In an effort to better understand the sea, Roy Widrig is taking to the sky.

As a hazard specialist with the NY Sea Grant, Widrig has been busy the past few years helping those along the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline who suffered flood damage. With a drone, he is able to calculate things many cannot.

“We see a different dynamic on everything. We can see how the waves crash into the shoreline. We see how they reflect off certain barriers on the shoreline. We can also see, a lot of times, where the sediment is coming off the shore so that we can see where it’s going into the water as well,” Widrig said.

These drones can see miles down the shoreline and 10 feet deep into the water. It allows Widrig to get a good grasp on all the damage he has seen in recent years.

What You Need To Know

  • Despite the low water levels during 2021, people up and down the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shorelines are still feeling the effects of recent flooding

  • The NY Sea Grant is using a drone to track any damage and erosion that can’t be seen from the ground

  • The NY Sea Grant says the footage from above can give experts a much better understanding of what’s happening, why and how to fix it 

He has seen everything from tree loss, which allows for erosion, to how wave crashes undermine structures and rock walls, causing them to collapse.

“In some cases, we saw areas that were much deeper on the shoreline than they have been in the past, which means the waves don’t break out as far in the lake. They come in, they hit the shoreline and erode straight down, further steepening it. When that happens, you lose your beach. You don’t have as much recreation,” Widrig said.

It’s all information he is offering on a case-by-case basis to people who fill out a "virtual visit" request online on the Sea Grant’s website. He will look at the information provided, offer to help virtually, or come out in-person.

And yes, even with a drastic change in levels this year, it’s still very much in demand.

“Erosion really doesn’t stop a lot of times. So, even though lake levels are lower now that they have been in recent years, if we get one good storm, we could see quite a bit of erosion, especially since a lot of those shorelines that have been built up with softer sediments, they haven’t been revegetated, so they aren’t really as strong as they used to be,” he said.

When he comes out, Widrig will have the drone in hand to not only offer help in managing the current damage, but to learn what could happen in the future.

He says the drone has also been helpful in mapping out what kind of damage has happened, allowing for a better understanding of what areas need what help.