Schumer Introduces Legislation to Require Army Corps to Prioritize Oklahoma Beach Project and Save Dozens of Homes From Falling Into Lake Ontario; Construction on Project Will End 20 Year Fight for OK Beach Residents

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is introducing legislation that would require the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to get the ball rolling on a critical project that will prevent dozens of homes from collapsing into Lake Ontario -- a possibility that is getting more real with each passing day. Today's introduction of the legislation comes just a week after Schumer toured crumbling shoreline on Oklahoma Beach. During his appearance Schumer said that the effort to reinforce the shoreline at Oklahoma Beach has been acknowledged for 20 years, and that action is needed immediately. When Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge was built 20 years ago it was acknowledged and documented that accelerated erosion may put houses in danger, and today that possibility is being realized. During his tour of Oklahoma Beach Schumer pledged to introduce legislation to address the problem if the Army Corps failed to immediately take steps to start the project. Today Schumer introduced his legislation to turn up the heat on the Corps, and ensure that the project gets due attention. The legislation would direct the Army Corps to develop a plan for prevention or mitigation of damages caused by Federal navigation work at Oklahoma Beach, NY under the authority provided by Section 111 of the 1968 River and Harbor Act. The legislation also directs the Army Corps to pick up the full tab, and not impose a state share.

"Families on Oklahoma Beach are on the verge of literally seeing their homes swept away, and we can't allow that to happen," Schumer said. "The Army Corps of Engineer's has the ability, resources and obligation to reinforce the beach right away and now I'm introducing legislation to ensure that there are no more excuses."

"Every year the water gets closer and closer to our houses, and something has got to be done immediately, before it's too late," said Carlos Dachery, an Oklahoma Beach homeowner. "I appreciate Senator Schumer's efforts to force the Army Corps to move as quickly as possible, and hope that they recognize the urgency of the problem."

Schumer's legislation would direct the Army Corps to begin an immediate study to determine what the most effective solution would be. Schumer has consistently maintained that the Army Corps of Engineers already had the authority to begin the study through Section 111 of the 1968 River and Harbor Act that provides authority for the Corps of Engineers to develop and construct projects for prevention or mitigation of damages caused by Federal navigation work. This description fits the Oklahoma Beach case because the Irondequoit Outlet Bay Bridge is a federal navigation way. Perhaps most importantly, the Schumer bill would ensure that the cost of the project would not fall on the state or local government, instead the federal government would be responsible for paying the bill since federal action first initiated the problem.

During his tour of Oklahoma Beach, Schumer described the hardships that dozens of families at Oklahoma Beach are facing as they see something they worked all of their lives for, a home, become at risk of being swept away due to beach erosion. At the time, Schumer pointed to the fact that owning a home is a huge economic asset for a middle class family- one that can help a family send their children to college and provide additional economic security. Right now, homeowners on Oklahoma Beach are between a rock and hard place- no one will buy their homes because of the precarious situation of the beach erosion and the families can't afford to just leave their home and move somewhere else.

Dozens of New York families call Oklahoma Beach their home and residence. For years, the community's beach has attracted tourists and families, but the accelerating erosion of the community beach threatens its notoriety as a tourist destination and more importantly as a home for families. Serious erosion of the beach began 20 years ago when the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge was put into place. At the time, government officials acknowledged that the bridge's installation would accelerate the beach's erosion and pledged to ensure that any future erosion would be dealt with by reinforcing the existing beach. Since that time, erosion of the beach has taken place at an rapid pace, putting dozens of homes at risk of being swept away. The state of the beach has deteriorated to a point where a simple rainstorm can bring incredible damage to residents as waves crash into homes and water rises to dangerous levels. Thus far, the Army Corps of Engineers has not made specific plans to reinforce the beach and save these homes.

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