Town of Newfane to expand berm in Olcott

Oct. 2—The Town of Newfane will be undertaking a series of upgrades to the new berm along the western end of Olcott Harbor.

The latest construction project, which is slated to start next week, will consist of two phases. The first will see additional armor stone placed in front of the existing berm on the shoreline. The second phase is extension of the berm by 160 feet.

This round of construction on the berm will cost just under $200,000, all of which is covered with leftover Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Inititative (REDI) funding, Town Engineer Brian Sibiga said.

Initial construction along the lake shore in Olcott occurred late last year. The berm, which runs westward from the west pier for several hundred feet, was one of the "resiliency" projects undertaken by the town to lessen the damage in the event of future lake flooding.

The stone masses that comprise the berm were subsequently covered with topsoil and native grass. Sibiga said some of that soil in the beach area was being "washed away" in front of the berm.

The goal of installing the armor stone is to prevent any additional soil erosion.

"We saw the impact of the waves and it was evident that some additional armor stone was (needed) there," he said.

A homeowner who previously did not grant the town an easement to construct the berm along his property last year is now allowing the town to do so, hence the extension.

"It allows the berm to be extended one more parcel which is about 160 feet. It is a significant area, which provides additional protection to some of the residents on that side of the berm," Sibiga said.

Sigiba said the town hopes to wrap up construction sometime next month.