The water of Lake Ontario is the basis for business at the Wilson Boat House. But business is down, while the water is up, way up.
- Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul toured Wilson Harbor on Wednesday
- Lake Ontario remains at record-high water levels for June
- Businesses remain open despite dealing with flooding
Jeffery Lang is the general manager. He came on board with a new owner last year after record floods caused major damage in 2017.
Now, they're the ones dealing with sandbags, pumps, a flooded basement and areas they just can't use. But like many places trying stay above water, they're still welcoming in the customers.
"We're looking at about 25 percent [in lost revenue] and that's big," Lang said. "You have to make money every month, and it's been tough on us this year."
After having a good year in 2018, the Wilson Boat House is feeling the effects of the record levels of Lake Ontario. Lang says a walkway, bar and shops they had open last year are now underwater. Renovations made to the basement have been damaged by flooding.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul surveyed the scene in Wilson on Wednesday. She says Gov. Cuomo will continue to push the International Joint Commission — which helps regulate Great Lakes water levels — to come up with new solutions and release more water throughout the year. The state also has allocated $300 million to help deal with the flooding, and is continuing to seek long-term solutions to the issues plaguing people and businesses on Lake Ontario.
"This is home for a lot of people. And a lot of communities rely on the sustainability of harbors like we have here and Olcott Harbor down the road," Hochul said.
Local leaders in Wilson brought up several key concerns to Hochul. They included erosion from waves crashing over the west pier of the harbor, which is managed by the federal government, as well as high water levels causing problems for the wastewater treatment facility which serves the Town and Village of Wilson.
"We need help to bring in large boulders to protect these structures and see what we can do make sure that these structures don't get washed away," said Niagara County Emergency Services Director Jonathan Schultz, who asked Hochul and the Cuomo administration to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on shoring up west pier.
And while they deal with infrastructure issues in Wilson, the village's mayor says it's also important to support the people who make a living along the lake.
"Our businesses, just like 2017, have not closed one day," said Wilson Mayor Arthur Lawson. "If you want to see American exceptionalism at its finest, you just come up here and visit one of our businesses."
Like the Wilson Boat House, doing its best to stay afloat in tough times.
"Besides the water, it's beautiful out here. It's still worth the trip to come out. It really is," Lang said.