Monroe County will receive $43 million in state funding for various flood prevention projects along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at the Port of Rochester Wednesday.

The money is part of the first round of funding under the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, or REDI. Earlier this year, the state asked local officials to identify infrastructure improvements which might help prevent future flooding along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Communities in Wayne County will receive $41 million. Much of that funding will pay for projects in Sodus Point, where flooding devastated the area in 2017, and again this past spring. Niagara and Orleans counties will receive $49 million as part of an overall $300 million REDI effort.

“$300 million is a smart investment,” Cuomo said. “Let's assume the high water levels going forward, and let's rebuild the waterfront to a sustainable level."

Lakeshore residents applauded the announcement.

“I was skeptical at the beginning,” said Rose Novack, a 30-year resident of Westage at the Harbor, in Irondequoit. “I'm not anymore, and I feel they've done us a justice and service, and I'm very excited to go forward."

The concern now is how quickly the improvements can be made.

“It's going to be havoc in the spring,” said Dave Griffo, who’s worked at the condominium complex along the shoreline for two decades. “It'll be interesting to see how the projects are going to be handled with the amount of water in the lakes."

Those lake levels, state officials reiterated, are the “new normal.”

Since record-high water levels in 2017, New York state has committed $100 million to rebuild communities along the Lake Ontario shoreline that were devastated by flooding, according to a release on the matter.

Five REDI regions comprised of eight counties (Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure, other assets, and public safety concerns, according to the release.

"To respond to the challenges faced by New Yorkers on the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shorelines, I called on 11 state agencies to mobilize their expertise and support local communities and help to implement actions that will create long-term sustainability," Cuomo said in a statement. "Today, I am announcing REDI projects in Monroe and Wayne regions. These critical projects will realize the State's vision to sustainably protect and enhance the region's infrastructure, habitats, and local economies.”

The REDI Commission allocated $15 million toward a regional dredging effort, $20 million for homeowner assistance, and $30 million to improve the resilience of businesses, according to the release. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects in accordance with the REDI mission.

Below is a breakdown of the funding for Monroe and Wayne counties, according to a release from the governor’s office:

Monroe REDI Region

Click here for sample illustrative depictions of projects. 

  • $9,166,000 for the comprehensive Edgemere Drive Project in the town of Greece. This project combines seven separate projects submitted to the Monroe County REDI Planning Committee that together address critical transportation, stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements with resilient, nature-based shoreline stabilization. Improving stormwater management by constructing or repairing drains, lateral pipes, and pump stations, the project will reduce the danger of sanitary sewer overflow to protect the resiliency of Lake Ontario's watershed while also protecting the health and safety of residents. Elevation of portions of road systems will ensure continuous access of that infrastructure for residents, tourists and emergency responders. Components of the project include: 
  •  
    • The Old Edgemere Drive Sewer Project ($2,927,000)
    • The Crescent Beach Road Sewers Project ($1,160,000)
    • The Edgemere Drive/Island Cottage to Crescent Beach Project ($850,000)
    • The Edgemere Drive/Cranberry Road Project ($150,000)
    • The Edgemere Drive Storm Sewer Project ($1,500,000)
    • The Long Pond Outlet/Channel Park ($1,929,000)
    • The Edgemere Drive Project ($650,000)

  

  • The $5,860,000 project in the Town of Parma will install a low-pressure wastewater conveyance system, including grinder pumps and a force main connected to the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services. In 2017 and 2019, floodwaters inundated septic systems creating a threat to public health and safety. 
  • The $2,670,000 Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park Project will address recurring flooding of the boat launch and parking area at the park. The project will raise the boat launch and install new docks, install shoreline stabilization from the boat launch west to edge of the parking lot, resurfacing the parking lot, and installing new stormwater infrastructure to convey water from the parking area to the bay. The new shoreline stabilization measures will protect the marine park from increased water levels and storm surge, protecting public safety by ensuring access to the area for emergency responders.

 

  • $1,770,000 for the St. Paul Terminus Project in both the city of Rochester and the town of Irondequoit will mitigate flooding inundating areas at the termination of St. Paul Boulevard during high water, which prevents safe access to nearby condominiums, the Monroe County Sheriff's Maritime Station, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Station, and several businesses. The project will modify existing, deteriorating shoreline stabilization measures, build a new stormwater pump station to convey stormwater to the adjacent Genesee River, install permanent check valves to control storm drain discharges to the river, modify the wastewater pump station to handle additional flow and be flood proof, and modify the boat ramp and storm drains at the USCG Station. Together, these resiliency measures will ensure safe access for emergency services and local seasonal businesses by protecting the Monroe County-maintained road from flooding while also preventing wastewater discharges to the river.

 

  • The $1,500,000 project to elevate Lake Road in the Town of Webster above floodwater levels will help stabilize the shoreline. This project will protect the road with stormwater swale and natural and nature-based shoreline protective measures.   

Wayne REDI Region

Click here for sample illustrative depictions of the projects.

  • The $14,630,000 Crescent Beach Project in the town of Huron on Sodus Bay will address multiple barrier bar breaches at Crescent Beach and Charles Point barrier bars. The degradation of the barrier bars damages the ecosystem of Sodus Bay that provides habitat for endangered species and threatens public and private property when debris, ice, and waves are unimpeded in entering the bay. Shoreline erosion makes existing septic systems vulnerable to overflow. Sodus Bay is the home of a United States Coast Guard (USCG) station and a Sheriff's Office. The project will implement nature-based solutions to stabilize the barrier bar and protect approximately 21 miles of shoreline, including public and private properties, more than 1,000 homes, and over 1,200 boat slips.

 

  • The $12,171,000 Blind Sodus Bay Project will address shoreline erosion on the bay due to the breaches of the now-degraded barrier bar. Stabilizing the bluff along Blind Sodus Bay Road with natural and nature-based materials will strengthen 3,700 feet of shoreline. This project will protect critical infrastructure and property from damage caused by ice, debris, and waves entering the bay.

 

  • The $7,400,000 Wickham Boulevard and Greig Street Project will mitigate recurring flooding in the village of Sodus Point. This project will protect public areas, including parks, beaches, and restaurants on the bayfront, as well as homes on either side of the street from flooding by stabilizing the shoreline. The project will help maintain nearby tourist attractions and encourage foot traffic to the town park and beach.  

 

  • The $590,000 White Birch Campground Wastewater Infrastructure Project will address erosion currently encroaching on a sewer line at the campground in the village of Sodus Point. The campground is directly exposed to the lake and the project would install approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline stabilization measures to protect critical wastewater infrastructure that serves the campground and an estimated 200 residences.  

 

  • The $490,000 Sodus Point Beach Project will address the loss of beachfront from erosion and the flooding of homes and adjacent streets. This beach is exposed directly to the lake and is susceptible to flooding during high water events. The project will establish a nature-based shoreline restoration of the beach with a protective dune system to stop   floodwaters during storm surges.

Here is a link to the full press release.