Congressman Chris Collins announced last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) FY17 Work Plan for Operations & Maintenance includes $725,000 in maintenance dredging funding for the Wilson Harbor, NY.
“Ensuring our harbors are dredged and maintained on a regular basis helps deter safety risks and potential negative impacts to a local economy,” said Congressman Collins.
“Aside from the direct impact this $725,000 in funding will have on Wilson Harbor’s dredging efforts, it will also help grow Niagara County’s tourism industry and preserve Wilson’s recreational boating and fishing community. I’m pleased the Army Corps of Engineers will set aside maintenance dredging funding for the Wilson Harbor, as it will go a long way in maintaining the harbor’s current functions and future operations.”
“ This is terrific news and will go a long way towards the cleaning up of the Wilson Harbor,” said Doyle Phillips, Wilson Town Supervisor.
“We met with the Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday morning, and the federal pier is being breeched by water and is in desperate need of repairs. With the high lake water, the harbor is also in desperate need of dredging, so this will come as welcome news to all citizens of Wilson.”
Located on Lake Ontario at the mouth of Twelve Mile Creek in the Town of Wilson, Wilson Harbor is home to 476 slips, 2 boat launch lanes and 15 charter boats. The harbor has an estimated economic impact totaling $4,720,298 and also supports 69 jobs.
Typically, harbors are to be dredged every 3-5 years, but the full Wilson Harbor was last dredged in 2000. In effect, sections of the West Pier are have become deteriorated and now require repairs to restore proper function of the structure.
Given that the Wilson Harbor is a Harbor of Refuge, dredging work will eliminate any potential functional loss and ensure safety issues are addressed and corrected, according to the Collins’ announcement.
[mappress mapid=”24124″]