Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced several dredging projects for the New York State, including in St. Lawrence County

The announcement came following the completion of the first round of dredging at Port Bay, in Wayne County, the first of 20 dredging sites selected across the region to address a backlog of projects at harbor navigation channels along the southern shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Dredging locations include: St. Lawrence County: Ogdensburg "City Front Channel," Morristown Navigation Channel. Each dredging project is targeted to be complete no more than four months from its start date, with dredging expected to commence in July 2021 at Ogdensburg "City Front" Channel, Morristown Navigation Channel and Clayton French Creek Marine.

The $15 million regional dredging initiative is part of the State's $300 million effort to repair and build resiliency in communities recovering from damage caused by high water levels and flooding, with the next round of dredging to commence at Blind Sodus Bay, Wayne County in April 2020.

"New Yorkers living and working along the shorelines of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are still reeling from last year's record flooding that devastated their communities," Gov. Cuomo said. "We are doing everything we can to help these communities build back stronger than before. We have completed the first round of 20 dredging projects, beginning with Port Bay, as part of our $300 million initiative to repair and rebuild resiliency by creating natural storm barriers along the region's waterfront, which will ensure a better and stronger future for lakeside residents."

The State's initial support for the Regional Dredging Project is designed to give Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River counties the time needed to develop long-term operational, maintenance, and funding plans to maintain recreational navigation channels in the future.