The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District (USACE) will host a public meeting regarding the Final Design for the Braddock Bay Restoration Project on May 7, 2015, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Town of Greece Town Hall, Eastman Room, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd., Greece, New York, 14612.
The purpose of the meeting will be to present the final design for the Braddock Bay Ecosystem Restoration project, the current status of the project, and the path forward for implementation. For more information, please visit the Braddock Bay Restoration website
http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/DistrictProjects/BraddockBay.aspx.
This meeting will also provide the public an opportunity to submit written comments to USACE Regulatory Branch, which is currently evaluating an application for this project (Department of the Army Processing Number 2015-00095). USACE has regulatory authority over the proposed work under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
USACE, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Town of Greece has completed the design for ecosystem restoration at Braddock Bay, Monroe County, New York.
"The goal of this Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Project is to improve habitat diversity of the existing emergent marsh currently dominated by cattail, and to reduce erosion of the existing emergent marsh," said Craig Forgette, USACE project manager.
"Braddock Bay is a very special natural area that is threatened by continued erosion from wave action, which has already resulted in the loss of a significant area of emergent wetland habitat," said James Tierney, Assistant Commissioner, DEC Office of Water Resources. "DEC is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other partners to protect the bay, and we look forward to receiving the public's views on how we can enhance resiliency against wave action and extreme storm events, while also improving habitat quality within the Braddock Bay complex."
"The Rochester Embayment Remedial Action Plan Advisory supports the Braddock Bay Restoration project as it is one of the necessary management actions that will contribute to the improvement in fish and wildlife habitat necessary for removal of the habitat beneficial use impairment and furtherance of the effort to delist the Rochester Embayment as an Area of Concern," said Charles Knauf, Rochester Embayment Remedial Action Plan Oversight Committee Chair.
"The Braddock Bay Restoration Project is a testament to interagency cooperation for the betterment of the environment and is a pivotal project for the Town of Greece and the entire Rochester Embayment Area of Concern," said Bill Reilich, Town of Greece Supervisor. "This unique ecosystem is a key facet of the town's waterfront area and contributes greatly to residents' quality of life in the town and beyond."
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said, "This plan will restore Braddock Bay’s health, and the new barrier beach will protect the bay from future ecological damage while benefitting the bay’s recreational users and boaters. I commend the Army Corps of Engineers for advancing this proposal to final design and reiterate my support for the EPA to now approve the plan, which is the last remaining step needed to make this project a reality."