BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is stepping in to battle erosion that's threatening the seawall and historic structures at Old Fort Niagara.
The organization has announced plans to investigate methods to protect the "French Castle" built in 1726 and the North Redoubt, built in 1771.
This comes as the seawall along the north shoreline continues to erode. Waves on Lake Ontario are to blame, and this study will also look at alternatives to protect Old Fort Niagara from waves.
So long as the proper funding can be secured, a report on the project could be complete in two years. Engineering and design work can begin immediately thereafter, USACE said.
The project will have to compete for funding with others nationwide.
The U.S. Army officially deactivated Fort Niagara in 1963. USACE said it determined there is a federal interest to protect the site due to its designation as a national historic landmark. Work would be done in concert with the Old Fort Niagara Association and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
