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.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, left, chats with Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas on the Dunkirk Pier after a Thursday morning press conference.

“These have been long sought by the residents of Chautauqua County. Harbors like Dunkirk’s haven’t been shored up in years,” Schumer said. “The sediment builds up, the rough waters — like we’re seeing today — gnaw away at the whole thing, and historic rainfalls have filled the harbor with debris and damaged much of the infrastructure that is here. When it comes to infrastructure repairs like this, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.”

All the work should start in the next few months, he said. “The Army Corps of Engineers is ready to roll,” he said.

The remaining $2 million will assist the village of Mayville in revamping its water system, which is based on wells and has had contamination problems, the senator said.

Schumer said it was it a challenge getting the funding. However, “Being the majority leader, it’s a lot easier than it used to be. I want to use that clout for New York.”

He added, “You need a combination of good projects, which Chautauqua County had, and a little muscle to push through.”

Some local politicians attended Thursday’s press conference, includingDunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and several members of his administration, Westfield Town Supervisor Martha Bills and Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist.

Rosas greeted Schumer when he arrived. The fellow Democrats appeared very friendly throughout the event, with Schumer patting the mayor on the back more than once. When the press conference closed, the two decided to take a brief walk on the Dunkirk Pier.