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WESTFIELD, NY (WNY News Now) – Dredging has begun on the Barcelona Harbor in Westfield.
In the past four years, over twelve feet of sediment has been deposited over a four acre area.
Contractors and crews from the Army Corp of Engineers have started the process of relocating debris.
County Executive PJ Wendel tells us that this has been in the works for many years, with a plethora of huge storms and big waves, a slew of debris has made its way onto the shore.
With the area being near federal and state waters, a slew of federal funding has appeared to help clear out the international waters of Lake Erie.
The County Executive believes that to deal with the sediment, more has to be done than just removing it from the shore.
“That area really needs to be not only dredged to its previous condition, back to 2002,“ explained Executive Wendel. “But also repairs in the breakwaters, and also things that they refer to as sedimentation traps offshore. They’ve been very successful in Lake Erie down in the Presque Isle area. So that’s where we’re at right now. So we’re looking for an immediate remedy right now, and then also looking for a long term sustainability.”
Wendel added that multiple agencies from Chautauqua County are helping with this endeavor.
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