Buffalo River dredging project underway

A collaboration of government and private organizations will dredge and restore the Buffalo River after years of industrial use contaminated river sediment, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo Niagara River Keeper, Honeywell and New York Department of Environmental Conservation will all contribute to the restoration.

About 480,000 cubic yards of sediment will be removed from sections of a six mile stretch of the river and canal in Buffalo.  Monitoring will ensure water quality is maintained during dredging. Silt curtains will contain suspended sediments in some locations.

Waste will be disposed of in the Army Corps Confined Disposal Facility. The project is scheduled to finish in 2015.

Image: Buffalo, N.Y. waterfront (Credit: Dougtone, via Flickr)