Schumer calls for resiliency plan on Lake Ontario shoreline

WXXI News | By Veronica Volk,

Veronica Volk

Published June 10, 2019 at 5:03 PM EDT

Edgemere Drive was recently closed after a storm caused lake water to spill over into the street.

The playground at Goodwin Park is under water in some places. Across the flooded creek that separates the park from Edgemere Drive, pumps are running constantly to keep water out of people’s homes and the street.

Schumer says he’s lobbying for federal dollars to help the waterfront residents on the Southern Shore of Lake Ontario.

Senator Schumer says they’re looking at short term relief for homeowners, business owners, and municipalities. He also vowed to do more.

"We need long term relief so this never happens again."

Schumer met with Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich at Goodwin Park.

Schumer’s plan is to secure funding for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study – an effort that would have the Army Corps of Engineers come in and figure out what would be the greatest resiliency plan, and get money to implement it.

Schumer pointed to climate change as a cause of the flooding, but also took shots at the bi-national group that manages lake levels—the international joint commission.

"The next time the IJC decides not to let water out…we will be protected."

The IJC has consistently maintained that the flooding in Lake Ontario is a result of high precipitation and lake flows from the other Great Lakes.