Congressman Nick Langworthy, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz all joined in on the announcement.

Langworthy said $4.75 million for the project was included in a spending bill passed by the House of Representatives.

“This harbor is the heart and soul of Dunkirk and this investment will ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations,” Langworthy said.

He called Lake Erie “beautiful but very fierce … it destroys our infrastructure.” The new breakwaters will use “natural elements like sand and rocks to stabilize the shoreline.”

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy greets Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz.

Wendel said they will prevent most sedimentation and waves from hitting the harbor and shore. He said that such a project protects the local charter fishing industry, and encourages more investment in it.

The breakwalls are going off the Lakefront Boulevard shore, though no time frame for them was announced. It’s been on city leaders’ wish list for years. Vince DeJoy, city planning and development director, said the breakwaters will prevent infrastructure damage.

Federal funding was announced earlier this summer to repair the existing breakwall. “These new living shoreline breakwaters are the next step” in fully protecting Dunkirk’s harbor and shoreline, Langworthy said.

The first-term congressman used the announcement to talk up his ability to “bring federal tax dollars back to the Southern Tier,” as he put it. Langworthy, a Republican, faces a re-election battle in November against Democrat Tom Carle, a Binghamton native.

Langworthy hails from Chautauqua County, and proudly touted his heritage at Thursday’s press conference. But Carle will also visit in the coming days to drum up support. According to his website, Carle will be in Westfield on Friday, will attend the Fredonia at Southwestern football game Saturday, and plans to take questions at Silver Creek’s Festival of Grapes Sept. 14.