Dunkirk Lighthouse Seeks Grant Money for Feasibility Study on Repairing Bluff

One of the City of Dunkirk's historic venues is seeking grant money for a feasibility study on how to prevent the structure from falling into Lake Erie. Chautauqua County lawmakers last week approved a resolution allowing the Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum to apply for a $50,000 New York State Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning Grant. Legislator Robert Bankoski says the bluff at the lighthouse sustained severe damage from storms a couple of years ago...

Robert Bankoski: erosion gnawing away at the bluff

The grant would come with a $5,000 local match. Bankoski says the money would be used to hire engineers who will determine the best way to repair the bluff...

Robert Bankoski: options for stabilizing

Bankoski, who was a guest on a recent edition of WDOE's "Viewpoint" program, says the study would be done within this year. He says it "looks pretty positive" that the grant will be awarded. The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development, City of Dunkirk, Lake Erie Management Commission, and Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District are also collaborating on the application, which comes as the museum celebrates 200 years of having a working lighthouse.

Photo by Greg Larson