Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) Commissioner Erik Kulleseid today showcased 20 shoreline resiliency projects in Niagara and Orleans counties that are receiving an estimated $49 million in state funding through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The projects were reviewed at a meeting of the Niagara and Orleans REDI Region Planning Committee, which includes local elected officials and other stakeholders.

“Shoreline communities have faced tremendous challenges in recent years. That's why we have taken aggressive action to help local governments, businesses, and homeowners with state support to improve resiliency, address the impact of flooding, and fight the threat of climate change,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This targeted funding for 20 priority projects in Niagara and Orleans counties will address critical infrastructure needs to ensure sustainability long-term. These important efforts will help to combat devastation from extreme weather events, strengthen our economy, and enhance quality of life for residents.”

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Governor Cuomo continues to focus support on shoreline communities that have been struggling with impacts of high water on Lake Ontario. These 20 REDI projects in Niagara and Orleans counties will help address a variety of issues, from reducing risks to roadways, to protecting shorelines from erosion, to maintaining public use of beaches, piers and docks. Governor Cuomo recognizes that recreation and tourism are important economic drivers for this region that must be maintained.”

As part of the state’s ongoing response to record flooding that hit the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communities this past summer, Governor Cuomo created the REDI commission, a multi-agency team tasked with studying sustainable solutions to strengthen infrastructure and mitigate impacts from future flooding along the shorelines of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, while bolstering the region's local economies.

Projects include:

Niagara County

• The $15.7 million Olcott Harbor project here in Newfane is a comprehensive approach to protect critical assets.
• The more than $2 million Village of Youngstown Waterfront project to stabilize and protect the shoreline.
• The $1.2 million Lewiston Landing project will replace docs, stabilize the shoreline and more.
• The $4.5 million Village of Wilson wastewater treatment plant project will prevent this infrastructure from flooding.
• The $3.36 million Sunset Island West Barrier Bar project to address recurring breaches.
• The $1.6 million Townline Pier project in Wilson will stabilize the pier.
• The $1.3 million Town of Somerset Multiple Use Site project will use nature-based solutions to protect shoreline.
• The $87,000 YMCA Camp Kenan project in Somerset will help keep this camp open.
• $50,000 will install safety markers over submerged structures in both Niagara and Orleans counties.
• The $1.8 million Olcott Beach Berm project.

Orleans County

• The $9 million wastewater infrastructure project will protect this Town of Kendall infrastructure from flood impacts and high water.
• The $385,000 Lakeside Park Road East project also in Carlton will protect the road by stabilizing bluff here.
• The $2.5 million Yates Town Park Expansion will insure access to this park and stabilize shoreline.
• The $235,000 Lakeside Park Road West project will ensure emergency responders can access this community in Carlton.
• The $1.5 million project to replace culverts and stabilize roadways in the Town of Kendall.
• Also in Kendall, the $131,000 Thompson Drive project will install natural shoreline protection to ensure access.
• The Route 237 Right of Way project in Kendall will stabilize shoreline to prevent future flooding.
• $876,000 will help replace, modify, and upgrade docks at marinas in Wilson and Carlton to keep these economic drivers up and running.
• The $2 million Lakeshore Road/Route 97 project in the Town of Carlton that will protect the roadway by stabilizing the bluff.

Additional details and Niagara and Orleans counties REDI project profiles are available here.

Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to rebuild the shoreline, as well as improve resiliency in flood-prone regions along Lake Ontario. The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties. The remaining balance, $235 million, has been allocated toward local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission. 

The REDI Commission will hold an implementation conference in Albany on November 20. The conference will provide REDI funding recipients with information about project implementation, including permitting and environmental reviews, as well as an opportunity to meet with relevant state agencies to ensure REDI projects are implemented as soon as possible.

Attachment: Photo Courtesy of NYSDEC: Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and Newfane Supervisor Timothy Horanburg discuss the shoreline resiliency projects at today’s meeting of the Niagara and Orleans REDI Region Planning Committee.