Improvements are on the way for a facility used by researchers who track the health of local waterways. In recent years, falling lake levels have made the boat launch at Buffalo State's Great Lakes Center near the mouth of the Niagara River unusable. State Senator Mark Grisanti on Thursday announced a $150,000 grant to rebuild the launch ramp and install a new floating dock near the foot of Porter Avenue.
Grisanti says the improvements will help ensure the center succeeds in its research to protect the Great Lakes.
"It's millions and millions of dollars of research that pours in for the protection of our waterway that's so important here in Western New York," said Grisanti.
Buffalo State's School of Natural and Social Sciences Dean Mark Severson says the funding is of great importance to the center's work.
"The improved boat launch ramp will be usable at all times of the field season. Whatever the water level, there will now be no need to truck the boats to alternate launch sites when the water level is low. This will save time and money, making our researchers much more productive," Severson said.
Severson says along with Buffalo State researchers, the facility is used by Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, the Buffalo Police Marine Division, the U.S. Navy, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, and others.