Dunkirk is ready to be part of an effort that focuses on the stability along the shores of Lake Erie.

This week, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative kicked off the New York Working Group of the Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative Community leaders from the city, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Sodus Point, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe participated and Mayor Dave McDowell of Sodus Point, Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Coastal Resilience, gave opening remarks.

“New York communities along the Great Lakes must work together to fund projects that address the billions of dollars of infrastructure money available for us to address flooding, erosion and storm damage we are experiencing,” McDowell said. “We need to ensure that we get our share of the infrastructure funding available to us from the Federal Government. Historically most coastal resilience funding often goes to ocean coastlines.”

Over the next eight months, the Cities Initiative will partner with communities along Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River to prepare high-value projects addressing erosion, flooding, and severe storm events.

Once implemented, projects will protect critical infrastructure, such as roads and utilities; improve the safety of public spaces; and restore habitat to enhance natural processes for reducing impacts from hazards.

“Over the years, our community has seen significant damage along our coastline,” said Mayor Kate Wdowiasz of Dunkirk. “We look forward to working hand in hand with our neighbors and the Cities Initiative to address our infrastructure needs.”

Some of the worst damage in the city has occurred along Lakefront Boulevard, which is closed to traffic in the winter. In addition, there has been other damage done near Point Gratiot due to high winds and water.

The Initiative supports local communities in planning sustainable, fundable projects that protect shorelines and community assets. These projects address coastal hazards like flooding or erosion, while adding community benefits such as public spaces, recreation, habitat, and improved water quality. More information on the Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative is available on the Cities Initiative’s website at: https://glslcities.org/initiatives/resilient-coastal-projects-initiative/

The Cities Initiative is a multinational coalition of local governments led by mayors and chief elected officers working collaboratively to safeguard the economic, environmental, and social health of communities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. It is committed to stewarding the basin’s freshwater and ensuring that all residents have access to clean, safe, and affordable water as the foundation for sustainable, vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities.