Orleans, Niagara reps advocate for dredging of recreational harbors on Lake Ontario

Provided photo and press release, Orleans County Legislature

BUFFALO – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey took part last week in the Great Lakes Shallow Harbor Draft Stakeholders meeting led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislators continue to advocate for dredging of our recreational harbors along the shore of Lake Ontario to ensure they remain open to boaters. These recreational harbors are a significant economic driver for the communities along the lake.

Editor’s Note: The Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in 2025, 2021 and 2014.

A total of approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from Oak Orchard was dredged last year.

Dredging of the harbors ensures accessible depths for vessels traveling the Great Lakes and enables recreational boating which supports business revenue and labor income to the transportation sector combined.

Oak Orchard Harbor is a shallow-draft harbor. Recreational boating facilitated by the harbor supports $6.8 million in business revenue, 94 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $6 million in labor income to the nation, the Army Corps of Engineers stated in a press release last year.