The Cayuga Creek Watershed in Erie County is getting federal dollars to reduce erosion.
Stream bank erosion along the waterway carries treated soil from farms into the Great Lakes, causing harmful algal blooms.
Mark Gaston is the district field manager for the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District. He says reinforcing these stream banks has multiple benefits.
"We utilize plant materials and rocks that help to benefit habitat as well as mitigate erosion."
He says they'll use the funds to plant vegetation with root structures that hold together the banks. This flora also creates shade for fish spawning and nesting opportunities for birds.
On Tuesday, Representative Chris Collins announced the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District would be awarded nearly $180,000 to design and implement these projects. The money comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal grant program that funds restoration projects across the region.
