Jun 11, 2021
June 1, 2021
Dear Landowners of Port Bay:
The Port Bay REDI project is a delicate balance of addressing eco-system-based management as part of the shoreline community while also considering the local economics associated with eco-tourism and recreation to meet the needs of the Governor’s Resiliency Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The thought process of resiliency goes hand in hand with eco-system-based management and is sometimes hard to wrap your head around because it is “risk management” or the “what if” factor for nature. I think with some reflective planning, and good sound structured future Operations & Maintenance (O&M), a project can address the needs of many of the issues this system currently has.
Everyone’s participation has answered and conjured new questions. We continue to document and answer questions as they come in. Every time I go out to the northern bar system, I see and learn something new. Shoreline processes are living. They are continual. As the Project Manager on behalf of Wayne County, I am doing my best to address all the needs of this project area with the consultants, while finding the balance. Life is about balance and I’m assured that if Mother Nature is not on board, she will find a way to address or modify the approach. We are extending our Best Management Practice (BMP) opportunities research currently, and appreciate your continued participation. The goals still stand to address the sediment budget deficit that has depleted the eastern portion of the bar for years and address resiliency for navigation to potentially supply access, less dredging needed during varying times and the impact the sedimentation into the channel. The Bergmann Associates and I are continuing to review your comments and questions as they come up. If you have specific questions, please reach out to me by email at Lindsey@wayneNYswcd.org or by phone at 315.946.7200. There will be a google document started and given to the PBIA to share so answers to questions that come in can be seen in real time. I will be updating this every Monday.
Warm and well wishes,
Lindsey M. Gerstenslager, District Manager
Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation District
Port Bay REDI Initiative Project Update: Questions & Answers
1. How is the project being managed? And has COVID affected the project?
The Port Bay REDI Initiative Project includes the whole bar complex including the western access to the fishing launch, the channel and the eastern barrier bar. Bergmann Associates are the consultant team providing a thorough review of the areas of the project that were not a part of the study completed in 2018 of the eastern bar. This will aid in a full scientific review of all the issues associated with the system and hopefully address the needs for years to come with sturdy Operation & Maintenance (O&M) after the initial construction in 2022.
COVID has affected the project as a slowdown in engineering. Accessing sites and review were completed but not in the normal rates. Under normal working conditions, the project may have been through the SEQR process and design phase. We have seen an increased cost in materials, but so far, the project designs are manageable and will be managed to address budget concerns with a target of completion in 2022.
- Where in the process is the project design?
The project is at the beginning of the 60% design and have submitted review in the SEQR Process as of 6/4.21. This is a regulatory Environmental Review to make sure and protect the ecosystem/whole community from negative impacts. This process can take several months. It requires, alternatives analysis and extensive engineering modeling before a Negative Declaration of Impact can be made. Once the Negative Declaration of Impact has been made and accepted, the project design can be finalized with the research and comments that have been provided. Once this happens the design documents will be made available and published on the District’s website after directly impacted landowners have reviewed.
https://waynecountynysoilandwater.org/lake-ontario-redi-projects/
- How long will this process take?
The process indicated through the SEQRA Regulation is a timeline to allow all monitoring, modeling and research. Most of this has been done on the front end of the project with the help of the leadership of PBIA’s questions during the Technical Kick off meeting in March. The goal is to have the project through SEQR Review by Mid-August and moving into the 90% design phase and permitting.
- What happens after the design is moved into final stages?
Once the design is moved into final planning stages, a permitting report will be prepared for submittal to the regulatory agencies for a formal review of the project based on environmental law. This is separate from the negative impact a project could potentially have. A formal cost estimate will be completed and Wayne County will finally be eligible for a contract with NYS. Currently, Wayne County Leadership has moved forward with the design of these projects without a contract from NYS with a promise that once the design, procurement and SEQR are complete, the project will be funded. Once permitted, procurement of a contractor will be solicited for and selected and a construction schedule set.
- Many of you may have questions of what the barrier bar design looks like?
In July once the SEQR review has completed the District will post the design. If you refer to our website link above Port Bay SEQR Slide Presentation is closer to what the preferred design will look like, but again, the modeling will demonstrate if there are any negative impacts and adjustments that will need to be made. This is not a final design but has been adjusted with input from PBIA and Coastal Engineers from US Army Corp of Engineers, NYSDEC, NYSDOS and NYSOGS.
