OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, left, chats with Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas on the Dunkirk Pier after a Thursday morning press conference.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer coasted into Dunkirk on Thursday to announce $10 million in funding for Chautauqua County projects.

Schumer held a press conference at the Boardwalk; the event was moved inside from the pier due to stormy spring weather.

The bulk of the funding is for “specific projects to strengthen and preserve one of Western New York’s beautiful gems, and that’s our waterfront,” Schumer said. Some of the money will go towards protecting “crucial drinking water for residents in Chautauqua County,” he added.

The Army Corps of Engineers will get $8 million for work on the Barcelona, Cattaraugus Creek and Dunkirk harbors. Dunkirk will get $5.9 million, Barcelona will get $1.1 million and the Cattaraugus Creek harbor gets the last million.

All three harbors will be dredged, Schumer said. Dunkirk’s breakwater will also get work done on it.

See Friday’s edition for complete coverage.