The New York Sea Grant is working with homeowners looking to repair their eroded shorelines.
Erosion is a growing concern along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, but it’s not a new problem.
"There’s always been a lot of erosion along Lake Ontario, that’s just the way it functions," said Roy Widrig.
Homeowners have options for building back their shorelines in sustainable ways.
Widrig is with the New York Sea Grant, which provides educational and outreach material to residents and business owners on the shoreline.
He said they’re working to let property owners know their options for building back or reinforcing their shoreline. For instance, not everyone needs to build big breakwalls.
"People have a connection with the lake," he said. "They want to go in, they want to be able to launch a boat, so when you have to put up these big concrete structures, it kind of takes away from that."
Widrig said there are more aesthetically pleasing options, like using a rock pile.
"Or maybe if they have the right conditions, they can do a nature-based shoreline approach, where they work in shoreline plants and rock rubble," he said.
Widrig and his colleagues at the Sea Grant are hosting a workshop this month in Webster to help homeowners through the process. Registration is currently full, but he said they are looking to host more in the area.
In the meantime, Widrig said people can check out the Sea Grant website for more information.
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