The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will receive $7.5 million in federal funding that will go toward making long-awaited repairs to the Barcelona Harbor Breakwater that will ultimately help shore up local tourism.
Standing with the Barcelona Harbor and Lake Erie to his back, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Monday announced he secured the funds in the Senate’s 2024 appropriations bill.
The money should help restore the harbor to full functionality by repairing the west breakwater, evaluating sediment management measures and dredging the harbor. Schumer said these actions are critical for local tourism and jobs that rely on the harbor in the Westfield.
“Barcelona Harbor is one of the true gems of Chautauqua County – and a hub of its vibrant tourist economy – but the failing west breakwater allowing sediment to wash in threatens residents’ harbor use and the local tourism economy, “ said Schumer.
He noted that, in 2022, he first secured funding that was needed to get dredging underway at Barcelona Harbor. The additional funding will ensure the continued restoration of the Barcelona Harbor,” Schumer said.
The work will also help determine if future work is needed to modify the structure, building up or out, to better alleviate the excessive sedimentation in the channel, he added.
Schumer said the sediment build-up poses a threat to boater safety – it is the only Harbor of Refuge along 47 miles of Lake Erie shoreline – and affects the community’s economy, which depends on the waterway. He said he promised to secure the funds at the behest of Chautauqua County so the Army Corps of Engineers can repair the breakwater for the federally-maintained waterway over the long-term and ensure the economic health of the community.
Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. expressed gratitude for the bipartisan cooperation that he said will ensure the sustained growth and economic prosperity of the region.
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