Designing a Living Shoreline at Ellicott Island Bark Park

Living shorelines are being reintroduced to riparian areas across the region for a number of reasons. Over the years, we have degraded and neglected sensitive shorelines, which in turn suffer from loss of riparian habitat, rapid bank erosion and high shallow water turbidity.

One of the banks currently under construction is at Ellicott Island Bark Park on “Dog Island” in Erie County’s Ellicott Creek Park. The work underway includes the introduction of numerous design elements “that simulate the natural environment and a stabilized water access area to improve water clarity at a popular dog access point,” according to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, the organization leading the project.

One of the goals of the project is to redevelop approximately 15,000 square feet of shoreline along the southern tip of Ellicott Island, which will help improve water clarity. This site is a very popular watering hole for dogs. Between the foot traffic and the turbulent wakes of passing boats, the riparian areas along the shoreline have been compromised over the years, leading to increased algae blooms in the lower reaches of Tonawanda Creek, negatively impacting water conditions, and therefore the health of canines. Wildlife such as freshwater mussels, warmwater fish species, wading birds, waterfowl, beneficial insects and pollinators will also benefit from these improved conditions.

Project specifications include:

• Stabilizing rapidly eroding coastlines using bioengineering techniques
• Reducing stormwater pollution and erosion through green infrastructure practices
• Remove invasive/non-native plant species and establish diverse native plantings
• Create areas along the shoreline with conditions conducive to the establishment of emergent vegetation
• Reduce turbidity within the project boundaries and adjacent riparian areas by creating a stabilized water access point for dogs

“Much of the Niagara River watershed has experienced shoreline degradation and loss of riparian habitat,” said BNW Executive Director Jill Jedlicka. “Our Living Shorelines model can help restore these degradations and, moreover, build resilience to future coastal and climate challenges. As always, we do not do this work alone. We are grateful to our partners at the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry and the NYS Canal Corp, funders NYPA and NY Sea Grant, our trusted contractors WSP Inc. and LDC Construction Inc., and of course, the stewards of this site going forward, Friends of Ellicott.”

“Working with nature to manage our coasts is an important approach to achieving multiple benefits – cultural, ecological and physical. New York Sea Grant, in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is pleased to provide funding opportunities to Erie County and its partners to complete this shoreline work and protect our natural resources,” said Katherine Bunting-Howarth, JD PhD, Associate Director of New York Sea Grant.

“At Friends of Ellicott Inc., we are thrilled to see the Living Shoreline project come to life at Ellicott Island Bark Park. Recognizing the urgent need for restoration at the place we affectionately call Turtle Landing, we were under-resourced for such a significant undertaking. After our initial efforts to stabilize the area, we were thrilled when Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper stepped in to take our efforts to the next level. With their additional resources and planning talents, we look forward to both stabilizing and restoring healthy wildlife habitat without compromising access to this site,” said Genesa Glose, President of Friends of Ellicott. “We were impressed with the meticulous planning of the Living Shoreline project, considering factors such as water access and the stunning sunset views from the site. This project exemplifies how public water access areas can be adapted to support wildlife rehabilitation while also accommodating existing uses.” By redirecting runoff, stabilizing erosion and carefully landscaping, rehabilitation will be achieved without sacrificing the access and views enjoyed by park visitors.”

Once the project is complete, Friends of Ellicott will monitor plant life at the site to prevent invasive species and partner with Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry to assist in maintaining the site as planned.

“Erie County Parks is proud to partner with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper on this Living Shoreline project at Ellicott Creek Park, which will have a significant impact on the resiliency, sustainability and conservation of Ellicott Island,” said Troy P. Schinzel, Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. “Erie County Parks is committed to ensuring the sustainability of our 10,000 acres of parkland, as well as building partnerships that ensure our parks continue to thrive. It is projects like this and partners like Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and Friends of Ellicott Island Bark Park that make this work possible and we are grateful to them and the other funders involved for their dedication and contributions.”

Julie Barrett-O’Neill, DEC Region 9 Director, said, “Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Ellicott Island Bark Park Living Shoreline project, supported by the Niagara River Greenway and Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committees, will benefit the environment by improving water quality and riparian and aquatic habitat for native plants, fish, freshwater mussels and wildlife in the Niagara River watershed.”

Funding for this project was provided by the New York Power Authority through the Niagara River Greenway Ecological Standing Committee and the Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee. Additional support and funding was provided by Erie County and through an agreement with Cornell University in partnership with New York Sea Grant under New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Master Agreement CM04068.

More information about the project can be found at bnwaterkeeper.org/ellicott-island-bark-park.

Substantial completion of the project is expected to take place by October 2024.

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is a community-based nonprofit organization that protects and restores our waters and surrounding ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. For more than 35 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been Western New York’s freshwater steward, protecting clean water, restoring ecosystem health, connecting people to water, and inspiring sustainable economic growth and community engagement. For more information, please visit www.bnwaterkeeper.org.