An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

Great Lakes AOCs

Remediation and Restoration Projects for Buffalo River AOC

Project Title Project Description Date Completed Targeted BUI(s)
GLLA Sediment Remediation Almost 500,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment outside and below the navigation channel were remediated by EPA and Honeywell. Dredging/capping completed in 2015; monitoring is ongoing. ongoing
  • Degradation of Benthos
  • Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption
  • Restrictions on Dredging Activities
  • Fish Tumors or Other Deformities 
Strategic Navigation Dredging Strategic navigation dredging by USACE targeted residual sediment contamination in five specific areas throughout the channel. 2020 Restrictions on Dredging Activities
NE Shoreline of Katherine Street Habitat Restoration 1,760 feet of shoreline and in-water habitat and 3.7 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored by EPA.  2019
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Riverbend Phase 2 Habitat Restoration 1,445 linear feet of shoreline and 4.9 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored to provide habitat and recreation areas in an urban setting.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Buffalo Motor and Generator Corp. Habitat Restoration 270 feet of shoreline and 0.5 acres of upland and riparian habitat was restored by importing substrate and planting emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Blue Tower Turning Basin Habitat Restoration 1,700 linear feet of in-water habitat was restored via the placing underwater structures to prevent the buildup of debris and promote the establishment of aquatic plants.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Old Bailey Woods Habitat Restoration Three acres of native in-water, riparian, and upland forest habitat was restored, including 805 linear feet of shoreline.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
NYSDEC Ohio Street Boat Launch Habitat Restoration 330 feet of shoreline and 1.5 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Toe of Katherine Street Habitat Restoration 2. 4 acres of fish and wildlife habitat were restored by removing invasive species, planting native vegetation and regrading and stabilizing the shoreline.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Katherine Street Peninsula Extension Habitat Restoration 450 feet of shoreline and 3.7 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored.  2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Buffalo Color Peninsula Habitat Restoration 2,575 feet of shoreline was stabilized, and 1.5 acres of upland habitat were restored with ‘vegetated benches’ that help native plants become established. 2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Buffalo River Three sites had a combined total of 2,300 linear feet of shoreline restored by USACE. 2018
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Thomas Higgins Natural Park Habitat Area (Bailey Peninsula) Restoration Following the relocation of Bailey Avenue Bridge, a seiche wetland was created that features upgraded recreational potential.  2017
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat

Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park Restoration

Shoreline and near-shore habitat were enhanced featuring upgraded recreational resources including trails and informal kayak access.  2017
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat

61 Smith Street Restoration

Shoreline and near-shore habitat restoration took place to provide fish and wildlife sanctuary adjacent to the Red Jacket Natural Habitat Park. 2017
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Seneca Bluffs Habitat Restoration 3,000 feet of shoreline and 20 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored by USACE. 2017
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Riverbend Phase 1 Habitat Restoration 2,650 linear feet of shoreline and 6.3 acres of riparian and upland habitat were restored to provide habitat and recreation areas in an urban setting.  2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
City Ship Canal Habitat Restoration  3,450 linear feet of in-water habitat for fish and wildlife populations was restored with emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation and habitat structures under the GLLA program.  2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Ohio Street Habitat Restoration 240 feet of in-water habitat was restored with emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation plantings under the GLLA program.  2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Katherine Street Peninsula Habitat Restoration 1,190 linear feet of fish habitat was restored with emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation and in-water habitat structures under the GLLA program.  2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Buffalo Color Peninsula Habitat Restoration 2,300 linear feet of in-water and shoreline habitats were restored with underwater habitat structures and emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation plantings under the GLLA program. 2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Riverbend Habitat Restoration 1,900 linear feet of fish habitat was restored with emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation and in-water habitat structures under the GLLA program. 2015
  • Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
  • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Strategic Navigation Dredging USACE dredged an additional foot below the authorized channel depth to remove a total of 550,000 cubic yards of legacy sediment contaminants. 2012 Restrictions on Dredging Activities