REDI DREDGING COMMENCES AT GOLDEN HILL STATE PARK ON LAKE ONTARIODredging Will Improve Ramp Access For Recreational Boaters |
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Project Site Selected as Part of Governor Cuomo’s $15 Million Regional Dredging Initiative NYS Office of General Services (OGS) today announced the start of dredging at Golden Hill State Park in Niagara County as part of the State’s $15 million REDI Regional Dredging Project, which removes built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterway to allow for continued safe passage of watercraft. The dredging of up to 20 navigation channels along Lake Ontario’s south shore and the St. Lawrence River is a significant aspect of the Governor’s $300 million Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said, “Tourism economies of shoreline communities throughout the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River regions are benefitting from Governor Cuomo’s REDI initiative. Recreational boating brings an influx of tourism dollars to this area, and our upcoming REDI dredging project at Golden Hill State Park will allow the park to reopen its boat ramp and give boaters safe access to one of New York’s most magnificent lakes.”
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “This project is going to reopen the boat launch here at Golden Hill State Park and restore boater access to Lake Ontario. This reflects Governor Cuomo’s commitment to address the issues presented by high water episodes on the lake and ensure that state and local infrastructure is maintained and prepared for the future.”
The Golden Hill State Park project will remove sediment from the end of the park’s boat ramp into Lake Ontario. Dredging will improve recreational boater access to the ramp, which has been unable to open this year due to sediment accumulation. The dredged material will be stockpiled for use in future park operations such as improvement of campsites.
Niagara County Legislative Chair Rebecca Wydysh said, “The REDI program has been instrumental in meeting the dredging needs along our Lake Ontario shoreline, so sediment accumulation does not prevent recreational boaters from enjoying the lake,” said Becky Wydysh, Chairman of the Niagara County Legislature. “As such, we are very excited to see the beginning of dredging at Golden Hill State Park near the boat ramp. We very much appreciate the collaboration of the state with local governments through the REDI program to make projects like this come to fruition.”
The REDI Regional Dredging Project’s objective is to provide a comprehensive approach to the ongoing dredging needs for harbor navigation channels used primarily for recreational boating and refuge in the region. This project tackles the necessary dredging of up to 20 harbor navigation channels through Phases I and II. During Phase III, the State will provide counties with the information they need to update, expand, and implement long-term operational, maintenance, and funding plans to maintain recreational navigation channels in the future.
To date, the State has completed six REDI dredging projects and removed approximately 26,000 cubic yards of sediment to provide recreational boaters with safe access to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The completed dredging projects include Port Bay, Blind Sodus Bay, and East Bay in Wayne County, Sandy Pond Inlet in Oswego County, Little Sodus Bay in Cayuga County and Braddock Bay in Monroe County.
All dredging activities are dependent on favorable weather and water conditions.
Initial details about the Regional Dredging Project in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties, as well as the regional benefit to all of these counties, is available here.
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