Congressman Brian Higgins and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Cmdr. Lt. Col. Adam Czekanski announced the commencement of a multiphase project to remove sediment from the Buffalo River.
"There is a direct correlation between the health of our water and the health of our economy," said Higgins, a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force. "Projects like this which explore new ways to maintain and improve the environmental status of the Buffalo River play an essential role in the growing momentum along Western New York's waterfront. We are fortunate to have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as great partners in the stewardship of the Great Lakes and Western New York waterways."
Czekanski said, "Management of dredged sediment this year in Buffalo Harbor will serve as a model for future projects seeking to beneficially use dredged material in the Great Lakes Region. It is a testament to the hard work of our many partners and the strong support of our elected officials. Beginning with the Buffalo River environmental dredging in 2013, the quality of dredged sediment has improved to the point where it can now be used for ecosystem restoration within the Niagara River area of concern, and for a healthier Lake Erie."
Work on the first phase of Buffalo River dredging is scheduled to begin on May 7, upstream of the South Park Bridge, and continue for approximately 30 days. During this phase, between 45,000 to 65,000 cubic yards will be relocated to Unity Island to facilitate a unique aquatic habitat and invasive species management project currently underway.
The Unity Island Aquatic and Riparian Invasive Species Management and Habitat Restoration Project, funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, is a unique demonstration project focused on the removal of aquatic invasive species from Unity Island.
Phase two is scheduled to begin mid-June in the lower portion of the Buffalo River and continue through early July. Dredged sediment during this phase will be placed in Confined Disposal Facility No. 4 adjacent to the former Bethlehem Steel site.
The $1.6-million project, conducted by Luedtke Engineering, will remove in total between 115,000 and 135,000 cubic yards of sediment from the federal channel. The harbor requires dredging approximately every two years to maintain navigable waters. Shipments passing through the harbor generate approximately $904 million in annual business revenue and support about 5,500 direct and indirect jobs.
Since 2005, substantial investments have been made in and around the Buffalo River - a waterway once declared biologically dead - to clean up the water and restore the natural habitat. In total, $72.8 million in federal funding and an additional $26.9 million provided through the federal relicensing settlement with the New York Power Authority has quite literally brought the river back to life.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District is responsible for the planning, construction and operation of water projects to maintain navigation across a 38,000 square mile area that includes Lakes Erie and Ontario.
