Thousands of sandbags are at the ready to stop the rising water of Lake Ontario, but they are proving to be no match for Mother Nature. 

• Lake Ontario is four inches below record levels seen in May of 2017
• County leaders say water is rising up to an inch each day
• The rising waters are becoming an unexpected tourist attraction

Dave Hedley is once again watching his boating season sink.

“It happened two years ago and it’s happening again,” said Hedley, owner of Hedley Boatyard in Olcott.

In 2017, Hedley took over his family’s 100-year-old boating business. But he’s not reeling in more memories.

“I’ve got 35 docks that are under water here,” Hedley said. “That’s loss of $86,000.”

On top of that, Hedley is still waiting on money from the state to cover the damage done two years ago. After meeting face-to face with Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday, he’s hopeful that money will finally make its way to Niagara County.

Until then, he waits as the water rises.

“There’s nothing you can do,” Hedley said. “You can’t stop the water from coming up.”

Empire State Development on Tuesday said they are still waiting on Hedley to submit his documentation for the relief money.

Across the Newfane Marina, a sign of normalcy, despite the ever-rising docks to get captains and their charter guests to the boats.

“You just have to watch out for debris,” said Captain Joe Kyle of Onacona Charters. “There’s a lot of debris out there.”

The fishing up by Olcott is great, so Kyle motors in from the Rochester area for his charters. He’s trying to stay optimistic about the near record level of the lake right now. Compared to May of 2017, Lake Ontario is just four inches lower.

“From what I can tell, as long as it doesn’t rain, I think we will be OK,” Kyle said. “I mean we will probably get some, but not like 2017.”

Kyle’s positivity and his business is what Niagara County Emergency Coordinator Jonathan Schultz said is the silver lining to the impending waters.

“A lot of people hear state of emergencies and they get nervous,” Schultz said. “But, just remember, all of these communities are still open.”

Schultz said the some 10,000 sandbags across the county and extra half inch to an inch of water a day is becoming a tourist attraction itself. It’s something unexpected during a time of uncertainty.

“Because of what’s happening on the other side, whether the water is being maintained properly or not, we are mitigating what we have to, but unfortunately we are still seeing the water rise,” Schultz said.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ontario is expected to rise at least another 5 inches over the next month.