DUNKIRK – A top ranking officer from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be in Chautauqua County today as a guest of Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning).
According to the Corning Republican, Brigadier General Margaret Burcham – who oversees the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division of the Army Corps of Engineers – will be in Chautauqua County today for site visits and to review environmental restoration efforts for two projects in both Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake.
“We will be touring and having a conversation about areas of Chautauqua County that are a priority when it comes to the WRRDA Bill and also to the corps agenda for the area. Issues of dredging the Dunkirk Harbor, Barcelona and Cattaragus Creek. As well as trying to team up with the corps in regards to addressing Chautauqua Lake and invasive species and cleaning the lake up to a point where we can make sure it’s vibrant for generations to come.”
Reed also said he is obviously pleased to have the Brigadier General in town to personally review the projects.
“We’ve had some exciting conversations with the Brigadier General up to this point, but I don’t think there’s anything better than hosting key decision makers and people on the front lines so they can see with their own eyes what we’ve been talking about on paper.”
Reed made his comments during Monday’s conference call with regional media.
Funding for the two projects was recently announced through the federal Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Joining Reed and Brigadier General Burcham will be representatives from the Buffalo and Pittsburgh District Army Corps of Engineers, New York State and Chautauqua County officials.
[…] As WRFA reported Tuesday, the group discussed water projects such as dredging, environmental restoration efforts including combating invasive species and opportunities for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to expedite project completion. […]