Wayne County issues state of emergency for bays, harbors
Wayne County issued a state of emergency Wednesday for all bays and harbors along Lake Ontario and other waterways.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, motorized boat traffic must operate at idle speed, causing no wake on the county's bays and harbors.
The order was issued due to Wayne County bays and harbors being at a higher water level than normal, a release from Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts stated.
"Lake Ontario and Wayne County bays and harbors are reported to be at or above flooding level (247.3 feet)," the release said.
The order impacts Sodus Bay, Port Bay, East Bay, Blind Sodus Bay, Pultneyville Harbor, and Bear Creek Harbor in Wayne County.
"Although recent boat traffic on all the Wayne County bays and harbors has been minimal, increased boat traffic would create a hazardous situation, property damage, and shoreline erosion," the release said.
Virts said there are public safety concerns over floating debris and submerged obstructions usually visible, property damage and shore line erosion from "high water level and motorized boat traffic wakes."
Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich met with representatives from Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Erie counties to discuss the "negative effects" surrounding the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Plan 2014. Sodus Point Mayor Chris Tertinek was in attendance.
The plan was was adopted in mid-2014 by the U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission, which oversees Great Lakes issues. Adoption of the plan came after more than a decade of study and updating the existing 1950s-era regulatory plan.
Read more: Opposition wants to sink Lake Ontario water-level plan
Plan 2014 allows for higher highs and lower lows than the current water-level plan.
Opponents are concerned about the potential for damage to lakefront properties and municipal infrastructure they say could come if the changes are approved. Reilich and other opponents plan to travel to Washington, D.C. to rally against the plan.