15,000 SF of shoreline and riparian area has been restored at Ellicott Island Bark Park in Erie County’s Ellicott Creek Park. This is significant news in that the enhanced design along the southern tip of Ellicott Island will result in a hardier and more resilient “Living Shoreline,” according to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, who headed up the project with its partners. This Living Shoreline – with reintroduced native plantings – will go a long way towards combating erosion and habitat loss caused by climate and extreme weather, as well as by boat wakes.
Along with helping to reduce erosion, the newly introduced Living Shoreline will filter pollutants and bolster stormwater retention. Overhanging vegetation will result in lower water temperatures, which will further deter problematic algae blooms at the dog park. To that end, high turbidity (cloudiness) in shallow water areas will also be remedied in the process.
Waterkeeper’s efforts are expected to:
- Stabilize the rapidly eroding shoreline
- Reduce stormwater pollution and bank erosion
- Remove invasive/non-native plant species and establish diverse native plantings
- Create areas along the shore with conditions suitable for aquatic plant establishment
- Improve water quality by reducing sediment suspension at a popular water access point for dogs
“Over the last few generations, a significant amount of the Niagara River Watershed has experienced shoreline degradation and habitat loss,” explained Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka. “Our communities deserve healthy and accessible waterways to live, work and play, and it is core to Waterkeeper’s mission that we seek out collaborations and projects that will have the greatest environmental and community impact. Our proven Living Shorelines model and restoration methods continue to help restore these waterways and build resiliency for the coastal and climate challenges ahead. We are grateful for our funders at the New York Power Authority through the Niagara River Greenway Ecological Standing Committee and Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee, NY Sea Grant, our partners at the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry and the NYS Canal Corporation, our trusted contractors in WSP Inc. and LDC Construction Inc, and the stewards of this site, Friends of Ellicott.”
Along with protecting the wellbeing of the dogs that roam the park, wildlife such as freshwater mussels, warm water fish species, wading birds, waterfowl, beneficial insects, and pollinators will also benefit from the improvements.
According to Waterkeeper, funding for this project has been provided by the New York Power Authority through the Niagara River Greenway Ecological Standing Committee and Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee. Additional support and funding were provided by Erie County, and through an agreement with Cornell University in partnership with New York Sea Grant under Prime Agreement CM04068 from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“Working with nature when managing our shorelines is an important approach to achieving multiple benefits—cultural, ecological, and physical. New York Sea Grant, in partnership with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, is excited to fund opportunities like this in Erie County to restore shorelines and protect our natural resources,” said Katherine Bunting-Howarth, JD PhD, Associate Director, New York Sea Grant.
“At Friends of Ellicott Inc., we are thrilled to witness the Living Shoreline Project coming to life at Ellicott Island Bark Park. Recognizing the urgent need for restoration at the point we affectionately call Turtle Landing, we lacked the resources for such a substantial endeavor. Following our initial efforts to stabilize the area, we were overjoyed when Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper stepped in to take our efforts to the next level. With their added resources & planning talents, we can now enjoy both stabilization and the restoration of a healthy habitat for wildlife without compromising access at this site,” said Friends of Ellicott President Ganesa Glose. “The meticulous planning of the Living Shoreline Project impressed us, considering factors like water access and the stunning sunset view from the site. This project exemplifies how public water access areas can be adapted to support wildlife rehabilitation while accommodating existing uses. By redirecting runoff, stabilizing erosion, and meticulous landscaping, rehabilitation was achieved without sacrificing the beloved access and views cherished by park visitors.”
“Erie County Parks is proud to partner with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper on this Living Shoreline Project at Ellicott Creek Park, which will have a significant impact on the resiliency, sustainability, and conservation of Ellicott Island,” said Troy P. Schinzel, Commissioner, Erie County Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Forestry. “Erie County Parks is committed to the sustainability of our 10,000 acres of parkland, as well as to the partnerships which ensure our parks continue to thrive. It is projects like this, and partners such as Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the Friends of Ellicott Island Bark Park which make this work possible and we are grateful to them, and to the other funders involved, for their dedication and contributions.”
NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “NYPA is proud to support the shoreline restoration efforts at Ellicott Island Bark Park that will benefit the local ecosystem and visitors alike. Through our continued collaboration with local partners, NYPA is enhancing the resilience of our natural habitats and promoting the sustainable use of our waterways.”
More information on the project can be found at bnwaterkeeper.org/ellicott-island-bark-park.