Crews finish flood-resiliency projects in Fair Haven

FAIR HAVEN, N.Y. — Crews have completed of a series of flood-resiliency projects in the village of Fair Haven in Cayuga County. 

The village was awarded $3.7 million to complete four projects through New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). 

These REDI-funded projects will help mitigate the impact of future high-water events and improve the resiliency of Cayuga County’s shoreline, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Feb. 27. 

Lake Ontario in 2019 had record high-water levels that resulted in “devastating” floods throughout communities along the lake’s shoreline, Hochul’s office said. Those severe weather events “degraded” public infrastructure and restricted public use of popular tourist destinations like the West Barrier Bar Park, hurting public safety and local economies. 

The Village of Fair Haven was awarded $5.25 million by the REDI Commission for a total of six projects. The $1.45 million Philips Park Walkway REDI project is ongoing. The village’s sixth and final resiliency project, the Standbrook Park improvements project, received $73,900 from the REDI Commission and is anticipated to begin later this spring. 

The “completion of improvements in Fair Haven will help protect the village from future high-water events and ensure that it prospers for future generations,” Hochul said.

Completed projects 

The $1.86 million West Barrier Bar Park flood-mitigation project included regrading the Lake Ontario shoreline to return the beach to conditions that allow the public to access the water. Continued flooding and intense wave action eroded the shorelines of the barrier bar, causing sections of the park to become inundated and inaccessible for public use. 

Additionally, crews installed an offshore rock sill to help create a living shoreline to reduce wave energy and protect the Little Sodus Bay shoreline from erosion. 

Crews also handled more than $718,000 in resiliency measures at the King Street boat ramp and parking area. They included raising the elevations of the existing retaining walls, replacement of heaved concrete boat ramp slabs, and the installation of guardrails along the top of the retaining walls. 

The King Street boat ramp and parking area is located on the west side of Little Sodus Bay. The boat launch is one of the main access points for recreation in the bay, “drawing tourists from across the state,” Hochul’s office noted. Maintaining the use of the boat ramp and parking area during high-water events was vital for supporting local businesses located around the bay. 

Flood mitigation implemented in the $656,500 Lake Street pump house project included the installation of steel-sheet piling and rip rap along the shoreline to control erosion and mitigate future flooding. The pump house serves Fair Haven State Park and local residences. 

Nearly $488,000 in mitigation measures were implemented in the Cottage Street Public Park flood-resiliency project. They included the repair of the existing concrete boat ramp, raising the heights of existing retaining walls, and adding a guardrail on top of the retaining walls. 

Additionally, the current wooden dock was replaced with a floating dock and the asphalt drive to the launch was repaired and regraded. Cottage Street Public Park is located on the east side of Little Sodus Bay and is a main access point of recreation in the bay.

“The completion of these critical projects in Fair Haven will bring enormous benefits to the community,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R–Pulaski) said. “Little Sodus Bay offers tremendous recreational opportunities and unique natural resources that many have come to appreciate. Investments to maintain and upgrade the area’s facilities help increase access and add to the enjoyment for all who come to the region.”