6. Next steps?
In the next few weeks, I will be responding to questions and answers while continued modeling information is being gathered.
Aquatic Vegetative Control aka Weeds Harvesting for 2021
- What will services for weed harvesting look like in 2021?
On Tuesday, 6/8 the team that decides on locations and times will be reviewing several things (including current water levels assessed and were bench marked this past week, access, historic weed densities and potential flow opportunities, etc.) to begin to determine a schedule for 2021.
Our program is restricted to begin harvesting in most waterways until after 6/15 each year due to Fisheries Guidelines for NYS. Last year, we made an exception and it was agreed to by DEC staff to address weed densities in the cove areas northwest of the Bayfront Marina because of a Sewer Line accident.
The schedule will be posted and updated live on the District’s Websites as we maneuver a low water year. https://waynecountynysoilandwater.org/calendar/
- When and where will the crew access Port Bay?
In a regular season, the crew of 4 team members works out of the North and South Fishing Access Sites and the Bay Front Marina when possible. This year due to the closure of the South Fishing Access Sites for safety improvements the crew will be working out of:
- The Bay Front Marina
- Port Bay Marina & Campground
- North Fishing Access Site
The Harvesters will be arriving at Port Bay just post-Independence Day weekend and will likely be on the Bay for two weeks. Due to funding cuts from budget management during COVID, the program runs Monday – Thursday from 7:30 – 3:00 and a ½ hour each end to travel to and from the work site and *paperwork documentation and a ½ break for lunch. If the crew has a breakdown or other mechanical issues there may be maintenance that will have to occur during this working time as well.
*The crew documents and tracks weed types, weather conditions, environmental anomalies and other comments for each area of work. We have a mapping system we use to compare this information going back to the 1980’s.
- 3. How do you decide where to go?
The District has a harvesting policy. https://waynecountynysoilandwater.org/wp content/uploads/Updated-AVC.Harvesting-Policy.pdf
As previously indicated, the District relies on several factors when making the decisions for how to address aquatic vegetation control for invasive species. Much of the time, since 2010, we factor in weather patterns and water quality to try and mitigate potential cyanobacteria blooms.
- What can I do to address my water quality and vegetation issues?
Port Bay is fortunate that this embayment has a lot more native species which lend to fish food and habitat that invasive species. Dock structures and boats or watercrafts that are not in regular use imped waterflow and deplete oxygen reintroduction into the water column. A few items that can be done to manage this is:
- Remove watercraft that are not in regular use either by a lift or out of your slips B. Hand rake or pull vegetation in your area and let them dry out over 3 days on land and compost them for use on flower beds or reseeding of lawn area.
*Some areas have a muck like bottom as a substrate, periodic floater management can be a big help even if you cannot pull actual growing weeds.
- Attach bubblers or fountain to your dock. This has a HUGE impact as the additional o2 will bring in the fish, which will then take up residence and eat the vegetation. It also helps prevent floaters from gathering in your docking areas and around boats.
Other Projects that are going on around Port Bay
- Beaver Creek Flow Improvement Project for Port Bay
In summer of 2019, a tour was provided by some of the members of PBIA around Port Bay for EPA Habitat and NYSDEC Great Lakes Staff to see and review several known factors impacting the local ecosystem in Port Bay.
Note: Port Bay has a use ecological impact on many species in the great lakes. As a result of the tour, NYSDEC and the District prioritized a Flow improvement project to address water quality, aquatic connectivity and flow resiliency for the western wetland complex associated with Beaver Creek to address several areas along the roadway, reestablish the outlet to the Lake by Dutch Street while developing a long term wetland management plan for aquatic connectivity for Lake Species of Fish as well.
This project is ranked for funding and in the final Plan of Work Stages with EPA with hopes of funding shortly. Additional information on this project will be made available to PBIA as soon as feedback is provided to the District from the Federal Government about contract and award.
- NYSDEC Fishing Access Site: South Launch
In response to resiliency for safety and access during the 2017 flooding, NYSDEC Region 8 completed a full assessment of all assets owned and prioritized improvements beginning in 2020. The South Launch was slated for improvements to begin in the fall 2020, post regular boating season. With design and procurement of the contractor already completed, they were delayed for mobilization until the State began allowing operations in March post COVID response. The information provided was the access will not be available for 2021. Additional information will be provide if updates occur. Material reception has been the biggest slow down for this project.