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Public input sought on river and shoreline restorations for Smith Street habitat
The Erie County Department of Environment & Planning has announced a public meeting to receive public input on concept designs for river and shoreline restorations at Erie County's Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park at the foot of Smith Street in Buffalo. The event will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Valley Community Center, 73 Leddy St., Buffalo
The department received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to design and construct shoreline and habitat restorations at three of its natural habitat parks, all of which are situated along the Buffalo River. Following years of industrial contamination, the river is listed as a toxic water body and known as an "Area of Concern," but has already begun seeing improvements.
In 2014, contaminated sediment was dredged from the navigable channels of the Buffalo River to spur efforts to restore in-water habitat, rebuild natural shoreline and re-establish native plant species to the Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park riverfront site. These improvements will revitalize fish and wildlife populations, while helping to restore healthy ecosystems in the Buffalo River and provide an enhanced experience for Erie County residents.